The Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo is a ten-acre wooded forest with natural trails located on the main campus of Santa Fe College, and is one of only two teaching zoos in the country. The zoo is home to a variety of native plants and more than 65 exotic animals. Upon arrival at the zoo, … Continue reading Santa Fe Teaching Zoo
Camp Suwannee
Located on the banks of the Suwannee River in Live Oak, FL is Camp Suwannee at the Advent Christian Village. Live Oak is located in Suwannee County, which is named after the river, and roughly an hour and a half drive from Gainesville. Camp Suwannee is open year-round and offers facilities for groups of up … Continue reading Camp Suwannee
Way down upon the Suwannee River…
The Suwannee River is a 246-mile long river that runs from the Okefenokee Swamp in Georgia to the Gulf of Mexico in Florida. It is the third longest river in Florida and attracts thousands of visitors each year. Visitors to the Suwannee River often comment on the dark brown coloring that resembles tea or coffee. The river's color comes from decaying … Continue reading Way down upon the Suwannee River…
Sweetwater Branch Inn
Whether you’re visiting Gainesville from out of town, or a local looking for the perfect ‘staycation' getaway, the Sweetwater Branch Inn should be at the top of your list for accommodations! Built in the late 1800s, the Inn is a complex of two restored Victorian-era mansions (the McKenzie House and the Cushman-Colson House), guest cottages, … Continue reading Sweetwater Branch Inn
Haile Village Center
Recently we visited Haile Village Center for their annual “Light the Village” event. There were many locals in attendance, and one person visiting from way out-of-town: Santa Clause. Every year the Haile Village Center holds the event to bring the community together to drink hot chocolate, eat gingerbread cookies, and enjoy the Christmas lights. While we were … Continue reading Haile Village Center
Palm Point Nature Park
Nestled on the outskirts of Gainesville is Palm Point Nature Park, a 16.1 acre nature park, and a quiet, little hidden gem with trails covered in big cypress, oak and palm trees. But the real attraction comes when visitors walk down the shaded, moss-covered trails to the panoramic views of Newnans Lake. Birds, wildlife and … Continue reading Palm Point Nature Park
Kanapaha Botanical Gardens: The West Side
Not far from the Archer exit off I-75, lies one of Gainesville’s true treasures: the Kanapaha Botanical Gardens. The Kanapaha Botanical Gardens stretch across 62 acres of land and are named for their close proximity to Lake Kanapaha. The word Kanapaha comes from the Timucua Indian words which mean “palmetto leaves” and “house.” Combined, they … Continue reading Kanapaha Botanical Gardens: The West Side
Samuel P. Harn Museum
Twyla Tharp once said, “Art is the only way to run away without leaving home.” Well, for those times when you want to leave but cannot get away, the University of Florida’s Samuel P. Harn Museum of Art has exquisite art to escape from reality and become transported into another world. The Harn Museum has more … Continue reading Samuel P. Harn Museum
Butterfly Rainforest Exhibit
Imagine seeing those thousands of butterflies you feel in your stomach when locking eyes with that special someone, but see it come to life right before your eyes. The Butterfly Rainforest in the Florida Museum of Natural History on the University of Florida campus lets you experience just that. The exhibits feature hundreds of butterflies … Continue reading Butterfly Rainforest Exhibit
Our coffee tour of Downtown Gainesville
Among a sea of pumpkin spice Starbucks, Beyond The Swamp recently decided to take a caffeinated tour around Gainesville to explore unique local coffee shops. As it turns out, there were more than we expected, and if we tried to visit them all in one day, we were worried all the caffeine would have kept … Continue reading Our coffee tour of Downtown Gainesville
Walk on the Wild Side of Gainesville
When you think of Gainesville, alligators usually come to mind. But if you go a little bit beyond the swamp, you’ll find Carson Springs Wildlife Conservation - a 274-acre wildlife refuge less than 20 minutes from UF’s campus. From howling hyenas to loving lemurs, Carson Springs is home to more than 70 different animals from … Continue reading Walk on the Wild Side of Gainesville
Florida Museum Celebrates 100 years!
The Florida Museum of Natural History on the University of Florida campus is celebrating the 100th anniversary of being named the state’s official natural history museum by the Florida Legislature in 1917. The Museum is made-up of multiple buildings on the University of Florida campus including Dickinson Hall, Powell Hall, the Randell Research Center, and the McGuire … Continue reading Florida Museum Celebrates 100 years!
