Spend your morning watching wild horses roam Paynes Prairie, escape the midday heat inside the Harn Museum of Art, then end the evening with live music, a gallery walk, or a play at the Hippodrome State Theatre.
For those of us who live here, it can be easy to forget how much there is to do in Alachua County. Visitors are reminded of it every year. They come for the same mix of arts, culture, and nature that we have access to year-round.
Parks and natural spaces are among the area’s strongest draws. Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park drew 218,449 visitors in 2025, generating more than $28 million in economic impact and supporting 392 local jobs. Nearby Devil’s Millhopper Geological State Park added 84,216 visitors, generating more than $10.2 million in economic impact, and supporting 143 jobs. Kanapaha Botanical Gardens offers another destination, with 68 acres and 24 major plant collections.
Those numbers matter because they show that local quality-of-life assets are also economic drivers. The places that bring visitors to Alachua County also provide residents with year-round opportunities to enjoy the arts, culture, and natural beauty that make this place special.
Culture adds another layer. The Florida Museum of Natural History on the UF campus is the state’s official natural history museum and is undergoing a major expansion, with reopening anticipated in 2026. The Cade Museum for Creativity and Invention anchors Depot Park with hands-on programming inspired by innovation, connecting Gainesville’s history of invention with future creators.
The arts round out the experience. Residents and visitors can catch a play, film, or special event at the Hippodrome State Theatre downtown. On UF’s campus, the Curtis M. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts and the Harn Museum of Art help make the Cultural Plaza a regional destination. Heartwood Soundstage brings live music from local, regional and national performers.
Artwalk Gainesville, held the last Friday of each month, invites residents and visitors to explore local galleries, artist studios, and cultural events. Gainesville Fine Arts Association hosts exhibitions and monthly Artwalk receptions. Larger annual events, including Santa Fe College’s Spring Arts Festival and the Downtown Festival & Art Show, bring artists, performers and visitors together.
This summer, consider a staycation. The same places that attract visitors are available to us year-round. Take time to explore different parts of the county, revisit familiar favorites, and reconnect with the beauty that surrounds us.
Editor’s note: This is the latest in a series of business columns called “Good in Gainesville” sponsored by Pavlov Media.