I’m moving to Gainesville in Summer for school. What’s living in Gainesville like?

Life in Gainesville is quiet but exciting. Gainesville is a small city with mostly college students running rampant but there's much more to it than the University of Florida. Summer time isn't the most exciting time because most students go home until the fall semester starts up, but there's still things for you to do!

Because Gainesville has such a diverse age population, there's a lot to do both for freshmen until you're much older. There's tons of great restaurants, both local and chain, to satisfy any cravings. Café C near downtown Gainesville has great lunch specials and Taco Tuesday at Tijuana Flats is really popular with locals and students alike. With new restaurants like 4Rivers and GiGi's Cupcakes, you are able to try new things and create new experiences.

There isn't just great food in Gainesville, but there's also a lot of things you can do. Gainesville Health & Fitness is a great local gym focused on getting you where you want to be physically. There's Lake Wauberg where you can rent canoes, paddleboats or play a friendly game of volleyball on the beach volleyball courts. You could check out Payne's Prairie or Devil's Millhopper State Park! See the fruit bats hit the sky at dusk on the University of Florida's campus. There's so much natural beauty to see and explore in Gainesville – it makes being out in the Florida sun, fun!

Along with all the outdoorsy things to do, you can still enjoy all the great things to do indoors—besides eating, of course! Enjoy the great nightlife and bars in Downtown Gainesville, Midtown (literally across from UF and in the middle of Gainesville), or even as far out as Tioga Plaza. Grab a late night eat at Flaco's or grab a drink at The Top. Dance the night away at Grog or 101 Downtown. Have fun and be safe! Always call a cab if you're unable to drive at the end of the night.

Gainesville is a great city—it may not be big, but it is packed with a lot to do. Keep your mind open and really take advantage of everything fun and exciting in Gainesville. It may be quiet and there may be some times where you're at loss of what to do, but just remember it's all about exploring your new city.
