When the Florida heat sets in, Gainesville comes alive with all sorts of opportunities for summer fun! In the summer, Gainesville becomes more than a college town—it’s a bustling hub of outdoor activities and artistic opportunities.
This year, our Gainesville property management team invites students to embrace the nostalgia of grade school summer breaks and create an old-fashioned bucket list. These lists can reconnect us with the whimsy and fun-loving nature of our inner child, while also serving as a physical reminder to make the most of each day. While bucket lists are inherently customizable, this list serves an excellent starting point for students looking to explore Gainesville’s hidden gems.
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While this activity might sound suited for the fall, when Halloween is just around the corner, the Gainesville bat houses are open year-round to visitors. Located across from Lake Alice, the University of Florida bat houses are the largest occupied bat houses in the world. Every night, these nocturnal flying mammals emerge from their shelters and take flight.
In fact, the Florida Museum of Natural History states that early summer is the best season for observing bats. Because of the lengthened days, bats will start to emerge from their houses soon after sunset.
When planning your visit, choose a day with low winds or minimal rain. It is advised that visitors arrive at the site before sunset. Bats typically emerge within 15-20 minutes after sunset to hunt for insects. As insectivores, bats play a vital role in the local ecosystem by controlling the population of moths, mosquitoes, ants, flies, and wasps near campus. Witness them take flight!
Gather your friends for a peaceful picnic, surrounded by vibrant, colorful flowers and foliage! The Kanapaha Botanical Gardens is a non-profit organization that boasts the state’s largest public display of bamboo and the largest herb garden in the Southeast. This collection of botanical exhibits features covered gazebos and picnic tables near the entrance building. Whether you want to enjoy snacks outdoors or take a stroll through the grounds, the Kanapaha Botanical Gardens is the perfect place for you.
Some plant species are only available for viewing during the summer months. Because Giant Victoria water lilies are a tropical species, these flowers can only be seen in the late summer! This time might be your only chance to see these floating flowers in full bloom.
Bald eagles, lemurs, tree kangaroos, and Galapagos tortoises—although this list might sound like the composition of an exotic rainforest, all of these animals are available for viewing at the Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo! Check out the gift shop and exhibits, or schedule an up-close and personal encounter with the zoo’s ambassador animals. Visitors can schedule private sessions, where they can feed the Roseate spoonbills and resident tortoises. Don’t miss out on this one-of-a-kind opportunity!
In downtown Gainesville, Depot Park serves as a historic reminder of the city’s roots and modern-day collaborations. A former railroad transportation hub, this area of land was once contaminated by industrial projects, railroad operations, petroleum tank farms, and gas stations. In the early 2000s, the city began the lengthy process of excavating the area and removing contaminated soil and water. Millions of gallons of water were treated and discharged during the remediation.
Today, Depot Park is listed in the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. Countless students and residents visit this park to read, bird-watch, mingle, or participate in one of the many art festivals, food truck rallies, and Renaissance fairs that the city holds each year.
From the collaborative environment fostered by Depot Park to the unforgettable plants on display in Kanapaha Botanical Garden, Gainesville has something for everyone to enjoy. Call this beautiful city home today! For help with your off-campus housing search, contact Contemporary Management Concepts, LLLP.