It would be easy to characterize Gainesville as a pure college town—the University of Florida is home to over 50,000 students in a city of 130,000, and the campus is arguably the defining cultural hub of the community. Between the art exhibitions, concerts, lecture series, and, of course, the wildly popular Gator sporting events, the UF campus culture is a magnet for students, locals, and visitors alike.
But Gainesville has much more to offer than just an electric collegiate atmosphere. The historic Hippodrome State Theatre anchors the thriving Downtown district, which is packed with a vibrant assortment of bars, nightclubs, and restaurants. Local favorites like Flaco’s Cuban Bakery and Volta Coffee attract a steady stream of students and non-students alike at all hours of the day and night.
