Visiting Gainesville, Florida? Ten Ways to Spend Little or No Cash and Stick it to the Man   by John Michaels

Do you plan on being in Gainesville anytime soon? Maybe you're a Florida Gators fan or a rival in town to watch a game? Maybe you're a new student or professor at the University of Florida? Regardless of the reason for being in Gainesville, here's some activities that won't hurt your wallet and let you stick it to the man. Although I am not sure who this man is, we'll definitely help you stick it to him regardless.

1. Check out the alligators at Lake Alice

Lake Alice is a great place to relax in nature, and still be in the middle of the City. Placed in the heart of the University of Florida campus, you can find a great spot to sit down and watch alligators as they pop their heads out of the water. It is located at the corner of Museum and North South Drive. There are benches to sit down at, open grass to have a picnic, and a trail that wraps around the lake. The best part is that it's completely free. Heck you could even take a date there and pull the romantic card while in reality you just care about your own bank account but she'll never know.

2. Take a tour at the Santa Fe Zoo

Didn't think Gainesville has a zoo? Well at the community college it does! About a 15 minute drive from the heart of Gainesville, Santa Fe Community College has the only zoo around north central Florida. With over 200 different animals and 75 species, you'll see numerous mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians being displayed in a naturally wooded environment. Tours are free and are held at specific times on weekdays and weekends. Here's the website for the zoo: http://inst.sfcc.edu/~zoo

3. Float down the warm crystal clear water of Ginny Springs

This could be coolest place in the entire region. Within 45 minutes of Gainesville, Ginnie Springs offers crystal clear water that is 72 degrees year round, perfect for floating down the river on a tube, snorkeling, and even scuba diving. You can rent equipment from one of the local shops or bring your own. Take a cooler with some drinks down the river while enjoying the scenery (yes, the cooler floats also). You can choose the long ride down the river (about 2 hours) or the short one (about 45 minutes). There's an admission fee of $10 for adults and $3 for children ages 7-14. There could be additional rental fees if you need equipment but this is all definitely worth the money since you can spend the entire day and/or night at the Springs. Here's their website: http://www.ginniespringsoutdoors.com/index.html

4. Go to Devil's Milhopper

Devil's Milhopper is an amazing sinkhole that is over 100 feet deep and 500 feet across that is located in Devil's Millhopper Geological State Park about two miles northwest of Gainesville. You can walk to the bottom of it on a winding staircase. Small streams fall down the steep slopes. This park is open from 9am-5pm Wednesday-Sunday. There is a small admission fee of $2.00 per vehicle and $1.00 if on foot or bicycle. For info: call Devil Millhopper Geological State Park at 352-955-2008.

5. Check out the Florida Museum of Natural History

This is Florida's official natural history museum and features over 20 million specimens. It is the largest museum of natural history in the southeastern United States. Admission to the museum is free although it is suggested to leave a donation. There is a separate fee if you want to check out the popular Butterfly Rainforest, where you can view thousands (yes thousands) of different types of butterflies. It is a remake of the Amazon Rainforest. The museum is located on the University of Florida campus on SW 34th Street and Hull Road. For further info, here is the link to their site: http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu

6. Go walking, biking, or rollerblading on Gainesville-Hawthorne State Trail

This scenic trail lasts for 16 miles from the Gainesville Boulware Springs Park through the Paynes Prairie State Park and the Lochloosa Wildlife Management Area. The wooded trail features native plants and wildlife and upon arriving in Paynes Prairie you might see bison, wild horses or cranes. Use of the Gainesville-Hawthorne Trail State Park is free according to the website. Here is the link for hours, contact info, directions and more: http://www.floridastateparks.org/gainesville-hawthorne

7. Relax at Lake Wauberg (note: this is only open to UF students, faculty, staff and up to four guests)

Located only 8 miles from campus, this recreational site offers UF students, faculty, and guests free access to boating, volleyball, a ropes course, a climbing wall, picnics, and more with their Gator 1 cards. As far as boating you can take out kayaks, sailboats, paddleboats, and rowboats. The site is open Tuesday through Friday from 12:00pm-7:00pm and Saturday and Sunday from 10:00am-7:00pm.

Try out these activities above and you can save significantly on your stay in Gainesville. Enjoy!

About the Author

John Michaels writes for a Florida Gators/ Gainesville Message Board!