University of Florida, Gainesville

There is an exciting, expansive feeling in the air at University of Florida in Gainesville. You just have to walk past the row of trees with their trunks painted blue to know that fun things go on here! With 50,000 students, there must be every activity under the sun available. And as a big research university, it is bound to open your horizons. You can tell by the fact that there's a hare krishna lunch offered on the lawn, and the regular food in the cafeteria is often organic. Gainesville itself is a town full of research and innovation, as is the university. Both the town and university are also beautiful, with an abundance of moss-draped oak trees and shade everywhere. You need shade in Florida so this is wonderful! When you apply to UF, the admissions counselors read your application and make a decision without knowing your GPA and test scores. Scores and grades are self-reported, and proof is required once you're offered a spot. UF is a very selective college, so start working hard now if you want to be a gator later!

On campus there is the Florida Museum of Natural History with an incredible butterfly rainforest- don't miss it! And there is the free Harn Museum of Art that is roomy and airy, with a Japanese garden. If you have kids, a great playground nearby is Westside Playground.
While in Gainesville, make sure you walk down into Devil's Millhopper Sinkhole- it's gorgeous!
After your visit, eat at Reggae Shack Cafe on University Ave, for some delicious Jamaican curries and smoothies, in a clean and colorful atmosphere. The best (and least spicy) dish is the curried palm hearts- bliss!
An awesome chain restaurant with live steel drum music is Bahama Breeze (see address below).
Gainesville has quite a serious superfund site causing health problems to residents and polluting the Florida aquifer where we get our water. It is two miles from campus and is called Cabot-Koppers/Beazer East Site.

University of Florida, Gainesville

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