Taking the Guesswork out of Vacationing with Kids in Gainesville

We field a lot of questions here at VisitGainesville. Occasionally, we get the ones that have very little -- okay NOTHING -- to do with vacations, attractions, and hotels such as "why didn't I get my newspaper delivered at my house this morning?" or this lulu: "Can you tell me if my best friend's divorce is final yet?"

However, and thankfully, most of our inquiries are smack dab right-on-the-vacation-mark that we can answer with authority and assurance. Modestly, our VisitGainesville site is a comprehensive resource that addresses a number of questions. It includes specific sections such as Attractions detailing things to see and fun places to visit, while the Lodging area efficently directs folks to a list and links of close to 60 hotels, motels, and bed and breakfasts.

Ranking high on the most frequently asked list and just beneath "Do you sell postcards?" (we don't, yet) and "Where should we eat dinner tonight?" is the timeless quest for "What fun places can we take our kids while vacationing in Gainesville?"

To greatly assist us in properly answering this question we've recently added the kids experts at Fun4Gatorkids to the VisitGainesville Links. While designed primarily as a resource for Gainesville residents, this informative family fun site sports a great calendar of events and a list of programs that are perfect for vacationing parents searching for educational yet entertaining "can't-do-that-at-home" adventures.

And do need to fret...we have it on very good authority that even though the name is Fun for "GATOR" kids, they welcome, encourage and invite little Bulldogs, Knights, and even `Noles to have fun in Gainesville.

Gainesville Florida's 2010 New Year's Eve

If you're in downtown Gainesville on New Year's Eve looking for a fun (and free!) way to ring in 2010...look no further than the Bo Diddley Downtown Plaza.

The festivities -- complete with musical bands, balloons, and bubbly -- begin at 9 p.m. Here's more scoop - http://http//www.gvlculturalaffairs.org/website/programs_events/NYE/new_year.html

Gainesville's Creative Culinary Creations

Admittedly even as blessed and resplendent in, well, a crop of rich fresh fruits and veggies yearround, Gainesville won't realistically hit the culinary pinnacle achieved by such meccas as the Napa Valley or it's neighboring sister, Sonoma.

However, there are indeed a growing number of incredible shining examples and glimmers of hope. Local chefs, Clif Nelson of Paramount Grill, Bert Gill of Mildred's and Frank Ruffino of Blue Highway Pizza are some of Gainesville's restauranteur/chefs pioneering this North Central Florida fresh farm to table movements working closely with dedicated local growers to dish out incredible, daily delectables.
Rounding out this team effort to propel Gainesville's foodie front, is a great, news-filled newsletter, Hogtown HomeGrown and its companion blog, Kitchen Crumbs. While the blog is new, the newsletter actually just marked its third anniversary. It is, according to its founder, Stefanie Samara Hamblen, "a labor of love to promote local foods and farmers markets." And that it does..and more. Hamblen graciously also includes several larruping recipes incorporating ingredients that are "in season." And, of course, she's included a list of "what's fresh right now" as a regular feature in each of the HHG's monthly newsletters.

So okay, Gainesville's not a culinary capital....yet. But with this strong team of homegrown help, it sure is going to be fun trying!

Gainesville's Newest Work of Art...Ingeniously Indigenous

By definition, indigenous means originating and/or characterizing a particular region or country. This week at the Gainesville Regional Airport, the word took on another meaning when an awesome and incredible five-ton concrete and bronze gator head work of art was unveiled. Indigenous, the humongous and impressive reptile seemingly emerges and graces the front entrance of the airport’s newly renovated main passenger terminal.
Yes, Indigenous is actually the newest work in the City of Gainesville’s collection in Art in Public Places. According to Pete Davidson, the wildly creative artist (and University of Florida Alumni), he transformed this five ton alligator (who, by the way, confirmed that “I” is a girl) from a collection of almost every imaginable (and quite frankly improbable) pile of treasured and “repurposed” scraps and recycled treasures. Upon closer inspection you realize that her beautifully symmetrical eyebrows (okay, do gators really have eyebrows?) are actually old railroad track and Cracker cow horns, a portion of her snout is antique typewriter keys and the top of her mammoth (no gator) head is an old wagon wheel! Cool, cool, cool.
Just keep looking and you’re bound to discover even more items than you could ever imagine and oddly reminiscent of the search for hidden objects in the children’s Highlight magazine or Where’s Waldo…but better.
So go to the Gainesville airport. Take a good gander at Indigenous. Although she looks like she might, she probably won’t bite -- and discover why Indigenous’ middle name could easily be ingenious!

High Springs putting Final Touches On Historic Holiday Homes Tour

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas in the charming hamlet of High Springs. Located just 15-minutes north of downtown Gainesville, this tiny town nestled next to the Santa Fe River and pristine Poe Springs, is busily preparing and putting the final touches for this Sunday’s (Dec.20) Historic Homes Tour.
The tour kicks-off at the charming Grady House Bed & Breakfast at 5 p.m., where guests are served sparkling Champagne punch and yummy hors devours adding to the heart-warming and festive holiday atmosphere at this 1907 former boarding house transformed into a popular relaxing vacation retreat. The tour, in its third year, includes eight other historic homes in High Springs making this night a memorable holiday tradition. Tickets are $25 and may be purchased in advance or Sunday evening at the Grady House; contact the folks at either the High Springs Main Street (ph) 386-454-2889 http://www.highspringsmainstreet.com/ or Lucie Regensdorf proprietor at the Grady House http://www.gradyhouse.com/
Click here for a quick 30-second preview of the event http://www.vimeo.com/7942362

You May Have to Give Us A Moment...please?

Admittedly, the air here in Gainesville is thick with disappointment over this weekend's SEC loss to Alabama. So thick in fact, that multiple whacks with even the most capable of machetes wouldn't do the trick. Gainesville and all the citizens of the Gator Nation (you know, it's everywhere) are, of course, bummed that we lost, but the dark veil of despair really comes crashing down with the realization that this is the very last, yes, the final, the finale, the last dance with Tim Tebow and the football team's other incredible senior Gators.

And you know, quite frankly, it's easy to get accustomed to this winning feeling. Oh that winning feeling! We've been fortunate here in G-ville. So all we humbly request is a few moments to regroup, recoup, and clear our minds....and whack away at the air of despair!

The Hipp is Hot for the Holidays....

...perhaps a bit too hot! One of the stage curtains at the Hippodrome State Theater, in the heart of historic downtown Gainesville -- caught fire Wednesday evening! Thankfully everyone is fine and so is the theater so run don't walk to enjoy a production of either of their incredible holiday stage productions....for the classic-seeking theater aficinado, "A Christmas Carol" is a perfect choice. For those seeking to blend giggles and jingle bells, the Hipp's original production of "A Tuna Christmas" fits the bill to a tee.

Gift yourself or some well-deserving friends and family with a ticket to the Hipp for the Holidays!