A 10-day Homecoming Trip to Vibrant Gainesville, Florida

For most, a trip to Gainesville, Florida means South Eastern Conference Football Saturdays or attending classes at the University of Florida. For me, A 10-day Trip to Gainesville was a chance to return to my hometown.

This North Florida city is where I grew up playing outdoors under the canopied oaks until the streetlights came on signaling supper time. We hung out at friends’ houses and played tag only to stop and cool off with a drink of water direct from the garden hose. We chased the mosquito fogger around on bikes breathing in all those fumes. It was actually one of my favorite childhood memories. Looking back, the ice cream truck was probably the better option. Those same cycles took us all over town and we knew every shortcut.

I moved from Gainesville after graduating from the University of Florida and have been working in what folks call a career. Now, as I accumulate more retirement years, I wanted to take a long-overdue 10-day trip home to Gainesville but my oh my Gainesville has certainly changed.

Downtown Gainesville is being revitalized and the city has earned a reputation as being a place to get an amazing meal. Historic buildings are being repurposed and now house new hotels, clubs, coffee shops, and entertainment venues. These efforts are paying off and bringing folks back to Gainesville’s Downtown University Avenue and Main Street area.

Day 1: Thursday Arrival & Dinner at Mojo Hogtown BBQ

When you mention Bar BQ to a Gainesville native, memories surface of stopping in at Sonny’s Fat Boy’s Barbecue in the late sixties and seventies next to the bowling alley on Waldo Road. This is where Sonny Tillman was smoking pork, beef, and chicken. The tantalizing aroma would carry for miles. This started the largest BBQ restaurant chain in the United States.

I’m probably going to get a lot of heat for this from the locals, but it is high time to treat your taste buds to a different style that combines a bourbon bar with pulled pork shoulder, beef brisket, and dry-rub ribs. These American products come together in downtown Gainesville at MOJO Hogtown Barbecue. Their fall-off-the-bone brisket is finger-licking good. (Where have I heard that before?)

Mojo Hogtown Bar-B-Que offers each type of regional barbecue from St. Louis Spareribs to North Carolina Pulled Pork. You will think you have died and gone to barbecue heaven.

One way to sample it all is to order the ” Whole Hog” which is a combination platter consisting of pork, beef, chicken, turkey, and sausage. It comes loaded with sides and is large enough that it can be shared with the whole table. In addition to every type of sauce you could want, they also have an excellent bourbon and craft beer selection. Don’t forget the banana pudding. One of these velvety smooth desserts is big enough to share.

MOJO Hogtown Barbecue 12 SE 2nd Ave, Gainesville

Day 2: Friday Breakfast at Krispy Kreme Donuts

This favorite donut shop has been luring customers to its Gainesville location since 1968. If you drive past the shop on NW 13th Street and see the “Hot Light” on, you will know that the donuts here are now at their freshest and coming off the line.

This locally-owned donut shop pumps out pastries at around 30,000 doughnuts a day. They open 24/7 so you can enjoy those doughy dollops any time your sweet tooth hits you. One taste and you will experience the pure heaven of a Hot Original Glazed Doughnut straight out of a “waterfall” of sugary warm glaze. Be very careful as these hot fresh doughnuts are super addicting!

Krispy Kreme Donut Shop: 306 NW 13th St, Gainesville

Homecoming Weekend

Exploring the University of Florida Campus

It’s Homecoming Weekend in Gainesville. The parade will start in a few hours which leaves plenty of time to take a leisurely stroll across the campus. Walking past the classrooms and libraries made me a bit nostalgic for my own college years here at the University of Florida. Wandering around brought back many memories of my time on campus.

Visitors can walk around campus and see unique spaces like the Plaza of the Americas. The Plaza is an area to hang out, study, and attend special events. If you happen to walk through when the Hare Krishnas are recruiting, you might be able to grab some lunch.

Across from the Plaza, is the Century Tower which stands 157-foot tall and houses 61 bronze carillon bells that play every quarter-hour. It is one of Gainesville’s most recognizable landmarks.

The University of Florida is the state’s largest university. Century-old majestic oaks frame red brick buildings providing shady spots for outdoor studying. Gothic archways connect buildings and areas of campus to each other.

University of Florida Homecoming Parade

We kicked off our 10-Day Trip to Gainesville on Homecoming weekend with the largest student-run parade in the country. This was always a huge event in Gainesville. In fact, the majority of the city shuts down for this event. Schools are closed and folks find their spot on the parade route to see the pageantry of the floats and the marching bands. That was then, but now there seems to be less participation by the fraternity and sorority houses. Hardly any floats like years past. Really was a disappointment for me compared to years past.

While everyone else headed to the O-Dome for Gator Growl, we decided that Flo-Rida was not quite our thing and opted to go back to our Airbnb to rest up for tomorrow’s game.

Day 3 Saturday: Homecoming Game Day

Florida Gator Football

There is something about a clear October Saturday in the South, the smell of barbecue, the getting together of family and friends with a touch of fall in the air that describes a College Football Saturday in Gainesville. It is something that has to be experienced.

We found pre-game festivities at Gator Walk Village, located on the stadium’s north lawn and featuring food trucks, games, and live music, plus the traditional Gator Walk. Fans form a line in front of the stadium prior to kickoff and the University of Florida marching band and cheerleaders hype the crowd as the team gets off the bus and marches into the stadium.

Walking out of the tunnel to the enormity of a college football stadium is an experience that everyone should experience at least once in their lives.

The whole town turns orange and blue on these football Saturdays. Old and New Traditions combine at the end of the third quarter with sing-alongs first with the crowd swaying back and forth to “We Are the Boys from Old Florida and ending with Tom Petty’s “I Won’t Back Down”.

Florida Football in the swamp is what keeps me coming back to Gainesville. It is the thread that has been in my life ever since I sold Cokes at the games in the sixties. This week is Homecoming and it is a perfect reason to return home. Going to a game is always one of the best things to do in Gainesville!

Dinner at Spurrier’s Gridiron Grille

After the ballgame was the perfect time to head over to Steve Spurrier’s Gridiron Grille to continue the party. Part restaurant, part football museum, the Gridiron Grille celebrates Gator football’s legacy of success. On display are trophies, helmets, photos, footballs, championship rings, and more that span Spurrier’s career. Enjoy an American-casual dining atmosphere and a rooftop bar overlooking the Celebration Pointe Promenade.

Spurrier’s Gridiron Grille 4860 Steve Spurrier Way, Gainesville

Day 4 Sunday: Morningside Nature Center

After a day full of loud Gator fans and Homecoming activities yesterday, I decided to make Sunday a day of peace and tranquility and to take a step back in time at the Morningside Nature Center. Morningside is one of the last remaining examples of fire-dependent longleaf pine woodlands in the area.

While most folks think that fires destroy the land, Morningside Nature Center is an example of how prescribed burning can benefit long-leaf pine forests. Fires keep the vegetation down to a minimum so that raging forest fires do not have the fuel to survive. Fire creates openings between the trees that allow wildflowers and animals to thrive.

This Living History Farm is focused on interactive experiences to carry visitors back in time, to what it was like to live on a simple homestead. It even has a barnyard full of chickens for eggs, sheep for shearing, and curious Jersey cows for milk.

The farm is comprised of a cabin, barn, and one-room schoolhouse surrounded by fields of corn, cotton, and sugarcane. This is North Florida the way it used to be before all the developers moved in. If you happen to visit on the first Saturday of each month (Sept-May) the Farm comes alive with live interpretive experiences. Oh, and just so you know. The farm is not open on Sunday, so I had to go back to visit the homestead. Good thing admission is FREE.

Morningside Nature Center: 3540 E University Ave, Gainesville

Brunch at The Paramount Grill

After spending the morning at the nature center we stopped by The Paramount for a leisurely Sunday brunch. The Paramount Grill provides a reasonably priced fine dining experience in a relaxed atmosphere. We ordered the banana, walnut, and fresh strawberry pancake with maple syrup and whipped honey butter and were informed that they were out of strawberries. They were able to use blueberries instead and created a pancake that was more like a griddle cake and was cooked to perfection.

The Paramount Grill: 12 SW 1 Ave, Gainesville

Dinner at Cedar River Seafood

You won’t find a waterfront restaurant with an amazing view here at Cedar River in Gainesville, but what you will find is delicious seafood and lots of it. I had the fried shrimp and I thought I was never going to get to the bottom of the pile of shrimp that was served on my plate.

Cedar River Seafood: 5141 NW 43rd St #101, Gainesville

Day 5: Monday Breakfast at Metro Diner

 The Metro Diner serves up delicious comfort food in a cozy atmosphere making it one of the most popular spots to get your first meal of the day. They offer a wide variety of breakfast items including the Breakfast Burrito, and the Metro Omelet. I went for the Fried Chicken and Waffles topped with powdered sugar and butter. That should be enough to get me through a day at the museum.

The Metro Diner: 2130 SW 34th Street, Gainesville

The Florida Museum of Natural History & Butterfly Rainforest

When I first visited the museum during my childhood, this museum was housed in the Seagle Building which was at the time the tallest building in Gainesville and was called The Florida State Museum.

The current location of the Florida Museum of Natural History is on the University of Florida campus and is open year-round. The complex is filled with everything from life-sized dinosaur bones to a living Butterfly Rainforest. On display are exhibits on Florida Fossils, South Florida natives and their environments, and information on Northwest Florida’s Waterways and Wildlife. Admission to the museum is free but there is a fee to enter the Butterfly Rainforest.

The Florida Museum of Natural History: 3215 Hull Rd, Gainesville

Monday-Saturday:  10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

The Butterfly Rainforest

The Butterfly Rainforest is home to hundreds of free-flying butterflies. Here you can explore lush pathways while hundreds of butterflies flutter around.

In addition to the winged crusaders, this magical 6,400-square-foot screened living exhibit also features birds from around the world, along with other animals including turtles and fish, all in a lush landscape of tropical trees and colorful flowering plants. The rainforest’s walking paths take visitors through a beautiful landscape of plants, flowers, and bubbling waterfalls.

The Butterfly Rainforest: 3215 Hull Rd, Gainesville

Dinner at Embers Wood Grill

Since this is a restaurant that is popular with celebrations, I tried desperately to think of a special occasion to dine at the Embers Wood Grill and came to the resolution that a Gainesville Homecoming was reason enough to dine at this popular restaurant. Just thinking about a prime filet mignon that is cooked to perfection made my mouth water in an instant.

After you finish your meal here top it off with a Flaming Creme Brulee for a delectable dessert unlike any other. If the weather is nice, dine next to the fountain on the outdoor patio and enjoy an after-dinner coffee.  

Embers Wood Grill: 3545 SW 34th St A, Gainesville

Day 6: Tuesday Morning Coffee at Wyatt’s

Gabe & Aleena opened Wyatt’s in 2018. These two are like family to me. No, really. My son William married Aleena’s sister Ary. They firmly believe that a loving and kind specialty coffee experience should be accessible to all people. In fact, they brew their own brand.

Now, I am normally a no-frills regular coffee guy but my barista “Dillon” suggested that I try “The Wyatt” which was very good. Located right downtown, Wyatt’s Coffee is the place to get a cold brew or latte. Oh, I almost forgot. They also have fresh pastries made by a very talented baker if you are looking for something sweet to go with your coffee.

Wyatt’s Coffee: 202 SE 2nd Ave, Gainesville

Paynes Prairie State Park – The La Chua Trail

I couldn’t begin to count the many times that I have crossed Paynes Prairie in an automobile but this was my first visit to the park on foot. Located at the North end of Paynes Prairie, the La Chua Trail is an excellent wildlife-watching site. “Chua,” the Timucuan Indian word for sinkhole, is a 3-mile trail from the Alachua Sink out to an observation platform in the prairie.  I was able to walk on an elevated boardwalk but due to flooding, the trail to the observation tower could not be accessed.

If you want to see a real alligator, the best place to see them is on the trail. Warning signs advise you not to get too close to the gators, and that the prairie is free-range. I did see one from the boardwalk who seemed oblivious that lunch was crossing his path. Or was he?

While the alligators were scarce for viewing during my visit, there were plenty of waterfowl willing to pose for the camera.

Gainesville’s Paynes Prairie State Preserve is also the home where the buffalo roam. There are bison, wild horses, and cattle roaming freely. I could see them from the observation tower at the park’s main entrance on the south side of the prairie, but they were too far away to get a good picture.

Better to leave Fido at home for this trip unless you want to learn what the term “Gator Bait” really means.

Paynes Prairie State Park: 100 Savannah Blvd. Micanopy FL

Meandering through Micanopy

After spending some time on the prairie, I headed south to a quaint historic town that time seemed to have forgotten. In Micanopy, huge oak trees draped in Spanish moss line Cholokka Boulevard. This is a great example of “Old Florida”. In fact, Micanopy is the oldest inland town in the state.

Antique shops line the rustic streets and the southern charm immediately draws you in. Micanopy’s downtown district is on the National Register of Historic Places. Take your time and hunt for treasures like unique gifts, books, antiques, and more.

The streets are quiet and lined with beautiful oaks, and worth a detour drive-by if you are in the area. 

Visit the sites where parts of the film “Doc Hollywood” and “Cross Creek” were filmed in Micanopy.

Dinner at Northwest Grill

After all the nature trails and small-town touring, I was in the mood for seafood. The Northwest Grill came highly recommended. Located off of North West 39th Avenue, this family-owned spot serves up the freshest seafood and uses locally sourced products to complement your meal. 

Northwest Grill: 5115 NW 39th Ave, Gainesville in Timber Village Shoppes

Day 7: Wednesday Breakfast at Maple Street Biscuit Company

Maple Street Biscuit Company, located in Butler Plaza, attracted me for morning breakfast for its comfort classics and biscuits made from scratch. I just had to try the Squawking Goat, which was featured on The Food Network. It’s a sandwich stuffed with all-natural fried chicken breast, fried goat cheese medallion, and pepper jelly. Now, you’re not going to be able to pick this gooey biscuit up and eat it. You are going to need a knife and fork to help you with this one. The biscuits are made fresh every day, with artisan flour, real butter, and a few other special ingredients. The jams and jellies are all house-made.

Maple Street Biscuit Company: 904 SW Archer Rd, Gainesville in Butler Plaza

Ichetucknee Springs State Park

Famous for its dazzling crystal clear waters, the Ichetucknee River offers all kinds of outdoor activities for a weekend getaway including swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving, canoeing, kayaking, and paddleboarding.

The most popular activity in the park is tubing which I did not get a chance to do on this trip, but there is nothing like floating on an innertube on a hot summer day watching nature go by, and listening to the sound of laughter echoing through the trees.

Ichetucknee Springs: 12087 Southwest U.S. 27 Fort White, FL

Dinner at Satchel’s Pizza

One of the most popular restaurants in Gainesville is Satchel’s Pizza. Eating here at Satchel’s is a restaurant experience. I almost expected to see Cheech & Chong tossing pizza in the kitchen. You can eat your pizza in a van, in a greenhouse, or under a plane at this quirky spot. They even have a playground for the kids. Satchel’s is known not only for its pizza pies but also for the items that were used to decorate the interior and exterior of the establishment.

We ordered our pizza topped with pepperoni and mushrooms and paired it with their homemade root beer. We shared one of their famous salads to go along with it. The wait can be long on a busy night, but the pizza is worth it. To top it all off, take a look at the dessert menu through your view master and order one of their sweet delights.

After eating, stop by the Lightning Salvage Junk Museum and take home that one-of-a-kind treasure, or shop in the toy store gift shop for retro toy choices. If you remember all the toy advertisements you saw on the back cover of your comic book, they probably have it here. YoYo’s, Joke Hand Buzzers, Whoopie Cushions, Lite Brite, Spinning tops, and Kazoos.

Satchel’s was a fun place to enjoy a pizza and look around. It was definitely one of the highlight dining experiences that we enjoyed during our stay in Gainesville.

Satchel’s Pizza: 1800 NE 23rd Ave, Gainesville

Day 8: Thursday Breakfast at Mi Apa Latin Cafe

For delicious authentic Cuban cuisine, we headed to Mi Apa Latin Cafe for breakfast. Mi Apa serves up traditional Cuban food made with the freshest ingredients. Their menu features a selection of all your favorite South American dishes, including classic Cuban sandwiches, burritos, breakfast pastries, and steak and egg bowls.

Mi Apa Latin Cafe: 114 SW 34th St, Gainesville

352 Walls & The 34th Street Wall

One of the things that I kept noticing in my travels around Gainesville was the magnificent works of art on the side of buildings. This is part of a project by the City of Gainesville called 352walls/The Gainesville Urban Art Project. These murals have turned otherwise plain boring building walls into massive works of art.

Murals such as these are becoming quite the sensation all over Florida and Gainesville is no exception. “All in all, it’s just another brick in the wall”, but these colorful works of art as a whole create stunning images. After seeing a few, I started to realize that these murals were telling stories, and I love a good story. If you like murals, you need to Take the Hobe Sound Mural Tour if you visit the east coast of South Florida.

But, the most famous wall in Gainesville is the 34th Street Wall. This gigantic mural spreads nearly a quarter mile in length, with a patchwork of different paintings that all change daily. Since 1979 artists have been leaving messages on the wall.

The Cade Museum for Creativity & Invention

How many times have you had a great idea only to let it just fritter away? I have had several good ones in my lifetime I am sure, but can’t remember what they were. You get the idea. Next time, I’ll come back to the Cade Museum for inspiration. This is where the spirit of invention and discovery is embraced for children and adults of all ages to bring out the inventor inside each of us. Curiosity is widely encouraged at the Cade Museum and there is a lot here to be curious about.

The museum is named for Dr. Robert Cade, a professor at the University of Florida and best known as the inventor of Gatorade, the most popular of all sports drinks. A permanent exhibit called “The Sweat Solution” explores the history of Gatorade, while rotating exhibits such as “Animation Land” focus on specific inventions and interactive demonstrations to keep each visit to the museum fresh and unique.

The beautiful and stately Cade Museum has a hands-on learning experience unlike anywhere else dedicated to future visionaries, inventors, and entrepreneurs. The Cade Museum provides visitors with exhibits, programming, and events to get their creative juices flowing. It is a space to explore old and new technology in different ways and have fun. Staff is always standing by to demonstrate and help you discover. Katelyn was happy to show me how an old printing press worked while Logan explained a new 3D printer.

Who knows, the next Thomas Edison might be your next-door neighbor.

The Cade Museum: 811 South Main Street, Gainesville

Depot Park

Just next to the Cade Museum is Depot Park. This popular downtown park features a train-shaped jungle gym, a splash pad area, and plenty of open space to walk, jog, or have a picnic. The southern half of Depot Park is a conservation area filled with wetlands and wildlife. Take a stroll through this natural area of the park but please stay on the path.

Depot Park: 874 SE 4th St, Gainesville

Dinner at Original American Kitchen

For dinner, we headed back to Downtown Gainesville to have dinner at the Original American Kitchen. OAK has a reputation for serving up locally sourced Southern comfort food with a modern twist. They have 16 self-serve craft beers on tap that are always on rotation and they charge by the ounce. Buy a card and help yourself. I had shrimp and grits which had too many roasted tomatoes for my taste. My son Will had the OAK Cheeseburger which he said was cooked to perfection.

Original American Kitchen: 15 SE 1st Ave, Gainesville

Day 9: Kanapaha Botanical Gardens

We arrived at Kanapaha when they opened at 9 a.m. to take a morning walk through 68 acres of beautifully landscaped botanical gardens. This is one of Gainesville’s most popular attractions and it has eluded me all these years, so I am glad I finally got a chance to visit. The gardens offer the most color during the summer months. The warmer months are also the season for Kanapaha’s famous giant Victoria water lilies. A few were still lingering around during our October visit.

Kanapaha has 24 major plant collections situated along two loops of well-marked walkways. The gardens include the state’s largest public display of bamboo.  As you walk through, listen to the whistling wind create an amazingly peaceful sound. 

As you walk through the paved pathway, you will enter into different lands which include Butterfly Gardens, Woodland Gardens, Water Gardens, Oriental Gardens, and the largest Herb Garden in the Southeastern United States. We came back to reality as we took the last turn through the Palm Hammock. Yes, we were still in Florida.

Kanapaha Botanical Gardens: 4700 SW 58th Drive, Gainesville

The Matheson History Museum

Where can you learn more about the people and events that shaped Gainesville’s history? Well, The Matheson History Museum of course. This small museum is where you can see a re-creation of the Matheson Country Store and several other permanent and visiting exhibits.

One of those visiting presentations that I wanted to see at the Matheson was John Moran’s “Return to Forever” exhibit. Between 1974 and 1978, the top concert venue in Gainesville was the Great Southern Music Hall, located inside the historic Florida Theatre on University Avenue.

The Great Southern played host to a who’s who of prestigious performers including Jimmy Buffett, Ray Charles, Muddy Waters, Bob Seger, Steve Martin, Ike & Tina Turner, John Prine, Firefall, Melissa Manchester, Minnie Ripperton, Randy Newman, Rush, Cheech & Chong and dozens more.

John Moran who was the Great Southern Music Hall house photographer contacted me about using a photo of Earl Scruggs that I took when he performed at the hall in 1976. Of course, I said. I would love to be a part of the display. John did a fantastic job of remembering a theatre that gave many musicians a spotlight and a music-hungry Gainesville audience to perform for.

The Great Southern Music Hall was just part of how the Florida Theatre played a part in my life growing up. I remember attending the RC Cola Summer Fun Shows where you could get in to see a movie for 6 RC Cola bottle caps. In addition, I saw major movies in this theatre and stood in long lines wrapped around the block for the big movie premieres. Now it stands boarded up like a pound puppy with sad eyes looking for a new owner and that next major renovation that will bring life to this great Gainesville theatre.

Matheson History Museum, 513 East University Ave, Gainesville

Dinner at Harry’s Seafood Bar & Grille

Harry’s Seafood Bar & Grill is a special place for me since this is where Brenda and I had dinner the night we got engaged. Even though this happened in St. Augustine instead of Gainesville, we still try and eat here at Harry’s when we are in town. The staff goes above and beyond to make all their guests happy. One even went outside of the restaurant with my camera to take our picture. Now, that is SERVICE!

Tonight, I ordered Harry’s Shrimp and Scallop Orleans which didn’t disappoint. It’s one of the signature dishes on the menu.

Harry’s Seafood Bar and Grill, 110 S E 1st Street, Gainesville

Take in a Show at The Hippodrome Theatre

We were not able to see a show here this visit, but check the schedule at the Hippodrome Theatre when you’re in town and see if you can catch a show. You won’t be disappointed. The Hipp offers live theatre, films, art gallery exhibits, classes, and special events throughout the year. The theatre is located in Gainesville’s Historic Federal Building, in Downtown Gainesville.

The Hippodrome Theatre: 25 SE 2nd Place, Gainesville

Free Concert Friday at Bo Diddley Plaza

If it’s Friday night stick around after dinner to listen to some great live music at Bo Diddley Plaza. “Morningbell” was playing some great tunes the Friday that I was there. When the weather is nice, bring your lawn chairs and stick around for a while.

Bo Diddley Plaza: 111 E University Ave, Gainesville

Day 10: Saturday Breakfast at The Flying Biscuit Cafe

Biscuits have long been a Gainesville favorite ever since Skeeters opened their doors in the seventies. Thankfully, you can still get a biscuit and pair it with eggs and grits at the Flying Biscuit Cafe. It’s comfort food with a southern twist. I loved the Cranberry Apple Butter spread so much, I took home a jar.

The Flying Biscuit Cafe: 4150 NW 16th Blvd, Gainesville

Florida Gator Football at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium

Well, we have come full circle this week. The plan was to visit Gainesville and attend two home football games on the trip. This is the second game that I attended during my ten-day Gainesville visit. I was able to get in touch with my childhood friend Bryant and pretty much crashed his tailgate party.

It was good to see him as we talked about old times growing up and all the things we did in old Gainesville. I would say, we pretty much caught up with a lifetime of living in about an hour. I am sure we had much more to catch up on but it was game time.

As these two teams battled it out on the field, the time was coming to a close on our 10-Day Homecoming trip to Gainesville and the Gators didn’t look like they were going to pull off a win. While hometown spirits were dampened, the crowd came together at the beginning of the third quarter to sing “We Are the Boys of Old Florida” and “I Won’t Back Down”. Old traditions continue and new Gainesville traditions are begun.