Harn Museum of Art

The Harn Museum of art is located on 3259 Hull Rd, near the Curtis M. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts at the University of Florida. This museum is very large exceeding over 86,000 square feet and it contains: three gardens, an auditorium, a study center, a store, a cafe and several classrooms. The large space gives room to house over 9,000 collections and exhibits.

The museum has been around since 1990 and was named after Samuel Peebles Harn. Harn’s family donated over $3,000,000 to the construction of the museum making it the largest private gift ever given to UF at that time. Later on in 2005 the museum opened The Mary Ann Harn Cofrin Pavilion, named after Harn’s daughter, which extended over 65,000 square feet.

The museum exhibits encompass history, architecture, technology, modernism, cubism and much more. The museum collaborates with UF students in order to put the exhibitions together. However The Harn Museum of Art is known to have some famous works of art as well. The picture to the left is an original Claude Monet painting from 1890 which the museum houses. The painting is called Champ d’avoine which is French for Oat Field.

The Harn Museum is open every day of the week except Mondays, and its admission is free for all visitors. It is the perfect cultural experience for someone on a budget. For further information on the museum and its exhibits visit http://harn.ufl.edu/explore. For any personal questions refer to the about portion of the blog for methods to contact me by.

Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo

This zoo is located in Santa Fe Community College. It is the home to over 70 different species of animals, and it provides people with the opportunity to get up close and personal with animals they would have never otherwise had the chance to see. It also presents students who are studying zoology the opportunity to get hands on experience within their major.

The Santa Fe Teaching Zoo also hosts events that collect donations for charity while providing families with a chance to have fun. However the zoo’s main attraction is its animals, and it hosts a plethora of wild ones. The University of Florida’s mascot is being held here, an alligator over 10 feet long. Alligators, unlike most reptiles, have four chambered hearts which make them similar to mammals.

Along with UF’s mascot the zoo is home to this nation’s symbol of liberty and freedom, a Bald eagle. Bald eagles used to be an endangered species, luckily that is no longer the case. The eagle kept at the zoo has been rehabilitated from injures it sustained during its time in the wild.

Another interesting fact regarding this zoo is that unlike most other zoos the Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo allows some of its animals to roam around freely. The Peacocks walk amongst some of the other animals and visitors as they please, they are not caged like they usually are in fair shows or petting zoos.

The Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo is the only zoo in Gainesville but it lives up to its name. It provides visitors with an unforgettable experience and many injured animals with a second chance at life. Admission prices vary but will not exceed more than 5 dollars. For further information on opening hours, directions and group rates visit their website at http://www.sfcollege.edu/zoo/index.php?section=visit_information. For any personal questions refer to the about portion of the blog to find a method to contact me by.

Leonardo’s Pizza

 

Most commonly referred to as Leo’s Pizza, Leonardo’s Pizza is located on 1245 W University Ave. This pizza is one of the most popular amongst students at the University of Florida campus. Leo’s is located near the campus however that is not the only reason behind its popularity, its pizza is said to be one of the best in the city.

Its menu ranges from salads to pizzas to some of the most amazing garlic rolls you will ever have. What makes this pizzeria stand out is the diversity its menu offers, there is something for everyone. There is a large selection of pizza and its toppings vary from Greek, to Portobello to the the typical pepperoni just to name a few. A customer can even choose the thickness of his or her pizza.

Unlike most pizza establishments Leo’s offers variety in more than just its pizza toppings. Leonardo’s Pizza could be considered more of an Italian restaurant than a pizzeria. It offers a large variety of calzones and pastas. It even offers combos that allow you to have more than one course with you meal. Let us not forget the delicious salad alternatives for the days a lighter meal is preferred.

Ana Castro, 18, history major at UF eats frequently at Leo’s Pizza. “I love this place, it’s the perfect place for me treat myself at after a stressful test,” she said. “The one thing that could be better than its food is its affordable prices, it’s a good place to go to on a budget.”

For further information on the menu, location and prices visit http://www.leonardosgainesville.com. For any personal questions please refer to the about portion of the blog to find methods to contact me by.

University of Florida Bat Houses

The University of Florida Bat Houses are located near the Student Agricultural Gardens, and are the home to Brazilian free-tailed bats. The Brazilian free-tailed bat, also known as the Mexican free-tailed bat, has a life expectancy of around 11 years, and its diet mostly consists of insects.

These bat houses were built as a means of providing the bats that live in the city a safe habitat. Originally the location where the bat houses currently reside in belonged to a building called Johnson Hall. This hall’s attic was so large that it use to house most of the bats, however in 1987 a fire burned the building down leaving the bats with no where to live.

After the fire the bats relocated to the bleachers of the Percy Beard Track and Field Stadium. This new location was not a good habitat for the bats and put spectators in harms way, because bats are infamously known for carrying Rabies. Luckily Lee Bloomcamp built the University of Florida Bat Houses in 1991 and they became fully occupied by the Brazilian Free-tailed bats in 1995.

These bat houses are currently the world’s largest housing over 250,000 bats. However what makes these houses such a spectacular sight is what happens 20 minutes after sunset. The Brazilian Free-tailed bats emerge from the houses all at once to exercise and feed on local insects. Spectators are asked to keep a safe distance from them but the conservation area is built in a way that allows visitors to feel like they are up close and personal with the bats.

For more information on the University of Florida Bat Houses and for safety tips visit https://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/index.php/bats/home/. For more details on the Brazilian free-tailed bat visit http://www.nsrl.ttu.edu/tmot1/tadabras.htm. For any personal questions refer to the about portion of the blog for methods to contact me by.

Lake Alice

Lake Alice is located inside the University of Florida near Museum Road. The Lake Alice Conservation Area nears 130 acres and it is home to a large variety of wildlife, however it is but it is best known for housing alligators. It also has a large array of plant species, bottomland shrubs being the most common.

Along with being such an aesthetically pleasing location, Lake Alice is UF’s storm water utility. During heavy rainfall most of the water found on campus flows into the lake to prevent flooding. Most of Lake Alice’s beauty can be seen from shore, however there is a bridge that allows its visitors to stand over the lake in order to get a closer view. Benches are set up near by for spectators or students who want to go read somewhere other than the library.

Lake Alice’s popularity proceeds it making it a very popular location to tailgate at on game day. A wide variety of people tailgate there, from students to families, making it easy to find coolers, barbecues and tents all set up near each other when the Gators play. Lake Alice’s popularity could come from its history. Historians believe that the people who used to live in Alachua county during 1000 AD lived along the shore of Lake Alice.

If its wild life and historical significance isn’t enough its beauty makes it one of the most memorable spots on campus.For further information on Lake Alice visit http://www.facilities.ufl.edu/planning/calm/plans/lake_alice/lake_alice.pdf. For more details on the lake’s history visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Alice_(Gainesville,_Florida). For any personal questions refer to the about portion of the blog.

The Swamp

Located on 1642 W. University Ave, The Swamp, has a central location near the University of Florida campus. The Swamp is the perfect place to go to on any occasion, not only is it a great place to eat but its flat screen T.Vs and its fluorescent bar make it the perfect place to go on game day.

The variety the restaurant has to offer is best showcased by its menu. The Swamp gives its customers the opportunity to create their own burger from scratch, it also offers healthier alternatives from a variety of salads to its signature wraps. The bar has signature drinks and a jukebox for all of those not interested in eating in the restaurant’s outdoor seating area.

Having been around for over 15 years, The Swamp is considered to be a historical site. Every time the Gators win the championship The Swamp is one of the most popular places to visit and go celebrate the victory at. It should come as no surprise that due to its history The Swamp has been the host to many weddings.

The restaurant is open seven days a week from 11 a.m to 2 a.m. For further details on its menu, or for information on how to make reservations visit http://www.swamprestaurant.com. For any personal questions refer to the about section of the blog.

Ben Hill Griffin Stadium

   

Probably known as one of the most memorable sites in the University of Florida, Ben Hill Griffin Stadium is where the Gator football team plays all their home games. The stadium does more than house 80,000 people; it has concession stands, and a Gator Sportshop to stock up on your Gator gear.

On a typical day you could see students exercising there, the stairs that run a long the bleachers provide the perfect opportunity to change up a regular work out routine. However on a game day you see thousands of people sporting their team colors and screaming at the top of their lungs.

Ben Hill Griffin Stadium is more than a pastime it’s a historical landmark; famous football players ranging from Cris Collinsworth to Tim Tebow have all walked in its hallways. It was built in 1930 and it’s considered to be the 12th largest stadium in the nation. Its current nickname “The Swamp” came from the 1990s football coach Steve Spurrier. Spurrier once said “. . . a swamp is where Gators live. We feel comfortable there, but we hope our opponents feel tentative. A swamp is hot and sticky and can be dangerous. Only Gators get out alive.”

Further information on the history of the stadium and its name can be found on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Hill_Griffin_Stadium. However for directions, ticket information, scheduling and much more visit http://www.gatorzone.com/facilities/bhgriffin. For any personal questions you can refer to my about page for methods of contact.