Gainesville

Ok, so you have booked your tickets to the upcoming UF game, but you are not too sure about what to expect. I know what it is like going to your first new game, you are not sure about the chants, the colors to wear or even what mascots to expect to see bouncing up and down the pitch. 

The good thing about game day at the University of Florida is that it never changes. The rituals that are in place today have been going for years and things are only getting more enjoyable and wacky as time goes on. 

So what can you do to stop yourself from sticking out like a sore thumb as the “newbie” at the next University of Florida game day? Take a look at the following list of 5 rituals that you will have a blast taking part in at the game. Have a read over them in order to get familiar with everything that will happen when you arrive at the stadium.

Quick Facts and What You Need To Know

• The Florida Gators play American Football.
• The Florida Gators’ colors are orange and blue.
• The Florida Gators’ mascots are two alligators.
• Some of their chants and songs include “We are the boys” and “It’s great to be a Florida Gator”

Tailgating Before The Game

Only the best game day traditions start with a good ol’ grub up and thankfully the Florida Gators are all about loading in the carbs before the game. You can expect to see fans arriving early and pitching tents way before kick off in order to fire up a smoker and get some meat on a grill. Tailgating is a great way to get to know new football fans and helps to bring everyone together before the game starts. It also helps to ramp up the atmosphere ready for kick off.

Know All Of The Songs & Chants

Are you ready to lock arms? During the third and fourth quarter of the game, all of the fans lock arms and sway while singing to Florida Gators’ “We are the boys”.

Don’t forget the Gator fight song! – which celebrates the team’s colors – orange and blue. Make sure you have a listen to that one so you can sing along when you arrive at the stadium. Not only that, but I am sure you will hear the students shouting “Orange!” and “Blue!” back and forth to one another across the stadium as the match is being played. 

One of the most important chants is shouted when the Gators are winning, it helps to really stir up the emotions of the crowd. Fans will start to do “the chomp” – waving right arms over left before music is played and everyone chants in unison “Gator bait”!

Get Dressed In Gator Colors

You can’t turn up at a football game wearing the wrong colors, not if you wish to get out alive that is, so make sure you’ve got the Florida Gator colors imprinted in your mind – orange and blue. In fact, these colors are so important for the Gators that they are the name of their fight song!

If you fancy getting your paws on one of the sporty “Beat” shirts that Gator fans have then you will only need to pay a membership fee or participate in the “Beat” T-Shirt giveaway after a home game.

Meet The Most Awesome Mascots

Albert and Alberta are the team mascots that you must meet at your next University of Florida game. Albert and Alberta are plush alligators and are a great laugh on the pitch. But you may be wondering – why alligators? Alligators are commonly found throughout the state of Florida and were the inspiration for this teams’ mascots. Remember- it’s no real match without snapping a selfie with these two!

Attend The Gator Growl

When the football season begins all of the Florida Gators meet up at the stadium for a fantastic show with live music and fireworks. If you are looking for a great way to meet new Gators then you cannot miss this event!

Conclusion

So before you attend your very first University of Florida Gators game, make sure you get savvy on all of the Gator traditions so that you can join in on all of the fun. 

Make sure you do all of the following so that you can have the very best Gator experience:

• Arrive early to the match so that you can start tailgating, chow down on some grub and meet new fans.
• Learn the songs and chants to be able to sing along with the rest of the Gators.
• Pick up a “Beat” T-Shirt and dress in the Gator colors – orange and blue.
• Snap a selfie with the best alligator mascots in football.
• Attend the Gator growl to start the football season off with a bang.

If you are somewhat of a festival junkie, then you should definitely check out the awesome festivals held in Gainesville Florida. Festivals in Gainesville go far beyond your run of the mill music festival, as a large number of festivals held in Gainesville are cultural events, with opportunities to learn something new displayed in a fun and adventurous way. Festivals held in Gainesville Florida often include craft shows, art festivals medieval fares and more.

But don’t get me wrong as Gainesville Florida also know how to throw a great party and also hold many beer festivals, music festivals and jest fests throughout the course of the year. 

Are you ready to see what is awaiting you at the next festival in Gainesville Florida? Then take a look at the following list of the very best festivals you would be nuts to miss out on.

Art Festivals In Gainesville

• Spring Arts Festival.

Held at Santa Fe College, the Spring Arts Festival in Gainesville is one of the most popular educational festivals in the state. 

The festival is an annual event held at the college and has already been running for over 50 years. The festival takes place during the spring month of April, to celebrate the changing seasons with some of the best artwork. Admission is usually free to get into the festival and each year brings some bright and colorful artwork in the form of paintings, sculptures, handmade jewelry, and crafts not to mention live jazz music that perfectly matches this outdoor festival and inspires art lovers.

• The Downtown Festival and Art Show.

The Downtown Festival and Art Show is very popular. It has been running for almost 40 years and draws in crowds of more than 80,000 thanks to the fantastic art quality displayed at the festival and the magical atmosphere.

At this festival, you can expect a first class mix of vivid oil and acrylic paintings, relaxing watercolors, delicate sculptures, artisan jewelry, jaw dropping photography and more. All of this mixed together with fantastic food trucks that will help you to get the most out of this two day festival. 

Food and Drink Festivals In Gainesville

• Hogtown Craft Beer Festival

If you are a fan of a pint or two then you will love the Hogtown Craft Beer Festival held in Gainesville Florida. 

Do you fancy trying your hand at brewing your own beer at home? Then you will love the homebrewing demonstrations at this festival that will let you in on all of the tips and tricks that will help you make the very best homemade pint ever tasted. 

Not only that, but you will also be able to enjoy a drink of local and national craft beers that will tickle your tastebuds this festival season. 

To top it all off, you will be able to sit back and sip a pint while unwinding to the best live music and enjoy the flavors of the on-site food trucks.

My favorite thing about this event is that there is no entry fee charged for those who will enter as designated drivers, making this a great event for everyone (over 21 of course!).

• Embers Wood Grill Wine And Food Festival.

Introducing you to one of the newer festivals to pop up in Gainesville Florida, but boy has it made an entrance as a fantastically flavorsome food and wine festival. 

Unwind throughout three days on site sipping the finest wine and tucking into the most exquisite and gourmet food. It doesn’t get any better than sitting back and listening to the sounds of live music and sampling some of the most flavorsome and palatable wines from the Jordan and Napa valleys. 

Not a big fan of the red? Not to worry, as at this festival you will have the opportunity to choose from hundreds of drinks, also including an extensive array of champagnes and liquors that have been carefully selected to complement and enhance the fine taste of the food on the menu.

Animal Festivals in Gainesville

• Bat Festival.

Every year around Halloween, you will be able to enjoy the sights of a bat festival in Gainesville. Not only will you be able to learn more about these magnificent creatures, but you will also be able to catch sightings of some of the most interesting bats native to the area. 

Make sure your RSVP as this event is popular!

• Butterfly Festival.

Are you ready to take a trip down to the Florida Museum of Natural History? This annual festival is massively popular with families as you will be able to see some of the most colorful and delicate butterflies and snap pictures of the beauties flying around gracefully in an eye catching scenery. 

If you are a butterfly fan, you will also love a special part of this festival that will teach you a few tricks and tips on how you can attract more butterflies into your backyard.

If you are planning a short visit to High Springs Florida, I am sure you will want to make sure you get as many fun filled activities as possible packed into your itinerary. But with a list of so many fantastic things to do at High Springs, how can you be sure which ones will make for the very best experience this year? 

That is where I have your back as the following article has been jam packed full of unbeatable things for you to do during your next visit to High Springs. Choose your favorites and then ready, set, go! The good times await you!

Ginnie Springs

First up on the list of absolutely breathtaking sights and memory-making fun things to do at High Springs is to pay a visit to Ginnie Springs – the perfect place to be if you and your party would like a taste of the fresh outdoors and don’t mind getting your feet wet. 

Ginnie Springs is located on the south side of the Santa Fe River and features 7 picturesque, transparent springs, and deep, exciting, and entwining caverns. This is the perfect place for snorkeling, scuba diving, and just plain old swimming if you fancy. You can also have a go at tubing down the springs, canoeing, kayaking, paddle boarding, and even try your hand at the most popular spring-side games such as volleyball! There is no shortage of activities here!

If you are looking to combine a great time with a little time unwinding to the max then you will love the springs and their natural and peaceful landscapes. Sit and have lunch to the sound of rushing water while overlooking some of the many winding caverns and majestic forests. 

If you are up for extending your family outing or time with friends, then you can also camp at the site down at Ginnie Springs with all of the camping features you need to really make your stay comfortable, memorable, and worthwhile.

Gilchrist Blue Springs State Park

Another unmissable destination while traveling through High Springs is Gilchrist Blue Springs State Park. The state park contains a number of natural springs featuring crystal clear water – the perfect place for spotting the most precious wildlife including, turtles, a number of different species of fish such as redbreast, spotted sunfish, catfish, bluegill, and many more. This a great place to practice and hone your fishing skills 

Feeling peckish at the park? Not to worry as the site has a concession stand that sells fresh food and drinks to make your stay even more pleasant. 

There’s no time for standing still at this park – take a walk on a nature trail, go paddling, explore the sights at the sandy beach and much more!

The Best Restaurants In High Springs

If you are looking to spend some time in High Springs Florida then, of course, you cannot be without something to eat. Where can you find some of the best restaurants in town? Take a look at the following mini list of two restaurants that will not fail to knock you off of your feet thanks to their great tasting food and marvelous restaurant atmosphere.

• The Great Outdoors Restaurant.

Easily one of the most popular restaurants in High Springs is the Great Outdoors Restaurant. It is always packed and opens its doors to repeat customers around the clock – they must be doing something right!

One of my favorite things about this restaurant is that it has live music evenings, the perfect way to set the tone while you tuck into their mouth wateringly delicious grub. Thursday’s are happy hour all day, so if you are a fan of a cocktail or…three, make sure you get down there on the most important day of the week.

• The Diner.

Are you looking to chow down on some all-American classics? Then you should definitely take a trip down to The Diner during your stay at High Springs. Their classic diner atmosphere is fun and upbeat and has an awesome young vibe, great for families and groups of friends. 

High Springs Museum

Do you fancy taking a step back in time? Then you will be enchanted by a trip to the High Springs Museum in Florida. 

This museum is dedicated to taking a look back at life in the 1800s to the early 1900s and has an enthralling exhibit on “The Railroad Center” revealing everything there is to know about this core element in High Springs’ history. Take a careful look at the collectibles and antiques from that era that have shaped High Springs and made it the way it is today. 

Conclusion

There are so many things to do at High Springs! If time permits, I would thoroughly recommend visiting each of the attractions mentioned in this article. But some of the most famous of course, the iconic springs featured around High Springs are definitely the most important attractions to visit and are worth prioritizing.

If you are anything like me, you simply love going for a bike ride. There is nothing that will help you put a spring in your step better than going for a quick whizz around your local park and soaking in the breathtaking view of the morning sunrise and listening to the birds chirp on the trees in the morning before peddling back to the house and getting ready for work. 

I try to incorporate biking into my daily routine, although I can’t bike to work because it is simply too far, I often try riding my bike to the station and getting public transport into the office and then riding the bike back home. I also love taking the kids out with me on biking trails at the weekend and then stopping off for something tasty to eat before traveling back home.

Do you feel like you have exhausted your local bike trails and are looking for the very best bike adventures and picturesque sceneries to visit along your biking travels? Then take a look at the following article that will let you in on the very best Gainesville Florida bike trails that are perfect for families.

Bike Safety In Gainesville

Before you get out on the wide open road, you will probably want to find out more about bike safety in Gainesville and how you can keep you and your family safe while on the trail and while biking down busy streets. Take a look at the following tips that will keep you safe on your bikes this weekend.

• Bikes have the same rights as cars and are classified as vehicles by law in Florida so cyclists should come to a complete stop at stop signs, obey traffic light signals, obey the flow of traffic and traffic direction.
• Drinking while cycling is prohibited.
• Cyclists should also wear a helmet, have properly working brakes, use hand signals to indicate a change in direction and cycle no more than two abreast on roads to make it easier for vehicles to overtake.

Archer Braid Bike Trail

The Archer Braid Bike Trail is the perfect track for those who are looking to explore the sights between Gainesville and Archer. It is a 6.2 mile trail, the perfect length for those who would like to build up their stamina while riding. The trail is paved with asphalt making it a smooth ride for those who are looking for a peaceful and nontaxing escape into nature with family or friends. The trail passes through a majestic wood providing the perfect shade on warmer days and also allowing you to catch a glimpse of the awesome, natural scenery as you ride through the trail.

6th Street Rail Trail

Are you looking for a trail that is a little more challenging? Then you will love this 10 mile 6th Street Rail Trail that starts in the center of Gainesville Florida and then heads south. This trail is perfect for people of all skill levels and will help you to build up your stamina on a bike and push yourself to the limit. The trail is paved with asphalt making it an easier, smoother and more comfortable ride for those crossing it on a bike, on foot, or even on a skateboard. 

Dog-Friendly Trails In Gainesville

As you already know, finding a dog-friendly bike trail may not be as easy as it seems. Alligators are known to live in the many springs and lakes across Florida so it is important to choose a trail that is far away from any wetlands, riverbeds or bodies of water to help avoid hookworm infections. 

Here is a list of some dog-friendly trails in Gainesville that you will be able to enjoy with your bike and furry friend without worrying about any of the dangers mentioned above.

• Cofrin Nature Park. This nature park is well known for being dog-on-a-leash friendly and for being the perfect place to cycle around on your bike. The trail is half a mile long and is surrounded by a blissful creek and a quaint wooded area. The park is open every day from 7 am to 8 pm so that you can take advantage of the long evenings and the bright mornings to go for a quick ride with your canine friend.
• Alfred A. Ring Park. Another fantastic dog park with various benches and waste disposal trash cans. The trails in this park are more rustic and are easier for walking around rather than bike riding.

Conclusion

While biking through Gainesville make sure you visit the very best parks with paved paths and breathtaking views so that you can enjoy and soak in every moment with family and friends and maybe even your family pet. 

When biking through Gainesville make sure you have got all of your safety gear intact and be sure to follow the highway laws in order to stay safe on the roads.