Do you frequently look out the window during class? Have you cursed the sunny days you’ve had to spend inside? Do you carry hiking boots or a bathing suit in your backpack, just waiting for the right opportunity to slip them on and detach from responsibility?

Then you’ve come to the right article! Here is a list of things that will keep your life as adventurers very interesting, helping you to find some fun things to do in Gainesville besides eat and go to football games.

1. Take a tube down the springs

Whether you’re hanging out with friends, on a date, or need a scenic location to take a nap, the springs are a good place to go. There are Ginnie, Ichetucknee, Poe, and Juniper springs, among other springs. Simply drive up (all are about 45 minutes from UF’s campus), bring or buy a tube, and head to the river. You won’t regret it!

2. Animal Watching on La Chua Trail

If you just want a short break from your studies (or a long break if you’re willing to ride your bike 6 miles along the bike trail), check out the La Chua Trail—home to alligators, bison, wild horses, butterflies, and a variety of birds! The address is:

4801 CAMP RANCH RD.
GAINESVILLE, FL 32641

3. Devil’s Milhopper: A View Like None Before

Devil’s Milhopper Geological State Park features a 120-foot sinkhole filled with water. Resembling a small rainforest with lush vegetation and small streams running alongside it, this site cannot compare to any other. The address is:

4732 Millhopper Rd, Gainesville, FL 32653

4. Snorkel in Devil’s Den

Devil’s Den is a 120-foot in diameter spring hidden inside a cave. You can rent scuba diving and snorkeling equipment and dive under the refreshing 72-degree water, plunging to depths as far as 54 feet. For more information, check out http://www.devilsden.com/

5. Toss a Football at Lake Wauberg’s North and South Sides

I personally come here often, whether with friends or organizations. On Sunday mornings, you can watch the UF Concrete Canoe team race their canoes, and on hot afternoons you can find people lounging or enoing near the lake.

Lake Wauberg is good for picnics, tossing a frisbee, really any sports. The South side specializes in boat rentals (sailboats, kayaks, canoes, paradise boats), and swimming, while the North side contains a rock climbing wall and other ropes courses. It’s free for all UF students, so definitely go before you graduate!

6. Swing from a Tree at Bob’s River Place

Probably the sketchiest water park of all time, but that’s what makes it so great. At Bob’s River place, you can swing from rope swings up to 30 feet in the air, sing country karaoke, jump off a dock, leap off an incredibly thin and shaky branch around 40 feet above the water, among other activities. A terrific place to spend a whole day, if you ask me, especially if you bring snacks and don’t mind a few scrapes.

7. Geocaching!

If you have no money, no car, and no food, this game is a great pastime! Geocache is an app that allows you to track small hidden canisters ranging in size from a highlighter cap to a square lunch box.

When you find one of these canisters, or “geocaches”, you will sign a note inside and exchange a toy if there is a toy inside it. Geocaching is best played at night, as people will question you if they see you peering under benches or fire hydrants.

If you are still looking for things to do, check out the Outdoor Adventure Recreation Club (OAR). They plan exciting trips from hikes to camping in Tennessee.

Anyway, hopefully, these ideas cure your adventurer’s itch, and have fun exploring!