Holly Hargett

Beautiful hotel right on the beach with great access to the convention center across the street. If you are attending an event or convention, this hotel is your closest option. It's got all the Hilton amenities. It's Hilton pricing but ask for a Florida resident discount if you're local.

Great Orlando mall! It's got all the staple chains and is clean and new. Large food court and variety of stores and sit down restaurants.

This is a beautiful Florida beach! It can be touristy but the sand is still just right between your toes. Tons of shops and restaurants along the boardwalk. The pier has a Ferris wheel and other fun stuff to do too!

Pros: Close to Orlando for anyone in the 407!

Cons: Parking for any beach is difficult so plan ahead.

Fort Cooper has over 700 acres of land where you can enjoy hiking, canoeing, volleyball, horseshoes or just relax!

Good Mexican dishes from this family owned restaurant. They’ve got a great Margarita too!

Carrabba’s is always consistent and delicious. I love calamari and order it at different restaurants, but Carrabba’s contributes to do it best - hands down!

Great location in Downtown Gainesville. During game weekends they offer a free shuttle service. They're in walking distance to some of the best restaurants.

Cons: Parking can be challenging but that's typical for downtown. If you're lucky enough to snag the few street parking spots in front of the hotel, keep them and walk!

I just attended a wedding shower there and it was a perfect set up. It was a beautiful weather day so we were able to sit outside. Great food (love the balsamic drizzled chips!) and service was excellent. My cousins that live close by say it's a frequent hangout for them as they have enough variety to please everyone in their group. I'll definitely be back!

Cons: Limited street parking but if you don't mind walking a bit there is a ton of parking on the 1st floor of the apartments for restaurant guests.

If you're ready to ditch your electronics and get away to nature, this is the perfect spot! Enjoy fishing, scalloping and Florida's wildlife. A great getaway!

The Bo Diddley Plaza in Downtown Gainesville has just undergone a major renovation. It's a perfect outdoor venue for a large event. They're on University so you'll find plenty of restaurants and bars within walking distance.

This downtown library is a great resource. They host several events and its well-stocked enough that you should be able to find the books you're looking for.

This is a great breakfast spot, serving all the classics. Get there early on the weekends and especially a game weekend. Packed!

This is a great adults only formal dining experience. If you can leave the kids with Grandma, you'll really enjoy it!

This is a great way to get back to nature! So peaceful and quiet and you may see some wildlife too!

I can't say enough good things about the University of Florida. It's the top-ranked university in the state and gets national recognition. It has a wide variety of majors and several colleges receive national accolades. Since it's a state university, it's affordable too! Go Gators!!

Shands Hospital is top ranked in both the State of Florida and the country. It's a level one trauma center and a leading organ transplant center. It's a Gainesville treasure and wonderful for medical students to have access to such a great facility.

This is the premier off-campus housing at UF. Rent is pricey but you'll have a great location on the corner of University and 13th. It's where the original Burrito Brothers was located in the 80's. It's got a rooftop pool too!

I was at the hotel for a work conference so I didn't get to use all of the amenities but it's a beautiful hotel with solid customer service. I ate in the hotel restaurants twice and had good meals both times. I didn't get to try it but they have a lazy river! Seems like a great spot for the kids.