Can't Wait to Move Back!
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2/3/2010
I moved to Gainesville with a friend right after graduation, and fell in love with the area. The people are incredibly friendly--which was a little unnerving after living in cold-shouldered north. The cost of living is low, with good apartments readily available, and the town is visually beautiful. With the university in town and all the forest preserves and historical sites around it, there's lots of sight-seeing venues. There are also many cultural events available in the town and through the university. The shopping is good, for both specialty items and plain old groceries. I've lived all over the country, and Gainesville had the best deals on food (particularly meat) I've ever seen. I really miss going to the grocery store, buying crab legs for $2lb, and having them steamed for me while I shop. Which reminds me, if you're passing through Gainesville, stop at David's Barbecue. They make the best BBQ I've ever eaten. I still special order bottles of their sauce.
Gainesville is in the heart of everything north-central. It's located 90 minutes from either cost and Orlando. It's 4 hrs to Tallassee and 3 to Tampa. I can get to Atlanta, GA (another great city) in 5 hrs. Gorgeous Hart Springs and Manatee Springs are located just an hour away. The Devil's Millhopper and Alachua Botanical Gardens are located right in Gainesville. On a more practical note, being in the middle of the state means that Gainesville rarely feels the worst effects of the hurricanes that often hit the coastline. It's a great home base, with easy access to all of Florida's hot spots.
Beth | Vernon Hills, IL