Nature Education and Recreation
See some of the many natural wonders that Gainesville and surrounding areas have to offer. This page is intended for reference and/or entertainment purposes only.

Florida Museum of Natural History - With more than 25 million specimens of amphibians, birds, butterflies, fish, mammals, mollusks, reptiles, vertebrate and invertebrate fossils, recent and fossil plants and associated databases and libraries, the Florida Museum is the largest natural history museum in the Southeast.

Santa Fe Community College Teaching Zoo - Santa Fe Community College students serve as tour guides through the forested trails of the only community college teaching zoo in the nation. Monkeys, wildcats and deer are among the 225 different mammals, birds and reptiles found at the 14-acre zoo.

UF Astronomy Teaching Observatory - Stargazers can enjoy a close-up view at the moon, Saturn and Jupiter at the UF Teaching Observatory on Friday evenings. One large telescope and several smaller telescopes are available. Astronomy computer software and slideshows also may be viewed.