Things to do and see in Levy County and surrounding Gainesville & Ocala areas.
Outdoor Adventures
- Explore the Goethe State Forest on a hike or with the complimentary guest bicycles!
- Book a Manatee Tour with Crystal River Watersports! Black Prong guests and passholders get a special discount, just ask the front office!
- The Canyons Zip Line and Adventure Park offers a true canopy tour with two spectacular canyons and 4 lakes that make for an amazing zip lining adventures like no other!
- Devil’s Den Prehistoric Spring is a unique underground freshwater spring where visitors can swim, snorkel and scuba dive.
- Florida Springs Scuba is a full-service dive center located in the Heart of the Florida Springs in Williston, Florida. You’ll find everything you need in one convenient location central to many dive spots in Florida’s natural springs.
- Charter a fishing boat for in-shore and near-shore Gulf fishing in Yankeetown with Captain Mike Ashley with God’s Country Fishing Company.
- Take a coastal sunset boat tour in Cedar Key with Tidewater Tours! While you’re in Cedar Key, make sure to check out the historic Florida fishing town, known for excellent shellfish.
- Atsena Otie Key is a small island that was the original settlement of Cedar Key, but was destroyed by a hurricane, causing the settlement to relocate to where it is today. Atsena Otie is open to the public year round, and can be visited by kayak or dropped off by Tidewater Tours. Remnants of the old buildings can still be seen, along with concrete cisterns and foundation blocks. One of the most interesting sites is the historic cemetery that dates back to 1877.
- Kayak or float in an innertube down the crystal-clear Rainbow River or swim in the headsprings and explore the walking trails and spot waterfalls.
Drink & Dine
- Dine at Black Prong! The Bar & Grill features a full bar, specialty cocktails, and local steak and seafood. The poolside Tiki Bar offers unique Southern Fusion lunch and tropical beverages.
- Visit Homestead Park in Williston for tiny home boutique shopping, live music, beer and wine, and activities nearly every night of the week.
- Visit the World Equestrian Center for shopping, dining, and spectating equestrian competitions. With several restaurants on site, there is sure to be something to suit everyone’s taste.
- Cedar Key is a historic Florida fishing town, known for excellent shellfish! Tony’s Seafood Restaurant, Steamer’s Clam Bar & Grill, and Island Room Restaurant & Sandbar are all excellent options.
- Archie’s Woodfire Pizza is open seasonally and serves delicious thin-crust wood-fired pizzas in a cute outdoor setting strung with overhead market lights.
- The Ivy House is a Williston favorite for classic American fare.
- Willard’s is a local watering hole and the closest place to get a drink and a meal.
- Swampy’s Bar & Grill in Dunnellon has a unique open-air atmosphere, and beautiful views of the rainbow river, and serves up classic cocktails and pub fare with a seafood twist.
Area Sightseeing
- Cedar Lakes Woods and Gardens is a beautiful botanical garden with cascading waterfalls, 50+ garden displays, koi ponds, and countless breathtaking views!
- Silver Springs State Park is one of Florida’s oldest attractions and the home of the famous glass-bottom boat tours. Spend the day exploring the Silver River Museum and the Craker Village, or paddle down the Silver River for a chance to see the wild monkey population.
- The University of Florida Campus in Gainesville dates back to 1906, and has beautiful grounds to explore for Gator fans or prospective students. See the Ben Hill Griffith Stadium, the Reitz Union, Marston Library, Library West, and the Plaza of the Americas
- Paynes Prarie Preserve State Park offers the chance to see lots of Florida wildlife! Paynes Prarie is home to lots of birds, alligators, wild horses, and even bison. During the winter you have a great chance of seeing sometimes hundreds of Alligators sunning themselves.
- Visit the World Equestrian Center for shopping, dining, and spectating equestrian competitions. Whether you are a “horse person” or not, you will want to see this award-winning hotel and event facility.
- Historic Cedar Key is a fishing town and Florida’s second-oldest town that feels like stepping into the past. Enjoy fresh local seafood, antiquing, and boat tours.
- Rainbow Springs State Park has a swimming area in the spring, picnic areas, and walking trails with gardens and manmade waterfalls.
- The world’s largest occupied bat houses at UF in Gainesville is a sight to see! At dusk you can watch as nearly 500,000 bats take flight for a night of hunting insects.
Family Focused Fun
- Homestead Park in Williston has shopping, drinks, and dining in addition to a kids’ play area, and lots of fun daily activities.
- Amber Brooke Farms Williston welcomes visitors to enjoy a beautiful, one-of-a-kind blueberry, peach, strawberry, and sunflower U-pick & commercial farm. U-pick produce, and events depend on the season, so checkout their website to learn what’s going on!
- Kirby Family Farm is a unique property that features a historic locomotive train that dates to the 1800s. The do lots of seasonal-themed events throughout the year. Check out their events to see when you can visit!
- Two Tails Ranch gives you the chance to interact with elephants up close! This elephant rescue facility offers private guided tours where you can interact with the elephants on-site in addition to a range of other exotic animals.
- Florida Natural History Museum in Gainesville has limited-time-only special exhibits and eight permanent exhibits including the Butterfly Rainforest!
- Cade Museum for Creativity and Invention is named after Dr. James Robert Cade, the lead inventor of Gatorade. The museum has several permanent and rotating exhibits that explore creativity and invention through time.
- Santa Fe Teaching Zoo is coordinated by ten full time staff members, home to over 70 different species of animals and is maintained by about 100 students enrolled in the college’s premier Zoo Animal Technology program. The zoo showcases a diverse collection that contains both native and exotic species for everyone to enjoy. Visitors enjoy the Bald Eagles, White-throated capuchin monkeys, American alligators, Matschie’s Tree Kangaroo and Asian small-clawed otters to name a few.
