Day Trip to Gainesville
Let’s get right to it. I went to Gainesville for the day, so here are the places I went.
Afternoon
I had a feeling that Afternoon was likely a popular spot for Gainesville locals, but I wasn’t expecting a line wrapped around the inside at 11:00 AM on Friday. Despite the wait at this cute breakfast and brunch cafe, the line moved quickly, and our food came out in less than 10 minutes. The menu is small and simple but makes for the perfect satisfying breakfast. We shared the Classic breakfast and the Dutch Baby, with Florida oranges and thyme. It was so good, not to mention the gingersnap latte was on point. Would recommend!
There is indoor and outdoor seating and a parking lot (no need to street park).
Satchel’s
I counted at least seven Satchel bumper stickers on the road as we drove around Gainesville. Something told me this was a spot beloved by locals. The restaurant is very reminiscent of the vibes at Yellow Dog Eats (minus the dogs). Very funky and colorful, a bit mismatched and eclectic, but in the best way possible. We got to eat outside in their converted bus (if you are really tall, you probably won't have much leg room). They make their own sodas, so there are no Pepsi or Coke products here, but once I tasted their root beer, I was sold on their drinks.
The pizza honestly was nothing rave-worthy. We got the "Major," which came with pepperoni, mushrooms, sausage, green peppers, and onions, and we 86'd the black olives. The sauce was a little sweet for my liking, and the crust didn't hold the toppings well. I should have made my own pie and not loaded it so much, and also, once I saw a salad for another table walk past me, I was kicking myself for not ordering one. All things considered, it was still decent, and the whole pie was consumed. The service was excellent, as was the ambiance.
Cry Baby’s Bar
Cry Baby’s is owned by the same people who fed me a delicious breakfast at Afternoon, and they also own the sister bar next door, which has live music and more of an upscale vibe. Still full from lunch at Satchel’s, we didn’t get any food, but we did get an old-fashioned and a cherry coke old fashioned from their seasonal cocktail menu. I really wish I had been hungry because the food looked so good, and I wanted the complete experience. Both bars are gorgeous, the drinks were good, and so was the service, so I will definitely go back on my next trip. Bonus - Cry Baby’s has outdoor seating.
Wyatt Coffee
I can’t tell you much about Wyatt Coffee because I just ordered my drink to-go and bounced. I got the seasonal Smoked Mexican Mocha, it was delicious, and the baristas were chill. I was glad I stopped and would probably visit again when in Gainesville.
23 WORMHOLE BOOKS AND MUSIC
I love a good used book store, so I stopped inside 23 Wormhole. I immediately found an old copy of Kurt Loders “Rock & Roll in the age of Celebrity) which for me was a score. It’s not a huge shop, but easy to navigate.
Repurpose Project
I had seen a video of the Repurpose Project on Tik Tok and it looked worthwhile, so we went there after breakfast. There is an outdoor area with many items someone could use to repurpose and reuse, from wheelchairs to bikes to outdoor equipment. Inside was row after row of organized bins of anything you could imagine. Fabrics, electronics, party supplies, art supplies, jewelry, cassettes, the list could go on and on. If I were a teacher, I would come here and stock up on things I could use in the classroom for a fraction of the price. While I found some cool items, there was nothing I absolutely needed, but I appreciated this concept so much.
Serpentine
Sometimes when you see yet another plant shop, you can tend to sigh and say, “another one,” even if you love plants. But, as soon as I stepped inside Serpentine, I thought, this is a plant shop done right. Gorgeous plants covered the shop, but there was also a nice variety of gifts that spanned food items, home decor items, and more. I grabbed a purple cloud mug for myself and noticed that Serpentine is also a wine bar, which is why there are tables outside. Visit this spot if you go to Gainesville, it gives instant serotonin, and it’s right across the parking lot from Afternoon.
Florida Museum of Natural History
This isn’t a huge museum, but it’s free and and a nice place to break up the day. To enter the Butterfly Rainforest you have to pay a $12 (less if you qualify for a discount) and despite not being free, it’s quite enjoyable. I’ve been to other enclosed butterfly gardens where you barely see them, but this area was covered and we probably saw 70+ butterflies. They land on you, fly around you, and sunbath in groups. It’s quite the sight to see and worth the money in my opinion.
I wanted to also visit the Kanapaha Botanical Gardens, but ran out of time. I’ve been to that garden before and would recommend that as a place to visit as well.
Thrifting + other shops
Places I went for thrifting:
Flashbacks Recycled
Haven Thrift
