The pressure of school, work and extracurriculars can get to be a lot, especially when it’s all within very small proximity to each other. Sometimes it’s just good to get away from Gainesville every now and then, and these are some road trips you can take using less than a tank of gas.
Micanopy: 20 minutes. We’ll start small. Micanopy is a tiny town a quick drive away from Gainesville and perfect to get away from the same two miles of this area. It’s cute and quaint, scenic for photos and has the original Blue Highway for some amazing pizza.
Cedar Key: 1 hour 7 minutes. This little coastal, cheerful city is a straight shot down Archer Road. The people are beyond friendly, and it’s filled with little shops and restaurants in the (one) part of town. There’s a museum dedicated to its historic value, and being near the water is always a plus.
St. Augustine: 1 hour 38 minutes. If you’re into history, St. Augustine is a must on the travel list. There are lots of historic places to visit, and the city is revered for the beaches as well. If you’re feeling a little more lighthearted, there’s also a Ripley’s there to visit.
Orlando: 1 hour 45 minutes. There’s always O-town, right? I can’t count how many times I’ve been to Orlando since coming to college — there’s always something fun and exciting to do there. Keep an eye on Ticketmaster to see if your favorite artist is coming, or travel for an Orlando Magic game. Not to mention the theme parks will be always be there forever and getting to eat at Shake Shack is worth the trip alone.
Tampa: 1 hour 57 minutes. I’m from a beach town near Tampa, so I might be a little biased in my fondness. Tampa is filled with plenty of cool coffee shops, museums (such as MOSI) and lots of good eats. My friends and I especially like Datz — if you go, I recommend the M&M doughnut.
Daytona Beach: 1 hour 59 minutes. Dubbed the world’s most famous beach, it’s a trip that everyone should make once during college. The hotels there are reasonably priced, so if you’d like to stay overnight, gather a group of friends to split the cost and make your way to the east coast. After a long day of lounging in the sun, Sloppy Joe’s for dinner is a delicious option (I still think about the taco salad I had from time to time), and the boardwalk is fun to see.
With a couple of suggestions to put in your GPS, make sure to make a playlist, pack a snack bag for the road and take that well-deserved break!
Photo credit: beachodat.blogspot.com