Where is High Springs in Florida?
Are you planning a trip to Florida and you want to check out some of our beautiful natural springs? You definitely want to add the charming small town of High Springs to your itinerary! Located only a short drive north of Gainesville in Alachua County, High Springs has everything you need for an unforgettable getaway.
Some of the best springs in the state are situated in High Springs, perfect for swimming, tubing, snorkeling, or kayaking. After a day on the water, visit one of the craft breweries or check out the locally-owned restaurants in town. Most have entertainment and live music scheduled nightly. Check out the best things to do in High Springs!
Things to Do in High Springs: Visit Local State Parks and Springs
If you love the outdoors as much as we do, you are in luck! High Springs is known as the “gateway to the springs” because there are many state parks and several natural springs around this area. Ginnie Springs is the most popular, probably because it is one of the clearest springs in Florida.
Other beautiful springs and parks in High Springs to add to your list:
- Poe Springs Park– Near Ginnie Springs. Has pavilions, grills, hiking, kayaking, paddleboarding and swimming in the spring. Small and intimate, Poe Springs is much calmer than Ginnie Springs. If you are paddling down the Santa Fe River, Poe is a great shaded area to stop for a picnic lunch! We brought our inflatable paddleboards down the boardwalk easily and enjoyed a shaded afternoon.
- Ichetucknee Springs State Park- 8 crystal clear springs for swimming, snorkeling, kayaking and tubing!
- Gilchrist Blue Springs State Park– Neighbors to Ginnie Springs, Blue Springs also follows the Santa Fe river. Great for swimming, snorkeling, kayaking, camping, and hiking.
- San Felasco Hammock Preserve State Park– 2/3 of the park is strictly reserved for hiking. Tons of shaded trails for walking, running, biking, and horseback riding.
The San Felasco Hammock Preserve is home to the Gate2Gate Trail Run each year. Runners can choose to do either the 25K or 50K on the pre-arranged trail, and the event sells out every year!
Downtown High Springs Breweries, & Restaurants
Great Outdoors Restaurant is in the heart of downtown High Springs on Main Street. The menu has everything from hand-cut steaks, crab cakes, and ahi tuna, to gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan options. (You have to try the smoked gouda mac and cheese!) And on most weekends you can hear live music out on the patio!
While you’re here, take some time to walk around and enjoy the small town shops in the area! You will find unique artisan gift shops, antique stores, and even a dive shop downtown to find anything you need to explore the springs.
Right across the street from the Great Outdoors Restaurant is High Springs Brewing Company, one of our favorite places to stop and get a drink after visiting Ginnie Springs. The beers are great, I love how they have cider options for the gluten sensitive, and every time we’ve been there they have had a live band playing. They are a dog-friendly establishment and have plenty of outdoor seating. Most days there is a food truck on the premises so you don’t have to leave to grab dinner!
The Pink Flamingo Diner is another great place to go to hear live music and get great food. The menu is elevated from your typical diner food, even offering gluten free and vegan options.
With a full bar and bands playing every Friday through Sunday night on the Pink Patio, it is a great spot to hang out. And right behind the bar is an 18 hole mini-golf course that also sells coffee and ice cream, so there is something fun to do for the whole family!
Things to Do Around Gainesville
There are several fun and unique places to see if you are willing to venture a little further out from High Springs!
First Magnitude Brewing Company is the Southeast’s first carbon-neutral brewery. They are committed to reducing waste, water usage, and electricity. The building has been repurposed from an abandoned warehouse, and they brew over 100 different beers here each year! Since it is located just down the street from the University of Florida, it’s a great place to watch a football game and enjoy delicious food from their rotating food trucks.
Cypress & Grove Brewing Company brews craft beers using Florida aquifer well water so you can drink straight from the wellspring. They have a huge indoor and outdoor seating area. Check out their events schedule to see what live music they are offering each week!
Located right off of I75, Swamp Head Brewery sits on a swampy pond and is a great spot to grab a beer and watch the sunset. They offer indoor seating, but the best place to grab a chair is on their newly renovated outdoor patio, or just lay a blanket on the large lawn! Be sure to check out their food truck schedule online.
I’m including a visit to Swallowtail Farm on this list of the best things to do in High Springs because this is where they started out. Now at a new location in Gainesville, they have resumed their seasonal farm-to-table dining experiences. This was such a unique and fantastic evening!
For several hours guests are welcomed onto their working farm for unlimited local craft beer and organic wine, and a farm tour. Dinner is then served outdoors under gigantic mossy oak trees by a local and renowned chef, which changes each dining experience. We enjoyed a delicious 3 course meal, made some new friends, and didn’t want to leave when the night was over!
High Springs is definitely a small town to explore. It still has that old Florida feel because of all the nature, springs, and parks. But with the live music, good food (and drinks!), and being so close to Gainesville, it has that youthful vibe as well. You really can’t go wrong when you visit here!
Other great Florida destinations with parks and springs:
Happy travels!
One thought on “Finding the Best Things to Do in High Springs, Florida”