Rivendell Springs
Rivendell Springs
A steakhouse in a 19th-century opera house, a main street full of antique shops, and a university town half an hour down the road.
High Springs is the nearest town and the one you’ll use — groceries, dinner, a main street of antique shops you can walk end to end in an afternoon. Gainesville is the bigger day out: museums, gardens, the university, and a prairie with wild horses on it.
Drive times below are from the house and approximate.
The one everybody sends you to, and rightly. It sits in the town’s 1895 Opera House — high ceilings, old timber, a courtyard out back — and the kitchen turns out hand-cut steaks, fresh seafood, big entree salads and homemade soups. There’s live music Wednesday through Sunday, which on a warm night in the courtyard is about as good as this part of Florida gets.
It’s the natural end to a day on the water, and it’s busy at weekends — worth calling ahead if you’re a full house of eight.
An American bar and grill in another converted historic building. Pork belly bites, burgers and grouper, with pool tables and games if you’re in no hurry.
Prohibition-era decor, covered outdoor seating and a brewery next door. Easy with kids and easier still after a day of paddling.
Made-to-order cheeseburgers, homemade shakes, and dog-friendly picnic tables out front — which matters if yours came along.
An old-fashioned ice cream shop with unusual flavours and dairy-free options. The correct last stop on the way home.
Small-town kitchens come and go — it’s worth a quick check that somewhere is open before you drive in.
High Springs has made itself into an antiques town. The shops cluster along Main Street within a couple of blocks, so you can park once and work your way down.
Add cafés, a bakery or two and a handful of boutiques, and Main Street is a comfortable half-day. Most places keep small-town hours — mid-morning to late afternoon, some closed Mondays.
The nearest full grocery store is in High Springs, with smaller stores closer to the house. Stock up on the way in — once you’re here you won’t want to drive back out for milk.
About 45 minutes away, and a genuinely good university town. Several of the best things in it are free.
A life-sized mastodon and mammoth, giant shark jaws and a walk-through limestone cave — which, after a week on a karst river, lands differently. The Butterfly Rainforest is a separate ticket and worth it.
Asian, African, modern and contemporary collections, plus a Monet. Next door to the Florida Museum, so the two make an easy morning together.
Invention and creativity, built around the story of Gatorade — which was invented at the university here. Hands-on, and good with older children.
A playground, a fossil-themed splash pad, skate and bike paths, and the restored Depot Station for food and drink. The obvious place to let everyone run around.
68 acres of paved, pet-friendly paths, a children’s garden, and the largest public bamboo collection in Florida.
Wild horses and bison, an observation tower, and the boardwalk at the La Chua Trail. Not what most people picture when they picture Florida.
Hundreds of thousands of bats pour out over the lake at dusk. It costs nothing, takes twenty minutes, and children talk about it for years.
The Swamp is open to the public on non-game days. On game days, the whole town is the event — book early if you’re coming for one.
Twelve private acres on the Santa Fe, fifteen minutes from dinner and forty-five from a museum. Sleeps eight.
Shaded dates are already booked. Two-night minimum. Choose your dates on the right to see your total and reserve.
$295 per night for 2 guests · $30 per extra guest · $20 per dog · Two-night minimum. Secure booking handled by OwnerRez.