May 8-10
University of Florida
Gainesville, Florida
The 2024 annual NoCTURN in-person/hybrid meeting is right around the corner! Here’s some information about the meeting venue, parking, hotels, airports, and things to see/eat/do. The meeting agenda will be finalized and sent out soon.
Meeting Venue
The Meeting will be held at the “New” Engineering Building (NEB) on the University of Florida Campus at 1064 Center Dr, Gainesville, FL 32611. See UF Campus Map – NEB. Due to that week being the UF Spring/Summer break, all “Red” and “Green” designated parking is available without a permit. So if you drive, please pay attention to posted signage. The main lots on Gale Lemerand Drive are about a 5-10 minute walk to the venue, but the southern walk will have wildlife and is flat with no stairs.
Breakfast, lunch and coffee breaks are catered all three days. If you forgot to note any food restrictions when you registered, please let Ed Stanley know.
The Welcome event will be held on Wednesday, May 8 at the Harn Museum of Art, from 6–9pm. There will be heavy appetizers and a cash bar.
The organizers of NoCTURN 2024 aim to maximize the health and safety of all those attending. Delegates are encouraged to wear masks in public during the meeting, and to socially distance when possible.
Weather
Temperatures in North Central Florida should be in the mid 80’s for daytime highs and mid 60’s for overnight lows. Most of our high pollen events should be over before early May, but please check your favorite apps before you pack!
Airports
Gainesville Regional Airport (GNV) is a public airport three miles northeast of Gainesville, in Alachua County, Florida. Direct flights from Dallas Fort Worth, Miami, Charlotte, and Atlanta.
If you are interested in renting a car during your stay and visiting other parts of Florida, consider the following airports that, due to volume, have lower air fares.
- Orlando International Airport (MCO) ~2 h drive to Gainesville via Florida’s Turnpike & I-75
- Jacksonville International Airport (JAX) ~1.5 h drive to Gainesville via I-295, I-10, and US301
- Tampa International Airport (TPA) ~2 hour drive to Gainesville via I-275 and I-75
There is a NoCTURN Slack channel for you to coordinate rides with other attendees.
Hotels
There are many overnight stay options in Gainesville, as when crowds come in to fill a 90,000 seat stadium, they have to stay somewhere. Certainly, follow your own rewards programs and preferences. But here are some locations near the conference and/or nightlife.
Hyatt Place Downtown
Located within the heart of historic downtown, the Hyatt Place sits a mile from the University of Florida campus, museums, fine restaurants and scenic trails, making it a convenient home base for visitors to this exciting northern Florida destination. Enjoy a relaxing respite with spacious guest rooms and a heated, outdoor pool.
Hampton Inn & Suites-Downtown
The Hampton Inn & Suites is located in the heart of Gainesville’s Downtown Historic District. In walking distance to Gainesville’s finest shops, dining, theaters and nightlife and just minutes away from the University of Florida and Shands Hospital. The hotel features 124 well appointed, professionally decorated guest rooms and suites.
Holiday Inn University
Stay right across the street from the University of Florida and less than one mile from the conference. “Feel welcome as soon as you step through the doors of our Gainesville FL hotel and into our spacious lobby where you’ll be greeted by our personable staff, ready to make your stay as enjoyable as possible.” And Piezano’s, the Italian restaurant on-site, is excellent.
Aloft Gainesville University Area
With a stay at Aloft Gainesville University Area in Gainesville, you’ll be within a 10-minute walk of the University of Florida and Florida Museum of Natural History.
Restaurants
Here’s some favorite restaurants recommended by our hosts.
Dragonfly Sushi
Contemporary izakaya featuring tapas-style Japanese pub fare, plus an assortment of sake.
The Top
A downtown, hip, and casual spot serving burgers, beer & modern American fare, with vegan & vegetarian options.
Bingo Deli and Pub
Sandwiches, small plates and entrees, featuring fresh local produce and house made products.
Flacos Cuban Bakery
Laid-back atmosphere serving Cuban Sandwiches, Arepas, Bowls, Puff Pastries, and the ever-popular Cuban Gator Sandwich.
Tinker Latin Restaurant
Arepas, Empanadas, Burgers and more!
Satchel’s Pizza
Satchel’s Pizza is an iconic local restaurant, featured in Southern Living Magazine. Excellent pizza, great salads, and a character all its own. Stop by Lightning Salvage at the back for old time Florida roadside toys and games, as well as beer and live music.
First Magnitude Brewery
A nationally and internationally awarded craft brewery and tap room located near downtown. Great beer, lots of outdoor spaces and rotating food trucks.
Cypress and Grove
A local brewery with rotating beers and lots of outdoor space. The building was originally the Gainesville Ice House, and the 386 ft deep artesian Ice House well provides water for today’s beer. In addition to their excellent beers, they have wines, refreshing seltzers and kombucha on tap.
Fehrenbacher’s Artisan Sausage
Located in the 4th Ave Food Park, Fehrenbacher’s Artisan Sausages is a locally owned and operated producer of sausages and cured meat products, with a daily rotating menu of cheese plates, sandwiches, salads and other chef creations.
Recreation
Here’s some local recreation spots the hosts recommend checking out.
The Florida Museum of Natural History
The Florida Museum of Natural History houses more than 40 million specimens and cultural artifacts, including one of the world’s largest collections of butterflies and moths. The Museum’s mission combines research, preservation and interpretation of both biological diversity and cultural heritage. Permanent exhibits include a fossil hall, local peoples and a live butterfly rainforest.
La Chua Trail
Located at the north end of Paynes Prairie, the La Chua Trail is an excellent wildlife watching site (all but guaranteed to see alligators), with an elevated boardwalk (to keep you safe from said alligators).
UF Bat Houses
About a mile from the conference venue off of Museum Road and just north of Lake Alice, the UF Bat Houses are home to ~450,000 bats and emerge every evening at sunset, weather allowing.
Sweetwater Wetlands Park
Sweetwater Wetlands Park is a man-made wetland habitat of more than 125 acres. Shaped like the head of an alligator, the park has several miles of trails and is teeming with plants and animals. It was designed to improve water quality by filtering out pollution and nutrients. Great for birding!
The Cade Museum
The Cade Museum for Creativity & Invention, located at 811 South Main Street, is a museum of ideas. The question is not what you will see but what you will imagine and create.
Depot Park
This large park just south of Downtown features a playground & splash pad, lawns, a large pond with a promenade & more.
Devil’s Millhopper
“In the midst of North Florida’s sandy terrain and pine forests, a bowl-shaped cavity 120 feet deep leads down to a miniature rainforest. Small streams trickle down the steep slopes of the limestone sinkhole, disappearing through crevices in the ground. Lush vegetation thrives in the shade of the walls even in dry summers.” A boardwalk with 132 steps descends to the bottom of the sinkhole.
Ichetucknee Springs State Park
One of the most beautiful spots in Florida. Well-known for its warm weather tubing, Ichetucknee Springs State Park is a 2,669-acre wildlife haven where beaver, otter, gar, softshell turtle, wild turkey, wood duck and limpkin all find a home. The main draw is the park’s eight major crystal-clear springs that join to create the 6-mile Ichetucknee River. The upper portion within the state park is a National Natural Landmark, perhaps the most pristine spring run in the state and best enjoyed by canoe or kayak during the cooler months. Three nature trails guide visitors through the lush park forest or a majestic sandhill environment with towering longleaf pines.
Silver Springs State Park
At the headwaters of the Silver River, and what was once a major tourist attraction, there are still glass bottom boats where you can easily view springs that put out ~2 million cubic meters of water per day. At the edge of the parking lot is a kayak/canoe/paddleboard rental location, and an open boat ramp. Even in May you may occasionally see manatees on your paddle, and some of the remnants of the former attraction including rhesus monkeys. This is about an hour south of Gainesville, on the way to Tampa and Orlando.
Local Sports
The Gator baseball team will host the South Florida Bulls on May 7 and the Kentucky Wildcats on May 10th at the Condron Family Ballpark, very close to the FLMNH. It’s a very new and comfortable venue and there should be some good baseball. Also, Florida is hosting the SEC Outdoor Track and Field Championships from May 9-11 and future Olympic athletes abound.
There are always lots of exciting things happening in Gainesville. Learn more about what’s happening in town here!