Located in North Central Florida, Gainesville and Alachua County is a unique family-friendly, university community, well known for its exciting blend of cultural, historic and natural attractions as well as fine arts and sporting events. Home of the University of Florida “Gators”, the area draws business and convention travelers from throughout the world to state-of-the-art research, medical and conference facilities. Careful preservation and use of natural and manmade resources help preserve for the leisure visitors the County’s unique eco-systems and cultural assets. Tourism is an important contributor to economic development in Alachua County and is woven into the fabric of the community in a way that enhances the residents’ quality of life and the visitor experience.