SALALM@50: Latin American Studies Research and Bibliography -- Past, Present and Future
Gainesville, FL -- April 16-19, 2005
Smathers Library, Home to UF's Latin American Collection
Gainesville,
Florida
The University of Florida is located in Gainesville,
in the North-Central portion of Florida. Gainesville was first settled in the
1820's, as a tiny enclave called Hogtown. Today, Gainesville is
a fast-growing university city of some 250,000 residents that was listed
by Money Magazine in the 1990s as the #1 place to live in the USA!
Our region boasts easy access to numerous lakes,
rivers, and springs, as well as proximity to both the Atlantic Ocean and
the Gulf of Mexico (80 miles to either coast). In all, Gainesville offers
a diverse community of Old South, New South, and international charms. See
link at: www.VisitGainesville.net
Near-by places of note include the Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings House in Cross Creek and the quaint fishing village of Cedar Key on the Gulf. Also, the Castillo de San Marcos in St. Augustine is a dazzling 17th century historic monument well worth a visit. And for those who love our fine, feathered friends, bird watching opportunities are plentiful in a number of venues.
The
Campus
UF has an enrollment of approximately 48,000 students
in a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs. The campus is on
2,000 acres with over 800 buildings. Visit www.ufl.edu
for general details and campus maps.
Downtown
There are numerous restaurants and clubs in the renovated blocks just off University Avenue and Main Street. Public bus #5 runs every 30 minutes linking the campus area on West University Avenue to Gainesville’s Downtown. Public Transportation Web site: www.go-rts.com
The first days of April usually bring the early signs of Spring, with flowers blooming, lovely days, blue skies and low humidity. Evenings and mornings can be cool but the risk of freezing temperatures has long passed. With luck, the rains will stay away for SALALM!
Gainesville is a safe city. However, please be sure to exercise common sense and sound judgment by walking in groups and playing it safe, especially at night. One other important point: please do not feed the alligators!
Getting here
Gainesville (GNV) is served by a number of major carriers at its Regional Airport ( http://www.gra-gnv.com ). Recent improvements to our airport have resulted in direct connections to and from Miami, Tampa and Memphis, as well as long-standing routes through Atlanta and Charlotte. The city is also within driving distance from Jacksonville (JAX), Tampa (TPA) and Orlando(MCO).
More travel information on this website soon.
Please contact Richard Phillips (ricphil@uflib.ufl.edu), Chair, Local Arrangements Committee, for further information on Gainesville.
