Best bets for the weekend — March 5-7, 2021

SWEETWATER WETLANDS TOUR: Get out into nature during a ranger-led tour of Sweetwater Wetlands Park on Saturday. Online pre-registration through Eventbrite is required. Only 10 spaces per tour are available. The ranger will lead a comfortable walk around the park and speak about how the park benefits the area’s water, wildlife and surrounding community. Wear comfortable shoes and bring water. The tour will begin at 8:30 a.m. Saturday and is free with park admission of $5 per car or $2 per person for bicyclists, pedestrians and buses. The park is located at 325 Williston Road. For more information, call 393-8437 or visit sweetwaterwetlands.org.

FLORIDA GOAT SNUGGLE AND WALK: Goats To Go Farm will host goat snuggles and field walks with their nannies and newborn baby goat kids from 10 to 11:40 a.m. Saturday. This agricultural-educational experience also will include the farm’s popular "Goat Snuggle and Groom" option, which is a 40-minute session with seated mat time to pet and snuggle with baby fainting goat kids while you feed goat treats to the nannies, ask questions, and learn more about the goats’ care, health and life on the farm. The goat kids will be 1 week old and the nannies will join the class. During the goat field walk, participants will stroll along the fields with nanny goats and baby goat kids as they jump around. Goats To Go will provide goat treats for each participant.Wear clothes and shoes that you don't mind getting dirty, and bring a towel for sitting on. Ages 4 and older welcome; advanced registration only for $25 per person. Goats To Go is located at 12th Lane in Bronson. Visit goatstogo.farm/florida-goat-events for more information or to purchase tickets.

WILDLIFE TOUR: Take a tour — on foot or in a tour vehicle — of Carson Springs Wildlife Conservation Foundation from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday. Witness big-cat feeding demonstrations and get close to the animals while being guided by professional zoologists. In place of walking, ride, and drive along the tour path with the conservation’s wildlife-themed tour vehicles. The vehicles are suitable for seniors, adults aged 12 and older with a younger passenger 11 or younger, groups of students, friends and couples. There is limited availability for each tour. Extra fun can be booked upon arrival, including rhino feedings and a meet-and-greet with baby hyenas, lemurs and baby exotic cats. The foundation is located at 8528 E.County Road 225. Entrance for the walking tours are $25 for adults, $10 for ages 2-11 and free for ages 1 and younger. Motorized-vehicle tours are $45. For more information, or to book a tour, visit carsonspringswildlife.org, call 468-2827 or email contact@cswildlife.org. 

KANAPAHA BOTANICAL GARDENS GUIDED TOUR: Kanapaha Botanical Gardens is offering a guided tour of its 68-acre facility on the first Saturday of every month starting at 10 a.m. According to the gardens’ website, “During these trying times, access to outdoor facilities and nature is of great importance for both physical and mental health.” Those attending the tour are asked to wear a mask when walking around as a group. Kanapaha Botanical Gardens is located at 4700 SW 58th Drive. Tickets for the tours are $10 for adults, $5 for ages 5-13, free for ages 4 and younger and members. Group rates available. For more information, visit kanapaha.org.

COVID-19 COMMUNITY ARCHIVES: COVID-19 is a historic event of worldwide significance, and the Matheson History Museum wants to preserve the community’s stories. The museum’s goal is to create a COVID-19 Community Archive that will be shared digitally over the next few weeks and in exhibitions down the road. They are asking for Alachua County residents to help document the community’s experience through digital submissions of photographs, video clips, stories or anything else county residents think helps tell their story — feel free to get creative! A few things residents need to think about when creating their submissions: What strikes you visually about Alachua County in lockdown? What social distancing and health practices are you following? What do you do to stay socially connected? What do you miss about your life before COVID-19? How are you getting food and supplies? What has been hardest about this for you and your family? Participants should direct all submissions and questions to Curator of Collections Kaitlyn Hof-Mahoney at curator@mathesonmuseum.org. The museum also is interested in the tangible history of the pandemic. However, they cannot accept artifacts until the museum is fully open. Prospective donors should hold onto objects they wish to donate until it is safe for the museum to reopen.