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At AROHE, we recognize that higher education retirees are valuable assets to society, reinventing, not retiring from, life, positively impacting their communities and contributing to the greater good. 


Experience Gainesville: Home of the 2026 Joy of Connection Conference

Nestled in the heart of North Central Florida, Gainesville offers a unique mix of outdoor adventure, rich cultural experiences, and welcoming Southern hospitality. As the home of the University of Florida, the city hums with creativity, innovation, and a deep appreciation for nature. It’s the perfect place to gather for the 2026 Joy of Connection Conference where wellness, wisdom, and wonder come alive both inside and outside the event.




Welcome to Gainesville, Florida—where innovation, history, and natural beauty converge. As host city for the upcoming ROI Conference, Gainesville offers a dynamic blend of academic excellence and cultural richness. Conference attendees will find Gainesville not only a place of learning and connection, but a destination that embodies the spirit of discovery and collaboration at the heart of AROHE. Learn more from Dr. Barbara McDade Gordon, AROHE Board Member and Chair of the Hospitality Committee.




North Central and Northeast Florida invite exploration far beyond the conference. Just steps from campus, the Florida Museum of Natural History and its Butterfly Rainforest offer a serene start to your visit. A short drive south leads to Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park, where wild horses and bison roam the same landscape that inspired naturalist William Bartram and later poets like Coleridge and Wordsworth. Learn more from 

Continue your journey through history in Micanopy, Florida’s oldest inland town, then head east to St. Augustine, the nation’s oldest city, with its Spanish‑era fort and cobblestone streets. Conclude at Kingsley Plantation, where the story of Anna Madgigine Jai Kingsley—a freed African woman who became a landowner—offers a powerful reflection on resilience and freedom.

️ Suggested One‑Day Itinerary

  • Morning: Stroll through the Butterfly Rainforest and enjoy coffee at the Florida Museum café.

  • Midday: Picnic at Paynes Prairie and watch for bison or sandhill cranes.

  • Afternoon: Explore Micanopy’s antique shops and shaded streets.

  • Evening: Drive to St. Augustine for dinner by the waterfront and sunset views at the Castillo de San Marcos.

  • Optional Extension: Visit Kingsley Plantation the next morning before returning to Gainesville.




Gainesville’s arts scene is one of Florida’s most vibrant and intellectually rich, shaped by the creative energy of the University of Florida and a community that values both innovation and tradition. At the center of this creative ecosystem stands the Harn Museum of Art, located on UF’s campus. The Harn is a cornerstone of Gainesville’s cultural identity, offering free admission and housing more than 13,000 works spanning Asian, African, modern, contemporary, and photographic art. Its mission—to inspire, educate, and enrich lives through art—is reflected in exhibitions that connect global perspectives with Florida’s own artistic heritage. Learn more from Dr. Susan Cooksey, retired curator of African art at the Harn Museum of Art at the University of Florida

Contact Information

info@arohe.org
814-299-5283
P.O. Box 37, Dubois PA 15801

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