The Best Things To Do In Micanopy, Florida

Hard to pronounce but harder to forget, this Old Florida town leaves a special place in the hearts of its visitors.

Every town has its nostalgic spots—ice cream shops, deli counters, old-school diners—that seem to have cheated time. These are the places where servers still wear striped aprons and paper hats, where you can still order an egg cream, and where a tuna salad sandwich still only costs a dollar or two. While the modern world rages outside their four walls, everything inside is immune to the tyrant of time. We love these places because they remind us of simpler days. They urge us to slow down and smell the roses—or more literally, the bacon grease. And there’s comfort in knowing that they’ll remain the same for years to come.

In Florida, the tiny town of Micanopy (pronounced Mi-kuh-no-pee) has bottled up the nostalgia of these classic institutions and built a community around the feeling. It’s easy to miss Micanopy. After all, it only encompasses 1.03 total square miles and around 650 residents. Tucked between Gainesville and Ocala in north-central Florida, there’s no sparkling coastline or shiny amusement park to bolster Micanopy’s name. However, there is plenty of history and character to go around in the self-proclaimed Town That Time Forgot. Here's how to spend a weekend exploring Florida’s oldest inland town.

What To Do In Micanopy

Micanopy was settled in 1821 and was once—believe it or not—a center of commerce. Today, most of Micanopy’s activity radiates from Cholokka Boulevard. The town’s main street is home to a half-dozen antique shops, plus coffee shops, cafes, restaurants, and other locally owned businesses where you can find everything from art to home goods. Spend time strolling down the tree-lined streets, stopping whenever a window display catches your eye. Between the 19^th century buildings and friendly shopkeepers, you’ll feel like you’ve traveled back in time.

Antiques can be found at places like Delectable Collectables, Lost Ark Antiques, Micanopy Trading Outpost, and Wren Wood Antiques. Modern home décor can be found at The Shop and Dakota Mercantile. One place you can’t miss on Cholokka Boulevard is Shady Oak Gallery, an art gallery and artist studio that specializes in stained glass works and even offers art classes. Before you leave the area, stop into the Micanopy Historical Society Museum, where you can learn more about the town’s surprisingly lively past.  

While it’ll be hard to drag yourself away from charming downtown Micanopy, a visit to nearby nature preserves and state parks will be more than worth the short walk or even shorter drive over. Just a 15-minute walk from the shops of Cholokka Boulevard is Tuscawilla Preserve, a 600-acre nature preserve consisting of prairie lands, wetlands, and mesic forests. Walk the 1.5 miles of trails and be on the lookout for wading birds like herons, egrets, and storks, as well as raptors, reptiles, amphibians, and even mammals like bobcats and otters. Directly across the street from Tuscawilla is the Micanopy Native American Heritage Preserve, the grounds of a centuries-old Native American village, where you’ll find an additional 0.8 miles of trails to explore.

Despite its size, Micanopy is home to not one but two state parks. At Price’s Scrub State Park, you’ll find a 9.5-mile trail system suitable to hikers, equestrians, and cyclists that includes biodiverse communities ranging from upland woodland to scrub. For a slice of western landscapes in the far east, head to Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park, where you’ll find bison and wild horses roaming prairie land. Head to the top of the park’s 50-foot observation tower for the best wildlife spotting and panoramic views.

Where To Eat In Micanopy

Start your morning at Mosswood Farm Store & Bakehouse, located in a 1910 cracker cottage. What started as a tiny general store selling locally made goods and sustainable living products has expanded to include a full-service coffee bar and bakery. Popular sweets include almond bear claws, guava turnovers, and all varieties of chocolate and fruity dessert bars. Coffee N’ Cream is a great place to go for breakfast if you’re craving a breakfast burrito stuffed with eggs, tomato, onion, cheese, and your choice of meat. Visit later in the day and you'll have your pick of classic sandwiches and lunch counter plates like old-fashioned egg salad, chicken salad, and a Frito pie smothered in homemade chili.

Perhaps no dish better personifies Old Florida like the salty, cheesy Cuban sandwich. You can find one of the state’s best at Old Florida Café, Micanopy's oldest restaurant. Order a side of black beans over yellow rice, and round out your meal with a slice of key lime pie. The restaurant has been using the same recipe for more than 30 years. For dinner, try Blue Highway Pizza or Pearl Country Store & Barbecue—which are located across the street from one another. Both are family owned and excel at their respective cuisines.

Where To Stay In Micanopy

While Micanopy isn’t teeming with trendy boutique hotels and Airbnbs, there's one unique stay right in town that's perfect for a weekend getaway. Herlong Mansion, an 1845 bed and breakfast that’s listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is what small-town vacation dreams are made of. Enjoy a glass of wine or fresh-baked cookie from the swing bed on the sprawling second-floor veranda, while you look out over the property’s lush grounds filled with azaleas, camellias, and roses. Bookings in all 13 rooms and suites include complimentary Southern breakfast. For a budget option, try the Micanopy Inn, or take the 20-minute drive to Gainesville for a variety of hotel options.

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