Tucked away under centuries old moss covered oak trees, the sleepy town of Micanopy, Florida offers a glimpse of the past with its historic storefronts, antique shops, and cafes. Located south of Gainesville at the intersection of State Road 441 and County Road 234, this little town of 630 or so people is a popular destination for antique lovers. Since Micanopy is only a two hour drive from where I live, it made for a nice day trip earlier this summer.
The Shady Oak building houses a cafe, an art gallery, and a Bed & Breakfast.
Micanopy is the oldest inland town in Florida. Founded in 1821, the site of Micanopy was originally an Indian trading post which had been visited in 1774 by the explorer William Bartram. The town was named after a Seminole Indian chief, and is pronounced, "mic-a-no'-pee." Just over 630 residents live within the town's one square mile area. I wonder if Mick and Opie live here? For such a small town, Micanopy is big on charm. Our first stop was for lunch at the Micanopy Cafe.
Besides being a popular antiquing destination, Micanopy's claim to fame is the 1991 movie, Doc Hollywood, a romantic comedy with Michael J. Fox and Woody Harrelson, which was filmed here. I didn't remember seeing that movie back in the day, so a few weeks later we watched the movie and enjoyed seeing the streets and storefronts which we had visited. Several inside scenes were filmed in this cafe. It hadn't changed too much. It seems that not much changes in Micanopy!
This house was the "hospital" in Doc Hollywood
Sadly, this antique shop was closed the day we were in Micanopy. I would have liked to have seen the inside of the "hospital." Beside the house was an old tractor. I wonder if it was used in the movie?
An old tractor in Micanopy
We enjoyed browsing the different antique and gift shops along main street which was lined with canopied oak trees. It was a perfect day for strolling. Here are some of the curious and charming things we saw:
I was tempted to put a quarter in this jukebox to see if it still played music
Plastic pink flamigos, where else but in Florida!
Old soda bottles lined this storefront window
A beautiful wooden coffee mill
This little gift shop, Gallery Under the Oaks, is housed in a 1930s log cabin, which sits under another building. It is filled with locally made crafts, including handmade soap!
Gallery Under the Oaks
This alligator head was for sale
This sleeping kitty resides in one of the antique shops and is not for sale
A wooden apothecary cabinet
Across the street are more unique shops, including Leonardo's Music and Antiques, which specializes in factory refurbished musical instruments.
Rows of guitars
Electric guiters
More glass soda bottles
Historic storefronts of Micanopy, Florida
This ancient shady oak is garlanded with Spanish moss and ferns
An inviting covered walkway
A quirky ornament for this chain link gate
More glass bottles. I like how they catch the light.
We didn't have time to see everything in Micanopy, so we will return again another day to enjoy the charm and character of Micanopy, Florida. If you happen to be in the area, you might want to stop by for a visit, too! Tell Mick and Opie that I say, "hi!"
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