Discovering Old Florida
We stumbled upon a town called Micanopy as we headed northward through Florida
Friends,
On my recent road trip, I randomly took a turn into a place some describe as ‘Old Florida’ - Micanopy, which I couldn’t pronounce but was every bit the fairytale.
Not only that, it was a perfect contrast to the modern concrete, flash and dazzle around the Orlando theme parks I’d visited in the previous days.
Founded in 1821, Micanopy is one of Florida’s oldest inland towns and feels like it has barely changed with the passage of time. Named after the Seminole chief Micanopy, the settlement grew during a time when Florida was still a frontier territory, long before Disney moved in a short drive down the road.
Many of the buildings lining Cholokka Boulevard, Micanopy’s main street, date back to the 1800s, and today the entire downtown is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Live oaks draped in Spanish moss form a natural canopy over the streets, while antique stores, old general stores and weathered wooden porches create the feeling that you’ve wandered onto a Hollywood film set rather than into a real American town.
Everything felt unhurried. In a state synonymous with rollercoasters, six-lane highways and ever-expanding suburbs, Micanopy almost feels like an act of quiet rebellion. There’s no rush, no flashing billboards, no towering hotels. Just a place where the loudest sound is the breeze moving through centuries-old oak trees. If you want to understand what people mean when they talk about “Old Florida”, this little town is probably as close as you’ll get.
Indeed, as I walked in to some of the local cafes, the atmosphere was extremely laid back. No sense of hustle and bustle around these parts. And with bluegrass banjos playing on a nearby patio deck, it truly felt like another world to the Florida I was used to seeing.
There’s actually a bunch of places like this in the State, and load of nature. I love it!
This is what fascinates me about America. Everywhere you go, separated by just a few miles sometimes, there is contrast and stories.
It makes me eager to see more.
Slainte,
Shaun
P.S. - my new vlog from this very trip is out now:
If you are looking for old Florida, you should look into Florida cowboys. The state had cattle rustling cowboys long before the better known western ones. There are some folks that people still consider cowboys today.