5 One-of-a-Kind Small Towns In Florida
Although attracting over 140 million visitors a year to its beaches and theme parks, there’s a side to Florida that many folks have yet to experience. And that’s spending time exploring the state’s one-of-a-kind small towns. Those curious travelers who do venture beyond the usual tourist hotspots will discover an entirely different side to Florida. Beaches that are less crowded and offer the occasional glimpse of space travel; fascinating forts where empires once struggled for dominance; and, of course, those quiet little corners where residents always outnumber visitors. For a taste of Florida’s more authentic side, check out these eight one-of-a-kind communities.
St. Augustine
Imagine being a Spanish explorer and dropping anchor off a shoreline no European had seen before, claiming it for your country, then watching as a prosperous town grew up around you. That explorer was Pedro Menéndez de Avilés, who established St. Augustine in 1565, creating what is now the oldest still occupied European settlement in the United States.
Given the fact that St. Augustine served as the capital of Spanish Florida for more than two centuries, the evidence of the empire’s colonial period is easy to spot. Take a stroll down the extremely fun to walk St. George Street.
One of the country’s oldest urban thoroughfares, you’ll walk past buildings either showing Spanish Renaissance flourishes or that were built during Spanish rule. Two of the best examples, González-Álvarez House (the town’s oldest house) and the Spanish Military Hospital, can be toured.
Then, of course, there’s the town’s fortress. The oldest stone-walled fort in the continental United States, Castillo de San Marcos, was built in the 1670s and withstood every attack thrown at it, its limestone walls absorbing the usually devastating cannon fire. Rangers conduct cannon firing demonstrations on weekends, and you can explore the fort's chambers, including a chapel and the original city jail.
Fernandina Beach
Here’s another one for you history buffs. Fernandina Beach is the only place in the entire country to have been under eight different national flags. First visited by the French in 1562, successive occupations included Spain (twice), Great Britain, the Patriots of Amelia Island (a group of American insurgents who threw out the Spanish), the Green Cross of Florida (a short-lived republic), Mexico (claimed by a pirate), the Confederate States of America, and finally, the United States itself.
You can learn a lot more about this head-spinning turnover at the Amelia Island Museum of History. It offers fascinating tours of its Eight Flags Gallery and explains just how this small island passed through so many hands in less than 300 years. You can also visit the remarkably well-preserved Fort Clinch which was manned during the Civil War and the Spanish-American War.
Fernandina Beach Historic District is another must-explore. Stroll along Centre Street with its Victorian-era buildings and check out the famous Palace Saloon, opened in 1903 and Florida's oldest continually operating drinking establishment.
For a truly unique-to-Ferdinanda Beach experience, visit the town during October’s 8-Flags Car Show. This must-attend for classic car fans sees the entire downtown closed off to anything but pedestrians and hundreds of vintage vehicles. If you stay for the weekend, book a tour with Serene River Cruises. Their compact electric boat can access shallow creeks and narrow passages and salt marshes that are impossible for larger cruise vessels to navigate.
Micanopy
Pay a visit to quaint little Micanopy and you’ll quickly figure out why it has been dubbed "The Town That Time Forgot." Founded in 1821 as a humble trading post and now just a stone’s throw from the I-75 south of Gainesville, this one-square-mile community is Florida's oldest inland town. And it has changed very little over the decades. The town’s main street, Cholokka Boulevard, is practically traffic-free, quiet, and shady thanks to the moss-draped live oaks that form a natural canopy over the street.
Protected as the Micanopy Historic District, the town lays claim to being the "Antique Capital of Florida." And it is an antique lover’s paradise. House of Hirsch Too Antiques, Delectable Collectables, and Micanopy Trading Outpost sell everything from Victorian-era furniture to paintings by Floridian artists.
After all that shopping, stop in at the Old Florida Café for an authentic Cuban sandwich in a charming rustic setting. Or pop into Mosswood Bakehouse for a pastry and a homemade pie to enjoy on one of the benches lining the downtown. You definitely won’t be interrupted by traffic.
To really feel like you’ve been transported back in time, book a stay at the wonderful Herlong Mansion. Built in 1845, this classy bed and breakfast features original pine floors, period antiques, and the kind of genuine Southern hospitality you can only find in a place like Micanopy.
Palm Beach Shores
Even smaller than Micanopy, Palm Beach Shores is likely one of the least visited spots on the Atlantic Coast. And for those who know about it, that’s a huge part of its allure. Located on Singer Island’s southernmost tip, north of West Palm Beach, this small enclave of older (now luxury) bungalows holds the unique geographic distinction as Florida's easternmost point. Overlooking Palm Beach Inlet and the Atlantic, you’ll know you’re there when you simply can’t walk any further.
You get the best sense of Palm Beach Shores’ old Florida character by walking the pleasant, paved pathways that cut through the neighborhood. Shady and usually only used by residents (and the occasional tourist making their way to Riviera Beach or the Sailfish Marina Resort), you’ll marvel at just how quiet this oasis of calm is. Take your time, claim your spot on a bench overlooking the Palm Beach Passage, and watch and wave at the cruise ships making their way to and from The Bahamas.
Cape Canaveral
Time it right (or, like me, just get lucky) and you might get to enjoy one of Florida’s most unique experiences in Cape Canaveral. The closest town to Cape Canaveral Space Force Station is just a few miles to the north; it’s a popular spot from which to watch rockets launch. While you can clearly make out rocket plumes during daylight hours while lounging on the beach, night launches are even more exciting as they illuminate the coastline like artificial sunrises.
The Exploration Tower at Port Canaveral is a great place to visit, even on non-launch days. Standing seven stories tall, this space-age-looking structure is also ideal for up-close looks at the port facilities and the massive cruise ships that dock here. Another great spot to watch spaceships and cruise ships is Jetty Park Pier. Heck, you can even cast a line and fish while you wait.
One-of-a-kind Experiences
These one-of-a-kind small towns in Florida offer something quite distinct from the usual theme parks and beach resorts. Curious travelers willing to wander off the Interstate know there’s a whole other Florida waiting to be discovered. Together, these five are among the most interesting and will provide the inspiration you need to try something a little different next time you head to the Sunshine State.
