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I love Micanopy, Florida SO MUCH. Three people have come to visit me here and I made all three of them go to Micanopy with me. I love it.

Our first year in Gainseville we lived pretty close to Micanopy and I would say went there no less than 20 times to eat and just walk around. And 20 is probably a lower guess.

It’s the oldest inland settlement in Florida and perfectly captures the vibes of Old Florida. Like, absolutely perfectly. It’s so cute.

And today, if you couldn’t already tell, I’m here to sing it’s praises and tell you everything this little town has to offer.

My Micanopy picks at a glance:

• Favorite antique store: Micanopy Trading Outpost and Wren Wood Antiques
• Favorite non-antique store: Mosswood Farm Store
• Favorite restaurant: Old Florida Cafe
• Favorite trail: Micanopy Native American Heritage Preserve
• Best coffee: Mosswood Bakehouse
• Best place to stay: Herlong Mansion

How do you pronounce Micanopy?

First up I’m going to tell you how to pronounce Micanopy: Mickuhnopee. My friend says Mickopee (which I love) but most people think its Mih-Canopy (like a canopy covering).

It is, however, neither of those. It’s Mick (like Mickey Mouse) uh (like uh what?) no (like not yes) pee (like, well, you know). (If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like for me to teach things, that’s a pretty solid example).

Micanopy, Florida history

Next, I’m going to tell you a bit about Micanopy, Florida’s history. Not every single thing, but enough.

I mentioned it above, but Micanopy, founded in 1821, was named after a Seminole leader, Chief Micanopy who lived about 60 miles south, and is the oldest inland settlement in Florida.

Moses Elias Levy is one of the town founders who, upon settling, started “Pilgrimage,” which was the first Jewish communal settlement in the US, just two miles from Micanopy.

During the Second Seminole War, Fort Defiance and Fort Micanopy were located in this area, with Fort Wacahoota (I love that name) nearby. This is where some of the war’s worst battles took place.

Both forts and two battles within the town limits (the Battle of Micanopy and the Battle of Welika Pond) have been archaeologically verified.

Downtown Micanopy is known as the Micanopy Historic District and is on the register of National Historic Places (as is Herlong Mansion, the bed and breakfast in Micanopy).

Where is Micanopy, FL?

Micanopy, Florida is between Gainesville and Ocala. It’s about twenty minutes from Gainesville and 30 from Ocala.

It’s tucked between I75 and Highway 441 making it super easy to get to and a great Florida road trip stop.

Things to do in Micanopy, FL

Micanopy isn’t brimming with things to do but there is enough for half a day or just a quick little stop on a long drive.

And while it’s not on the list below, if you’re here the last weekend of October you can stop by for the very busy Micanopy Fall Festival for some craft shopping and fair-style food.

My personal favorite things to do in Micanopy are eat at Old Florida Cafe (they know me there, I’m the girl with the weird earrings) and see Jimmy the Cat.

A lot of things are closed on Monday and/or Tuesday so keep that in mind when planning a visit.

This section covers things to do IN Micanopy. There is a section further down that covers things to do NEAR Micanopy.

Go antiquing

Micanopy is the self-proclaimed antique capital of Florida, which absolutely makes sense. In the town of roughly 600 people, there are no less than seven antique stores.

A few on Google Maps say antiques but are more local/handmade goods. My personal favorites are Wren Wood Antiques and Micanopy Trading Outpost.

Both have fantastic selections, not just of antiques, but Florida Highwaymen paintings. Old Florida art goals right there. Here are the Micanopy antique stores:

• Wren Wood Antiques
• Micanopy Trading Outpost
• The Garage
• House of Hirsch Too Antiques
• Antiques Plus
• Delectable Collectibles
• Lost Ark Antiques
• Finch House

This is definitely one of the best things to do in Micanopy and even if it’s not quite your thing, my two favorites are worth a visit (I’m not a huge antiquer if that helps).

Do some non-antique shopping

Even though most of Micanopy’s stores are for antiques, there are quite a few with other goods, too. Most of these have local art or handmade goods, which is awesome.

A lot of it isn’t really my style preference but it’s still fun to go in and check them out. Here are some of the other shops in Micanopy:

• Shop (that’s it, that’s the name)
• Gallery Under the Oaks
• Dakota Mercantile
• JEMs Originals
• Shady Oak Gallery
• Mosswood Farm Store

Hike Tuscawilla Preserve

Just two minutes from downtown Micanopy, on an absolutely beautiful oak lined road, is the Tuscawilla Preserve. This is a 600 acre preserve with a short, easy hiking trail.

The preserve includes Lake Tuscawilla, a prairie, and uplands with small creeks and mesic forests. There are also wetlands preserved with plenty of small pools for wading birds and other local wildlife.

Parking for this is at the heritage preserve across the street. If it’s chained off, they’re closed, but I don’t think that happens too often.

Visit the Micanopy Native American Heritage Preserve

The heritage preserve was purchased by the town of Micanopy to preserve some of the many archaeologically significant sites in the area.

There are informational signs about the history of the area and battles fought around here, as well as a short (less than one mile) hiking trail.

Just enjoy the vibes

Micanopy, Florida is just vibes. Obviously there are things to do in Micanopy, but my favorite is just walking around and enjoying the vibes.

Take a walk up and down the main street from Mosswood Farm Store all the way to the end by Dakota Mercantile and just enjoy the Old Florida scenery.

Admire the Herlong Mansion, the cute houses (the white one across from Mosswood, toward downtown is my absolute favorite), the sprawling oaks, and maybe even see Jimmy the Cat out and about, too.

Visit the Micanopy Historical Society Museum

This is the one thing in Micanopy I haven’t done yet, but in my defense I almost never see it open. But I do love the building it’s in.

It’s open Wednesday to Sunday from 1-4 and is home to an extensive collection of personal items and Native American artifacts ranging from 5000 too 500 years ago.

I’ll have to stop in here the next time I’m in town while it’s open. It seems interesting! There are also archives i a separate building here.

Enjoy a beverage in the gazebo

Stop into Old Florida Cafe for a Cuban coffee or get a latte or iced tea from Mosswood Bakehouse and bring it to the gazebo by Wren Wood Antiques to just enjoy the day and do some people watching.

There is a nice grassy area and a few park benches to choose from. Don’t want a beverage? Just enjoy a little break here from all of your antiquing.

See Jimmy the Cat

You’re probably wondering by now why I keep talking about Jimmy the Cat. Well, it’s because I’m officially a card-carrying cat lady and Jimmy is the resident cat at Micanopy Trading Outpost!

Even if we just go to Micanopy to eat, I have to stop in to see Jimmy. Sometimes he’s sleeping in the store (don’t wake him up if he is sleeping) and sometimes you’ll see him prowling the streets.

He’s friendly and adorable and a little old and I love him. Be sure to say hi to him if you see him!

Restaurants in Micanopy, FL

Old Florida Cafe – If you want the best BLT and key lime pie ever, this is where you’ll find it. We ate here alllllll the time when we lived closer.

I took my parents here and they even wanted to go back a couple days later! The food is delicious, the people are wonderful, and it’s just generally very cute. I love the outdoor seating area.

Coffee n’ Cream – This is technically the only place listed I haven’t been to. We walked through it once and it usually seems busy.

If you want an ice cream to enjoy while you walk around, this is the place to get it!

In addition to ice cream, they have breakfast, salads, and wraps. They actually have way more than I realized! I’ll have to go here next time.

Mosswood Bakehouse – The Mosswood Farm Store and Mosswood Bakehouse are the same thing. I love coming here, too.

I love the iced tea and coffees but they also have a variety of baked goods available every day.

This isn’t a place for lunch, but it’s great for dessert or a light breakfast (ask about quiche, frittatas, and turn overs).

Pearl’s BBQ – Pearl’s Country Store is where you’ll find this unassuming BBQ joint. But don’t let it being in a gas station fool you.

This is a BBQ hot spot, for sure. It was super busy the day we went here and all the food was delicious.

Prices are pretty fair and you get a lot of food. If you’re looking for a more hardy or substantial meal in Micanopy, this is it.

Blue Highway Pizza – This doesn’t look like much from the outside, but it’s some of the best pizza in the area.

We haven’t eaten at this location but we did go to a different one in Gainesville, so I still count it.

It was delicious and I would definitely go back. I have to go to this location to see how it is. It’s right across from Pearl’s.

Where to stay in Micanopy, FL

Herlong Mansion Bed and Breakfast – There is only one place to stay in Micanopy and it’s the Herlong Mansion Bed and Breakfast. It’s about $200-275 per night but looks so worth it.

Each room is different but all have private bathrooms. Some have balconies or terraces, some have private entrances, and some have desks and dressing rooms.

Breakfast is included (with vegetarian options) and there is a grassy picnic area to enjoy the outdoors, too. I want to stay here so bad but haven’t had the chance yet.

Book the Herlong Mansion Bed and Breakfast here

Is Micanopy, FL worth visiting?

1000% yes! Micanopy is literally my favorite place in Florida. Or at least close to it, maybe tied with Big Cypress and Everglades City.

We lived really close to Micanopy our first year in Gainesville and would go here all the time for Old Florida Cafe BLTs and key lime pie.

Even if you don’t care about antiques, it’s worth seeing the oldest inland settlement in Florida. I love it!

Things to do near Micanopy

Want to spend the night and Micanopy and explore the surrounding area, too? Don’t worry, there are tons of things to do to keep you busy for more than a day, for sure.

Paynes Prairie State Park

First up we have Paynes Prairie, one of the best state parks near Gainesville and one of the best things to do near Micanopy.

The Bolen Bluff Trail and the Wacahoota Trail are closer to Micanopy than La Chua Trail, which is in Gainesville.

Don’t want to hike but still want to enjoy nature? Head to Lake Wauberg or do the short walk to the observation tower near the visitor center.

Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings State Park

While this isn’t a great park for hiking, it is a great park to continue your Old Florida experience.

Visit the home of Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, author of Cross Creek and The Yearling.

This is a great place to spend a couple of hours, seeing an Old Florida style home and farm. The only way to see the house is on a (free) tour Thursday-Sunday.

Price’s Scrub State Park

Price’s Scrub State Park is new to me (how did I not know this existed!?) and is just a short drive south of Micanopy.

There are about nine miles of hiking trails through wetlands, scrub, hardwood forests, and pine flatwoods.

It’s also great for biking and bird watching, and even better, it’s free!

Orange Lake Overlook

The Orange Lake Overlook Trail is a fun, easy, relatively short trail not too far from Micanopy.

Enjoy a distant view of Orange Lake from the trailhead and hike down through some prairie field into a small wooded area.

This could easily be done on your way to or from Micanopy from the Ocala area.

Visit Barr Hammock Preserve

Just a short drive from downtown Micanopy is the Barr Hammock Preserve, a hiking area with 9.5 miles of trails.

There is the main area near Levy Prairie and the south area but they aren’t connected at this point. Whichever you choose will be a nice place to enjoy some solitude in Florida’s nature.

I have not been here yet but it’s moving higher up on my list right now! I’m learning so much more about the area as I put this post together!

Final thoughts on visiting Micanopy, Florida

If you’ve been debating visiting Micanopy, I’m telling you yes, you should absolutely do it! Whether it’s just a couple of hours or a whole day, or even a night at the bed and breakfast, definitely don’t skip Micanopy.

Have you been to Micanopy, Florida? What did you think of it? Do you want to go?