Off the Beaten Path: Micanopy, FL

The last time I drove through Micanopy, FL, earlier this year, the tiny town looked just about the same as it had the time before…and the time before that. The appeal of Micanopy is its historic landscape and laid-back feel. It never seems to change. Peruse the antique shops, stroll by historic buildings, and definitely take a gander at the stately Herlong Mansion B&B. The town center is just a five-minute drive off I-75, so if you’re headed south of Gainesville to the Tampa area, look for the sign to Micanopy. Park downtown and walk the three or so blocks that comprise the downtown core. It’s great for an hour’s diversion.

Also, if you’re into eco-fun, head for nearby Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park. It’s a cooler spot. The enticing park boasts hiking trails, a watch tower for great views of the grasslands and forests, a small exhibit building, and a host of wildlife including bison, re-introduced as a species (they were native at one point). If you go, keep your eyes peeled. We spotted deer right along the trail in front of us. But when you visit, keep moving. Don’t stand still. I had a less-than-welcome encounter with a recluse spider that took a chunk out of my leg. He or she (not sure which) crawled up my leg while I was standing on the trail waiting for a friend to come back down from the watch tower observation deck. But hey, we tend to forget, this is Florida. It’s still a jungle in many ways. I ended up in the hospital ER and needed antibiotics to combat the spider’s poison, which caused an infection. Still, I go back to the preserve, a place of natural beauty, whenever I get in the area.

A nearby attraction also not to be missed is the Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Homestead (her grave site is about 10 miles away as well). Interested in the world of Cross Creek? Then check out our original story by freelance travel writer Diane Daniels at http://www.southerntravelnews.com/NewsRelease.aspx?NewsId=687. Definitely take an hour or an afternoon to explore the sites of quaint Micanopy. It’s one of my favorites if you’re seeking to find the real Florida of old – away from skyscrapers, amusement parks and crowds. Susan (www.southerntravelnews.com)

 

StayCations – Not a New Concept

Lately, the television anchors in local markets drone on and on about StayCations. Yes, these close-to-home choices for vacations are a great idea. Yes, we’ve even promoted them on our own sites — talking about fun travel close to home. In the melt-down (or melt-up as it might be more correctly phrased) of gasoline prices, people are desperate to take their vacation, but are now seeking travel that’s more around the corner than across the state, across the nation and across the world.

But hey, this isn’t a new concept. I used to call it the “We don’t ever look at what’s in our own backyard until we get company from out of town” syndrome. Years ago when I lived in Crystal City, VA, I’d never visited the Vietnam Memorial in Washington D.C., despite living just across the Potomac. It took a visit from my parents from Pennsylvania and their friends from Wisconsin to get me to venture across the bridge and take in the memorial.

Why is it that we never really explore what’s right down the street? We miss so much. Today, I’m here in Tampa and I’ve never done the Taste of Pinellas (as in county, just across Tampa Bay), never been to the Tampa Museum of Art and never gone to the big Gasparilla pirate invasion festival. It always seems that there’s something else to be done at home.

Planning a BIG trip is what I think of for vacation. But these days, even a brief mental break — for just a day or a weekend — can be refreshing. So, last weekend, I headed out to the Ybor City Farmer’s Market on a Saturday morning. It was just for fun but I told myself that getting fresh veggies was the real reason. Yes, the tolls cost me nearly $4 to get there, the gas a similar amount, but we did buy fresh veggies (at good prices I might add), listened to the music, strolled along vendor booths and then drove around the historic neighborhood a bit. It wasn’t an earthshaking experience but it was fun. I noticed the Hilton Garden Inn just a block up from the market locale; that would have been a great option for a Saturday night stay. Then we could have combined our market visit with evening entertainment, dining and perhaps a movie at Ybor.

Getting in the Staycation concept isn’t that easy I find. Personally, I tend to plan and plan and over-plan and then travel in a big way. At times, a simple visit to a local attraction seems a come-down. Where is the grand vacation? Where’s the wow? That said, I wonder when  “close to home” equated to ”not as good” in my mindset?  That said, throughout this past week, we talked fondly about our visit to the market. So, the brief getaway had staying power at least as a discussion point among family and friends. 

Hey, I think I could get into this concept! It’s been a long time since I’ve been to Fantasy of Flight in Lakeland, FL. I’d like to get over to see the Florida Air Museum near there as well. We even have friends in the area. It’s only an hour’s drive. Perhaps in the next two or three weeks…let’s see how it goes. Cheers! Susan www.southerntravelnews.com