Alright folks, strap in. So yesterday I figured, enough sitting around – time to finally tackle that Florida bucket list everyone keeps yapping about. Historic small towns? Sign me up. Grabbed my crumpled bucket list notebook, a halfway decent map (yep, still got one of those), my trusty camera, and basically just threw some clothes in a suitcase. Didn’t even check the weather properly. Spoiler: it was HOT. Like, melt-your-sunglasses-on-the-dashboard hot. But hey, adventure calls.
First stop, way up north near Jacksonville – St. Augustine. Drove down this super old cobblestone street downtown, felt like my car tires were gonna vibrate right off. Parked near that giant fort, Castillo de San Marcos? Seriously massive thing made of coquina. Walked the top, looked out over the water, tried to imagine pirates or Spanish soldiers hanging around. Total “whoa” moment. Wandered the little lanes, ducked into tiny shops selling things I definitely didn’t need, and got some weird ice cream flavor called Datil pepper. Spicy ice cream! Wild.
Next, pointed the car west across the state. Saw this tiny dot on the map called Cedar Key. Pulled into what felt like the end of the world. No giant hotels, just salty air and fishing boats. Found this rickety seafood shack on the dock – Clam Chowder. Oh man. Creamy, perfect, ate it watching pelicans dive bomb the water. Rented a golf cart (only way to really get around!), puttered past these incredibly old clapboard houses painted bright colors, half crumbling but still beautiful. So peaceful. Like stepping way back.
Next day, headed towards the Panhandle. Aiming for Apalachicola. Ended up kinda lost on these backroads lined with mossy oaks – seriously spooky, looked like zombie movie sets. Finally hit the town itself, smell of salt and oysters hit me instantly. Place is famous for ’em! Wandered through rows of historic houses downtown, big porches, quiet streets. Stumbled into this place called The Gibson Inn, an old hotel. Peeked inside, all dark wood and creaky floors, ghosts definitely included.
Last one on my whirlwind tour: Pensacola. Needed something bigger. Went straight to the historic downtown area near the water. So many different styles of houses! Greek Revival, Victorian mansions… like an architecture textbook on steroids. Parked and just walked block after block. Found the Historic Pensacola Village, a bunch of saved buildings and museums. Saw the tiny, crazy ornate Lavalle House. The T.T. Wentworth Jr. Florida State Museum building looked like a castle! Bonus: Found an old-fashioned soda shop hidden away. Grabbed a root beer float. Perfection after all that sweating.
Here’s the stuff that really stuck with me:
- Wear light, breathable clothes. Florida heat is no joke, especially walking around brick streets. Trust me.
- Bring comfy shoes you don’t mind getting dusty. Historic districts mean uneven sidewalks, sandy paths, and a lot of pavement.
- Water bottle? Absolutely essential. Drank gallons.
- Patience. These towns move slower. Parking can be a headache. Go with the flow.
- Seriously, don’t skip the local food. Fresh seafood, weird ice cream – just try it!
- Get lost (a little). Found the best spots just by taking random turns.
- Bring bug spray. Those Spanish moss trees? Pretty. The mosquitoes under them? Less pretty.
Finished the drive home exhausted, slightly sunburnt, smelling like creek water and sunscreen. Didn’t scratch everything off the list (Florida has way too many!), but wow. Covered some amazing ground. These little towns? They got soul. Way more interesting than just another beach. If you’re thinking about adding historic Florida spots to your bucket list? Do it. Just maybe pack an extra pair of socks. Mine were soaked.
