ANTroa I Qd. UES. go. N O RT H AND C ENTRAL FLORIDA ARE A TR E AS U R E TR OVE FOR ANTIQUE HUNTERS. V I S I T THES E DESTINATIONS FOR YOUR N E XT ANTIQ U ING ADV ENTURE.
By Melissa Peterson
W
hether setting out for a day of antique hunting in downtown Ocala or taking a weekend trip to a fishing village in the Panhandle, if you’re looking for some of the best antiquing spots in the state, we’ll help you plan for your next outing. From where to shop and where to stay the night—and what to do in between— these destinations promise to become some of your favorite hunting locales.
A PA L A C H I C O L A The handful of streets that make up downtown Apalachicola are filled with small shops, historic buildings, bed and breakfast accommodations and quaint spots to get a bite to eat. And surrounding those streets are the waters that make up the famous Apalachicola River and Bay. In these waters are the lifeblood of this fishing town, with the many shrimp and fishing boats docked at the downtown marinas serving as proof. Apalachicola is located on Highway 98, 90 minutes south of Tallahassee and four hours northwest of Ocala. The trip takes you through some of the most undeveloped portions of our state, through Marion County’s horse farms, on to Perry and then the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge in the Big Bend, before finally winding along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico. The distance from Ocala means this destination is the perfect getaway for a long weekend. Downtown Apalachicola is small
enough to park your car upon arrival and leave it be for the duration, as everything you could want to explore is within walking distance— although, we will suggest several must-see highlights away from the downtown area. Antique lovers will be delighted to know there’s several stops downtown for browsing. Tin Shed Nauticals & Antiques boasts having the most comprehensive maritime collection east of the Mississippi—although not confirmed by us—as well as an assortment of nautical antiques, decorative signs and carvings, old charts and more, while Retsyo (oyster spelled backward) has been in business since 1974 and features antiques, collectibles, beautifully illustrated historic seafood label T-shirts and Tupelo honey. These are just two of the antique stores, gift shops and art galleries you’ll find in downtown Apalachicola. When it’s time to grab a bite to eat, fresh seafood is the way to go. Half Shell Dockside offers outdoor seating right on the water’s edge, and The Station Raw Bar will appeal to your inner lover of all things old, as it operated as a gas station for many years and still looks the part. If you’re just looking for a cold beer after a long day, check out Oyster City Brewing Company and its flagship beers, including the Apalach IPA, Mill Pond Dirty Blond Ale and Tates Helles German Style Lager. A night spent in Apalachicola wouldn’t be complete if you didn’t stay at The Gibson Inn, located downtown right as you come off the bridge. Built in 1907, it’s a great example of the
