Florida is famous for its big attractions and popular beaches, but in our opinion, one of its best features is often overlooked. The many charming small towns hiding throughout the state are great places to meet friendly people, enjoy life at a slower pace, visit natural attractions, and experience Old Florida that has all but vanished from Florida’s bigger towns.
Though the town of Trenton may be tiny (around 2,000 people), it’s actually the seat of Gilchrist County. This is a town where life moves at a slower pace.
Flickr/Jimmy Emerson, DVM
The local shops occupying historic buildings all seem intended to transport the visitor to the past.
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At the Suwannee Valley Shoppes, you can pull up a stool at an adorable soda fountain and sip a root beer float.
Facebook/Suwannee Rose Cafe
Or join the fancy ladies in the Ruffled Rose Tea Room for formal English tea and other events (by reservation).
Facebook/The Ruffled Rose Tea Room
Visitors can pick out a lovely quilt and a few antiques to bring home, and then grab lunch or a delicious pastry from the Suwannee Rose Cafe. You can also learn about cross stitch from a nationally recognized professional, Sally Criswell, in her shop, Sally’s Suwannee Valley Cross Stitch.
Facebook/Suwannee Rose Cafe
The impressive quilting shop, located inside the town’s old Coca-Cola bottling plant (built in 1925) holds over 7,000 bolts of fabric.
Flickr/BEV Norton
The Trenton Suwannee Valley Quilt Festival is arguably the event of the year (held in March), and the historic Wade Building (a 1910 dry goods store) houses the Florida Quilt Museum.
Facebook/Trenton’s Suwannee Valley Quilt Festival
It goes without saying that if you love quilting, you will probably fall in love with this town.
Facebook/Trenton’s Suwannee Valley Quilt Festival
The town’s railroad history is visible in the historic Trenton Railroad Depot, built in 1900. There are several other historic buildings cherished by the town.
Flickr/BEV Norton
If you want to enjoy some outdoor activities, beautiful Fanning Springs State Park is only 15 minutes away. Here, visitors can enjoy a day of swimming, fishing, canoeing and kayaking, and hiking, making this a well-rounded trip
Flickr/Paul Clark
Looking for more awesome small towns? Take this Road Trip Through Florida’s Most Picturesque Small Towns.
Flickr/Jimmy Emerson, DVM
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Facebook/Suwannee Rose Cafe
Facebook/The Ruffled Rose Tea Room
Flickr/BEV Norton
Facebook/Trenton’s Suwannee Valley Quilt Festival
Flickr/Paul Clark
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