RSS
Print This Post Print This Post

Antiquing in Arcadia by Tracy Eisnaugle

Antiquing in Arcadia
By Tracy Eisnaugle

After living in Sarasota for over twenty years I have to admit that I’ve never ventured east to Arcadia. I had heard wonderful stories about the uniqueness of the small town and even knew someone who purchased a bed and breakfast there a few years ago. But being wrapped up in the day-to-day business of life I never took the time to explore. Just the other day I overheard two ladies discussing the wonderful antique shops in Arcadia and it sparked my interest. Not one to pass up the opportunity to shop and always in need of something new I decided the trip was a must.

I included my friend, Shannon Day who is a walking Florida historian and a great navigator to join in my adventure. We headed out east and soon after leaving town we were pleasantly surrounded by the scenic old Florida landscape, an expansive view of untouched land which graciously formed a serene backdrop for our voyage. After a brief forty minutes we approached the small historic downtown area of Arcadia and instantly felt as though we had stepped back in time.

Without ado we were greeted by The Depot, the original train station, a captivating large brick building that marks the presence of the historic area. We parked at the far end of Oak Street and began our journey exploring each intriguing store in search for “new to you” treasures. Shop after shop we took in the vast array of fascinating antiques, an eclectic selection of well preserved items including; china, glass, furniture, books, art, albums, service relics, jewelry and much, much more. The original Opera House still stands proudly in the center of the district and features multiple stores and an educational museum.

If antique shopping is not your passion the local architecture is absolutely spectacular, from the stone façade buildings, hand laid mosaic tile work and tin ceilings seen along the stores of Oak Street to the historic homes that line the flanking avenues. Each building and residence tells its own distinctive architectural story showcasing a vast array of styles and beautiful color palettes. The enchanting Historic Parker House Bed & Breakfast is a must see destination when visiting Arcadia.

Having fervor for eating equal to our enthusiasm for shopping we were pleased to find a variety of tempting options along the antique district. Wheeler’s Café on Monroe Street is famous for Jule’s homemade pies. If Italian is what your craving the Tasty of Italy is centrally located on Oak. Just a few doors down is the Hot Fudge Shoppe which needs no explanation, or if a good cup of joe is in order one can visit the Last Chapter Books & Café. Being southern ladies we were in search of barbeque, just a short drive from the downtown area we discovered Slim’s Barbeque. It was wonderful and exactly what we were craving, we even came home with some of their superb sauce.

From the historic train station to the fascinating antique shops and the memorable barbeque, it was a trip worth taking.  I will soon return to share my new found city of treasures with guests who visit and those who also claim to be locals but have never ventured east. If someone inquires about an unexpected day trip and they have already enjoyed our beautiful beaches, and marvelous museums, send them antiquing in Arcadia for some traditional southern hospitality.

BIO
Tracy L. Eisnaugle has practiced interior design in Sarasota since 1997 and is currently self employed providing design consultation services in the area. She is a graduate from Florida State University with a Bachelor of Science in Interior Design and continues her education by attending annual conferences. Her past experience includes, Design Center Manager for Lee Wetherington Homes, high-end residential design and model merchandising. Tracy may be reached at 941.232.3358 or by e-mail at tleisnaugle@msn.com.

Share

Tags: ,

Leave a Reply


Featured Properties

Ads

REAL HAPPENINGS

April 2, 2020 Ringling Underground

April 2, 2020 Ringling Underground

CANCELLED Ringling Underground CANCELLED. Enjoy live music, and art in the Museum of Art Courtya[...]
CleanSlate Property Services Opens

CleanSlate Property Services Opens

CleanSlate Property Services, a local concierge handyman business. My name is Tim White, former [...]
March 5, 2020 Ringling Underground

March 5, 2020 Ringling Underground

Ringling Underground Returns. Enjoy live music, and art in the Museum of Art Courtyard 8:00pm -1[...]
March 6, 2020 Gettel Toyota Grand Opening

March 6, 2020 Gettel Toyota Grand Opening

You're Invited To Gettel Toyota Of Bradenton's Grand Opening. On Friday, March 6th, from 12pm-2:[...]
March 12-13, 2020 Pop Up Art Show

March 12-13, 2020 Pop Up Art Show

Sarasota Architectural Salvage Hosts Event To Support Local Artists. For more information and/or[...]
February 6, 2020 Ringling Underground

February 6, 2020 Ringling Underground

Ringling Underground Returns. Enjoy live music, and art in the Museum of Art Courtyard 8:00pm -1[...]
January 25, 2020 Spoons And Tunes

January 25, 2020 Spoons And Tunes

TheWineToBuy.com Hosts Innovative Wine Tasting. Tired of the same old BS? Then join TheWineToBuy[...]
February 7, 2020 Thunder By The Bay Kick Off Party

February 7, 2020 Thunder By The Bay Kick Off Party

White Buffalo Saloon Hosts Born To Be Wild! Join REAL as we kick off 2020's Thunder by the Bay. [...]
Curb Appeal Detailing Opens New Sarasota Location

Curb Appeal Detailing Opens New Sarasota Location

Auto Enthusiasts Take Note. Curb Appeal Detailing announced the opening of their new location i[...]
January 11, 2020 National Hot Toddy Day

January 11, 2020 National Hot Toddy Day

How To Warm Up On A Chilly Day. Today is National Hot Toddy Day! A hot toddy is a delicious drin[...]
Anheuser-Busch Launches New Hard Seltzer

Anheuser-Busch Launches New Hard Seltzer

Bud Light Seltzer Arrives Just In Time For The Super Bowl! Anheuser-Busch is launching a new har[...]
Ocala Gains New Urgent Care Center

Ocala Gains New Urgent Care Center

StatMed Urgent Care Center Ocala Opens January 2, 2020. StatMed Urgent Care Center is a step abo[...]
New Year's Eve 2019-2020 Tow To Go

New Year's Eve 2019-2020 Tow To Go

Everyone Have A Safe New Year’s Eve Tonight! Tow to Go is a partnership between AAA & Budweiser.[...]
Wyze Labs Data Breach

Wyze Labs Data Breach

Multiple Data Breaches Exposes Information Of 2.4 Million Customers. Wyze Labs' low cost, inter[...]
Westbound SR 70 Southbound I75 Ramp To Close

Westbound SR 70 Southbound I75 Ramp To Close

8 Months of New Detours Loom Large! Starting at 11 p.m. Thursday, January 2nd, the westbound on-[...]
Wawa Data Breach

Wawa Data Breach

Wawa Facing Wave Of Lawsuits Over Data Breach. On December 10, Wawa's information security team [...]
December 26, 2019 Deck the Halls @ Ca' d'Zan

December 26, 2019 Deck the Halls @ Ca' d'Zan

Ca' d'Zan All Decked Out. On December 26th, from 5:00pm – 8:00pm join The Ringling for Deck the [...]
January 22, 2020 Ringling's Wisconsin Pullman Tour

January 22, 2020 Ringling's Wisconsin Pullman Tour

Private Tour of the Wisconsin Pullman Car. Join Jennifer Lemmer-Posey, Tibbals Curator of Circus [...]
Commercial Investment Division Changes Name

Commercial Investment Division Changes Name

RASM Commercial Division Now Know As Commercial Real Estate Alliance. The Realtor Association of[...]
December 3, 2019 GivingTuesday

December 3, 2019 GivingTuesday

Join the GivingTuesday Movement. GivingTuesday is a global generosity movement unleashing the po[...]
Translate »