If you want to visit a piece of “Old Florida,” tell Siri to take you to the tiny enclave of Cedar Key. Rich in small town flavor, this quaint, old-fashioned vacation town, with its lovely beaches, great fishing and lush natural preserves, is a haven for artists and writers who find inspiration from the unspoiled environment.

Located about 60 miles southwest of Gainesville and three miles out into the Gulf of Mexico, it’s an island whose out of the way location helps keep it authentic and where time seems to stand still. This is a place where houses and stores stand like herons perched on stilts above the Gulf and where the police greet you from spiffed up golf carts. As one of the nation’s top sources of farm-raised clams,it’s easy to find tastyclam chowder here along with some of the best“Cracker Cuisine” in Florida.

It doesn’t get much better than life by the sea in Cedar Key, Florida. This enchanting and historic town in Florida is a sensational spot for a day trip, as there is so much to see and explore. As an island city off the state’s northwest coast, Cedar Key was once a very busy port decades ago. What was once the second-largest city in Florida in the 1880s, Cedar Key now houses only 690 residents full-time. Today, museums, nature trails, restaurants, and much more fill the town, attracting writers, artists, and tourists galore. This creates the perfect itinerary for a weekend away.

Cedar Key, Florida, is a hidden gem town on the northwest coast that boasts beauty, nature, and tons of history.