Sure, big cities usually have plenty of restaurants to choose from, but nothing beats that hidden gem you stumble upon during a road trip, preferably in a charming small town. If you couldn’t agree more, we have the perfect place for you to discover:
Micanopy is a sleepy little town in North Florida, just south of Gainesville. Though the town only has about 600 residents, it's also home to some of the best barbecue in the state.
At first, Pearl Country Store & Barbecue looks like any old convenience store next to a gas station in a small town, but step inside, and you might find your new favorite restaurant.
This unique restaurant and store came about in the early '90s when Pearlene and Wayne Davis started a store with a little BBQ restaurant in an old gas station location. Present owners David and Peggy Carr saw the store for sale on scenic Highway US 441 in 2001 and could not resist. They wanted to bring development to the little town, while keeping the Old Florida feeling that draws people to Micanopy.
Locals and visitors can't resist stopping for some of their famous ribs or a homemade breakfast. Take a trip down to this historic small town and see for yourself.
Pearl Country Store & Barbecue is open daily from 6:00 am to 8:00 pm, so you can easily fit other activities into your plans. An awesome place to visit in town is Payne's Prairie Preserve State Park, a National Natural Landmark and a great place for camping, hiking, biking, and viewing wildlife like bison, alligators, and wild horses.
Micanopy is also famous for its selection of antiques, and you could spend many hours hunting for treasures in the historic downtown district, covered by shady oak trees.
