A don’t miss: Road delays happen, but Downtown Arcadia is happening!
At a glance on a drive through Arcadia, you will see construction, blockades and barriers, but these dusty obstructions are only minor hurdles worth jumping to get to the heart of town — Downtown Arcadia — where travelers, visitors, and locals hold fond memories, create experiences and take in amazing food, great times and new adventures.
From a hearty breakfast in the morning to a night filled with music and line dancing, Downtown Arcadia has a bit of everything for everyone, including night life, nostalgia and humble fun — a charm that happens only in DeSoto County.
The visit is worth the wild on the way into town!
A little bit of everything for everyone
Not only has downtown Arcadia held on to its antique roots, but local shop owners have also helped downtown Arcadia evolve, adding boutiques, artisan stores and bookstores, as well as comfort coffee shops, old-fashioned candy shops, energetic smoothie haunts and ice cream hangouts to help locals and visitors round out the day.
Make it a Weekend
Oak Tree Hotel is a luxurious boutique hotel that takes you back to a time when the American experience was more meaningful, and life was more indulgent. Built in 1904, the building exudes the Victorian influence popular at that time and is one of the three buildings that survived the fire of 1905.
This Edwardian-era building is merely footsteps away from all the experiences guests can have in downtown Arcadia.
BEYOND DOWNTOWN
Airboats, Fossil Hunting, Horseback Riding, Fishing, Swamp Buggies, Birding
DeSoto County, and the city of Arcadia, was built around the Peace River. The river runs through Southwest Florida into Charlotte Harbor Bay. Adven0ture awaits along Peace River with everything from fishing and fossil hunting to airboat rides and the tranquility of canoeing. With a stay at Oak Tree Hotel, a family could visit Peace River Charters on a Saturday, going on an airboat ride, ride horseback, swamp buggy trails or meet a lemur at Jungle Dorias Wildlife Park.
To wind down, return to downtown and experience the tranquility of a peaceful downtown where the historic buildings block out the noise of construction.
Why the construction
State Roads 70 (east and west) are under construction by the Florida Department of Transportation. The project includes the roadways and infrastructure. The project is estimated to take another three years as of this post. In the long term, the project will result in better roads for travel in and out of DeSoto County, but also a more stable infrastructure.