After the reception, we headed back to Dan’s apartment so that he could change. Then we drove a few blocks to our Inn. Dan suggested we forgo a typical hotel for the weekend and instead book one of the many Inns. I researched all the Inns near Dan’s apartment and booked at The Laurel Oak Inn. As you can see from the photographs, it was lovely. When we arrived the Innkeepers, Peggy and Monta greeted us with chilled glasses of Chardonnay and delicious appetisers. After cocktail hour, we cleaned up and headed out to dinner.
When we first planned this visit, Dan suggested we dine at a fantastic Gainesville Pizza Place. Sadly, they recently had a fire and will not be open until later this summer. Although there were several great restauants within walking distance of the Inn, Dan thought it would be more interesting to dine at The Yearling Restaurant, a short drive to Cross Creek, Florida.
Well, it was a lovely drive through the country. The Yearling is located next to The Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings state park http://www.floridastateparks.org/marjoriekinnanrawlings/. You remember her, she wrote The Yearling. Well, we got there too late to visit the park, but the restaurant was very interesting.