Live Oak City of

I was doing a project here the past year, and got to really know the place. I’m fortunate that I have a family history here, my family resettled to Tampa in 1896. That made me delve deeper into the place than I might have otherwise. There is a store in nearby Wellborn that was my family dry goods establishment, and the structure is still there.
That said, this is a short day trip to see what is there, or if you are passing by on I-​10, skip the generica at the interstate junction and ride 2 miles south into town.
Check out the gorgeous Suwanee County Courthouse, the newly renovated Old City Hall and the Dowling Mansion, which houses a great southern style restaurant (Grace Manor — reviewed here as well). There is a historic museum in the old train depot next to the Old City Hall and they are happy to answer questions about the town. There is a lovely Post Office and a Methodist church that face each other on the Southern downtown gateway. There is a funky mid century BofA with this crazy sky walk way from the main building to the drive-​thrus. A neat little city for the architecturally and historically minded.
The downtown is just starting a long term revitalization program (the reason I was involved as a student this past year). You can see some renovations have taken place, and some are in progress. Be aware that this is a dry county, and so you can order a beer in 3 places that I counted, but forget a cocktail or a glass of wine.
All in all, a nice slice of what Florida used to be when I was a kid.