In the 1920s when Florida's scenic highway, the Tamiami Trail, was constructed, the early developers of Englewood were disappointed the roadway was moved away from their Gulf front properties and lemon groves, taking with it the promise of speculators investing during the Florida land boom.

Their loss is now our bounty. Over the years, Englewood remained a small fishing village (although the lemon groves are now gone) and today a stroll down Dearborn Street is a step back in time, without the trappings of a 're-creation' of the past.

Here in Olde Englewood Villages (est. 1896) there are no streetlights, only four-way stops. Signage is small, and usually hand-painted. At the farmer's market on Saturdays, neighbors discuss small-town happenings. And an evening spent at the community theater is akin to a town-hall meeting of New England proportions during intermission.

Dearborn Street awakens in the early morning hours with boaters headed west to Indian Mound Park where the brilliant Intracoastal waters lap at the grassy shoreline. There is a boat launch here, and the palm-shaded picnic area overlooks Manasota Key, but swimming is not permitted. A drive underneath the canopy of Manasota Key Road offers spectacular Gulf views.

Back downtown, the barber and beauty shops prop open their doors and breakfast is served at Village Diner under a canopy of Live Oak trees. Up and down the street are specialty shops that feature organic soaps, hand-blown glass and jewelry.

Antiquing and art collecting are popular in Englewood. In a tiny yellow box of a building you'll find Lemon Tree Gallery, which features local artists' work, including paintings, jewelry and handmade goods. The Blue Pineapple is a fixture on Dearborn Street where the windows of the antiques shop are ever-changing with décor, textiles and furniture.

Englewood Arts Center is less than a mile south of Dearborn Street on McCall Road. Pottery, drawing and painting classes are offered here, and the Arts Center also hosts the annual plein air art show held each spring. Throughout the Village you'll find more evidence of the artist's touch with a series of murals highlighting Englewood's history.

At the Lemon Bay Playhouse, community theater is alive and well. The postage stamp-sized stage regularly has sell-out crowds, and debuted the farce "Sin, Sex and the CIA" by playwright Michael Parker who lives in the area.

In the evening, choose from a number of restaurants, including a tapas and wine bar, a pizzeria and a Mexican hot spot. Part of Dearborn Street is closed on the second Saturday of each month for Saturday Nite Live, a street walk that runs from 6 to 9 p.m. Once a month, the festivities include a classic car show.

Just outside of town outdoors enthusiasts will enjoy the Myakka State Forest, an 8,500-acre flatwoods forest with hiking and biking trails, and canoeing and kayaking along the Myakka River. There is also primitive camping, where visitors can experience the natural beauty of Englewood that first drew settlers here in the late 1890s.