Half-Day Trips From Gainesville: Penny-Pincher Paradise in Waldo

Where’s Waldo? Well, I found him located just about 14 miles northeast of Gainesville. This small town is a quick shot right up State Road 24, past the Gainesville Airport and beyond.

I call this a half-day trip because I haven’t truly explored all that Waldo and the surrounding area have to offer. But, I have checked out two of my favorite places to frequent during some weekend down time.

The Waldo Farmer’s & Flea Market

The Waldo  Farmer’s and Flea Market is a junker’s wonderland. Furniture, scrap materials and pretty much anything else you can think of to create with are littered in piles throughout the grounds.

Scrapping not your thing and you prefer to buy things pre-made? Not to worry because there are plenty of vendors offering items in a bit better condition to suit any need you might have.

I myself have purchased a variety of objects ranging from jalapeño peppers and vinyl records, to can openers and this awesome Daytona 500 tin box (which I’ve adorably filled with medical supplies to make the most fashionable first aid kit you’ll ever lay eyes upon).

My point is—don’t worry—they have you covered.

Some of my favorite stops within the flea market (I hope they’re not competitors, but I assume they are) are Marilyn’s Fresh Produce and USA Vegetables. Between these two spots, you can leave with more produce than you’ll ever need, and with more money in your wallet than you could ever imagine.

Disclaimer: I’m not implying they will give you money to fill up your wallet, only that their prices are so fantastically low. 

Right at the entrance, there is a well-stocked home goods store, where I bought the aforementioned can opener. They also have some pretty other useful gadgets, such as the gone-too-soon Slapchop, and those red plastic diner Coca-Cola cups that come in handy when you’re trying to throw a party that cuts down on the waste or you want to pretend you own the trendiest burger joint in town.

If you’re fixin’ to start raising animals, they have a fine assortment of chicken, ducks and geese. I’ve also seen them have pigs, goats and rabbits. Basically, everything you’ll need to start your very own homestead and kiss the rat race goodbye.

Waldo’s Antique Village

Right next to the flea market is Waldo’s Antique Village. This is the spot to visit for, well, they put it best…

“Whether you collect antiques seriously or are just looking to add that perfect accent to your home, you will find something you love in our 20,000 square foot mall.”

This place has more things than I can even begin to describe. Everything from hundreds of different salt and pepper shakers to old liquor signs are elegantly, and at times not so elegantly, displayed throughout this two-story space. For the artist looking for inspiration, they have piles of Polaroids in some crates near the records.

It’s a very fun place to get lost in and find the odd thing that makes you happy. Places like this, to me, are great for first dates. I find it fascinating to see what other people treasure and find interesting.

It lets you look into their world, if only for a time. For example, I seek out dumb music memorabilia and old advertisements for long-gone products, while my girlfriend spots old home goods from furniture to window frames. Try it with someone new. It’s wonderful.

Whatever tickles your fancy, you’ll find it here. Also, because I write about what I know, between this antique store and the flea market itself, you’ll find plenty of classic vinyl records for both the amateur and most experienced collectors.

So, be courteous to staff, don’t break anything, and buy that out of the ordinary, antique Jim Beam sign that your mom would never let you have. Live a little.

Randy’s Rib Shack

Once you’re done shopping around and have worked up quite an appetite haggling over a satsuma tree, head back towards Gainesville and stop at Randy’s Rib Shack.

If you’re headed up to Waldo for the Flea Market, which is only open on Saturday and Sunday, you’re in luck, because this tasty place is similarly only open on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Now, if you’ve read my previous pieces, you know that I’m pretty crazy about food. I wouldn’t lie to you. We’ve built quite a relationship at this point, and I feel like we’ve grown a lot and built trust together. Go to Randy’s Rib Shack.

They have great-sized portions, which I’m a big fan of, as well as great food. I’ve been there a couple times and here are the things I’ve ordered and the good things I have to say.

Now, I grew up on a dirt road in Michigan, so I’m not a gator expert but I’ve embraced this whole southern seafood thing with gator, crawfish and frog legs whole-heartedly and can speak to it all pretty well, having cooked each myself.

Randy’s gator tail is wonderfully fried, crispy on the outside and tastes like sweet swamp chicken on the inside. On the topic of seafood, I also get their basket of shrimp and it’s just as superb.

Now, we know each other and I’m the BBQ guy, so here are my thoughts: Get the ribs. Their rub is fantastic and it’s a huge pile of meat. Randy’s is doing BBQ right. Their baked beans are spectacular and the fried okra couldn’t be better. If you’re not feeling BBQ or anything up that alley, fear not, they have a killer pastrami sandwich.

The Waldo Farmers and Flea Market is open Saturday and Sunday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The Waldo Antique Village is open Saturday and Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.; daily from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Randy’s Rib Shack is open Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

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