Fun Things To Do In Tallahassee, Florida

The Benefits of Being in Florida's Capital City

Mar 20, 2009

Florida State, Florida A&M, and the State Capitol all have large populations of people coming into Tallahassee, Florida. As a result, the city has plenty to visitors.

Tallahassee, Florida is located on the far east side of the Big Bend (panhandle) of Florida. It is in the northern portion of the state and is within close proximity to the Georgia state border. As a result, Tallahassee is a mixture of Southern charm and near-beach climate. The city is lined with many oak and moss tree-lined streets and many hills. The city is due north of St. Marks, which is an inlet to the Gulf of Mexico, so the beaches, including St. Georges Island are within a few hours' drive of Tallahassee.

Fun Things to Do In Tallahassee and Surrounding Cities

Therefore, the location of Florida's capital city is prime for outdoors types. The weather is typically warm and sunny, although temperatures drop dramatically at night, and summer thunderstorms are an oft occurrence. That said, many venues in the city are outdoors.

There are numerous parks including Tom Brown Park and state parks like Maclay Gardens. July 4th celebrations at Tom Brown include concerts and great fireworks displays. Maclay Gardens offers lush gardens, and large lakes and is perfect for picnics and walks. Smaller parks closer to Lake Ella and the downtown also offer tranquil walking trails.

Students at Florida State often trek down towards the southern part of the city for a day at FSU's Reservation (the Rez). There, canoeing, kayaking, boating, and swimming in yet another one of Tallahassee's many lakes are common activities. Also, beach volleyball games and outdoor picnics are to be had.

Wildlife RefugesFor others desiring outdoor activities a car drive away, there are more wildlife refuges and parks to the south of Tallahassee. Wakulla Springs are another venue for college students and visitors alike. St. Marks is closeby. A longer drive going towards Tampa allows for trips to Homosassa Springs, where manatees are in the menagerie of animals one can see.

The beaches of the Gulf coast side of Florida, although not as often frequented as the East Coast ones of Daytona Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, etc. are beautiful, clean, and serene. Ones towards Fort Walton Beach and Panama City are easy rides from Tallahassee. Even closer is Appalachicola and St. Georges Island. The sands are white and the Gulf of Mexico's waters warm.

Tallahassee itself has two large shopping complexes, the Tallahassee Mall and Governor's Square Mall. Likewise, there are numerous strip malls, particularly near the lakes and near the college campuses. Additionally, there are many independent restaurants and boutiques throughout the city.

Tallahassee is a city with a rich history. The Knotts House, close to the Capitol Building, is one historic residence open for tours. Likewise, directly west of Florida State's campus, there is Mission San Luis, also open for tours including some re-enactment and some collections of what has been unearthed at the site. Additional museums in Tallahassee include the Mary Brogan Museum of Art and Science, the Museum of Florida History, and the Tallahassee Museum. The Natural History Museum also has a wildlife zoo with it.

Being a college town, Tallahassee is home to numerous collegiate sports teams including both the Florida A&M Rattlers and the Florida State Seminoles. Additionally, Tallahassee boasts a community college with sports teams (Tallahassee Community College Eagles) and many high school teams, well known throughout the state for the athletic programs.

The Civic Center hosts many concerts as well as college events and commencement ceremonies. Big-name performers including many country singers and bands have performed here. Likewise, nearby FSU has a well-known dance program and many theatrical performances and literary readings by famous authors including Stephen King have occurred in the Ruby Diamond Auditorium.

Other Fun Activities in Tallahassee

Some other things to check out while in Tallahassee include the State Capitol and events like Downtown Getdown during football season. Seven Days of Opening Nights at Florida State is a crowd-drawing event too. In short, there is more to do in Tallahassee than there is time to do, so please take advantage of every minute you have there to soak in the culture of a college and political town, while not forgetting the southern charm and sunrays too!

The copyright of the article Fun Things To Do In Tallahassee, Florida in Florida Travel is owned by Alison Diefenderfer. Permission to republish Fun Things To Do In Tallahassee, Florida in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.