Things to do in Tallahassee 

 

From sightseeing to hidden gems, there are plenty of things to do in Tallahassee for visitors and residents alike. Below we’ve compiled a list of some of our agents’ favorite Tallahassee places. You’ll know what makes the city unique with the help of the locals who know it best! 

Ready to make the move to Florida’s bustling capital city? Contact an experienced Coldwell Banker Hartung today, who can help you find the perfect place to call home.

 

FREE THINGS TO DO IN TALLAHASSEE

Tallahassee is best known for its beautiful parks and trail systems. In fact, many locals refer to Tallahassee as “Trailahassee” because of the abundance of walking, biking, hiking and paddling trails throughout the area. The best part is, many of these experiences are free! Below are a few of the no-cost things you can do in Florida’s capital city. 

Walking Tour of FSU & FAMU

Take a stroll through campus and enjoy the academic atmosphere. Tallahassee is home to two prestigious universities - Florida State University and Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University. Recently, FSU was awarded a Top 20 University by US News Rankings. FAMU is also a top ranked university, earning the #7 spot in US News Best HBCU’s (Historically Black Colleges & Universities) list. Both campuses feature traditional red brick buildings, multiple statues and monuments, pocket parks, and plenty of sidewalks.

 

Tallahassee Parks

Florida’s capital city is home to 88 city parks, which provides residents with plenty of options to get outside, get active or just sit and enjoy nature. Three of Tallahassee’s popular parks include Lake Ella, Cascades Park and Tom Brown Park. 

Some of the features that draw people to Lake Ella include the picturesque fountains, the abundance of unusual looking ducks and the numerous locally owned shops and restaurants that surround the outskirts of the park. 

Cascades Park is located in downtown Tallahassee and surrounded by many state and government buildings. As such, there’s generally a number of employees walking around the 1-mile loop during lunchtime. Cascades also has an outdoor amphitheater, where concerts and festivals are held throughout the year. The park also features a splash pad; perfect for parents looking for free Tallahassee things to do with their kids. 

Another park that local residents enjoy is Tom Brown Park. There are miles of hiking and biking trails that weave along the Lake. Because much of the trail system is through the woods, it’s a popular spot for runners in the hot summer months, because the trees provide shade during an afternoon jog.

Tour of Florida's Historic Capitol Museum

Another free activity to add to the Tallahassee ‘things to do’ list is a tour of the Florida Historic Capitol Museum. The enormous white building is adorned with traditional red and white striped awnings, and sits right in the heart of downtown. 

The building was originally built back in 1845. In 1977, a new capitol building was constructed and the historic capitol was scheduled to be torn down. However, Tallahassee residents petitioned to keep it. The building was restored and now serves as the museum!

MUSEUMS & POINTS OF INTEREST

 

In addition to a number of free things to do in Tallahassee, there is also an abundance of activities in Tallahassee that are worth paying for! Some of the fun things to do in Tallahassee are listed below.

Tallahassee Museum 

The Tallahassee Museum is fun for the whole family! Their 52-acre lakeside location includes wildlife, nature trails, period exhibits, & zipline tours. Additionally, they offer a number of kids programs for exciting summer camp options. 

IMAX Challenger Learning Center

Three Tallahassee residents, Dr. Norman Thagard, Dr. C.J. Chen, and Captain Winston Scott (a retired astronaut) came together to create a program that encouraged students to explore the exciting fields of math and science. Their concept ultimately became the Challenger Center, located in downtown Tallahassee.  

The Challenger Learning Center of Tallahassee is now a K-12 outreach facility, with partnership between Florida A&M University and the Florida State University College of Engineering. The center is open to the public 363 days a year and serves approximately 100,000 people (40,000-60,000 students annually) through its various programs.

Mission San Luis

Mission San Luis is the largest historic-period Indian building in the southeast. It was originally built in 1633 and is located approximately 2 miles west of state capital. In 1966, the site was designated a US National Historic landmark. Today, visitors are transported back in time when they enter the mission and experience the lifelike historic reenactments first hand. Come to Mission San Luis to discover what it was like to live in Tallahassee, Florida, all those years ago! 

Tallahassee Automobile Museum

The Tallahassee Automobile Museum showcases antique cars and items of Americana. Currently, the museum displays 160+ automobiles. The collection is quite diverse, and range from an 1894 Duryea, one of the oldest automobiles manufactured in the United States, to a 2010 Camaro customized to look like a Pontiac Trans Am. The 1860 horse-drawn funeral hearse reported to have carried Abraham Lincoln is also on display. Visitors also enjoy the 3 Batmobiles, which were featured in the Batman movies. 

Come for the day or rent the space out for an engagement party, birthday, or other special event.

 

TALLAHASSEE FESTIVALS, EVENTS & ANNUAL THINGS TO DO

As the state of Florida’s capital city, Tallahassee has a fun activity or event open to the public almost every weekend of the year! Below is a list of some of the most popular things to do when it comes to annual events. 

Greek Food Festival
North Florida Fair
Word of South Festival
Springtime Tallahassee
Chain of Parks Art Festival
Red Hills Horse Trials

Ready to make Tallahassee your home sweet home? Check out some of Tallahassee’s popular neighborhoods. Discover what makes them unique, and find the perfect place for you to call home.