Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
and culturally - and far more Southern than the majority of the state it administrates.
Despite the city's two major universities (Florida State and Florida Agricultural and
Mechanical University) and its status as a government center, there's not much to detain
a visitor for more than a day or two.
Stop by the
visitor center
(
800-628-2866, 850-606-2305;
www.visittallahassee.com
;
106
E Jefferson St;
8am-5pm Mon-Fri)
for information.
DON'T MISS
WAKULLA SPRINGS
Just 15 miles south of Tallahassee is the world's deepest freshwater spring at
Ed-
ward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park
( 850-561-7276;
www.floridastateparks.org
;
465 Wakulla
Park Dr; car/bike $6/2, boat tours adult/child $8/5; 8am-dusk)
. The springs flow from
massive underwater caves that are an archeologist's dream, with fossilized bones
including a mastodon that was discovered around 1850. These days you can swim
in the icy springs or enjoy them from a glass-bottom boat. You can also take a boat
tour of the wildlife-filled Wakulla River, which was used as a movie set for several
Tarzan movies, as well as The Creature from the Black Lagoon. Overnighters can
stay in the park at the
Wakulla Springs Lodge
( 850-926-0700;
www.wakullaspringslodge.com
; 465 Wakulla Park Dr; r $85-125)
, a grand Spanish-style lodge
built in 1937 where an 11ft stuffed alligator named 'Old Joe' keeps an eye on things.
Sights & Activities
Mission San Luis
HISTORIC SITE
( 850-245-6406;
www.missionsanluis.org
; 2100 W Tennessee St; adult/child $5/2;
10am-4pm Tue-Sun)
The 60-acre site of a 17th-century Spanish and Apalachee mission
that's been wonderfully reconstructed, especially the soaring Council House. Good tours
included with admission provide a fascinating taste of mission life 300 years ago.
Museum of Florida History
MUSEUM
(
www.museumoffloridahistory.com
; 500 S Bronough St; 9am-4:30pm Mon-Fri, from 10am Sat,
from noon Sun)
Here it is, Florida's history splayed out in fun, crisp exhibits: from
mastodon skeletons to Florida's Paleo-Indians and Spanish shipwrecks, the Civil War to
'tin-can tourism.'
