Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Florida Capitol Buildings
HISTORIC BUILDING
Old and new, side by side. The current
Florida State Capitol
(cnr Pensacola & Duval
Sts; 8am-5pm Mon-Fri)
is, in a word, ugly, but its top-floor observation deck gives you a
Monroe St; )
is the more charming 1902 predecessor. Inside, the
Florida Legis-
lative Research Center and Museum
(
www.flrcm.gov
; free admission; 9am-4:30pm Mon-
Fri, from 10am Sat, from noon Sun)
has intriguing government and cultural exhibits,
including one on the infamous 2000 US presidential election.
Sleeping & Eating
Chains are clumped at exits along I-10 and along Monroe St between I-10 and down-
town.
Hotel Duval
HOTEL$$$
( 850-224-6000;
www.hotelduval.com
; 415 N Monroe St; r $109-179; )
Talla-
hassee's slickest digs. This new 117-room hotel goes in for a neo-mod look. A rooftop
bar and lounge is open until 2am most nights, and Shula's, a fancy chain steakhouse, is
off the lobby.
Governor's Inn
HOTEL$$$
( 850-681-6855;
www.thegovinn.com
;
209 S Adams St; r $149-209; )
In a stellar
downtown location, this warm, inviting inn has everything from single rooms to two-
level loft suites, plus a daily cocktail hour.
Catfish Pad
SEAFOOD$
( 850-575-0053;
www.catfishpad.com
; 4229 W Pensacola St; mains $8-15; 11am-3pm &
5-9pm Mon-Fri, 11am-9pm Sat)
There's no doubt you're in the South at this home-style sea-
food joint. Go for a plate of cornmeal-battered catfish with a side of grits, chased down
with a cup of sweet tea. Yum.
Reangthai
THAI$$$
(
reangthai.com
;
2740 Capital Circle NE; lunch $9-12, mains $13-20; 11am-2pm Tue-Fri, 5-10pm
Mon-Sat)
The real deal, and elegant despite its strip mall setting, Reangthai serves the
kind of spicy, fish sauce-y, explode-in-your-mouth cuisine so many American Thai res-
taurants shy away from.
