Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
7
Watching the bonfires blaze as the music sizzles at
Bradfordville Blues
Club
in Tallahassee.
History
The area that would become Tallahassee (meaning 'abandoned fields') was first inhabited
by Native Americans of the Apalachee tribes, who cleared out and were felled by disease
after the region was settled by Spaniards in 1539, with explorer Hernando de Soto leading
the way. After the US Territory of Florida was founded in 1821, Tallahassee was chosen as
the state capital; a plantation economy soon developed - as did the city's reckless reputa-
tion, with frequent knife and gun fights leading to the formation of the city's police depart-
ment.
A rail line linked Tallahassee with the gulf port in 1837, making it the commercial cen-
ter of the region. And, by the late 1800s, cotton estates were snapped up by wealthy north-
erners, who turned them into hunting retreats. Eventually, environmentalists reacted
against the man-versus-beast behavior of the hunters, which led to the establishment of
groundbreaking ecological efforts in the region.
GULF COAST
Most people think of the state's south when conjuring images of Florida's famed beaches,
which may be why the eastern half of the Gulf Coast has been dubbed the Forgotten Coast.
The name is apt for the entire shoreline here, unless you're local and already familiar with
the region's magical beauty. That's not to say that the beaches are always empty, although
they certainly are in the low season. It's more that this many miles of stunning coastline
means room for everyone. If you can't find the perfect spot, walk a little further. These
northern, gulfside spits are spectacular, with sand that's as soft and white as ultra-refined
sugar, gently rolling dunes and clear, calm, turquoise waters that'll make you wonder why
you've ever vacationed anywhere else. We're not exaggerating.
Alongside all this natural beauty are towns that burst with Southern charm - from the
lure of Apalachicola's historic district to Pensacola's rich history and the almost unfeasible
perfection of Grayton Beach and the planned community of Seaside. On the other end of
the spectrum, some will love what others describe as the not-so-pleasant over-development
