Whether you’re coming into town to watch the Florida State Seminoles play, tour the college as a prospective student, or your family is coming into town for the weekend, this guide will help you navigate Tallahassee.
Here’s your itinerary for the weekend:
On Friday afternoon, head to Midtown where there are plenty of restaurants, cafes and shops. Located just off Thomasville is Midtown Reader, an independent bookstore carrying a wide variety of new books and genres such as literary fiction, poetry, cookbooks to biographies and young adult books. Head north up Thomasville to Lake Ella, a beautiful area for taking a stroll around the lake. Surrounded by cottage shops, head into one for an ice cream cone or afternoon pick-me-up treat.
For Friday evening, there’s plenty of nightlife in Tallahassee, from downtown to Collegetown. If country music is your thing, Stetsons on The Moon is every Friday night with good old-fashioned line dancing and a country atmosphere. Railroad Square Art District is filled with tons of unique spots like a vintage store, a bookstore with cats, a boutique clothing store and a pinball arcade. If your trip falls around the beginning of the month, they host ‘First Friday’ where the shops open their doors for an extended time, food trucks line the street and live music plays on the first Friday of every month. If you’re a fan of games, the pinball arcade, Flippin’ Great Pinball, offers a special deal where $5 gets you unlimited play for the night, making it the perfect activity for everyone to enjoy themselves.
Now it’s Saturday morning! Have a filling and delicious breakfast at Canopy Road Café, a classic breakfast spot with a large menu and specialty pancakes. With two locations situated farther from FSU, you can get away from the college atmosphere and have a relaxing breakfast. Spend the morning walking around the gorgeous campus and bring a blanket to sit on Landis Green and soak up the sun. Visit the newly constructed Student Union, grab your favorite Starbucks drink and browse around the bookstore for a new shirt or hat.
If you’re a sports fan, make sure to plan your trip to Tallahassee around one of Florida State’s many sporting events, some notable ones being football in the fall and basketball and baseball in the spring. These games always have tons of activities planned around them, like tailgates for football season, so make sure you embrace the Seminole spirit to cheer on the team. Before going to the game, get acquainted with the traffic routes, as many streets become blocked off and one-way roads often turn the other way after the game, making it difficult to navigate. If you’re in the mood to sit and refuel, Madison Social has a lively atmosphere and tasty food/drinks.
Come Saturday evening, try Bella Bella, an Italian restaurant located off North Monroe, or The Edison, an upscale restaurant located in Cascades Park. Looking for something more casual? Little Masa is a student-favorite Asian fusion restaurant with make-your-own noodles and rice bowls. Walk the streets of CollegeTown if you haven’t already and stop into Picked, a vintage FSU gear and collectibles shop, and buy something to remember your trip by or to upgrade your Seminole spirit.
If you’re in the mood for a Sunday morning stroll, head to Cascades Park where the rolling, green hills offer you 2.3 miles of trails perfect for walking, jogging or bike riding. Connected by an overhead walkway, Lucky Goat Coffee Co. is located next to Cascades, so head there after for a light pastry and your favorite coffee. You could even pick up your food and drink before and bring a picnic blanket and your favorite book and find a shady spot to sit in Cascades. The Power Plant Café is also located here and you can grab a healthy bite after your walk.
Feeling hungry before heading out of town? Stop by Gordos Cuban Cuisine off Pensacola Street for a Cuban sandwich and some fries. Make sure you ask for their cult favorite Gordos Sauce; it won’t disappoint. This Cuban restaurant also has plenty of outside seating, with TVs sure to be airing the Seminoles if they’re playing.
While Tallahassee may seem like just a college town, it has plenty to offer to everyone and is the perfect destination to explore for a weekend.
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