My Trip To Tallahassee Florida
I had a wonderful opportunity to attend a press trip to visit Tallahassee with a few other lifestyle influencers and the Visit Tally team! Tallahassee is the capital of Florida and is the largest city in the state’s panhandle region. It’s also a city that is known for a vibrant college community with FSU, Florida A&M and a few other smaller schools. We spent the weekend checking out various restaurants, Wakulla Springs, local shopping and of course the nightlife scene. I’ll break out each section by day below with lots of photos and a short description of each place we visited.
DAY 1
Arrived at Aloft Hotel – boutique stye hotel located in downtown Tallahassee. Set on a historic street and walking distance from the State Capital. After a short break at the hotel we went over to Level 8 Lounge, a swanky rooftop bar located in Hotel Duval. This is a perfect spot to enjoy a few cocktails and the beautiful sunset with your friends!
Next, we went to dinner at II Lusso for dinner. I’d say this is one of the best fine dining experiences in Tallahassee. It’s a prime steakhouse with traditional Italian fare. The pastas are incredible, but my favorite was Cacio e Pepe and Spinach Stained Tortellini.
DAY 2
Woke up bright and early since we had the day packed with tons of activities and amazing food to eat. We started the morning off at Au Peche Mignon French Pastry Shop. The pastries will almost make you believe you’re in France! You will find amazing cakes and macarons as well as tasty breakfast and lunch items.
After indulging on some yummy treats and lattes at the bakery, we visited Wakulla Springs, which is about 30 minutes away from downtown Tallahassee. It’s home of the world’s largest freshwater springs and hosts manatees, alligators and some wildlife, all of which can be witnessed through a river cruise. Fun little fact: “Tarzan’s Secret Treasure” and “Creature from the Black Lagoon” were both filmed at Wakulla Springs. Great place to take your entire family – you can swim, take a river cruise and enjoy a little shopping and eating at the lodge.
Lunch spot for today was at Sage. It’s a beautiful restaurant that offers freshly prepared, made-from-scratch foods with the best produce & seafood. Speaking of seafood, it’s also the first time I tried Escargot – and I actually enjoyed it!
After lunch, we enjoyed some local shopping on Market St. – visited two local boutiques called Hearth & Soul and Coton Colors.
Hearth & Soul is founded by Tallahassee female business leader Susie Busch Transou. The store decor makes it feel like you’re walking into your own home (there are sections for Women’s & Men’s Closets, Family Room, Dining Room, Kitchen & Bar, Pet Corner, Library, Bed & Bathroom and Patio) with curated designs from well known brands but also local artisan goods.
Coton Colors is another local boutique in Tallahassee known for creating handmade products ranging from home decor, entertaining goods, seasonal items and much more.
After resting up, we were off to dinner at College Town. Highly recommend coming here for some FUN! Lots of people watching, indoor/outdoor vibe, tons of restaurants and bars to visit. We started our night at Madison Social! It’s a great place to catch the game and indulge in a modern take on bar food.
After drinks and dinner we decided to venture out to a couple of late night spots. First up was Magda’s, an ice cream shop located in College Town, and then Happy Motoring located on South Adam’s St, which is transformed an abandoned space to a neighborhood gathering spot offering delicious drinks!
Day 3
I was nervous and excited about today. Mainly because the team planned zip lining at the Tallahassee Museum. This museum is set on 52 acres of living exhibits of native wildlife, nature trails, historic exhibit, zip line and aerial adventure course for all ages! Perfect day trip spot for the entire family.
While zip lining through the park was intimidating at first, I can honestly say it was one of the best experiences I’ve had in a long time. Seeing nature from up above while gliding through the air and completing challenging obstacle courses was amazing. After a couple of hours we went on a short nature walk to take in all the sights. Truly a memorable time for all of us.
Our Brunch spot for the day was at Jeri’s Midtown Cafe. Local to Tally and beautifully decorated inside and outside. They use high quality ingredients from local growers and merchants. I devoured the Gouda Grits & Shrimp (highly recommend) and all the amazing desserts.
After brunch we explored Railroad Square Art District to check out some vintage, thrift and antique stores. We also saw a couple art galleries in the area. You’ll want to check this place out for the wall murals and take a few photos for the ‘gram!
We stopped at Proof Brewery for a little Happy Hour. This is not only a great place for adults but also for kids. They have an expansive lawn outside so you can bring your whole family! It’s a modern tasting room with endless beers to choose from. If you can’t decide which one to get, try out the beer flights so you can sample a few.
Our last stop of the night and definitely one of my favorites was at Backwoods Crossing. The Rice brothers created this beautiful garden and restaurant to have a true farm to table experience. They source fruits, veggies, meats, seafood and wine from local producers while also growing their own. They also have a chicken coop on the backside of the property with over 70 happy hens that produce over 18k eggs a year.
Day 4
On our last morning in Tally, we all headed out to brunch at Table 23. Perfect Sunday brunch spot to go with your family and friends!
Finally we stopped by the Florida Historic Capitol Museum. It had a ton of interesting exhibits and artifacts. It is a fully restored version of the historical capitol from the early 20th century, and provides a window into Florida’s political history through present.
My heart and tummy was so full from this wonderful trip! If you’re looking to make you way over to Tallahassee, definitely check out these spots. There is plenty to do in this beautiful City!
Places to Eat & Drink
Level 8 Lounge – Cocktail Hour
II Lusso – Dinner
Au Peche Mignon French Pastry – Breakfast/Coffee
Sage – Lunch & Dinner
Madison Square – Drinks/Lunch/Dinner
Proof Brewery – Happy Hour Beer
Jeri’s Midtown Cafe – Lunch
Backwoods Crossing – Dinner
Table 23 – Sunday Brunch
Attractions
Wakulla Springs
Hearth & Soul Shopping
Coton Colors Shopping
College Town
Tallahassee Museum
Grove Museum
Railroad Square Art District
Florida Historic Capitol Museum
Nightlife
Fire Betty’s Arcade Bar
Happy Motoring
Ology Brewing Co.
Sugar Rush Bar
Proof Brewery
College Town
