Tallahassee
Around Tallahassee
Illustration made for Popchat
Metro area · Florida · 397k people
Tallahassee
Locals say Big Bend · “Tally”, “Capital City”
Where the oaks meet the Gulf breeze
FSU GoldFSU GarnetFAMU Orange
Welcome to the Big Bend! Whether you're here for school, work, or just passing through, you'll find a mix of Southern charm and college energy. Come explore our canopy roads, springs, and the best sweet tea around.
Clubs for Tallahassee
No clubs for Tallahassee yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Tallahassee. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Tallahassee. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Florida State Capitol Skyscraper with an observation deck; the historic capitol sits beside it.
- Doak Campbell Stadium Home of the FSU Seminoles football team.
- Cascades Park Downtown park with an amphitheater, trails, and a pond.
- Wakulla Springs State Park One of the world's largest freshwater springs with glass-bottom boat tours.
- Alfred B. Maclay Gardens State Park Historic camellia and azalea gardens along Lake Hall.
- Tallahassee Museum Zoo and history museum on 52 acres with native wildlife.
- Outdoors Swim at Wakulla Springs
- Outdoors Hike the Apalachicola National Forest
- With kids Tallahassee Museum
- With kids Challenger Learning Center
- Evenings The Moon
- Evenings Bradfordville Blues Club
- Locals love Canopy roads
- Locals love Freshwater springs
Through the year
- Springtime Tallahassee March Parade and festival celebrating the city's history and spring.
- North Florida Fair October Annual county fair with rides, livestock, and food.
- Red Hills Horse Trials March International equestrian event at Elinor Klapp-Phipps Park.
- Tallahassee Film Festival March Showcase of independent and regional films.
- Downtown Getdown Summer Free outdoor concert series in downtown Tallahassee.
Humid subtropical climate with hot, humid summers and mild winters. Best: Spring and fall are ideal with mild temperatures and low humidity.
Talk like a local
- “Big Bend”
- The region nickname for the Tallahassee area.
- “Noles”
- Short for Florida State Seminoles.
- “Rattlers”
- Short for Florida A&M Rattlers.
- “Canopy roads”
- Tree-lined roads with a canopy of oaks and Spanish moss.
Getaways
- Thomasville, GA Charming downtown, rose gardens, and local shops.
- Bainbridge, GA Lake Seminole for fishing and boating.
- Panama City Beach, FL White sand beaches and gulf waters.
- St. George Island, FL Quiet barrier island with pristine beaches.
Local flavour
Teams
- Florida State Seminoles NCAA Division I
- Florida A&M Rattlers NCAA Division I
Eat and drink
- Southern comfort food Fried chicken, collard greens, and biscuits are staples.
- Gulf oysters Fresh from the nearby Gulf, served raw or grilled.
- Shrimp and grits A classic Southern dish with a local twist.
- Sweet tea The quintessential Southern drink, served over ice.
- Tallahassee Crunch A local dessert of ice cream, peanut butter, and chocolate, from a beloved restaurant.
Where people go
- Canopy roads Tree-lined streets and highways shaded by live oaks.
- Springs Natural springs like Wakulla Springs, a short drive away.
- State Capitol The Florida State Capitol building, a local landmark.
- College campuses FSU and FAMU campuses with their historic architecture and student life.
Heritage and traditions
Tallahassee is proud of its role as Florida's capital, its historic Southern charm, the iconic canopy roads, and the unique blend of government, education, and natural beauty. The city also celebrates its African-American heritage and the spirited rivalry between FSU and FAMU.
This time of year in Tallahassee
- FSU football season Fall Home games with tailgating and the war chant.
- Peanut harvest in Perry October The Florida Peanut Festival and local harvest activities.
- Oyster season Fall and winter Months with an 'r' are prime for fresh Gulf oysters.
- Florida Peanut Festival October Celebrates the peanut harvest in Perry with rides, games, and peanut treats.
Say it like a local: “fixin' to” — About to do something
Festivals
- Greek Festival May Held at the Greek Orthodox church, featuring food, dance, and music.
- Florida Peanut Festival October Celebrates the peanut harvest in Perry with rides, games, and peanut treats.
- Wakulla Blue Crab Festival May A seafood festival in Panacea with blue crab and local crafts.
- Tallahassee Jazz & Blues Festival April Free concerts at Cascades Park featuring local and national acts.
- Carrabelle Riverfront Festival October Arts and crafts, live music, and river activities in the fishing village.
Landmarks with a story
- Mission San Luis de Apalachee Reconstructed 17th-century Spanish mission with an Apalachee village.
- Old Capitol Restored 1845 capitol building, now a museum.
- John G. Riley House Home of a prominent African-American educator, now a museum of Black history.
- Goodwood Museum & Gardens Antebellum plantation house with gardens.
- St. John's Episcopal Church Historic church with stained glass, founded in 1834.
- Temple Israel A historic synagogue serving the Jewish community.
Food traditions
- Boiled peanuts A Southern roadside snack, often sold at stands along the canopy roads.
- Oyster roasts At St. Marks and Carrabelle, fresh Apalachicola Bay oysters are roasted over open flames.
- Fried catfish From the Apalachicola River, served with hush puppies and coleslaw.
- Soul food From the African-American community, like smothered pork chops, collard greens, and cornbread.
- Greek pastries Baklava and loukoumades from the Greek community, especially at the Greek Festival.
Music and arts
- FAMU Marching 100 World-famous marching band known for its precision and showmanship.
- Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra Professional orchestra performing classical and pops concerts.
- Bradfordville Blues Club A legendary juke joint hosting blues musicians.
- Southern gospel music Thriving in African-American churches.
A little history
- 1824 Tallahassee chosen as Florida's capital as a compromise between Pensacola and St. Augustine.
- 1865 Battle of Natural Bridge kept Tallahassee the only Confederate capital east of the Mississippi not captured.
- 1887 Florida A&M University founded as a historically Black university.
- 1956 Tallahassee bus boycott, a key civil rights event.
- 1960s Civil rights sit-ins at local lunch counters.
Rivalries
- FSU vs Florida Gators Annual football clash between in-state rivals.
- FSU vs Miami Hurricanes Historic football rivalry.
- FAMU vs Bethune-Cookman The Florida Classic, a major HBCU football game.
- FSU vs Clemson ACC showdown with playoff implications.
- Game day FSU football tailgating
- Game day FAMU homecoming
- Outdoors Canoe the Ochlockonee River
- Outdoors Fish the Gulf of America from Carrabelle
- With kids Museum of Florida History
- With kids Tallahassee Automobile Museum
Tallahasseeans speak with a Southern accent, often drawing out vowels. You'll hear 'y'all' and 'fixin' to,' and locals refer to the region as the Big Bend. The pace is relaxed, and hospitality is important.
Only here
- Tallahassee is the only state capital with two major universities (FSU and FAMU) in the same city.
- The canopy roads are unique tree-lined streets protected by city ordinance.
- The Tallahassee Crunch is a local candy made with chocolate and peanut butter.
- Wakulla Springs is one of the largest freshwater springs in the world.
New here? A few tips
- Learn to love the heat and humidity; summer afternoons often bring thunderstorms.
- Traffic can be heavy during legislative session (January to March) and on game days.
- Try the local sweet tea and boiled peanuts.
- Take a drive on the canopy roads to see the moss-draped oaks.
- Be prepared for college football season; game days are a big deal.
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Part of Tallahassee area
Nearby
Every areaThomasvilleGeorgiaWhere the roses bloom and the red hills roll.BainbridgeGeorgiaWhere the Flint River meets southern charmBig BendFloridaWhere the rivers meet the GulfCamillaGeorgiaWhere the peanut fields meet the Flint RiverMoultrieGeorgiaHome of the Packers and the sweetest tea.MariannaFloridaWhere the Chipola runs clear and the pines touch the sky.ValdostaGeorgiaWhere azaleas bloom and the pines whisperAlbanyGeorgiaWhere the Flint River winds through pecan groves.
Tallahassee, FL. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.