At Natural Bridge Battlefield Historic State Park, the St. Marks River plunges into a sinkhole, flows underground for a quarter mile, and then resurfaces. The park is also the site of the second-largest Civil War battle in Florida. Every year on the first full weekend in March, a reenactment of the battle takes place here.
Traces from Different Eras
Lake Jackson Mounds Archaeological State Park includes six of the seven known temple mounds; two of them are open to the public. Mission San Luis tells a different story: from 1656 to 1704, it served as the chief's headquarters of the Apalachee. The coming together of Apalachee and Spanish cultures is brought to life there through reconstructed buildings, costumed interpreters, and on-site demonstrations. In 1960, Mission San Luis was designated a National Historic Landmark.
The history of construction is also part of the discovery: built around 1840 by enslaved craftsmen, Call-Collins House at The Grove is one of the best-preserved buildings from Florida's antebellum era. Archaeological traces, a historic mission, and a 19th-century house offer different ways to explore the past.
Gardens, Water and Wildlife Watching
At Alfred B. Maclay Gardens State Park, the formal gardens feature a variety of design elements, including a scenic brick walkway, a secret garden, a reflection pool, and a walled garden. Hundreds of camellias and azaleas add to the grounds. Swimming, fishing, canoeing, and kayaking are available at Lake Hall. Six miles of shared-use trails and five miles of designated bike trails offer another way to explore. They wind through woods around Lake Overstreet, which is on the park grounds alongside the gardens.
The Tallahassee Museum covers 52 acres and features natural attractions, historic buildings, high ropes adventures, and animal exhibits. Visitors can see bears, deer, wolves, and other animals in their natural surroundings from the boardwalks. The museum also offers a high ropes obstacle course and zip lines. Wildlife watching and active adventures are presented here as different parts of the same museum.
Trails with Different Profiles
The paved Tallahassee-St. Marks Historic Railroad State Trail runs 16 miles from Florida's capital to the coastal community of St. Marks. It is suitable for running, walking, biking, and skating, and is a destination along the Big Bend Scenic Byway. At Apalachee Regional Park, the route passes through rolling hills, lowlands, and pine forests, with many options for route and distance. When the trail is not being used for a running event, it is open to the public for hiking, running, and biking. Check before your visit to see whether the trail is being used for a running event.
Leon County's greenway areas also offer a variety of activities: permitted uses include birdwatching, biking, hiking or running, horseback riding, picnicking, meditation, and wildlife watching. Coe Landing has a campground, a boat ramp, an electrical hookup, and RV sites.
Discover more destinations: Tallahassee, Escambia, Monroe, Pasco, Seminole, Taylor, Martin, Sumter
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