The Florida state capital has two primary buildings. The one directly facing the street is the old…read morestate capital Museum. It is free to enter the museum until 4:30 in the afternoon when it closes. Once you're inside, you were able to do a self guided for for each floor in each individual room. There is history about the architecture of the building, the indigenous people of Florida, presidential elections and how Florida has shaped them in the past, a section on how agricultural industry has changed FL overtime, and how politics in Florida have influenced America. Once you are finished at the old Capitol museum, you can walk behind to the second building, which is the current state capital. It stands 22 stories high with a more modern architectural design. What to pack Security on the bottom level you're free to roam at your leisure. Start behind the elevators at the tourism desk for a layout of the building. After exploring the fourth floor, where there are a few interactive exhibits, head to the fifth floor and look down into the fourth floor to the rotunda, and you will find tons of interesting facts etched into the marble below. Make sure your last stop of the building is the 22nd floor where there is an observation deck. The North you can see Georgia, on a clear day to the south you can see the Gulf of Mexico, into the west is a great view of Florida State University, football stadium, and campus.

The Capitol was not very accessible today so we did a drive by, there was some sort of event…read moredirectly across the street so the area was surrounded by barricades, flashing lights and policemen. I thought we might be able to find a parking space within a reasonable distance but that wasn't going to happen. We were able to snap a few photos in passing but somewhat disappointed that we weren't able to get up close. The original building is a beautiful piece of architecture but the administrative tower behind it not so much, I guess it's more about efficiency and in my opinion is nothing more than an eyesore. It would of been nice to have the modern structure located in another part of town to preserve the historic value of the original nostalgic building. Even trying to circle the block was a bit of a challenge today and a disappointment after driving here...

This is one of the better fallen Firefighter Memorial that I have seen. You will find it on the…read moregrounds of the State Capitol Complex. It memorializes 181 lives of brave firefighters lost in the line of duty dating back to 1885. It is not meant to replace the Florida Fallen Firefighters Memorial at Florida State Fire College in Ocala, but is intended to supplement and further honor those heroes. There is metered street parking and commercial lots/garages within a reasonable walking distance to this memorial. It was dedicated in April of 2019 and has multiple features. The first and most eye-catching feature is a bronze sculpture depicts a firefighter holding a helmet, an EMT/paramedic, and a forester in their respective gear. The firefighter is standing in the middle, while he is flanked by the EMT/paramedic, and a forester, who are kneeling next to him. The forester is solemnly placing her hand on the helmet showing respect. The sculpture is the work of Michael Jernigan which was based off artwork by Jim Davis. The sculpture is on a tall cement base that has the Maltese Cross in the front and three paintings wrapped around the back. To add to the affect, there is a bright red metal structure behind the sculpture that gives the appearance of fire. The memorial is encircled by a low granite wall that lists the 181 names of those who had lost their lives in the line of duty in Florida at the time of the memorial's creation. It noted that the number has since risen to almost 200. It should go without saying that this is a memorial and should be treated with respect and dignity. They have signs posted to remind visitors of such. Anyway, I really like this memorial. It is well put together, and respectfully done. It is a must see. Anyway, as with most memorials that I have visited and reviewed, this is not a long stop. I was there less than 10 minutes. So, you may want to consider planning out additional stops at many of the other attractions in the area, or making this stop part of a larger itinerary to maximize your time and trip. The State House is right there and there of tons of memorials and parks to check out in the immediate area.

A memorial to remember the firefighters who fell in the line of duty that sits in Tallahassee, the…read morecapital of Florida. It is fitting to remember those who fell protecting others.

You will find this new musical park at Coal Chute Pond, along the Capital Cascades Trail. It is the…read morecity's first park dedicated includes multiple musical percussion instruments for the public to have fun with. It opened in 2022 and was a collaborative effort by the Knight Creative Communities Institute and the Red Hills Rhythm Community Catalyst team. The instruments are all ADA accessible and include: a tutti, grand marimba table, thunder drums, pentatonic tempo and tubular bells. You will also find a bench swing at the park, but it is facing away from the equipment. The equipment is well maintained and in excellent shape. It looks almost brand new. There is street parking available within a very reasonable walking distance for those that are driving to the park. It is a really nice concept and a very nice park. I just don't think it is enough to make it a destination park. It is a very nice spot to check out if you are in the area though. It is probably not a large time consumer though and I highly recommend making a stop here part of a larger itinerary or stopping here on your way to/from somewhere else if you are planning visiting.

Thanks, Stephen B for bringing this State of Florida site to my attention. Just as Stephen points…read moreout his unique qualifications for reviewing the fine state of Florida, I hereby proclaim to be Self Certified Florida Expert Deep Long Term Qualified Reviewer! Lets start with Flipper. Anyone remeber that TV show? One of my favorites growing up.That captured my imagination and started my love affair with the great state of Florida. Shortly after I began watching that show my first opportunity to visit Florida showed up in the form of a business trip/vacation with my dadd to Tampas Ybor City. He was in the cigar business then and I got to accomany him around to the different cigar jobbers in this Cuban enclave. Facinating. I felt like I was in a foreign country. This was probably in 1966 and you could stil see old Florida everywhere. Im not sure if that was a curse becasue as with everything these days, theres barely a trace of that old Florida to be enjoyed. But Im happy with that memory. My earliest of that great state. The next year it was a full blown vacation all the way to Key west. We had stops at Bush Gardens, Monkey Jungle,Marine World,Miami Serpitarium,evergaldes...wow! This is the trip that Gold Plated Floridas image for me. Ill never forget gazing out the back seat window as my dad drove across the 7 mile bridge and I imagine what must lye under that beautiful turquoise water. The Keys were still a laid back sweltering string of isles to support the fishing community and not much else. I remeber there just being a few cars on the road and no developement. An occassional resturant and roadside motel was about it.

Born in New York but raised in Florida I have a lot of opinions about this state. It was tough in…read morethe 1950's and 1960's growing up there being from New York and being Italian Heritage. After living in Florida off and on for about 40 years I finally came home to New York. I don't even care to go visit these days. I do miss my friends and relatives though. Florida does have great Parks, Sports and recreational activities of all kinds. The most beautiful golf courses in the United States as far as I'm concerned. Beautiful beaches, boating and lots of fishing. Like I said I'm conflicted. I'm going with Four Stars.

This mural was commissioned by Junior League of Tallahassee in partnership with the Florida…read moreDepartment of State and Tallahassee Downtown Improvement Authority. It was painted in 2021 by Olivia Barattini and Savannah Salinas and is intended to honor female trailblazers and leadership. You will find it on the side of the Lumen Technologies building. The females that they chose to honor were all inductees in the Florida Woman's Hall of Fame. From the left of the mural to the right of the mural, the inductees are Zora Neale Hurston, author of "Their Eyes Were Watching God", Betty Mae Jumper, first female chief of the Seminole Tribe and Majorie Harris Carr, a well-recognized environmentalist and the first female wildlife technician in the US. The mural depicts the three women Hurston is holding a book, Jumper is in her tribal gear, and Carr is holding a snake. The artwork is nice, and you definitely can notice that the mural was painted by 2 individual artists, with different styles. Across the yellow banner running across Jumper's body you will see a quote by Pulitzer Prize winner and former Junior League of Jackson volunteer Eudora Welty that reads, "All serious daring starts from within". The quote was selected because it embodies all three women on the mural. The artwork is decent, and the story behind the mural makes me like it that much more. There is street parking available in front of and across the street from the mural, so parking to get a closer look her is very easy. Well, as with most murals that I have visited and reviewed, this is probably not a very long stop. I was there less than 5 minutes. With that being said, you may want to consider planning out additional stops at many of the other attractions in the area, or making this stop part of a larger itinerary to maximize your time and trip. There are tons of pocket parks nearby, in the area to visit. The WWII and Vietnam Memorials are also within walking distance.

This is a nice memorial dedicated to the WWII veterans. It is located in a plaza area in front of…read morethe Leon County Courthouse. It was dedicated in 2001 and has a life like bronze statue of an elderly veteran man with a cane and small American flag in his hand. The sculpture is the work of local artist, W Stanley "Sandy" Proctor. The man in the sculpture appears to be in his military uniform and is sitting on a bench. The bench has the inscription "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his country". The backdrop of the memorial is three flag poles waving the Leon County flag, the American Flag, and the Florida State flag, respectively. There are a few benches around the Memorial's plaza to sit, relax, and reflect and if you look closely, you will see the names of WWII veterans on brick pavers that encircles the the memorial. If you plan on driving to see the memorial, there is metered street parking within a reasonable walking distance. Anyway, as with most memorials that I have visited and reviewed, this is not a long stop. I was there less than 10 minutes. So, you may want to consider planning out additional stops at many of the other attractions in the area, or making this stop part of a larger itinerary to maximize your time and trip. The State Capital is across the street and there of tons of memorials and parks to check out in the immediate area.

This bronze sculpture of a World War II veteran is the work of local artist Sandy Proctor. He is…read moresitting on a bench on front of the Leon County Courthouse and the memorial was dedicated and unveiled on November 11, 2001. The writing on the bench reads, "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his country." Stop by and pay your respects. [Review 14091 overall, 1413 of 2020, number 1152 in Florida.]

Came to Tallahassee to visit my sister for the weekend , it was definitely worth visiting the…read morecapitol museum to learn a little more about our history. Great exhibits and complementary admission for the family makes it great . The lady in the front desk was nice and super informative.

It's very clean, has elevators, wheelchair service and restrooms in the second floor. We should…read moreupdate the information a little bit. I am Cuban and I have my Spanish Birth Certificate as do my family members and many Cubans in my community. We are not "natives" to Cuba. Our grandparents went to Cuba the other day. We are Cuban born Spaniards. For example, if an Australian was born in Thailand, the Australian government will give the infant an Australian birth certificate. There's a lot of information to digest and it'll take hours to read through everything so plan according. If you go here, I highly going to the Grove Plantation afterwards.

Prior to running Bank of America Tallahassee Half Marathon, I encountered John G Riley Center &…read moreMuseum unexpectedly while jogging to the starting line of the event, which the house happened to be down the hill near the starting line. I had this museum on my bucket list prior to visiting the city of Tallahassee because I figured it was a highlight I should check out while visiting the city. Born as a slave, John G Riley was an educator who began his teaching career in 1877. A prominent member of the African American community in Tallahassee. Along with his career in education, he served numerous organizations ranging from a board member of St James CME church, Grand High Priest of the Royal Arch Masons of Florida, Secretary of the Florida AACP, and a member the Negro Business League. Now as for the house, it was built in 1890 and is the last physical evidence of the thriving middle-class African American community that existed downtown. It was the home of the Riley family until 1973 when they sold it to the city of Tallahassee. The house was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978 and was restored with joint funding from the city of Tallahassee and the Department of the Interior. In 1982, the Florida NAACP partnered with the Riley Foundation to purchase the house. And in 1995, a group of Tallahassee citizens established it as a museum dedicated to African American history and culture. If you are planning to visit the city of Tallahassee, I recommend including John G Riley Center & Museum in with your tour unless you just happen to stumble upon it as I did while downtown. ~ Keep moving Forward ~ Thomas G

Tallahassee - as with all Southern U.S. cities/towns - has a rich history of the successes,…read moretribulations, accomplishments and injustices endured by African Americans. John G. Riley is a pillar of the Black Tallahassee community and an exemplar to the entire Tallahassee community. His vision drove him to lead Lincoln Academy (Tallahassee's first high school for African Americans) as principal from its onset in 1893 until his retirement in 1926. Today - the Riley Center serves as a beacon of historically relevant community functions, celebrations and activities. Check out rileymuseum.org. In fact, I just learned that there's the 18th annual Rock-A-Thon on December 2, 2017 which they're hosting. Save the date!

A historical landmark in Tallahassee, this bank is the oldest surviving building and once served…read morethe emancipated slaves of Tallahassee. This is a free musuem and although small, packs a lot of history inside. You can also check out the circle of chains statue monument outside. This is a must see alongside the other black hisorical sites in town.

Today I went to check out some Black Archives at the Union Bank Museum. This is the oldest…read moresurviving bank that was an establishment for emancipated enslaved people. This space served the Black community in many ways and is a historic place in the US. There is a larger exhibit of University Black Archives on FAMU's campus in the Meek-Eaton building. Worth checking out.

The $20 breakfast and $22.50/day parking costs far exceed the quality of this hotel. Rooms are…read more"ok". Plenty of USB charging ports...some of them even work. The TV is too small for the space and not on par with hotels at this price point. The shower is dingy. Requested service at 7am. Was told "ok". Did not happen. Was told at 7pm that I needed to request it the night before. Maybe the notice in the bathroom should say as much. But, at least we got water and cookie!! Hilton Honors...you can do better.

I'll start by saying that we travel frequently, especially me for business and personal, and this…read morewas one of THE WORST hotel experiences that I've had. I'm very reasonable and understanding, but this place really tested my patience. We stayed here July 30-Aug 2 I want to start with the positive. The staff are THE NICEST and sweetest people. If it wasn't for them, I would've went off. I hope you all are paying your employees well. They deserve it. Now the negative. 1. We booked this hotel maybe in late march/April for my FSU graduation in July. Upon arriving to the hotel we discover it's undergoing construction. The gym, cafe, the pantry room where the only microwave is (I used this last time during my school trip), and other areas in the hotel were off limits. Concerning but okay. I wasn't expecting that. Notifying guests beforehand and offering SOMETHING to the guests for the inconvenience would've been nice. 2. Our room floor was soaked by the ac/window. We just avoided that area. 3. The Jacob's by the Plaza, not great. I'll leave them a review next. It's the only restaurant there, everything closes near this hotel so there are no reasonable food options for a family. We get here at 9:20 pm, restaurant signage says they close at 10pm. WRONG. They close at 9:10pm, bar is open until 10. Couldn't even get to-go orders. Also, they were out of coffee/espresso this morning?? I couldn't order an iced latte! The cafe is under construction, and now this restaurant has no iced lattes?? Why is it on the menu? Lastly, the hours are not correct dinner starts at 6pm and ends at 9:10 pm. Misleading info 4. Our hotel door at times struggled to budge. You have to yank it or push it very hard to open and close it. 5. The ac in the hotel was off?? We walked in and it was so hot. Why was it off?? Luckily the ac in our room worked fine . 6. Checkout is 11am. We have do not disturb on our door. Why did 3 or 4 staff come by, knocking non stop on our door, asking us to"when are yall leaving". It happened between the times of 9am-10am. We were trying to eat our breakfast that I got from downstairs. Would they have went in our room, before we checked out, and start cleaning it if we weren't there. Why were they rushing us? I've never had that happen before. Never. This experience was very frustrating when we were trying to eat and pack and handle our toddler. Reason for the deduction of points in service. 7. There were no cookies, I even got an automated text requesting I pick some up, but there were none. I've always seen cookies at DoubleTree so this was odd. I'm very disappointed in this experience. I stayed here maybe a year ago for a school trip, and it was great. I am very upset that nothing was communicated before the stay and that nothing was offered to guests for the inconveniences. 1 thing we can deal with, but how is most of the hotel not accessible and we still pay the full price for a terrible experience? We tried to stay positive because we celebrated my graduation from FSU for my masters, but this did negatively impact my experience.