My 10 Favorite Things to Do in Tallahassee

Moving away from Tallahassee last spring was bittersweet. After spending nearly three years in Florida's Capital City, opportunity lead me to another part of the Sunshine State. Saying goodbye to friends was difficult and so was saying goodbye to the many things I love about Tallahassee. Tallahasseans and travelers planning a vacation to Florida's Capital City, humor me. Make me proud by experiencing at least one of my 10 favorite things to do in Tallahassee.

Movies 8 - Starplex Cinema
Or what I referred to it as, "Almost a Dollar Movie Theater." I led a frugal life in Tallahassee and this is where I went for budget entertainment. For $1.25 (before 6 p.m., $1.75 after that) I could see a fairly recent movie and for $5, pick up a snack pack of a small popcorn, small soda and candy (okay, it's made for kids, but perfect for me).

Lake Ella
I loved walking around the lake and shopping the independently owned boutiques. Many of the boutiques belong to Locally Owned Tallahassee with the slogan of, "Keep it Sassy Tallahassee," to encourage residents and visitors to shop locally. I also wrote about some of my favorite places to walk in this article.

Railroad Square
It's where the funky and artistic folks have shops and where some of the creative types live. After shopping Lake Ella for unique gifts, Railroad Square was my next stop to browse the galleries, thrift shop and boutiques.

The Witty Kiosk Sign Outside Advanced Business Systems
Every other week or so, the store has some sort of witty saying posted for Capital City commuters. Some sayings are political, some relate to pop culture and others keep you guessing. The last one I saw before moving away from Tallahassee read, "Go Ahead Raise it to $4 and Quit Ruining My Day." Love it! (1236 North Monroe Street)

Tallahassee RollerGirls
After seeing my first bout, I was all set to try out to be a Tallahassee RollerGirl but it never happened. These gals range from teachers to students to attorneys and race on a flat track. It's brutal, fast-paced and one of the hottest tickets in Tallahassee.

Seven Days of Opening Nights
Although cultural performances are scheduled throughout the year, Seven Days of Opening Nights is Tallahassee's premier cultural event with top musical performances, plays and author readings. I've seen Stephen King and Salman Rushdie speak during the festival. The festival is usually held in February.

Tallahassee's Downtown Marketplace
I spent most Saturday mornings here to pick up fresh fruits and vegetables and see what the local artists were up to. The market is held March through November, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Springtime Tallahassee
Named one of the Top 20 Events in the Southeast, this was one of the events I looked forward to each year, especially the parade. The 2008 parade had more than 70,000 participants! Springtime Tallahassee is held the last Saturday in March.

Tallahassee Dining
Tallahassee has been poked fun of on ABC's LOST for being "strip malls and waffle houses" and while this may be true, the Capital City has dozens of decent restaurants, like those included in this article on some of my favorite lunch spots.

Wakulla County
Just south of Tallahassee is Wakulla, a fabulous and small community committed to eco-tourism. During my last year in Tallahassee I was enrolled in Tallahassee Community College's Eco-Tourism Institute with the goal of receiving my Green Guide certification. I absolutely loved the experience which included evening classes on topics ranging from geology of Florida to legalities of owning an eco-tourism business. Coursework included weekend field trips to various areas within Wakulla County such as Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park and St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge.

There are certainly more than 10 things I love about Tallahassee, but I'll have to share those another time. Visit the Web site of the Tallahassee Convention & Visitors Bureau to plan your Tallahassee vacation.