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...

The original State capitol of Florida in Tallahassee, Florida is gorgeous. We had a great time…read morevisiting as it was a beautiful day, perfect weather. However, they ruined the entire area by adding the "evil tower of Orthanc" right behind it Yuck. What an eye sore! Almost as bad as the California State capitol, Almost. Ugh.

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.

10/09/24: Prayers to Florida as Hurricane Milton approaches…read more The third most populous state and the only state that borders the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. It is the second state with a tropical climate besides Hawaii. The first known European to land on Florida was Juan Ponce de Leon in 1513. The oldest continually inhabited city is Saint Augustine, one of my favorite cities! It's a popular tourist destination because of the weather, theme parks, and the beaches. The population is continuing to boom and it has become very congested, especially in the Miami metro area which consists of Miami Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties. I lived in Broward/Palm Beach County for almost 9 years and loved the diversity, ambiance, and amenities there. The cruise ports and airports are located in a convenient area. They have top rated Universities. There are many activities and places to explore; it's a popular place for people to retire and be snowbirds. If I have the means, I would love to be a snow bird; nothing beats Florida winters! With the good, there are the bad. The congestion and traffic in the major cities are horrendous; there are so many condos and apartments being built in every corner. The hurricanes are scary; I've lived through a few of them and it was not fun. The alligators are dangerous and they do bite; the bugs are rampant. The public schools are not rated well, where I lived. The summers are oppressive; you will be stuck inside all day in the AC, which is not fun when you're an outdoorsy person. Overall, I enjoyed living there but I missed the seasons. Since having kids, I prefer to raise them where I'm from, New England. Florida will always hold a dear spot in my heart though; I loved the life I created there. I look forward to visiting again soon, this time as a tourist.

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 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.]

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.

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.

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!

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.

Loved this hotel!!! The staff is wonderful and the rooms are decorated nicely. We valeted our car…read moreon a game day weekend and they were always quick. Front desk staff was friendly as always!

This place looks nice on the outside but is stuck in the 80s. It needs shut down and completely…read moregutted. Rooms have old noisy air conditioners that have 2 speeds: blasting and off - and they're right by the bed. Restaurant advertises a breakfast buffet. Doesn't exist. Half of the breakfast items are either out of stock or no longer offered. No cheese for omelets, no veggies except onion for the omelet. Just save yourself the trouble and stay elsewhere.