Car Hire Tallahassee - Mini guide to Tallahassee
Tallahassee is the elegant capital of Florida state, and is an attractive city with a distinctive Southern flavour, tree-lined avenues and beautiful old plantation houses. Its proximity to Florida’s largest national forest means Tallahassee is blessed with the best of both worlds, having all the advantages of a big city as well as a pristine natural environment.
Tallahassee’s historical highlight is the ancient Mission San Luis de Apalachee. An archaeological project has led to the reconstruction of this hilltop mission, which was originally built in 1656, and is now open for tours.
Other structures of historical interest are the old mansions situated in the seven tree-lined blocks between Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard and North Meridian Street, which make up the Park Avenue Historic District. Additionally, the 1845 Old Capitol is an imposing, strikingly white building that has been completely restored to its original splendour. Directly opposite is the contrastingly modern New Capitol building, a towering skyscraper constructed in 1977.
Southwest of Tallahassee, Apalachicola National Forest is the biggest of Florida’s three forest preserves. It is rich in both plant and animal life, and is full of rivers, streams, lakes and caves. The area is a wonderful place for diverse recreational activities, and locals and visitors alike come here to enjoy hiking, swimming, camping, fishing, horseback riding and picnicking.
The town of Havana is within easy driving distance of Tallahassee, and is a charming little getaway peppered with abundant antique shops. Also nearby, less than 30kms south of the city, is St Marks, first colonised by Spanish settlers in 1528. If you have a passion for the past, don’t miss this fascinating historical town.
Interstate 10 passes through Tallahassee on its east-west route from the Atlantic coast to California. Alternatively, I-75 also leads into the city. Amtrak trains link Tallahassee to the rest of the United States on a daily basis. Tallahassee’s regional airport is located 16kms southwest of the centre, but international passengers are likely to enter the country at one of Florida’s international airports in Orlando, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville or Tampa.
