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Come experience a very different part of Florida, an area The Nature Conservancy considers to be one of America’s last great places. In the spring, Tallahassee is in full-bloom and local gardens explode with color in a breathtaking array of azaleas, camellias, roses, dogwoods, and daffodils! And spring is the perfect time to enjoy recreational activities in Florida’s capital region.

From strolling through magnificent gardens and shopping at amazing gardens centers, to taking an invigorating bike ride on numerous trails throughout the region, and spending a lazy afternoon under the canopy of live oaks, Tallahassee is an outdoor lover’s dream come true. Birding is also a popular activity in the area and is spectacular at nearby St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge.

Magnificent gardens are as natural to the Tallahassee area as live oaks and Spanish moss. Goodwood Museum and Gardens, Maclay Gardens State Park, and Dorothy B. Oven Park are Tallahassee treasures. Spring is the showiest, truly a symphony of color with blooms by the thousands at each location. This area boasts more than 60 award-winning parks with 2800 acres of trails and recreation. The Tallahassee Museum, in a picturesque natural setting, is where visitors can safely see Florida panthers, Black Bears, deer, red wolves and other native wildlife daily.

Garden Highlights & Other Botanical Wonders

Dorothy B. Oven Park

3205 Thomasville Rd.
Tallahassee, FL 32312

Phone: (850) 891-3915
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Six acres of lush gardens featuring azaleas, camellias, palms and local flora.

Elinor Klapp-Phipps Park at Lake Jackson

4000 N. Meridian Road
Tallahassee, FL 32312

Phone: (850) 891-3866
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A beautiful 670 acre tract of land on the eastern shore of Lake Jackson known for great hiking and biking trails also has thousands of trillium and huge southern magnolias.

Fresh for Florida Kids Food Garden

600 South Calhoun Street
Holland Building
Tallahassee , FL 32399

Phone: (850) 617-7400
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A living educational exhibit by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the Fresh for Florida Kids Food Garden teaches school children about the importance of fruits and vegetables to daily nutrition and insight into growing fresh produce. The garden is open year round and you can click here to see what’s growing, more pictures and videos from gardener, Nathan The Man in Overalls. The garden is located at the Holland Building, across the street from the Capitol.

Goodwood Museum & Gardens

1600 Miccosukee Rd.
Tallahassee, FL 32308

Phone: (850) 877-4202
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This historic plantation was purchased by botanist Hardy Bryan Croom, who discovered the Torreya tree. Heirloom plants dot the grounds and old garden roses beneath the grand live oaks surround the 1840 home. Events and horticulture classes are held year-round.

Lake Talquin State Forest / Bear Creek Educational Forest

14850 Jack Vause Landing Rd.
Tallahassee, FL 32309

Phone: (850) 487-3766
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This approximately 17,500 acre forest offers Nature Bear Creek Educational Forest, a wheelchair-accessible Living Forest Trail providing botanical information from “talking trees” telling their own stories at designated stops in the forest and leads to both the Bear Creek Trail and the rugged Ravine Trail. ww.fl-dof.com/state_forests/laketalquin.html

Lichgate Cottage / Laura Jepsen Institute

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Named for the gates of medieval England that separated the world of the living from the world of the dead, Lichgate is a lovingly built enchanted cottage reminiscent of the fairytale cottages of childhood stories. With butterfly, perennial and daffodil gardens enhancing the grounds, Lichgate stands as a memorial to the world of retrospect.

Maclay Gardens State Park

3540 Thomasville Rd.
Tallahassee, FL 32308

Phone: (850) 487-4556
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Enchanting floral architecture surrounds the 1930s home of NY financier Alfred B. Maclay. Impressive grounds feature 200+ floral varieties plus hiking, biking and nature trails, simming, fishing and boating. The 1,184 acres of Alfred B. Maclay Gardens State Park includes ornamental gardens, hammocks, ravines, pine woods, mixed pine and hardwood forest and over 200 floral varieties including thousands of camellias, azaleas, magnolias and rare torreya trees.

St. Marks River Preserve State Park

11950 Tram Road
Tallahassee, FL 32311

Phone: (850) 922-6007
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Tall Timbers Research, Inc.

13093 Henry Beadel Dr
Tallahassee, FL 32312

Phone: (850) 893-4153
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This fire-ecology-oriented research station is where in 1895 famed naturalist Henry Beadel began his work on the use of fire as a timber and wildlife-management tool, and today researchers continue his work there.

Tallahassee Museum

3945 Museum Dr
Tallahassee, FL 32310

Phone: (850) 575-8684
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The Big Bend’s history and natural heritage comes to life at this 52 acre museum in a picturesque natural setting. See Florida panthers and other endangered animals as you stroll the beautiful grounds featuring native flora and fauna.

For more information on Tallahassee’s award-winning city and county parks,
check out the detailed maps on trails in the parks at:
www.TalGov.com/parks/parks.cfm
www.LeonCountyfl.gov/parks

Local Nurseries, Garden Centers & Clubs

Esposito Garden Center
2743 Capital Circle NE, 850-386-2114; www.espositogardencenter.com

Native Nurseries
1661 Centerville Road; 850-386-8882; www.nativenurseries.com

Tallahassee Nurseries
2911 Thomasville Road; 850-385-2162; www.tallahasseenurseries.com

Tallahassee Garden Club
507 N. Calhoun Street; 850-224-3371; www.tallahasseegardenclub.com