16 Exciting Things to Do in Tallahassee with Kids: Unforgettable Adventures for Families

Are you looking for an off-the-beaten-path Florida vacation spot but have concerns about finding some fun things to do in Tallahassee with your kids? Well, may we suggest these 16 exciting things? That’s right, Tallahassee folks because there is more here than just politics and football. It really does make for a great family vacation spot too. Florida’s Capital City Lies Just 22 miles north of the emerald waters of the Gulf of Mexico. A city filled with history, political intrigue, a thriving arts scene, and a great college atmosphere.

Tallahassee is also a fabulous place for family adventures, which is why our team here at mouseears.com wants to assist your family in planning a visit to this often-overlooked gem in our beloved Sunshine State. Here are our suggestions for the 16 best things to do in Tallahassee with your kids. So, as the cool kids like to say, “Let’s get jiggy with it.” What’s that, kids? What did you say? Uh ha, Okay… So Jiggy’s now cheugy. Um, What’s cheugy? “Pss, old and outdated grandpa”… Uh ha, yea… Okay, folks, let’s get to that list.

1. Visit the Tallahassee Museum

In our opinion, the best activity to do first on your next trip to Tallahassee is a day-trip adventure exploring the Tallahassee Museum. One of the most unique museums in the country, here you will find a beautiful collage of both the traditional and unique that makes for a one-of-a-kind experience.

The Tallahassee Museum is both an indoor and outdoor experience that is a part wildlife park, part historical working farm, part sculpture garden, and living history museum all rolled into one. Let’s see, where else in the world can you share an experience of meeting some of the first European settlers in North America, in person, no less, as well as encountering the critically endangered red wolf and strolling through a sculpture garden of dinosaurs created entirely from old auto parts? And all in the same place, on the same day. Wow! Now, that’s a day trip, ya’ll.

Finally, don’t forget to check out the museum’s unique take on the zip-line dubbed their “Tree to Tree Adventure.” A mix of various inventive styles of rope walks and zip lines Stretched out across the wonder of a natural Florida canopy. We’re confident that the time spent here will become a day of memory-making you and your family will be sure to treasure for years to come.

2. Lofty Pursuits

Lofty Pursuits is quite possibly the best indoor activity you can find in Tallahassee for the little ones in your family. It’s most certainly the tastiest. In fact, from toddlers to teenagers, thirty-somethings to ninety-somethings, everyone will be sure to have a good time at Lofty’s.

This old-fashioned ice cream soda fountain started in 1993 as a classic toy store. Over the years, they have expanded to include their ice cream soda fountain, a handmade candy-making operation, a breakfast restaurant, and board games.

You and your crew are sure to have a great time here. Start early with a morning visit for biscuits and gravy or steak and eggs, perhaps, then come back later in the day for a homemade ice cream Sunday or root beer float served to you by a real old-fashioned soda jerk.

Be sure to pick up a bag of their homemade hard candy and a great nostalgic toy while you are there as well. From yo yo’s to slinkies, Monopoly to World of Warcraft, Lofty Pursuits has you covered. One of our personal favorites is their special holiday-themed candy creations like Frankenstein Candy for Halloween or rino-sauras-sized candy canes for Christmas, which make for great stocking stuffers during the holiday season. A trip here is definitely one of the top things to do with kids in Tallahassee.

3. Catch a Game at One of the Local Universities

Tallahassee is one of the great college cities in America, Full of collegiate tradition and athletic excellence. The city is home to both Florida State University of the Atlantic Coast Conference and Florida A&M, one of the great HBCU institutions in America.

Both Universities are known for their beautiful and historic campuses as well as their excellent athletic programs. So, rather it’s football, baseball, or a battle of the Bands contest. You will have a great time taking in a game at either Florida State University or Florida A&M. It’s Fan-tastic! Oh! Oh, ooh, ooh! Ooh, ooh! Oh, ooh, ooh!…. Oh! Oh, ooh, ooh! Ooh, ooh! Oh, ooh, ooh!…

4. Lichgate at High Road

Has your little princess ever dreamed of walking in her very own fairy tale? If so, be sure to take her on a tour of Lichgate at High Road while on your visit to Tallahassee. This magical place is a mix of old-world fairy tale charm and new-world natural majesty.

Here you will find a wonderful English Tudor Cottage built in the shadow of one of the oldest living specimens of live oak trees in the nation. Nearby, visitors will find a charming labyrinth where if you look just right, you can almost see the fairies and unicorns in her imagination.

This magical place was once the home of Professor Laura Jepsen, a former English professor at Florida State University, from 1946 until 1978. A lover of great literature, it is said that she enjoyed her time here at Lichgate reading the works of great literators such as Shakespeare, Dickens, and Homer. Lichgate at High Road was the professor’s passion project and is the only example of 16th-century Tudor architecture in the state of Florida. In 2006, Lichgate at High Road was added to the National Registry of Historic Places.

5. Have Fun at Fun Station Arcade

So if we are talking fun things to do in Tallahassee with kids, then what kid doesn’t love a great arcade? And this one is the very best arcade that Florid’s capital city has to offer. Fun Station is more than just an arcade. It’s a kid’s dreamland filled with great activities such as mini-golf, laser tag, batting cages, and go-kart track thrills.

Just like Lofty Pursuits, Fun Station Arcade started with much more humble beginnings as a single mini golf course near the Tallahassee Mall over 20 years ago. Now greatly expanded at their new location Fun Stations offer acres of fun for the whole family. So now it’s off to mini golf glory. Time for Daddy to get his Tiger Woods on!

6. Visit the Mag Lab

Okay folks, time to get nerdy, uh, I mean educational things to do in Tallahassee with kids. Besides, it’s cool to be nerdy nowadays, right? Kinda like when Huey Luis and the News used to sing, “It’s hip to be square.” Yea, those were the days, a great rock and roll band, by the way. You, youngsters, should check them out sometime. “Pss.. you are showing your age again, Grandpa”. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Kids today always got something informative to say.

Ok, folks, where were we? Oh yeah, the Mag Lab. Now this is a great place to go with kids of all ages. The National Magnetic Field Laboratory, AKA the Mag Lab. A cutting-edge research facility featuring some of the world’s largest and most powerful magnets. Guided tours are offered for scientific groups, educational field trips, and the public at large. Learn about the incredible world of magnetics while having a great time along the way.

7. See a Movie at the Challenger Learning Center

The Challenger Learning Center is another great Museum in Florida’s capital city whose motto is Edu-tainment. The focus here is to entertain young visitors while at the same time providing them with valuable educational lessons about all things scientific.

Here you will find an IMAX Theater, space mission simulator, and domed planetarium. The CLC, as it is known by the locals, is the main scientific public outreach program for both Florida A&M as well as Florida State University. Special activities are held throughout the year, such as Challenger Camp, Home School Days, and Kids Free Day. For our money, the Challenger Learning Center takes the prize for one of the best fun educational things to do in Tallahassee with kids.

8 . Railroad Square Art Park

Railroad Square Art Park serves as Tallahassee’s art district. This former historic warehouse district has been reincarnated, giving life to the capital city’s funky bone while pleasing art lovers of all ages. Tallahassee’s art district serves as a home to over 50 art studios, unique galleries, and eccentric shops of all kinds.

Walk along the brightly colored murals searching for that perfect selfie. Shop for vintage clothing or find the perfect painting for your living space. Rediscover an old vinyl Almond Brothers or Tom Petty album to share with a new generation of music lovers. Challenge your kids to a game of pinball or head to the indoor rock-climbing gym for some real family competition. Finish your day at one of the great restaurants the district has to offer, such as the Gastgarden (the only cafe in town built out of a real railroad caboose).

9. Go Fishing at Lake Ella

Ask any of the locals for the best fishing spot for kids in Tallahassee, and most will point you toward the picturesque shores of Lake Ella. You can find plenty of great spots to cast your line along her lovely shoreline. Therefore we are convinced that you and your crew will have a great time on the lake.

What could be better than spending a day on the water watching the kids having a blast reeling in their first big one, even if it is a big, little one? No fishing license is required for kids for freshwater shoreline fishing here in the sunshine state, so we see no reason a day full of fun times, wiggly worms, and wiggly little laughs should not be in your future.

10. Explore Cascades Park

This urban city park is the pride of Tallahassee. Filled with amenities for everyone, no matter your age. The park lies on five acres in the heart of the city. Highlights include a live performance Amphitheater, Imagination Fountains, which can be found near the center of the park, the Discovery kids play area, the Voice of Trees Sound Walk, and a pair of memorials remembering the efforts of heroes from both the American Civil Rights movement and the Korean War. Cascades Park provides 2.5 miles of paved trails for public use, perfect for walking, jogging, or biking.

11. Take a Tour of the Florida State Capitol

Teaching our children about how government works in the world’s largest and first representative republic should be important to all of us as we pass down our freedoms to the next generation of young Americans. Therefore one of the most important things to do in Tallahassee with kids is perhaps to prioritize making a visit to the Florida state capital building.

Both guided and self-guided tours are available to the public, though we suggest checking with the capital welcome center for itineraries and schedules. Florida actually has two capital buildings. First, there is the historic old building referred to as Florida’s first capital building, and second, the new capital building finished in the late 1970s, where state business is conducted today.

The new Capital building rises to a height of 289 feet and is 22 stories. The top floor provides capital building visitors with an excellent view of the city skyline. Finally, gallery viewing is available to the public during the legislative session; however, seating capacity is limited. Once again, we suggest checking with the capital welcome center during or before your visit.

12. Explore the Alfred B. Maclay Gardens State Park

Do you want to pull your kids away from their PlayStation screens and Switch controllers and more into the great outdoors? If so, we have the perfect spot for you on your Tallahassee getaway. Alfred B. Maclay Gardens State Park offers an array of fun outdoor activities along with a good dose of Florida’s natural beauty and a splash of history for good measure.

Maclay Gardens State Park offers the perfect place for some great family fun with amenities and activities that include acres of architectural gardens featuring hundreds of azaleas, camellias, and roses of all varieties. The historic Maclay House was restored to its original 1906 condition, which now serves as a historic and architectural museum for the park.

Brick pathways can be found here winding throughout the property under grande old live Oaks decorated with swaying Spanish moss setting the scene for the perfect summer stroll. Two lakes, Lake Hall and Lake Overstreet provide visitors with even more great opportunities, such as designated fishing and swimming areas with a sandy beach and picnic pavilions as well as a nearby boat ramp perfect for boating, kayaking, and canoeing.

There is also a wonderful kids’ playground located here with clean, modern play equipment, which is always well maintained. There are miles of hiking, biking, and equestrian trails for mountain biking and horseback riding surrounding both lakes. Finally, last but not least, the park is a wonderful wildlife viewing experience for its visitors.

Be sure to be on the lookout during your visit for various species of owls, raptors, and waterfowl. Examples found here include the Burrowing Owl, The Red-Tailed Hawk, the Great Blue Heron, and the Snowy Egret, as well as plenty of whitetail deer, the Florida bobcat, various turtle species, and of course, everyone’s favorite, the American alligator. There is no denying that Maclay Gardens is one of the best things to do in Tallahassee with kids.

13. St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge

Ready for even more outdoor adventure? Once again, we have it covered. St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge is one of the oldest national wildlife refuges in America. Established in 1931 for the protection of migratory birds, the refuge encompasses over eighty-three thousand acres, including forty-three miles of pristine, untouched Florida coastline.

Grab some trail mix and your Nikon for a photo safari with the family. Here you will find the perfect habitat for sightings of native wildlife bird species such as White Ibis, Bald Eagles, Blue Herons, and Purple Martins. You may also catch a glimpse of playful raccoons, whitetail deer, or a slithering black racer snake during your trip here.

14. Missian San Luis de Apalachee

What if I told you that you and your kids could time travel? In fact, what kid hasn’t watched a movie or read a comic book and dreamed of traveling far back in time? Well, that’s exactly what you can do with your kids on your visit to Missian San Luis de Apalachee, a living museum.

This important piece of Florida’s history has been preserved and restored to its original form as it appeared in the late 17th and early 18th century. Missian San Luis de Apalachee was one of the first Spanish missions in the new world. A place where Spanish missionaries lived alongside Apalachee Indians from 1653 to 1703.

Historical actors relive and recreate daily life as it was then for the education of our modern society now. Have a fun time, time traveling with your crew while learning about this significant landmark in Florida history.

15. Visit the Tallahassee Automobile Museum

With over 160 automobiles, including a real Batmobile and the Batcycle, the Tallahassee Automobile Museum brings out the kid in all of us. Since opening to the public in the early 1990s, the museum has established itself as a can’t-miss attraction here in Florida’s capital city.

From American muscle cars to the finest examples of European luxury to Abraham Lincoln’s 1860 horse-drawn funeral hearse and everything in between, you and your little lightning Mcqueen will have a blast exploring all the horse-powered fun this place has to offer.

16. Visit the Museum Of Florida History

Located right next to the Florida State Capital, the Museum of Florida History is a great way to spend an afternoon with your family. The Museum houses exhibits showcasing historical events, culture, nature, and wildlife from prehistory through World War II. Outside you will find Florida’s World War II memorial accompanied by plaques representing the number of casualties from each county in Florida during the war.

Other exhibits cover the life and experiences of pre-Columbian native peoples, old Spanish Florida, and the history of Florida’s citrus industry. Perhaps the most exciting display for kids, though, is the full-size Mammoth skeleton on display here at the museum. You and your little adventurers are sure to find lots of great fun at this world-class scientific institution.

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Well, everyone, that’s a wrap. We hope that our suggestions for fun things to do in Tallahassee with kids have been helpful to you in planning your next visit to our state. The capital city of Florida has long been known for two things; politics and college football.

However, we believe it has a lot more to offer than what most folks are familiar with, and we hope you have found this article helpful in discovering more of the offerings the city of Tallahassee, Florida, has to share. Please leave a comment below and let us know your thoughts. We value the opinions of our readers and love reading your feedback. Until next time, love peace and chicken grease, ya’ll.

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