1. Have you ever itched to visit the Grand Canyon in Utah? Well luckily for you, you don’t have to travel that far. You can get a taste of the Grand Canyon in a small town called Lumpkin, Georgia. Lumpkin is about two and a half hours away from Tallahassee and it is home to Providence Canyon State Park. Providence Canyon is a beautiful state park with nine different canyons and some hiking trails. The best time of year to hike these canyons is in the spring to avoid bugs and hot weather. But don’t worry, you don’t have to be a professional hiker to tackle these canyons. All you’ll need is comfortable clothing, snacks, water, and your favorite hiking partner(s).
2. One of the perks of Tallahassee is that we are very close to beaches. Take a day off from homework and make a day trip to St. George Island with some friends. This beach is located in a small town about an hour and a half away from Tallahassee. St.George Island has public beach access, or you can pay a small fee to enter St. George Island State Park where you’ll have more private beach access along with bathrooms and showers. Whichever option you choose, you can never go wrong with a beach day. You can either pack lunches for the day or there are some local restaurants nearby. There’s nothing like relaxing in the soft sand with the sound of waves nearby.
3. Are you a true Floridian if you’ve never seen a manatee or alligator? If you find yourself in this situation, don’t worry, Wakulla Springs is the place for you. Wakulla Springs is about 45 minutes from Tallahassee and home to refreshing 70-degree spring water year-round. This state park is one of the world’s largest and deepest freshwater springs. During your trip here you can take the polar plunge and swim in the springs or you can take a boat tour and learn about its history and its wildlife. If you’re lucky and the water is clear, you can take a glass-bottom boat tour. In this boat, you’ll be able to see over 100 feet below into the underwater caverns.
4. Did you know that as an FSU student you are granted free admission to the FSU Rez? FSU Rez is located on Lake Bradford and it is only four miles away from Florida State University campus. The Rez offers a variety of activities like kayaking, swimming, canoeing, disc golf, and even picnicking. Take a dip into the designated swimming area or rent a paddleboard and put your balance to the test. The rental of paddleboards, kayaks, and canoes is free to FSU students with a valid FSU ID. Not only does the Rez offer fun in the water but you can also challenge yourself to scale the wall. The Rez has a 40-foot climbing wall which is a part of their challenge courses. If you’re up for something challenging to test your endurance, this is it.
5. If you’re an adrenaline junkie then the Tallahassee Jr. Museum’s Tree-To-Tree adventure is just for you. The Tallahassee Jr. Museum is home to a variety of wildlife is and about four miles away from FSU’s campus. Some of the wildlife exhibits include bears, river otters, grey foxes, wild turkeys, red wolves, and many more native species. However, one of the most popular attractions in the museum is the aerial obstacle courses and the zip lines in the Tree-To-Tree adventures. There are three different courses available but the most recommended is the Soaring Cypress. This is the longest course, and it includes over 47 platforms, 25 obstacles, and 16 zip-lines. The best thing about this course is that it takes place within the museum’s exhibits. The course is self-guided, and you can expect the course to take you anywhere between two to three hours. Remember to bring your school ID because they offer student discounts.