Frugal Florida: Free things to do in Tallahassee

Are you a frugal Floridian? On a tight budget in Tallahassee? A Florida gator saving money for later?

Okay, okay, you see where we’re going with this. If you’re looking for a fun time in Tallahassee, but are trying to keep your spending to a minimum, you might be tempted to look up sales, deals, and coupons. And those are great ideas! But you shouldn’t stop there.

Tallahassee may be known as the Sunshine State’s easygoing capital city, but it’s not short on activities. Did you know that there are a host of fun, fascinating, and free things for you to do in Tallahassee? Well, great news — there are! For a frugal day out, check out these things to do that won’t cost you a cent:

Enjoy the outdoors — and maybe walk on the wild side

Floridians know that their state is home to natural beauty and unique ecosystems, as well as the famous year-round sunshine. In Tallahassee, you can enjoy more than just the sunshine with the city’s wide range of free outdoor activities.

Families with children can head on over to the Fred George Basin Greenway on Tallahassee’s northwest side, where kids can enjoy the recently-built, forest-themed playscape, with slides, a climbing wall, and soft recycled rubber turf for soft landings. Those who want to mix the outdoors with a dose of culture should check out Cascades Park, home to the Adderly Amphitheater, which hosts free concerts, movie screenings, and more.

Photo courtesy of Cascades Park via Facebook.

Finally, for a walk on the wild side, consider making the trek to Cherokee Sink. Located just half an hour outside the city, this secluded natural spring is perfect for a summer hike or even a swim out in nature, or watching for wildlife — just be sure to bring bug spray!

Learn about Florida history up close and personally

Want to find out more about your state’s past in the places where it happened? As a state capitol, Tallahassee has seen its fair share of important moments in Florida’s history over the centuries. Start off at the Florida Historic Capitol Museum, a free museum that recreates Florida’s capitol as it was back in 1902, along with exhibits of the Civil Rights movement in Florida, the multicultural history of Florida’s population, and more.

Photo courtesy of Florida Historic Capitol Museum via Facebook.

For a different side of Florida history, the gardens at the Goodwood Museum and Gardens are free to the public and provide a point of remembrance for one of Florida history’s darkest chapters. In addition to the original nineteenth-century architecture, the former plantation Goodwood House serves as a memorial and educational center about the enslaved African Americans who lived there until the end of the Civil War.

Get in touch with your artistic side

Feel like getting the creative juices flowing? Tallahassee has you covered, without your having to spend a cent. For artistic inspiration, you’ve got options to choose from, ranging from the traditional to the avant-garde across the city.

For an art fix fit for a true Gator, head on over to the Museum of Fine Arts at Florida State University. This free public museum is open Monday through Saturday and offers regular traveling and seasonal exhibitions, alongside its permanent collection of over 7,000 art objects ranging from painting to sculpture to photography to metalwork. Be sure to take a stroll through FSU’s campus while you’re in the area, especially on a sunny day. If it’s the first Friday of the month, you can find even more arty, free fun over at the Historic Railroad Square Art District. While this is a fantastic place to explore any time you like, from 6-9 pm the first Friday of every month is the “First Friday Gallery Hop,” a popular street fair with art, live music, and tasty food trucks.

This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.