Tayah: Lake Ella

My favorite local outdoor spot in Tallahassee is Lake Ella! Lake Ella is located off of Monroe St and is the perfect spot for a relaxing day outdoors. The lake is surrounded by a sidewalk trail that is perfect for walking or running, and has a park on the other side of the parking lot. There are green areas perfect to lay out a blanket and picnic tables along the trail as well. Additionally, there are tons of local businesses all on the lake’s property that are so fun to check out. Visit Lake Ella soon and grab a coffee or a snow cone while you take a stroll around! 

Emma: St. Marks

St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge is my favorite outdoor spot in Tallahassee! Aside from the historical lighthouse, which inspired the author of Annihilation for her thriller novel, there is plenty of wildlife, running space, and stargazing, to enjoy alongside the view of St.Marks river. Don’t be afraid to bring your horse or your off road bicycle either! My favorite part? Join St. Marks Wildlife Refuge for their Monarch Butterfly tagging. You’ll be catching monarchs resting along their migration route, surrounded by a sky full of stars and then a bursting sunrise.

Jordan: J. R. Alford Greenway

My favorite outdoor spot to visit in Tallahassee is the J. R. Alford Greenway! It’s the perfect location for a picnic with friends or just a breath of fresh air. My perfect day includes grabbing an iced latte, some brushes and acrylic paints, and setting up shop on a quilt on the grass of the Greenway. I recommend anyone to try and paint their natural surroundings and see what you can discover!

Michelle: The Rez

My favorite local outdoor spot is the FSU Reservation (the Rez) located at 3226 Flastacowo Road. I love the Rez because it’s only a few miles South of FSU’s main campus and there are so many opportunities for outdoor recreation on the 73 acre waterfront property that are free for students and included in faculty/staff Campus Rec memberships. My favorite thing to do at the Rez is rent a stand up paddle board and paddle around Lake Bradford. You can also rent kayaks, canoes, and sailboats, or play volleyball or disc golf, or just hang out by the lake and relax. It’s such an amazing spot that’s right down the road from campus!

Stephanie: Lichgate on High Road

It’s hard to pick a favorite outdoor spot in town, there are so many to choose from! Lichgate on High Road is a favorite for sure. It has a beautiful vegetable garden taken care of by volunteers from the Damayan Garden Project and the food they grow is donated to local charities, a walking meditation labyrinth (if you are into labyrinth's we have one on campus as well!) and the most magnificent live oak tree. The woman who bought the land and built herself a cottage home was a professor at FSU and her history is very interesting. Look it up if you don’t know about Laura Jepsen and visit this special spot in Tallahassee soon. Bring bug spray though! 

Diana: Alfred B. Maclay Gardens

The flowers here are so beautiful! The Gardens are one of Florida’s many State Parks complete with a “ secret garden”. The original owners spent their lives collecting flowers for this incredible botanical garden. It’s an amazing scenic spot perfect for a day out in nature or for taking great pictures. There are several nature trails along the lake and gardens- perfect for beginners and hiking enthusiasts. Be sure to come back in the spring (Jan-Apr) to see the gardens during blooming season- it’s a can’t miss event in Tally!

Elizabeth: Apalachicola River

I love any part of it - this river feeds the entire surrounding ecosystem we depend on. Any day spent on the river is a good day.

Laurelin: Lafayette Heritage Trail Park

I could spend all day just looking out at the gorgeous scenery in the park. Whenever I hit the trail, I feel like I enter into a different world, and I can totally destress by surrounding myself in nature. It’s a great spot for hiking, running, mountain biking, and fishing, and it’s not even that far from the city! 

Erin: Cascades Park

I love Cascades for a lot of reasons, but my favorite reason is that it has the perfect paths for learning to skateboard! My roommate and I spent a ton of time here last semester when he was teaching me to skateboard. The paths are flat and not too hilly, so it was perfect for someone like me who struggles with their coordination.