Best Outdoor Fall Activities In Tallahassee

Fall is one of the best times to visit Tallahassee because the weather is still mild, but the leaves are changing colors. You can enjoy everything from hiking and bird-watching, to horseback riding trails and kayaking on Lake Lafayette .

Credit: Cara Edenfield

Everyone knows Tallahassee is known for its culture, history, and great food. But the Florida Capital is also known as one of the nation’s best spots for outdoor activities.

As the wind begins to chill and the leaves begin to turn, head to Tallahassee to find fun activities for the whole family!

Birdwatching in Tallahassee

Tallahassee is one of the best birdwatching spots in the country, thanks to its diverse biosphere and location on two major migratory flyways. For experienced birdwatchers, Tallahassee is a haven of rare and uncommon birds to check from your life list.

If you’re a novice in matters of avian observation, no problem!

With over 200 different species of birds in Florida, there’s definitely something out there that you’ll enjoy. You can see many different types of birds at Tallahassee’s Maclay Gardens State Park or Wakulla Springs State Park.

Here are some of the rarest and most interesting birds you can find in Tallahassee in the Fall.

Songbirds

Songbirds fill the fall air with sweet sounds of innocence and beauty. Many of the rarer and more charismatic songbirds call Tallahassee home, including:

• Golden-Crowned Kinglet: This small songbird possesses a distinctive golden crown atop its regal, if slightly angry-looking, head. Head into any Florida coniferous forest and look about 60 feet up any balsam fir or black spruce.
• Red-Breasted Nuthatch: Look for a lovely golden-brown underside the next time you find yourself in a maturing forest – these nuthatches mostly nest in dead trees.
• Sedge Wren: If you hear Morse code in the woods, you probably hear this rare songbird. Look for a woven ball – sedge wrens construct these out of softer foliage.

Ducks

Splish splash! Ducks are prevalent in the Tallahassee area, but only keen-eyed Birders will be able to spot the Ducks listed below:

• Green-Winged Teal: With striking green patterning on their wings and a green scalp, green-winged teals are a favorite of Florida birdwatchers.
• Mallard: The inspiration for many cartoon ducks, mallards can be found nesting next to bodies of water all over Tallahassee.
• Redhead: Redhead ducks are easy to spot for their… red heads. Find them in Tallahassee on your next trip!

Birds of Prey

Large and striking birds of prey are no strangers to birdwatchers in the Tallahassee area. Some of the specimens you can find include:

• Northern Harrier: Nesting in open fields but almost always in shrubbery, Northern Harriers belt sharp, staccato calls when courting each other.
• Merlin: Darker and with faster wingbeats than other large birds, Merlins nest in the abandoned nests of other birds.
• Cooper’s Hawk: Cooper’s Hawks are best known for the dark cap on the top of their head. You can find them about a third of the way up a pine or oak tree.

Bird watching in Tallahassee is one of the best outdoor activities during the fall.  You can go it alone, or bring the family!

Railroad Square Art District

Railroad Square Art District is located in downtown Tallahassee, Florida.

It features sculptures created by local artists and is a treasure trove of amazing murals. There are also several sculptures made from scrap metal, which gives a very industrial feel that’s really appealing.

Exhibits at The Tallahassee Museum

Don’t let the name fool you. This museum is more of an outdoor world of culture and Florida wildlife.

Home to some of the most historic buildings in Florida, like the Concord Schoolhouse, The Tallahassee Museum is the perfect way to soak up the Fall winds while learning about what makes the Capital City so important.

The museum also has an elevated walkway through a natural wildlife area, and you can meet cows, chickens, and mules at Big Bend Farm!

Tallahassee Museum also does art exhibits featuring some of the best Florida artists in history!

There are so many fun things to do in Tallahassee. You can take a walk in Cascades Park or go hiking on one of our 700 miles trails. If you want a more active experience, schedule a walking history tour!

It’s a great way to get outside and enjoy the beautiful fall weather while exploring local areas people don’t usually visit during other seasons!