Tallahassee, Florida

March 4 – 8, 2016
Days 24, 25, 26, 27, 28

David and I belong to Passport America, which is a campground and travel planning organization, similar to KOA. A benefit we have used a lot, is half price camping. A one year membership can be as low as $44. Two night stays in one of their campgrounds and your membership has paid for itself.

Passport America also hosts Fun Rallies. That is why we are here at the North Florida Fairgrounds in Tallahassee.

This is our first rally. Five nights of camping (50 amp electric and water hookup) 3 breakfasts, 4 dinners, nightly entertainment, seminars, vendors, a pet parade, games and a Murbles tournament. ($350). There is a Hop On, Hop Off Bus Tour of the Historic District of Tallahassee available for an additional $55. In our free time we chose to explore the area on our own.

We found great hiking at Alfred B. Maclay Gardens State Park, less than 10 miles from the Fairgrounds. Pets are allowed in all areas of the park except in the Gardens and on the beach at Lake Overstreet. Entrance to the park is $6. There is an additional $6 per person fee to tour the Gardens, during the winter months which is peak blossom.

Lots of Spanish Moss Reminds me of Georgia

Our next find was Lake Jackson Mounds Archaeological State Park, less than 5 miles from the Fairgrounds. There are two ceremonial/burial mounds to explore. The Interpretive Trail was neat, because you got to walk in the footpaths of the Indians. We saw where they took the dirt from and how far they had to carry it, in pots, to build the mounds. Kind of like the American version of the pyramids.

We drove through historic downtown Tallahassee and stopped at an open air Marketplace that’s held on Saturdays in the Park Avenue Chain of Parks. There were vendors and a folk duo performing. It was nice. Then we drove by the Old State Capital building where there was a gathering of youths and someone giving a speech.

The Pet Parade was more of a talent show, than a parade. E T won First Prize for Best Trick. I had her sit, lay down and gave the command “wait”. Then I placed pieces of chicken on her two front paws and her nose. When I gave the command “O.K.” she ate the chicken. Her new best friend, Darla, won Best Dressed. Darla is a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. She is the cutest, most well behaved dog I’ve ever met, even better than E T!

We spent three hours at the Tallahassee Museum. It was not enough time. It is on our list of “next times”. The one reason we HAVE to come back is to do the Tree To Tree Adventure Course. It is an obstacle/zip line course with a max height of 60 ft. It’s recommended, you allow at least 2 1/2 hours to do the full course. I’m guessing it would have taken David and I at least 3 1/2 hours. The zips would have been quick, but some of the obstacles looked pretty challenging. The course goes up, over and all around the Museums 52 acres, including the Cypress Swamp. It looked like great fun.

The walking tour, of at least half, of the Museum is viewed by walking over raised boardwalks, that take you above areas that you otherwise could not walk, like the Cypress Swamp. Some take you above animal exhibits. Unlike Zoo’s where you look into cages, here you look down into there natural habitat’s and try to find them. There are several endangered species here that are trying to be saved from extinction. There are also animals that can not fend for themselves because of injuries or they were bred in captivity.

This is a great place for kids of all ages. My KID, loved the dinosaur exhibits that were made of old car parts.

This is also the deal of the day, $10.50 museum admission for adults. The Tree To Tree Adventures were fairly priced and included admission. Prices were based on height and skill not age $19.50, $34.50 and $51.50. I’ll let this slide show you a few examples of this unique Museum.

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David and I participated in our First Murbles Tournament. It’s kind of like Bocci. The best part of the tournament, was all the fun people we met. From that statement I’ll bet you can surmise that we did not win. David went three rounds and I only went two. The man that beat me won the Tournament. I think he was a ringer!