Downtown Tallahassee Tallahassee, FL

From its earliest days as Anhaica, the principle village of the Apalachee Native Americans, to its designation as capital of the newly formed U.S. territory of Florida in 1822, Tallahassee has enjoyed a rich history. The city took shape as a Spanish settlement after Hernando de Soto camped here in 1539, later housing numerous missions, including Mission San Luis, the sole reconstructed mission of its kind.

The city reflects its diverse cultural heritage with galleries and museums, such as the Knott House Museum located at the site where General Edward McCook read the Emancipation Proclamation in 1865. Festivals, such as the Latin Dance Fest, Greek Food Festival, the Saturday Matinee of the Arts and the Springtime Tallahassee Festival, all foster a strong sense of community.

Downtown Tallahassee acts as a mecca for foodies and fun seekers alike. With its incredible variety of eateries and vibrant nightlife, you can always find something to do and a new restaurant to try.

The All Saints district, one of the hippest parts of the downtown area, houses local gems, such as The Grain, which specializes in Irish nachos and two for $5 tacos filled with Memphis barbecue or Cuban pork. When locals crave pizza, they go to Gaines Street Pies, which serves a varied menu of sandwiches, salads and unique pizzas, such as the Figure Four with goat cheese and figs. Other specialty pies include the Foxy Cleopatra, which features hummus, artichokes, roasted red peppers and feta, and The Temptation, a vegan pie make with tempeh, arugula, pineapple and a drizzle of balsamic glaze. You can't live downtown and not experience Voodoo Dog, a small eatery that serves up fabulous burgers and dogs, including the Jefferson, a bacon hot dog topped with macaroni and cheese

Other districts also house notable eateries, including the hip Madison Social in the College District. With its garage doors that open up to patio space and menu items such as roasted buffalo cauliflower sandwiches and veggie potstickers, the cool factor keep you wanting to come back for more. It also has a fabulous brunch and one of the best happy hours in the city, with $2 draft beers and $4 house wines.

The chic, upscale Backwoods Bistro, nestled in the Governor's Walk district, has five-star chefs cooking up specialties such as crab-stuffed grouper, black and bleu mac, and Seminole strip steaks. As an added bonus, the bar stays open late every night, with live music on the weekends.

When you have family or clients visiting, bring them to Level 8 Lounge, the rooftop venue at Hotel Duval. Relax in comfy sofas and chairs while you sip on a cool cocktail and enjoying sweeping views of the city. In addition to its cocktails and cigars, the lounge features a tapas menu with dishes such as roasted duck confit rillettes, ramen noodle salad, and steamed sea salt and vinegar edamame. Take advantage of drink deals during happy hour, wine specials on Tuesdays and free champagne for ladies on Wednesday nights.

Revisit your college days when you visit Potbelly's, a college dive bar with fabulous happy hour specials and a relaxed, fun vibe. Alternatively, go dance at the upscale nightclub next door, The Painted Lady, which also has an outdoor music venue.

Residents of downtown Tallahassee can leverage the benefits of living in the center of all the action by relying on the plentiful alternative transportation options. Leave the car parked and walk, bike, or hail a taxi or Capital City Pedicab, a bicycle-powered cab that can take you anywhere you want to go in the downtown area. On weekend nights, the Rhythm Route Trolley provides free transportation from Gaines Street to Sixth Avenue. Other options include Star Metro, which operates several college shuttles and 12 cross-town routes.

When you need to travel beyond the downtown districts, access to roadways, such as Routes 90, 63, 61 and nearby Interstate 10, makes it convenient and relatively fast. For a relaxing, scenic drive, take one of Tallahassee's signature canopy roads, such as North Meridian Road. Towering pines, sweet gums, hickory trees and moss-draped oak trees act as a living canopy over the nine canopy roads in the city, each of which once operated as a Native American trail. Plentiful parking garages and on-street parking, which is free on nights and weekends, makes parking a breeze, even in the middle of this busy city.

Several public parks call downtown Tallahassee home, including San Luis Mission Park, which has a picturesque boardwalk along Lake Esther, several multi-use trails, a playground and a dog park. Another option, Myers Park, houses several picnic areas, an open field, a hiking trail and a playground. Purchase a day-pass or an annual pass to take advantage of the park's swimming pool. Check out the free Saturday concerts at Ponce De Leon Park.

Locals love Cascades Park, which features a 1-mile perimeter trail perfect for exercising, along with a scenic pond, 13 historical monuments and a Discovery play zone for children. Imagination Fountain, a water playground for children, has 73 jets, and it provides a nightly, 7-minute show set to music and colorful lights. The park’s band shell, Capital City Amphitheater, hosts live music performances and events throughout the year.

Living in downtown Tallahassee can be surprisingly affordable, particularly when you compare the costs to living in other city centers. Tallahassee's cost of living generally stays right around the national average and slightly lower than the state average. One-bedroom apartments typically cost around $621 per month, leaving you plenty of wiggle room to afford going out on the town. Grabbing a beer at your local bar usually costs approximately $4, although you can expect to pay roughly $2 during happy hour.

Gas prices hover right around the national average, although you can expect to pay higher prices along Route 90. One-way fare on a StarMetro bus costs $1.25, and a day-pass only sets you back $3.

From the hip fashions found in All Saints or College Town to the high-end and classic apparel carried by stores in the Capitol Hill district, downtown Tallahassee's shopping scene has everything you need to outfit your wardrobe and home.

Nic's Toggery, a family owned boutique specializing in men's apparel, has been dressing the men of Tallahassee for more than 60 years. This men's boutique specializes in Southern elegance, with accessories, shoes, sportswear and clothing from designers such as Hugo Boss, Paul Betenly, Santorelli, Peter Millar, Olukai and Magnanni.

Outfit your closet with one-of-a-kind pieces from Olde Fields Clothing Company in the All Saint's District. This boutique features redesigned and handcrafted clothing and accessories, in addition to local artwork. You might also want to check out the specialty shops at Railroad Square Art Park, which houses galleries, restaurants and funky shops, such as Curio, a vintage store that carries clothing, accessories, and mid-century modern furniture and home decor. Other shops at Railroad Square include Athena's Garden with its herbal products and Anhaica Bag Works, which carries hand-waxed canvas bags.

One of the perks of living downtown is the variety of shops and grocery stores at your fingertips. Locals often shops at grocery stores such as Winn-Dixie, King Food Store, Pat's Supermarket and New Leaf Markets. Bread and Roses Food Cooperative provides in-store discounts to its members. Joining the cooperative involves volunteering and paying membership dues. Downtown Marketplace farmers’ market features fresh produce, arts and crafts, and live entertainment.