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Florida State University

FSU | The Visitor Center

The Visitor Center

     pardon our dust.

The FSU Visitor Center at University Center Building B is undergoing some renovation work to improve our facilities and services. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and we thank you for your understanding and cooperation. During this time, our building entrance and front desk area may change depending on the progress of the construction. Please follow the signs that will guide you to our temporary check-in point. We may use either the main entrance or the Seminole Sportshop entrance on different days.

We also want to inform you that there are other construction projects happening around Doak Campbell Stadium. Please plan ahead and allow some extra time for your visit. You can find more information about parking and directions on our website .

We appreciate your patience and support as we work to make our Visitor Center a better place for you. We look forward to welcoming you on campus and showing you what makes FSU a great place to learn, live, and work.

There are so many ways to experience FSU. We'd love for you to join us here in Tallahassee for a tour of campus. We offer both guided and self-guided tours with the opportunity to meet with our Admissions staff while you're here. Can't make the trip? We offer virtual information sessions and webinars available throughout the year for you to attend either in addition to or instead of a visit to campus. Check out the options below to visit, explore, and make connections with our students and staff here in Tallahassee.

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Florida State University

Tallahassee, FL

One of the nation’s elite research universities, Florida State University preserves, expands, and disseminates knowledge in the sciences, technology, arts, and humanities. We embrace a philosophy of learning that is strongly rooted in the traditions of the liberal arts and critical thinking. FSU’s welcoming campus is located on the oldest continuous site of higher education in Florida, and our community fosters free inquiry and embraces diversity.

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Tallahassee Campus Tour

Welcome to Florida State University! You can explore FSU’s 485-acre campus in Tallahassee, Florida. We’re tucked into Florida’s Big Bend off I-10, and the white-sand beaches of the Gulf are only 60 miles away via beautiful, live-oak canopy roads. Enjoy everything nature has to offer in our Red Hills region while still having the conveniences of living in a thriving town. Not only is Tallahassee the state’s capital, but it offers amazing cuisine, award-winning parks, miles and miles of walking and biking trails, as well as cultural events occurring all year-round.

University Housing Tour

A tour of the on-campus housing at the Tallahassee campus.

Panama City Campus Tour

Welcome to Florida State University Panama City! You can explore FSU’s 26-acre regional campus in Bay County, Florida, home of “The World’s Most Beautiful Beaches.” While the area’s white sandy beaches, emerald green waters, and 320 days of sunshine a year attract thousands of visitors year-round, about 185,000 residents live in the county full-time. With the campus’s shady oaks and a beautiful view of North Bay, it is an ideal setting to make life-long friends, discover new talents, and become the person you are meant to be.

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Tours and sightseeing in florida.

Florida tours -- by foot, car or boat – let you discover the Sunshine State’s food, wineries, nature, history, and culture.

The Indian River Lagoon Treasure Coast Scenic Highway.

- Peter W. Cross

nature tours

Walking tours, driving tours, agritourism tours, cultural tours, find florida tours, florida tours and sightseeing.

By Gary McKechnie

Florida may be the most fascinating state ever, and I’m not just saying that because I was born here. It truly is an incredible place to visit and tour. There are coral reefs and limestone caverns, crystal-clear natural springs and backwoods swimming holes, remote pine forests and even more remote regions deep in the Everglades. Its history precedes the Plymouth Rock Pilgrims by 10,000 years or more and runs a direct timeline to the Space Age. Because it’s a destination unlike any other, it’s a place everyone likes to visit.

What can top off a trip is seeing it with someone who knows it like a native, namely Floridians so passionate about where they live they’ve researched every aspect of its history. Armed with that knowledge, they invite visitors to join them on tours to share insights about local culture, nature, wildlife, the environment… and sometimes just plain weird trivia.

In Marianna, an hour west of Tallahassee, you can join a park ranger at  Florida Caverns State Park  for a tour that descends into the state’s largest limestone cavern. In this intricate underground world, rangers share unbelievable information such as the length of time it takes for nature to create  one cubic inch  of limestone (about 100 years). Incredibly, the tour is free – but the memories are priceless.

One of Florida’s most popular tours is actually more than one:  Airboat rides.  Located nearly everywhere in the state from the Everglades to Kenansville to Inverness and beyond, when you find yourself in the neighborhood of an airboat tour… take it! Pilots are passionate about the woods and waters they navigate, and whether you’re flying across a freshwater river or a brackish lagoon, the wildlife you’ll see and the thrill you’ll get will stamp your Florida passport with indelible memories.

Adding a high-clearance swamp buggy to airboat rides is  Billie Swamp Safari  at the Big Cypress Reservation of the Seminole Tribe. Visiting Billie Swamp – the tribe’s tourist destination about an hour south of Lake Okeechobee – was one of the best experiences of my life. Viewing the land the way the Seminoles see it gave me an even greater appreciation for Florida.

Further south, at  Everglades National Park,  rangers are leading free tram tours into the famed and fragile ‘River of Grass’ to reveal that an empty expanse of reeds and wilderness is actually a vibrant ecosystem teeming with life. Just west of the Everglades off the coast of Fort Myers, a tram tour at Sanibel Island’s  J.N. ‘Ding’ Darling National Wildlife Refuge  will likely include a look at alligators on the shore, crabs climbing mangrove trees, or an abundance of migratory birds fluttering across Tarpon Bay. Florida’s beauty is found in every corner of this refuge.

There are also wildlife parks where guests are invited to meet rare and endangered species. Take a tour of the wonderful  Seacrest Wolf Preserve  south of Chipley and where members of “ambassador wolf packs” are as playful as puppies and as stunningly beautiful as any animal you’ve ever seen. Visit Jacksonville’s  Catty Shack  which hosts day tours, night tours, and sleepovers beside cougars, leopards, lions, and tigers (but no bears). At  Two Tails Ranch  in Williston, guests can learn about elephants and meet other residents including zebras, tortoises, emus, ostriches, and camels.

And why pay good money to watch a horror movie when you can take a guided after-dark  ghost tour  to see some of the most haunted sites in St. Augustine and Key West? Far less creepy is the legendary  Conch Tour Train  of Key West, which has been rolling around this famous island since 1958.

Finally, there’s only one space center on earth open to visitors – and it happens to be in Florida. On the  Kennedy Space Center ’ s  bus tour you’ll see the towering Vehicle Assembly Building where rockets are prepared for launch; massive crawlers that move the rockets to the launch pads; and the launch pads themselves where Americans were sent to the moon and will someday depart for Mars. Ultimately, this highly-recommended tour takes you to the Saturn V Center where you’ll see an actual Saturn V rocket, the Apollo 14 capsule, and even a moon rock you can touch.

Which goes to show that Florida tours are out of this world.

STRATEGIC ALLIANCE PARTNERS

Welcome to FSU, a preeminent Florida university. This self-guided tour will provide you with valuable information about our campus and community.

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FSU Alumni Association

Travel the world with fellow alumni

Travel the world with the fsu alumni association.

Explore the world with fellow Noles. The Florida State University Alumni Association invites you to experience culturally rich travel destinations hand-selected with FSU alumni and friends in mind. Our highly-respected travel partners take care of our tour planning and logistics so all you have to plan on is enjoying your trip.

We have selected world-class guided tours for our travel program. Each remarkable itinerary offers an opportunity to visit iconic destinations, sample authentic cuisine and truly experience the local culture. We hope you will join us.

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Explore Switzerland, Austria & Bavaria

April 18 — April 26, 2024

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Discover South Pacific Wonders with Optional Fiji Extension

April 17 — May 1, 2024

Discover Scotland

Oct 20 - 29, 2024

Memorials of World War II

Oct 27 - Nov 6, 2024

Iceland Expedition 

November 1 — November 5, 2023

  Learn More   800.638.7640

Essential Europe Grad Trip

May 24 — June 10, 2024

Ciao Italy featuring the Italian Riviera

August 31 — September 8, 2024

Peru’s Inca Trail

October 5 — October 12, 2024

Passions and Pursuits: Golf in the South of France 

September 19 — September 28, 2023

  Learn More   866.639.0079

The Masters

April 10 — April 13, 2024

Kentucky Derby

May 1 — May 5, 2024

Indianapolis 500

May 24 — May 27, 2024

Discover Egypt & The Nile Valley 

September 30 — October 13, 2023

Antarctica Discovery

January 11 — January 22, 2024

The Galapagos Islands

January 20 — January 27, 2024

Southwest National Parks

May 1 — May 9, 2024

Kenya Safari: The Big 5

June 26 — July 6, 2024

Discover Southeast Alaska 

July 26 — August 2, 2024

The Alumni Association is happy to offer our own insurance through our trusted partner, Meyer and Associates. Individual travel insurance plans are available to meet various needs and budgets.

Learn more here, have any questions contact us at 850.644.2761 or [email protected].

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Florida Tours & Trips

It's no surprise that trips to Florida are on everyone's bucket list. Whether you're playing hide-and-seek with alligators in The Everglades, swimming in the turquoise-blue waters of Miami Beach, or reliving your childhood fantasy at Disney World. There's something for everyone in this Sunshine State.

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Guided Tours

Destinations where you can take a guided tour with an expert.

Featured Tours

Includes destinations with tours offered by park rangers in state and national parks, tours available at gardens and natural attractions, and private or concessionaire outfitters leading tours on public lands.

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NORTHWEST FLORIDA Apalachicola . Apalachicola National Forest . Blackwater River State Forest . Blountstown . Bonifay . Bristol . Cape San Blas . Carrabelle . Chattahoochee . Chipley . Crawfordville . Crestview . DeFuniak Springs . Destin . Ebro . Eglin Air Force Base . Fort Walton Beach . Freeport . Gulf Islands National Seashore . Madison . Marianna . Milton . Monticello . Mossy Head . Navarre Beach . Niceville . Panama City Beach . Pensacola . Ponce De Leon . Port St. Joe . Quincy . Sopchoppy . South Walton . St. Marks . St. Marks River . St. Marks NWR . Tallahassee . Vernon . Wakulla . Wewahitchka NORTH FLORIDA Alachua . Amelia Island . Baldwin . Branford . Bunnell . Cedar Key . Chiefland . Crescent City . Dowling Park . Ellaville . Fernandina Beach . Flagler Beach . Gainesville . Green Cove Springs . High Springs . Jacksonville . Keystone Heights . Lake Butler . Lake City . Live Oak . Mayo . Macclenny . Micanopy . Olustee . Orange Park . Osceola National Forest . Palatka . Palatka-Lake Butler Trail . Palm Coast . Perry . Salt Springs . St. Augustine . Starke . Steinhatchee . Suwannee River Wilderness Trail . Suwannee Springs . Talbot Islands . Timucuan Preserve . Trenton . Welaka . White Springs . Williston

MULTI-REGION Big Cypress Swamp . East Coast Greenway . Everglades National Park . Florida National Scenic Trail Lake Wales Ridge . CENTRAL FLORIDA Apopka . Belleview . Brandon . Brooksville . Bushnell . Canaveral National Seashore . Christmas . Chuluota . Clearwater Beach . Clermont . Coast to Coast Trail . Cocoa Beach . Cross Florida Greenway . Crystal River . Dade City . Daytona Beach . De Leon Springs . DeBary . Deland . Deltona . Dunedin . Dunnellon . Frostproof . Geneva . Inverness . Kenansville . Kissimmee . Lake Mary . Lake Wales . Lakeland . Largo . Leesburg . Lithia . Longwood . Melbourne . Melbourne Beach . Merritt Island . Merritt Island NWR . Mims . Mount Dora . New Port Richey . New Smyrna Beach . Ocala . Ocala National Forest . Ocklawaha . Orlando . Ormond Beach . Osteen . Oviedo . Palm Bay . Ridge Manor . Riverview . Ruskin . Sanford . Silver Springs . Spring Hill . St. Cloud . St. Petersburg . Tampa . Tarpon Springs . Titusville . Walt Disney World . Weeki Wachee . Winter Park . Winter Springs . Withlacoochee State Forest . Withlacoochee State Trail . Yeehaw Junction . Zephyrhills

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA Bradenton . Charlotte Harbor . Ding Darling NWR . Englewood . Estero . Fort Myers . Immokalee . Naples . Pine Island . Port Charlotte . Punta Gorda . Sanibel Island . Sarasota . Venice

SOUTH FLORIDA Arcadia . Basinger . Big Cypress National Preserve . Big Cypress Seminole Reservation . Clewiston . Everglades City . Fisheating Creek . Lake Okeechobee . Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail . Lake Placid . LaBelle . Lakeport . Moore Haven . Okeechobee . Pahokee . Port Mayaca . Sebring . South Bay

SOUTHEAST FLORIDA Big Pine Key . Biscayne Bay . Biscayne National Park . Boca Raton . Boynton Beach . Coconut Creek . Coral Gables . Coral Springs . Davie . Delray Beach . Northeast Everglades Natural Area . Florida Keys . Fort Lauderdale . Fort Pierce . Hobe Sound . Hollywood . Homestead . Islamorada . Jensen Beach . Jupiter . Juno Beach . Key Biscayne . Key Largo . Key West . Marathon . Miami . Ocean to Lake Greenway . Overseas Heritage Trail . Palm Beach . Port St. Lucie . Redland . Sebastian . Stuart . Vero Beach . West Palm Beach

You'll Need A Guided Tour Of Florida Caverns State Park, But Here's What You'll See On The Way

This Florida state park offers a rare opportunity in the state to tour underground and explore another world beneath one's feet.

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Florida caverns state park: home to some of the state's only caves, guided tours of the caves of florida caverns state park, what to know about visiting the florida caverns state park & facilities.

Caves remain perhaps the most unexplored part of the world. There are many excellent caverns and cave systems to be discovered around the United States and around the world. Perhaps the most famous cave system open to the public in the USA is the Mammoth Caves National Park in Kentucky , while the largest cave in the world is Son Doong Cave in Vietnam , and there are multi-day tours through it.

The only state park in Florida with air-filled caves accessible to the public is Florida Caverns State Park . Venture underground, and one will find an alien world that few get to see and explore. Caves often play an important role in archeology, as well as have a fragile ecosystem filled with cave-dwelling animal life - and the Florida Caverns are no exception.

Florida Caverns State Park is located in Florida's Panhandle and is one of the top attractions to explore while touring the Panhandle .

In the caves, visitors can expect to find stalagmites, stalactites, and flowstones that have been formed by eons of bedrock erosion. Life in the cave systems includes blind crayfish, bats, salamanders, and other dark-loving species.

There are a dozen or so caverns to explore in the Florida Caverns system, with a pathway forged through them. Here one can learn about the geological history of the caverns as well as their role in Native American history in the area. Some caverns in Florida were used by Native Americans during the Seminole Wars.

Caves are much more than just big holes in the ground; in New Zealand, the ceilings of the caves often light up with a starry night sky-like display of glowworms . In the Yucatán Peninsula, the Maya considered caves as the sacred conduits to the underworld . Lava tube caves (like those found in Oregon and Northern California) offer a very different experience from exploring normal limestone caves.

Related: Down We Go: Into The World's Longest Cave System

No one should visit the Florida Caverns State Park without going on one of the daily ranger-led cave tours. The cave tours run year-round and every day of the year (except for Thanksgiving and Christmas).

• Duration: Approx. 45 Minutes

The cave tours are considered moderately strenuous. The sound of dripping water, the many eye-catching cave features, and the otherworldly depths of the Florida Caverns make for an excellent activity while visiting the state. The facilities of the state park were built by the Civilian Conservation Corps as part of the New Deal, and one can see many of their chisel marks underground while touring the caverns. They enlarged the cave passageways by hand so that people could explore them standing upright.

Parking is limited, and one should consider arriving early as the cave tour tickets can sell out

Note that the tours for the caves often sell out. To inquire about ticket availability and organize one's visit, call the Florida Caverns Gift Shop at 850-526-2650. Only a limited number of online reservations may be made at the Florida Caverns Gift Shop; most tour tickets are purchased in person on a first-come, first-served based on the day of the tour (also at the Florida Caverns Gift Shop).

• Memorial Day to Labor Day: Seven Days A Week
• Labor Day to Memorial Day: Five Days A Week (Thursday through Monday)

Cave Tour Fees:

• Adults: $10.75 Per Person (Aged 13 and over)
• Children: $5.00 (Aged 3 to 12)

Note that the tour includes stooping many times during the walk. The ceiling can be as low as 4.5 feet for distances as much as 15 feet. Participants also need to navigate 50 descending steps (and sometimes 50 ascending steps depending on the tour). Walking surfaces can be slippery.

The tour moves at a leisurely pace and explores a dozen cave rooms. It is a tour that most people can enjoy (including families with children).

Related: What To Know About Kazumura Cave, The World's Largest Lava Tube

Also in the Florida Caverns State Park are springs and rivers. The park has a 9-hole golf course and various amenities and things to do like hiking, fishing, horseback riding, swimming, kayaking, and camping, so there is plenty to do, and it is very much worth an overnight stay. At the visitor center, one can find an interpretive exhibit (the visitor center was also built by the Civilian Conservation Corps).

The museum at the Visitor Center includes a large exhibit with cultural and natural resource information.

• State Park Opening Hours: 8.00 to Sundown 365 Days a Year
• Entrance Fees: $5.00 Per Vehicle
• Address: 3345 Caverns Road, Marianna, Florida

While the park does not rent horses, there are stables available for equestrian campers.

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I've Lived in Florida for 27 Years — and These Are the Best State Parks to Visit

A local's guide to the best and most beautiful state parks in Florida.

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Ever since I first came to Florida from the northeast in the late 1990s, I’ve been doing my best to get to know as many of the gorgeous state parks here as possible. And while Florida's 11 national parks — including Everglades National Park , Canaveral National Seashore, and Dry Tortugas National Park — tend to be the heavier tourism hitters, locals like me know its 175 state parks cover similarly gorgeous ground, with everything from freshwater springs and waterfalls to rare dune lakes and cave systems to explore. 

I’ve spent moonlit winter nights under majestic oaks and cypress trees along the Santa Fe River at O’Leno State Park, thrown on a scuba tank to go diving with red-bellied turtles and giant gar fish in the crystal-clear waters of Rainbow Springs State Park, and camped on the sand within a couple yards of the water at Bahia Honda State Park in the Florida Keys. 

Read on for 10 of my favorite Florida state parks — and the best ways to experience them on your next visit, too.

Rainbow Springs State Park, Dunnellon

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Florida is brimming with freshwater springs, with more than 1,000 of the jewel-toned beauties scattered around the state. And while I hesitate to pick a favorite, Rainbow Springs State Park in north central Florida rises to the top. I love packing a picnic and sitting on the sloping shores surrounding the spring head before taking the cold plunge and walking the trails with family and friends. You can camp along the Rainbow River, accessed via a separate entrance nearby. This is also the best launching point for drift scuba diving outings or snorkeling in Rainbow River away from the crowds. For a luxury stay within a 30-minute drive of the park, consider The Equestrian Hotel in Ocala , an $800-million property devoted to all things equine and set in Florida’s stunning horse country.

Bahia Honda State Park, Florida Keys

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It’s not easy to score a waterfront campsite at this popular state park on Big Pine Key, but even if you just swing through for the day, you’re in for a treat. Bahia Honda State Park is idyllic for snorkeling in clear, shallow waters atop grassy flats where you might spot juvenile reef fish and passing rays. It has some of the best natural beaches in the Florida Keys , too. You can rent kayaks and snorkeling gear on site, as well as book snorkeling trips to the bountiful reefs just offshore within Looe Key National Marine Sanctuary. My favorite thing to do here at sunset is follow the park’s lone nature trail from the southwest end of the island to the top of the old Bahia Honda Bridge. It’s the perfect place to scout fish, turtles, and dolphins frolicking in the clear waters while watching the sky turn all shades of pretty pastels.

Highlands Hammock State Park, Sebring

I recently visited this wild state park in Sebring, Florida, with my family, and was amazed by how it felt like a mini Everglades, but was only two hours inland from my home in Tampa. I was also surprised to learn that Highlands Hammock State Park is home to more rare and endemic species than any park in the entire state, including Florida black bears, American alligators, and Florida panthers. One of Florida’s oldest state parks, it dates to 1931, when it was established by the Civilian Conservation Corps. There’s a great on-site museum that delves into that history and shows the conditions in which workers lived, worked, and played back then. We loved riding the tram into the most alligator-ridden reaches of the park and strolling through an old-growth cypress swamp atop an elevated boardwalk trail. Whatever you do, don’t miss a birding hike with ranger Blake, if it’s on offer the day you visit. Blake grew up in this area and has owls calling back to him, plus you'll spot things you’d never see on your own.

Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park, Wakulla Springs

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I first visited this glorious state park, about 15 miles south of Tallahassee in Florida’s Panhandle, as a college kid in town to party at Florida State University during a football weekend. Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park was the first place I ever saw manatees, and the ancient cypress swamp always proves to be a fruitful place to scout alligators. There are a ton of cool ways to experience this park, whether you opt for a guided jungle cruise on a glass-bottom riverboat, go swimming in the gin-clear waters at the spring head, or spend the night at the historic Lodge at Wakulla Springs . The latter — home to the world’s longest-known marble bar, stretching some 70 feet — dates to the 1930s.

Sebastian Inlet State Park, Melbourne Beach

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Straddling Melbourne Beach and Vero Beach, Sebastian Inlet State Park is a haven for anyone who likes to fish, surf, or simply stroll the sand for miles. Many moons ago, when I dated a Florida surfer boy, we’d come here to camp at nearby Long Point Park , all the better to be up for dawn patrol when the waves were cranking just offshore from Sebastian (First Peak is considered the best surf break here, but there are gentler options for beginners, too). These days, I visit with my kids to walk the length of the pier to see what anglers are reeling in and pop into the fascinating McLarty Treasure Museum to ogle finds that have washed ashore from the 1715 Spanish treasure fleet of galleons that met its demise here during a hurricane (much of the loot is still buried in the sand somewhere offshore).

Grayton Beach State Park, Santa Rosa Beach

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Along with Madagascar, New Zealand, and Oregon, a small stretch of the Florida Panhandle in Walton County is one of the only places in the world where you can find coastal dune lakes — rare geographical features of shallow water nestled into sand dune ecosystems. You can see some of the most beautiful examples of these at Grayton Beach State Park , including Western Lake, where it’s possible to rent a kayak or standup paddleboard to glide atop waters as smooth as glass. Stay in one of the park’s cozy cabins, secreted among the tall pines, or nab one of the 59 campsites that put some of Florida’s most pristine white-sand beaches at your doorstep. Other park highlights include a 4.5-mile hiking and biking trail that meanders through a forest home to Florida black bears, gray foxes, and white-tailed deer.

Myakka River State Park, Sarasota

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East of Sarasota, along Florida’s Gulf Coast, Myakka River State Park is a real surprise that’s home to wetlands, prairies blanketed with wildflowers come autumn, and forests dense with palms and live oaks. Every time I visit, I’m reminded of how scenic this state is. Birders like me flock to the Birdwalk, a boardwalk that winds through hammock environments to a floodplain marsh where you might hear ospreys calling overhead and spot roseate spoonbills and herons foraging the shallows for something to eat. My kids love adventuring down the Myakka Canopy Walkway, which is raised 25 feet above the ground. You can visit the park on tram and boat tours, too, making it perfect for a multigenerational day trip from nearby cities like Sarasota and Tampa .

Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park, Key Biscayne

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Within minutes of downtown Miami, Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park promises sandy beaches with no development, as well as bayside hideaways for enjoying sunset drinks, like family-owned and operated bar The Cleat (my favorite spot to sip a watermelon sangria fronting No Name Harbor). When you’re not kicking back on the beach, you can rent a bike to pedal a 1.5-mile paved pathway in the park, hike nature trails through mangrove wetlands, or grill at a picnic pavilion overlooking Biscayne Bay. This park is also known for the historic 1825 Cape Florida Lighthouse, which you can tour several days a week during guided visits.

Ravine Gardens State Park, Palatka

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I was floored by this fascinating state park in the north Florida town of Palatka, near Jacksonville, when I happened upon it during a road trip earlier this year. The best time to visit Ravine Gardens State Park is from January through March, when more than 18 types of azaleas come into peak bloom — they’re at the heart of gardens formed within the natural ravines here back in 1933 (there’s even an annual Azalea Festival held the first week of March). The park’s most unique geological formations are two “steephead ravines,” which are naturally cut 120 feet into the earth and formed by erosion. You can explore the park along a paved road (driving, biking, or walking), or opt to detour along trails that follow suspension bridges and stone staircases down to a spring-fed creek.

Florida Caverns State Park, Marianna

Visit Florida

Drive about one hour north of Panama City to reach the only Florida state park where you can head underground to explore caves and caverns without a scuba diving tank. Guided tours take visitors into large underground spaces within the limestone cave system to ogle stalactites and stalagmites illuminated for a dazzling effect. You’ll descend 35 steps to tour a dozen different rooms, within which your guide might point out interesting subterranean denizens, like cave crickets, bats, and salamanders. When you emerge from the cave, it’s into a beautiful hardwood forest, providing an incredible contrast between the up-top and down-below Florida worlds.

• Touring the Capitol >

Guided Tours

Weekday guided tours are available for large groups by contacting the Florida Welcome Center. Bookings for guided tours during Legislative Session should be made several months in advance.

Tours are scheduled on a first come, first serve basis. Scheduling of tour does not guarantee a guide will be available. When the tour guide is unavailable because of extenuating circumstances, the center assumes no liability. Groups do not need to schedule a tour to visit the Capitol. However, it is strongly recommended groups inform the center of their intention to visit. This assures the visiting group will aware of all security concerns.

The guided tours provided by the Florida Welcome Center are a privilege and individuals, groups, and/or organizations that abuse this privilege may find it permanently revoked.

The center is responsible for tours of the Capitol only. The center can be reached by calling (850) 488-6167 . Reservations are taken Monday - Friday: 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., excluding state holidays. After hours, please leave a voice mail message with your contact information.

Touring Tips and Advice for Chaperones

Guided Tour Reservations

Guided tours must be scheduled 10 weekdays in advance.

The best time for school groups (especially 4 th through 7 th grades) to visit the Capitol is when the Legislature is not in session. The building is less crowded and group interference is minimized. 

To find out when reservations for a particular date are being accepted, please use the chart below.

Tour Requirements

• Each tour must have at least 15 people and no group can exceed 50 people. This count includes adults, chaperones and children.
• It is suggested that school groups should contain a ratio of one chaperone to 10 children.
• If a group exceeds the maximum limit of 50 people and has failed to contact the Welcome Center more than 24 hours in advance before arriving, the group runs the risk of having that tour terminated as well as any additional and/or future bookings.
• Guided tours are provided to school groups that are entirely fourth grade and above.
• Tours can only be scheduled on weekdays (Monday through Friday).
• Tours are not available on weekends or state holidays.
• Tours are only available at 9 a.m., 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 2 p.m.
• You must inform the Welcome Center whenever any changes are made to your group. Failure to do so, may adversely affect the tour and any additional bookings.

Group Information to Provide

• Name of group or school
• Age and/or grade level
• Size of the group, including children, adults and chaperones (15 minimum - 50 maximum)
• Name of the contact person, phone number and email address
• Desired date and time as well as alternatives.
• Any group special needs.

Always allow enough time to go through the security check-in. If you are going to be late, please call (850) 488-6167 to notify the Welcome Center. As the Welcome Center allocates a maximum of an hour for each tour slot, groups that fail to show up on time will have their tour truncated as to remain within that time frame. A guided tour slot may be forfeited if a groups arrives more than 30 minutes late, especially if they fail to contact the Welcome Center.

Cancellations

In cases of cancellation, please contact the Welcome Center at (850) 488-6167 as soon as possible. Groups that do not will face penalties in future bookings.

Where to Meet

The tour begins at the Florida Welcome Center. The Welcome Center is located on the west side of the Plaza Level.

All Construction Closures

2022 visitors guide.

The Florida Capitol Visitors Guide provides information that will help you get the most out of your visit. The Capitol has a diverse legacy that is inspiring and often amusing, and we hope you enjoy exploring and learning about Florida’s government.

2022 Visitor Guide

Art in the Capitol

The Art in the Capitol winning submissions brochure is from the 2023 Art in the Capitol Competition. Each year, middle school students, from grades 6-8, enter their artwork in their respective school district’s Art in the Capitol Competition, judged by a panel of art teachers. Winning pieces are delivered and displayed at the Capitol in a coordinated effort with their sponsoring legislator. 

Digital Brochure

Capitol Hours & Tours

400 South Monroe Street Tallahassee, Florida 32399

The Capitol is open to the public on weekdays from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. It is closed on weekends and holidays.

For inquiries about tours of the Capitol please call (850) 488-6167   

Touring the Capitol

200 Broward students head to Tallahassee in annual trip where they tour key places, meet legislators

PEMBROKE PINES, FLA. (WSVN) - A group of middle school English learner students are on their way to greatness with a trip to Tallahassee.

About 200 students from 14 different middle schools in Broward departed on Tuesday morning from Pembroke Pines on an annual 4-day trip for new Floridians to Tallahassee.

The trip is called ‘Rally to Tally’

Once the students arrive at the state capital, they’ll get to visit cultural museums, the State Capital, the State Senate, and Florida House of Representatives as well as the Florida Supreme Court.

Before boarding the bus, students reacted to their upcoming trip.

“This is a great opportunity because I can know new places, so this is going to be very exciting and interesting,” said Eduardo Bourg.

The students will also get to meet several state legislators and judges during their trip. They will also hold a mock election and be able to debate about current issues and policies.

Copyright 2024 Sunbeam Television Corp. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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Tampa: a guide to the overlooked city in Florida worth exploring

What to see and where to go in and around Tampa

It’s this combination of compelling history and a new and fast-paced evolution that makes Tampa such a great place to visit. As does its role as a jumping-off point for fantastic outdoor activities on the magnificent Gulf of Mexico beaches nearby, including swimming in hot springs near manatees, kayaking and riding an airboat through the mangroves.

Tampa also has a super-modern and efficient airport that doesn’t suffer the immigration queues of Orlando and Miami (and that has an increasing number of direct flights from the UK with airlines including Virgin Atlantic ). This means that as well as coming to Tampa for a brilliant city and beach break combo, there’s the option of building on a side-trip to the world’s theme-park capital just over an hour away for the perfect three-in-one holiday.

What to see and do in Tampa

Still gritty in places (something that’s part of its charm), this fast-changing city at the heart of Florida’s Gulf Coast is centred on its modern four-kilometre Riverwalk lined by repurposed and contemporary architecture and lovely public spaces. Prominent among them is Armature Works, formerly a streetcar repair and storage barn, that's now chock-full of alluring bars and restaurants including sleek M.Bird with glittering city and river views from its rooftop.

It’s also in this district, Tampa Heights, that you’ll find Ulele, a restaurant named after the Native American daughter of the chief of the Tocobaga tribe. Ulele is unique in that it serves native Floridian fare based on indigenous ingredients and incorporating Native American influences – standouts include okra fries, Barbacoa-grilled Gulf oysters, pan-seared pompano fillets, jalapeno vodka cocktails and crafts beers from its own on-site brewery.

Indeed, Tampa is an epic city for foodies, with other highlights including Goody Goody, one of America’s first drive-in restaurants now reborn as a modern diner with classic American decor and dishes such as sublime breakfasts of giant buttermilk pancakes. Goody Goody is run by the fifth-generation Gonzart family, who also own Ulele as well as Florida’s oldest restaurant, the iconic Columbia, which serves Cuban sandwiches, its famous ‘1905’ salads and plenty more besides in a vast, extravagantly tiled venue occupying a whole block in Ybor City.

Tampa’s historic Latin Quarter, Ybor City, is the real highlight of any visit here. It's famous for its lively, even often rowdy, bar and nightclub scene, but by day it’s a charming, calm spot to wander around, with Cuban artisans still hand-rolling cigars as they have since 1885 and a free-roaming wild chicken population. To make the most of it, join a guided outing with Ybor City Walking Tours and learn about how this fascinating neighbourhood became a magnet for immigrants from Cuba, Spain, Germany, Italy and Eastern Europe. Also, don’t miss a ride on the free historic wooden streetcar back from Ybor City to Downtown.

Great day-trips and overnighters from Tampa

Crystal River (75 minutes north of Tampa)

Defined by its vast bodies of water, this compact city sits on Kings Bay with its 70-plus hot springs providing a winter refuge for Florida's manatees. It’s such an important spot for the survival of these placid creatures that it’s been designated the Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge – the only refuge in the USA dedicated to preserving a single species. You can swim in the hot springs near these docile creatures, using the ‘freeze and float’ method should they inquisitively approach you, with firms such as Salty Siren Tours & Charters .

Another warmly recommended local boat trip in the area is an eco airboat ride with Ozello Keys Pontoon Tours , taking you through the backcountry of the tiny islands into the Gulf of Mexico. Along the way you’ll see the fertile feeding grounds of manatees, dolphin, alligators and tropical birds, and may also snatch shoreline sightings of turtles, otters and wild boar.

Back at the hot springs, you can even earn your fins as a mermaid with family-run firm Crystal River Watersports , who teach both women and men to learn to swim like sirens, clad in fabric tails. If it sounds niche, it’s also great fun, strangely freeing (and easy) and all part of the quirky ‘Old Florida’ feel of this part of the state.

The same goes for the Mertailor’s Mermaid Aquarium Encounter , with live mermaid shows in the same place where Eric Ducharme creates silicone tails for both celebs such as Lady Gaga and everyday folk who yearn to be mermaids. You can even stay in a mermaid-and-manatee themed B&B here, the charming Crystal Blue Lagoon Bed & Breakfast right on a hot spring with manatees and dolphins swimming by.

All this fun in the water works up an appetite that you can satisfy in fantastic local restaurants such as the New Orleans–themed Seafood Seller & Cafe with its Cajun-style dishes including alligator mac and cheese, Sadie's Corner Kitchen with its homemade lobster bisques, crab salads and more, and Vintage On 5th including Deep South dishes in a renovated 1940s cottage-church.

Florida’s Adventure Coast: (1 hour north of Tampa)

As the name suggests, this is a place for more outdoor fun, and much of that takes place in hot springs. The weekend-long Sirens of the Deep Camps at Weeki Wachee Springs State Park is another chance to learn to swim like a mermaid, although most people come simply to marvel at the daily mermaid shows that once drew the likes of of Elvis Presley. If that’s all a bit kooky, head out on the Weeki Wachee River in a transparent kayak or on a SUP paddle board with Get Up and Go Kayaking – preferably at sunset, which is one of the best times to see wildlife including turtles, manatees, dolphins and stingrays.

Weeki Wachee and neighbouring Hernando Beach (not actually a beach but a network of canals) is also a fun place to go out of an evening for a feel of the authentic Florida, with great restaurants and bars such as The Lazy Lizard, with its comfort food such as fried pickles and its live music and dancing, while Neptune’s Grotto Old Florida Adventure Retreat is an eccentric place to stay.

Anna Maria Island (1 hour south of Tampa)

With few visitors from overseas, this barrier island curling out in to the Gulf of Mexico feels like a great alternative to the Florida Keys. It’s classic beach holiday territory and the perfect place to end a road trip along the west Florida coast before returning to Tampa: it has a few vintage shops to browse, but life here is all about lazing on the sand or by the pool and feasting on fantastic seafood in gorgeous venues such as The Sandbar, with its sustainable, farm-to-fork ethos and glorious sunset views, and The Rod and Reel Pier perched out over the water, with incredibly good-value classics.

That said, don’t miss a nosey around Bradenton , of which Anna Maria is a part. The mainland capital of Manatee County, Bradenton has lots to detain you, including The Bishop Museum of Science & Nature with its manatee rehabilitation centre, its own Riverwalk, the Robinson Preserve with its rare wildlife including roseate spoonbills, wood storks, white pelicans and bald eagles, and the Village of the Arts live-work community of brightly painted historic cottages housing award-winning restaurants, boutiques, at galleries and studios, and healing arts centres.

Where to stay in and around Tampa

Part of Marriott’s luxury JW brand, JW Marriott Water Street is an exceptional hotel with lot of outdoor space including a pool with city views. Rooms are airy and modern and there’s a spa and two restaurants with locally inspired dishes.

Plantation on Crystal River is a 27-hole championship golf course, four restaurants, an outdoor lagoon pool and a spa make this expansive resort a fun bet, as does its setting on a bay visited by more than 400 manatees a year.

Anna Maria Beach Resort , with its own gate onto the white-sand beach and sunset views, is an intimate, upmarket option combining motel-style architecture with cocooning rooms and suites and a sparkling pool ringed by lounges and cabanas for hire.

MORE HOTELS IN AND AROUND TAMPA

HOLIDAYS TO TAMPA WITH VIRGIN

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Florida's 2024 constitutional amendments: What voters need to know

As Florida voters start thinking about November, they shouldn't forget a handful of proposed state constitutional amendments that will be at the end of the ballot.

Amendments must garner at least 60% approval to become the law of the land.

Two of the most consequential on the list — perhaps in state history — are initiatives guaranteeing access to abortion and legalizing recreational marijuana , put on the ballot by citizen-led campaigns.

The four others on the 2024 ballot, like repealing public campaign financing and creating a right to hunt and fish, are no small fry, either. Those were OK'd by the Florida Legislature.

In the lead-up to the Nov. 5 elections, here's what readers should know about the constitutional changes in their power:

Amendment 1 - Partisan School Board Members

Amendment 1 would make district school board elections partisan starting with the 2026 general election. Ironically, another ballot measure , approved by Florida voters in 1998, mandated in the state Constitution that those races be nonpartisan.

But, while not partisan on paper, school board elections have become far more politically contentious in recent years due to debates about COVID-19 measures and what books should be accessible to students.

Indeed, Gov. Ron DeSantis took unprecedented steps to influence school board races in 2022 and is trying to flip seats in the coming election .

Lawmakers pushing the amendment ( HJR 31 ), pointing to the current politicization, said it would only increase transparency for voters. Opponents worry it would further politicize school board races.

Amendment 2 - Right to Hunt and Fish

Amendment 2 establishes a state constitutional right to hunt and fish. If approved by voters, Florida would join around two dozen other states that already have that right in place, including nearby Georgia and Alabama.

When lawmakers moved it onto the ballot ( HJR 31 ), it received only one vote in opposition, from a Democrat questioning why it was needed. All the rest thought it was important to enshrine the activities, which play an important role in the traditions and economics of the state, in the Constitution.

The amendment does, however, face criticism from some conservationists.

"The biggest concern for me and other mainstream conservationists is that the amendment proclaims hunting and fishing the 'preferred means of responsibly managing and controlling fish and wildlife,' " wrote Clay Henderson in an op-ed published by the Orlando Sentinel .

"Really? Often the preferred means to conserve fish and wildlife is to limit hunting and fishing to protect their numbers," he added.

Amendment 3 - Recreational Marijuana

Amendment 3 legalizes recreational marijuana in Florida. It allows those 21 and older to have up to 3 ounces and up to 5 grams of cannabis concentrate.

Smart & Safe Florida, the group leading the campaign for the amendment, has raised to date nearly $55 million. Most of that has already been spent on gathering enough signatures for the measure to make the ballot, and most of that has come from Trulieve, the state's largest medical marijuana operator. Other state medical marijuana companies have started chipping in millions as well.

Gov. Ron DeSantis and other top conservatives in the state, though, oppose the measure. DeSantis said it could lead to prolific pot smells and accuses it of being written so broadly that it would limit how the state could regulate the industry.  

That's something Smart & Safe Florida denies, saying the Florida Constitution, the proposed amendment and Florida Supreme Court precedent make clear that the state could enact recreational marijuana regulations, including ones limiting use in public places.

Floridians approved medical marijuana in 2016, getting more than 71% of the vote, though it failed to get enough votes when it first made the ballot in 2014.

Amendment 4 - Abortion Access

Amendment 4 guarantees abortion access in Florida. This amendment is likely to generate the most attention in Florida, especially since the Florida Supreme Court Ok'd a six-week abortion ban that will take effect May 1.

Floridians Protecting Freedom, the group leading the campaign for the amendment, has raised nearly $20 million to date from a collection of abortion-rights groups. The group was set to officially launch its "Yes On 4" campaign this weekend in Orlando.

Florida Republicans, including DeSantis, have come out in force against the amendment. So have a number of prominent anti-abortion groups that will try to tank the measure this fall.

If Amendment 4 is approved by Florida voters, abortion access would be assured in the state until fetal viability, or how soon a fetus can survive outside of its mother's womb, generally considered 24 weeks. It would also allow abortions when necessary to protect a patient’s health, as determined by a health care provider. 

Opponents say that's too vague and will lead to an unregulated abortion industry, but amendment proponents dismiss those claims as "scare tactics."

Amendment 5 - Homestead Annual Inflation Adjustment

Amendment 5 could lead to more savings for property owners who apply for homestead property tax exemptions — and cost local governments millions in reduced revenues.

The Legislature-passed ballot measure ( HJR 7017 ) requires annual adjustments to a chunk of the homestead exemption for inflation increases.

Those savings were touted by the lawmakers in favor of the measure, but some opponents worried about the cost to local governments.

The measure would reduce non-school local government property taxes by nearly $23 million in the 2025-26 fiscal year, the first time it would take effect, according to a legislative analysis .

Within a few years, those losses would reach nearly $112 million, it estimates.

Amendment 6 - Public Campaign Financing

Lawmakers also OK'd Amendment 6 for the ballot ( SJR 1114 ). It repeals public campaign financing.

Public funding is available in Florida for those running for governor and lieutenant governor (who are on the same ticket), attorney general, chief financial officer and agriculture commissioner.

To be eligible , candidates must first raise a certain amount from state residents: $150,000 for governor and $100,000 for cabinet positions. They must also abide by state campaign finance laws as well as certain contribution limits.

Public campaign financing was enshrined in the state Constitution after a 1998 amendment — the same one that made school board positions nonpartisan (see 2024's Amendment 1).

More than $13 million in public funds went into the 2022 election. Gov. Ron DeSantis received $7,302,617 and his Democratic challenger, Charlie Crist, got $3,887,600, according to state data .

Lawmakers who were in support of the amendment tout it as a way to save taxpayer's money or redirect that money to other government services. Opponents say it'll hurt underfunded candidates who are facing competitors getting big-donor money.

A 2010 constitutional amendment that tried to repeal the financing failed, getting less than 53% of the vote.

When is Election Day 2024?

Election Day, Nov. 5, is nearly seven months away. The deadline to register to vote in Florida this year is Oct. 7.

Those who are eligible can register at RegisterToVoteFlorida.gov or through a county Supervisor of Elections office.

The News Service of Florida contributed. This reporting content is supported by a partnership with Freedom Forum and Journalism Funding Partners. USA TODAY Network-Florida First Amendment reporter Douglas Soule can be reached at  [email protected] .

• Camping & Lodging

Guided Prairie Buggy Tours

Would you like to be amid a sea of tall waving grasses and watch deer racing across the open plain? Join us on a buggy tour at Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park ! 

On the buggy you will have an elevated seat on a guided tour of the largest remaining stretch of wild prairie in Florida. A ranger will take you through the remote backcountry of the preserve for a 2-2.5 hour tour of discovery.

Reconnect with nature as you spy on birds, alligators and deer in their natural habitats. Bring your cameras and binoculars, and pick up a species checklist from the park office to record sightings.

Being out on the Kissimmee Prairie is like stepping back in time. It gives you a sense of the journeys the settlers followed in the 1880s to claim their homesteads on the prairie.

Learn about the U.S. Army’s use of the site as a bombing range during World War II. Learn the history of the cracker cow hunters and imagine the grassy prairie as open range for cattle drives.

Ask your tour guide about the native grasses and plants; you may have a chance to learn to identify them. The ranger can explain why Florida’s prairie is called a land of fire and floods. It is often said that the best way to experience the wilderness of the prairie is by looking into it and not at it. Bring all-weather clothing as needed, sunscreen, a hat, water and snacks, and your sense of adventure.

Reservation Information

• The buggy tour runs on Saturday and Sunday and state holidays at 9 a.m., November through March. 
• Tours depart promptly at 9 a.m. from the park office.
• Call the park office up to 60 days in advance at 863-462-5360 to reserve a spot. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Tours are $25 per person. 
• The buggy tours are contingent on the weather.

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Michelin Guide Awards Bib Gourmand to Four More Florida Restaurants

And one Miami-based restaurant made the list.

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Yesterday, the Michelin Guide announced that four restaurants will debut in the Bib Gourmand category as part of the 2024 Michelin Guide selection for Miami, Orlando, and Tampa. Among the newcomers is Miami’s own Tam Tam , who joins Orlando’s Sushi Saint and Zura and Tampa’s Streetlight Taco. Restaurants receiving the Bib Gourmand distinction are recognized for offering “a meal of good quality at a good value.”

The Michelin guide continually updates its Florida section, adding new Miami establishments throughout the year. The annual Florida Michelin Guide Ceremony, set for April 18 in Tampa, will reveal the restaurants honored with Michelin Stars or awarded the Green Star for sustainable practices. Some establishments may not receive a specific accolade but gain recognition through their inclusion in the guide.

This Michelin Guide partners with Visit Florida , the state’s official tourism board, for the Sunshine State’s guide. The Michelin Guide doesn’t disclose how much it is paid to bring inspectors to those markets — price tags for the state have been reported to be well over seven figures, with Miami-Dade County paying $116,000 a year over three years to help offset the cost of producing of the guide — though the company has been candid in the past about its partnerships with those respective boards.

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• Life & Culture

How are Tampa restaurants snagging Michelin stars when St. Petersburg has none?

• Helen Freund Times staff

TAMPA — For the third year in a row, Tampa restaurants have the chance to snag a coveted Michelin star . On Thursday night, the esteemed guide will award its 2024 picks at a ceremony in Tampa, the culmination of a contract between tourism boards and the international restaurant rankings system that brought Michelin to Florida.

The guide’s recently revamped funding structure favors these kinds of partnerships — Michelin’s expansions are now frequently paid for by hefty investments. The Tampa Bay area is no exception. If you’re wondering why only Tampa restaurants are eligible for stars — and esteemed restaurants in places like St. Petersburg or Dunedin have so far been left out — it’s because only tourism boards in Tampa, Orlando and Miami paid to bring the guide to their cities. It’s a shift from how things used to work, when the guide would rate restaurants in places like New York City and San Francisco on their own dime. The process has received a healthy amount of criticism .

Michelin’s long-standing practice of favoring expensive, elite restaurants over more affordable options has come under scrutiny, too. The type of restaurant they reward with stars is typically tasting menu only, or a fine dining establishment that offers options for elevated multicourse meals.

But the guide’s foray into this state, which began in 2022, has been met locally with enthusiasm from many diners, chefs and tourism leaders. They credit the development for spurring an increased interest in Tampa’s culinary landscape, and hope the partnership can continue.

Since the Florida guide was announced — for which tourism boards in the state shelled out roughly $1.5 million — three Tampa restaurants have received stars. Tampa Heights Italian spot Rocca, Japanese omakase restaurant Koya and Lilac at the Tampa Edition all have one star each. Orlando now has four one-star restaurants, and Miami has 11 one-star spots and one restaurant — L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon — with two-star status.

But how exactly did a French tire company come to be the world’s most recognized rating system? And how has the guide’s presence affected Tampa Bay restaurants? We’ve got all your Michelin questions answered.

What is Michelin and why do we care?

The Michelin Guide is arguably the most well-known and respected authority on restaurants in the world, garnering international recognition for eateries that get stars.

Originally founded by brothers Andre and Edouard Michelin in 1900 in Clermont-Ferrand, France, the guide — from the French tire company of the same name — was designed to help motorists plan their travels. It started issuing stars in 1926 to fine dining restaurants, and by 1936 the star rating system was in place, with three stars being the most a restaurant can earn.

For many chefs, obtaining a three-star ranking is the ultimate dream. Foodie travelers check off starred restaurants like a to-do list, while tourism boards tout the economic impact of having the guide in their city.

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Michelin inspectors dine anonymously and rate the restaurant on certain criteria: quality of the product, mastery of flavor and cooking techniques, how the chef’s personality is showcased in the cuisine, the value for money and consistency between visits.

How did Michelin come to Florida?

For many years, the European-centric publication focused on just a few American cities, including New York, San Francisco and Chicago. But in recent years, the guide has expanded — with significant payments from the cities in which it lands.

In 2019, the Michelin Guide issued a California-only guide, for which the state’s tourism bureau paid $600,000. Since then, the guide has broadened to several areas in North America, including Toronto, Vancouver, Colorado and Atlanta, all following significant investments from the local tourism boards.

The guide’s foray into Florida is the result of a paid partnership between the Michelin Guide, the state’s tourism marketing agency Visit Florida and tourism marketing boards in Tampa, Orlando and Miami. It’s unclear why no other Florida cities were included in the initial deal but the guide has since expressed interest in expanding its footprint in the state. At the time, Gwendal Poullennec, the international director of the Michelin Guide, praised Tampa’s culinary landscape as an “impressive, interesting and diverse area.”

Visit Florida said they paid the Michelin Guide $150,000 as part of a one-year content and marketing partnership, which covers production costs and promotion for the guide. After seeing what Visit Florida president and CEO Dana Young called “great” results, the agency renewed the contract for another two years at the same price per year.

“There was certainly an incentive (to renew),” Young said. “It’s 100% positive — everybody is pleased with how it’s worked out.”

Local tourism agencies shelled out big, too — around $348,000 each. Though exact details of the partnership were not provided, Visit Tampa Bay paid “in the ballpark” of $116,000 per year for three years — the same amount reportedly pledged by tourism organizations in Orlando and Miami — said Patrick Harrison, Visit Tampa Bay’s chief marketing officer.

But while Tampa is paying for the guide’s presence, no money exchanges hands at restaurants, and chefs are never aware if and when an inspector dines at their establishment.

Poullennec has repeatedly disputed concerns over objectivity, calling the agency’s restaurant inspection process “fiercely independent.”

Santiago Corrada, Visit Tampa Bay’s president and CEO, echoed those sentiments.

“I think there is this perception that it’s pay to play, which is inaccurate. You’re not guaranteed anything,” he said.

In the inaugural edition of the Florida guide, Tampa restaurants were awarded zero stars.

Why aren’t Pinellas County restaurants included?

For the three-year period that the Michelin Guide has been in Florida, no Pinellas County restaurants have been included.

Tampa Bay’s dining landscape has always felt like a cohesive region, and the decision not to include notable eateries in St. Petersburg in particular caused confusion and ire among chefs and restaurant owners when the Florida guide was first announced. Chef David Benstock of St. Petersburg’s celebrated Italian restaurant Il Ritorno was among the chefs who voiced frustration that top spots were being left out.

But restaurants like Il Ritorno never stood a chance: Unlike its counterpart across the bay, Pinellas County tourism marketing agency Visit St. Pete/Clearwater didn’t pay to bring the guide there.

At the time, a spokesperson for Visit St. Pete/Clearwater told the Tampa Bay Times the agency had not been approached by Michelin and had no knowledge of the agreement. Since then, the Michelin Guide has voiced interest in expanding their footprint in Florida, according to Young.

When asked recently whether they would entertain the possibility of a future partnership with the guide, Jason Latimer, the director of public relations for Visit St. Pete/Clearwater, said no conversations with Michelin had taken place.

What effect has the guide had on Tampa restaurants?

In addition to stars for Rocca, Koya and Lilac, the guide has awarded several Tampa restaurants Bib Gourmand status, given to “best value for money restaurants” where you can find a three-course meal for a “reasonable” price. Those include Nepalese restaurant Gorkhali Kitchen; Psomi, a Greek restaurant in North Hyde Park; Rooster & The Till in Seminole Heights ; and, most recently, the contemporary Mexican restaurant Streetlight Taco .

Two other notable distinctions were announced in 2023: Psomi owner Christina Theofilos received the Michelin Young Chef distinction, and Matthew Braden of Lilac received an award for Outstanding Service. Beyond the biggest accolades, the full guide includes a longer list of restaurants it deems worthy of recommendation. Tampa’s guide has a total of 30 restaurants, including Haven, Bern’s Steak House, Mise en Place, On Swann and The Columbia.

Tampa chefs, restaurant owners and tourism officials said the guide’s presence here has been overwhelmingly positive.

“It’s been very, very good for the industry,” said Corrada. “We’re just seeing a lot of growth, and I think that’s all related to the exposure we’re getting with the guide.”

Snagging a seat at Koya, the Hyde Park omakase restaurant, was never easy, but since receiving a star, the restaurant has been booked solid, said owner Eric Fralick.

People often come to the restaurant specifically because they saw it in the Michelin Guide, he said.

With Tampa’s restaurant scene in the spotlight, more talented chefs and aspiring restaurant owners have moved to the area, which has made hiring talented staff a lot easier than before, said Rocca owner Bryce Bonsack.

Rocca opened with 30 employees and has since ballooned to 80, and what was once a 110-seat dining room now has space for 155, Bonsack said. He said check averages have also increased roughly $15-$20 per person.

But sometimes, diners have certain expectations of what a meal at a Michelin-starred restaurant should entail.

“Every single one of the bad reviews on Google and Yelp now mentions the Michelin star,” Bonsack said. “People’s expectations are so high that sometimes it’s hard to fill those.”

And for smaller restaurants, the early days after getting recognition from the guide can be incredibly stressful.

Nepalese restaurant Gorkhali Kitchen had been open just shy of a year when they were bestowed Bib Gourmand status , which was announced at an invite-only ceremony in Miami in 2023 .

Owner Rajesh Pathak received an invite to the announcement but disregarded it, thinking it was spam. The throngs of diners that appeared at his restaurant shortly after made it clear the announcement wasn’t a hoax.

“The restaurant was a madhouse that weekend,” Pathak said. “The first week or two, definitely, we were not prepared for it.”

What happens next?

Despite the hefty investment, both Visit Tampa Bay and Visit Florida said they’d welcome extending the contract with Michelin. But those conversations haven’t happened yet.

Harrison, of Visit Tampa Bay, and Young, of Visit Florida, both said they assumed talks about further investments would happen after the April 18 ceremony.

A spokesperson for Michelin would not share details pertaining to contracts, citing privacy concerns for “competitive reasons.” But once the guide for a particular city or region has been published, “the intent is for it to remain there” with continued financial investments, they said.

Helen Freund is the food and dining critic, reporting on and reviewing restaurants throughout Tampa Bay. Reach her at [email protected].

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