10 free things to do and see during FSU, FAMU parents and family weekends

Both Florida State University and Florida A&M University are drawing a crowd of new faces to Tallahassee as their parents and family weekends quickly approach. These events offer an ideal time to discover what there is to do in the city beyond the campuses’ perimeters.

FSU's Family Weekend is Sept. 23-25, and FAMU Parents and Family Weekend will be from Sept. 30 to Oct. 2. These festivities occur ahead of each university's homecoming weekend.

Previous homecoming coverage:

• FSU Homecoming is 'Channeling Tradition' with festivities all week and parade on Friday

• FAMU homecoming weekend: A magnet for the HBCU experience as other schools cancel festivities

For the students and families who want to make the best out of their time together in the span of just a couple of days, here are 10 free things to do in Tallahassee once the weekend hits.

Roam the streets of CollegeTown

Tallahassee’s CollegeTown off of Gaines Street is conveniently located just a couple of blocks away from FSU’s campus, giving students and their families a pedestrian-friendly experience.

CollegeTown is home to FSU's free official tailgate event called Friday Night Block Party, which takes place every Friday before home football games with live music and vendors.

For Family Weekend, the Seminoles host the Boston College Eagles at 8 p.m. Saturday.

If anyone is looking to spend a few bucks during their stroll down CollegeTown, consider walking into some of the dining locations, such as Madison Social, which is known for its brunch on the weekends, happy hours and bar. The clothing stores in the area include Tally + Fin, a local boutique with a variety of outfits, accessories and more.

Food in the area: I Heart Mac & Cheese brings build-your-own bowls, grilled cheese to CollegeTown

Travel back in time at the Meek-Eaton Black Archives

Tap into some of the most significant pieces of history in the nation by visiting the Meek-Eaton Black Archives, Research Center and Museum on FAMU’s campus.

With over 500,000 individual archival records and over 5,000 individual museum artifacts, the Black Archives collects and preserves African-American history and culture to support research and public education. The collections range from African art and memorabilia to documentation of FAMU’s history and rare papers that date back to slavery.

Located in FAMU’s Carnegie Library, the museum component of the Black Archives is free for anyone to attend and is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. Tours are self-guided with groups of 10 or more having the option to schedule a guided tour by calling (850) 599-3020.

More: 'A full circle experience': FAMU alumnus Timothy Barber is the new Black Archives director

The iconic Will Packer Amphitheater

Named in honor of FAMU alumnus Will Packer, a well-known film and television producer, director and screenwriter, the Will Packer Performing Arts Amphitheater is a popular site to visit while on FAMU’s campus.

The amphitheater is located on “The Set,” known as the heartbeat of the university’s student experience where students usually gather for Set Fridays and other campus events.

Although the $2 million amphitheater is currently undergoing some construction, it remains one of the highlights of the university, located just south of Lee Hall for anyone to visit.

More on Will Packer: One of FAMU's most celebrated alums, returns to an amphitheater with his name on it

Explore FSU’s new student union building

After waiting four years for the highly anticipated space, FSU’s student union building recently opened and is functioning just in time for parents weekend.

The facility features amenities from a 12-lane bowling alley and lounging areas to art centers and restaurants. The four-story structure also includes an extended view of FSU’s campus from the balcony on the top floor, music played from the mezzanine below and Club Downunder in the building's basement where events like live performances will be held soon.

A step inside the union is a step into what’s being called the “living room of campus” that the FSU community has been longing for.

For the union's varying hours of operation, visit its website at https://union.fsu.edu/about-us/hours-operation.

Take a look: Inside FSU’s new student union where bookstore and bowling meet

Engage with downtown's Cascades Park

Tallahassee's Cascades Park has something for everyone, making it one of the city’s greatest settings for the whole family. The 24-acre park includes the Capital City Amphitheater that can be seen from all angles of the recreation, and trails made up of 2.3 miles for walking, jogging and biking that run along streets like FAMU Way. The park also includes the Imagination Fountain that creates an engaging, waterpark feel during the day before transforming into a repeated show of music and lights at night.

Historical features such as the Prime Meridian Marker, the Smokey Hollow Commemoration and the Korean War Memorial can be found throughout the park.

Located on 1001 S. Gadsden St., Cascades Park is open 24 hours a day.

Music in Cascades: Earth, Wind & Fire... and music: See the band perform for sold-out crowd at Cascades Park

Enter a world of creativity at Railroad Square Art District

The eye-catching aesthetics and brightly colored buildings of Railroad Square District is home to over 50 art studios, galleries and shops of Tallahassee’s very own artists and small businesses. The warehouse district’s outdoor art and murals make it a prime location in Tallahassee for picture-taking.

Shops at the art district include vintage clothing, food and beverages, antiques and gaming. Located at 661-2 Railroad Square, many of the businesses open Thursday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. while some are open every day.

Take a walk down FSU's memory lane at the Heritage Museum

The Heritage Museum at FSU’s Dodd Hall is easy to spot with its colorful stained-glass windows outside of the building, which took more than 10 years to build.

The museum displays historical photos and artifacts that document the history of the university, giving students and their families the chance to learn more about FSU’s background.

Located in the Werkmeister Reading Room in Dodd Hall, the museum is free and open for extended visiting hours Friday, Sept. 23 during FSU’s Family Weekend from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Take a stroll in Lake Ella Park

Tallahassee’s Lake Ella Park is an ideal spot for the family to relax while walking along its duck-filled sidewalks or sitting at the gazebo and picnic tables near the water.

The park also hosts different shops and restaurants – including New Orleans style Big Easy Snowballs, Quarter Moon Imports, and Black Dog Café – and features three water fountains, with one of them springing up right in the middle of the lake.

Located at 645 Lake Ella Drive, the park is open 24/7.

Visit the Governor's Square Mall

As the only mall in the Tallahassee market, Governor’s Square is a two-story mall with more than 100 stores and restaurants, located on 1500 Apalachee Parkway.

While you will be tempted to spend money once you are there, window shopping is free.

The mall is open from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays and from 11 p.m. to 8 p.m. every other day.

For more information on what the mall has in store, visit its website at https://www.governorssquare.com/en.html.

Visit the historical Florida State Capitol

The 22-story building that has a clear view of Tallahassee on the top floor beyond its downtown location is none other than the Florida State Capitol.

The Capitol building acts as the headquarters for state government and has an architecturally detailed rotunda on the second floor that features award-winning artwork created by Florida students across the state.

Located on 400 S. Monroe St., at the intersection of Apalachee Parkway and Monroe Street, the Florida State Capitol is open to the public for self-guided tours Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. with guided tours being available for large groups.

Parking spaces for visitors in the area are limited to metered street parking or designated lots, with some of the lots being near Duval and Gaines streets.

For more information on different parking locations, visit the Florida Capitol website at https://www.floridacapitol.myflorida.com/visitors/parking.

Contact Tarah Jean at tjean@tallahassee.com or follow her on twitter @tarahjean_. 

Never miss a story: Subscribe to the Tallahassee Democrat using the link at the top of the page.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Free things to do in Tallahassee for FSU, FAMU parents weekends