Wildlife and collectibles in Tallahassee

Tallahassee is the capital of Florida. This panhandle city hosts two of the state's largest colleges: Florida A&M University and Florida State University. The city was the only Confederate capital east of the Mississippi that was not captured during the Civil War. Tallahassee was not originally planned to be the capital, two of the commissioners chosen to decide the capital met here to discuss their dilemma and ended up choosing it on the spot. Visit these three attractions to see beautiful nature, talented athletes and classic cars:

Doak Campbell Stadium

Drive your Tallahassee rental car to 288 Champions Way, and you'll find the maroon and gold FSU Seminoles football team. In 1953, this stadium could only hold 15,000 fans. Today 84,409 people can enjoy a game played here on Bobby Bowden Field. Bowden was a coach for the Seminoles during 34 seasons, leading the team to a .831 winning percentage. Under his tutelage, the team went undefeated from 1992 to the first two games of 2001. The field was dedicated to this important name in FSU history on Nov. 20, 2004. If you get hungry while at this facility, head to the south end zone. You'll find restaurants, a sports grill and concession stands run by FSU School of Hospitality students. You'll also have a great view of the entire stadium and the game going on below.

St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge

In 1931, this area was established as a wildlife refuge for migratory birds. Today it covers over 17,000 acres of islands, tidal creeks, rivers, coastal marshes and estuaries. If you like spotting birds, you'll enjoy this expansive park. it's full of interesting resident and migratory bird populations. You can see the American bald eagle, red-cockaded woodpecker, American alligator and other interesting species. Bring some binoculars and a bird identification book to really get to know the creatures you spot. The Florida National Scenic Trail goes through 49.5 miles of the refuge, allowing visitors to walk or ride bicycles through the area. Fishing and hunting activities are also available, so long as you have the proper permits and follow regulations. Talk with a ranger about the necessary paperwork if you'd like to partake. Volunteers and staff are available to answer questions about directions, wildlife identification and more through the Refuge System interpretation programs.

Tallahassee Automobile Museum

Have you ever wanted to see Batmobiles or the hearse that carried Abraham Lincoln's body? Drive your Tallahassee rental car to 6800 Mahan Drive to this unique museum. You'll find more than 130 cars from all across the globe. Some are rare and classic, others one-of-a-kind. Muscle cars, exotic wheels, steam-powered vehicles and even one that can go both on water and land are showcased here for visitors to enjoy. The facility also houses large collections of knives, fishing lures, sports paraphernalia, dolls, brass cash registers and bicycles. Motorheads love strolling through this massive building, and antique collectors and historians enjoy the wide assortment of items on display.