San Luis Mission Park — Attraction in Tallahassee

It's hard to decide what's the best part of this park. Certainly, Lake Esther is a great centerpiece, with a boardwalk that takes you over the water for a close look at the odd couples (the beautiful male wood duck can always be found near the larger white domestic duck, the snowy egret seems to constantly change places with the white ibis, the anhinga dries its wings above a row of turtles sunning themselves on a branch just above the water line). The north half's trails are layers of interconnected wide loops that allow you to walk as high up the hill as you like, always with a nearby connector that gets you back to the bottom whenever you decide you have seen enough. The south half's main trail is steeper and longer, but also has many connecting shortcuts with a variety of views. It's also nice to hear and see the pileated woodpecker making a large hole in the dead pine at the start of the trail near the SW corner of the lake. This is the only local park I know of, where a list of birds is posted (at the bathrooms) that have been sighted at the park, each month of the year! Maps are posted at various trail intersections, and the QR codes allow you to see the trails on your phone. It's never the same park twice, and it's a great place to walk any day...

This park is scenic and shady, with lots of good pathways into the local neighborhood. It includes a smaller fenced-in dog park where leashless play is allowed, a few hiking trails, a playground, and a boardwalk over the lake that includes some seating areas. It's generally pleasant to visit, but it's clear that it's not given the same level of love and attention that some of our other parks in town receive - it's not nearly as manicured as places like Cascades or Tom Brown. It's also a major drainage basin, so when it rains it does flood and it gets nasty for a few days. Some of the trail signage could benefit from being cleaned up, and a few areas aren't suitably marked at all.

That said, if you want a low key park experience than this is a good place to go. The shade is plentiful, and the views are pleasant. Kids will enjoy the play area, dogs will enjoy the dog park (unless it just rained), and everyone will enjoy looking out over the lake from the boardwalk. Give it a visit, but keep your expectations reasonable - this is a neighborhood park, not a...

A little outdoorsy gem in Tallahassee! San Luis is a little forested park hidden away between the bustling Tharpe and Tennessee streets.

There is a small lake, a dinky playground, a few pavilions, a popular dog park, and a few miles worth of dirt trails. The trails and dog park are really what make the park worth coming to.

The trails feature some nice hills, wooden workout aids, and winding trails under a canopy of trees. I've been here at all times of the day, and I've only ever seen 1-3 people on the trails with me. The workout areas are next to useless, but the pull-up bars are usable. Most people walk their dogs around, but the trails are also frequented by runners, walkers, and every now and then a few bikers.

The forest houses a ton of squirrels and tiny birds, like the rest of Tallahassee. The more diverse wildlife live in the lake, which is home to a bunch of turtles, some fish, and visiting large birds. The lake also has a short boardwalk area, which is...