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I am looking into how to go about stopping in Tallahassee to see the state capitol on one of next year's Fla trips. Now that the Sunset Ltd doesn't run, this seems to mean buses, grrrrr, since I do not rent cars. I have some questions:
(a) Where is the bus staton in Jacksonville is in relation to the Amtrak station and to downtown?
(b) Where is the bus station in Orlando in relation to the Amtrak statoin and to downtown? Can you suggest a hotel that might be convenient to the bus station and safe and nice but not too expensive? Or another good place to stay, perhaps that might shuttle me to the bus station? The best bus for me to take to Tallahassee would leave at 6:30AM, so I would rather not be far away from the bus station if I can manage that.
(c) What is Tallahassee like? Is it worth stopping overnight, or for 2 nights? Are there other good things to see? Do you know a good but not too expensive hotel that might be conveniently located for viewing the capitol? I am not looking for anything fancy, but I like to feel safe and secure.
(d) It seems I could also visit Montgomery AL on this trip, should I be so inclined. (I'd get there by bus from Tallahassee and then by bus to Birmingham, where I'd catch the Crescent home.) I know Birmingham is nice (from friends), but what is Montgomery like? If I need to stay there overnight, where do you suggest I stay for taking the bus and viewing the capitol? Or would it better making a day trip from Birmingham?
Ocala Mike Member # 4657
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Tally is a great town, sojourner. While you're there, try to find out from the governor and the legislature why the state capital and home of FSU doesn't have rail service.
rresor Member # 128
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Sojourner:
I've been in Tallahassee a couple of times. It's not very friendly to someone without a car, and there isn't a lot to see downtown, really, besides the state capitol.
I was staying with a friend, so can't give much advice on hotels. However, as far as restaurants go, look for a raw bar. The oysters from St. George Sound are cheap in Tallahassee, and very good.
Sorry, I've never been to Montgomery so can't help you there.
SilverStar092 Member # 2652
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Sojourner, glad to hear you are contemplating a visit to Tallahassee as that is where I live. It is the pits having no Sunset Limited as it was so convnient for connecting to the rest of the Amtrak system even if it was late running. Now I am worse off than when I was in college as we had the Floridian which stopped 30 miles away in Thomasville, GA.
Now to your questions: The Greyhound station in Jacksonville is downtown while the Amtrak station is a few miles north of downtown off US 1. There is a city bus that serves the station and I understand it serves downtown. This may save an overnight. There are no reputable motels near the Jax train station. Another option might be to take the Silver Star to Lakeland, the Thruway bus to Ocala then Greyhound to Tally as the Amtrak station now also serves the Grey Dog. This option may get you in late though.
Most motels real close to downtown Tallahassee will be expensive but some near Florida State University will be cheaper but not as nice. These are about a mile from downtown. There are two hotels on the north side of town called Cabot Lodge which are very clean, safe, and receive good reviews from out of town folks I know who have stayed there. Often they do offer good rates and I they often offer discounts via RoomSaver.com. In January this rate was $49-$59 though advance reservations are not OFFICIALLY accepted (you may have luck with a manager.) Their rooms include breakfast. Local busses connect both with downtown though it might take 20 minutes to traverse the 4 or 5 miles. This may not work if your Greyhound comes in at night. They also may offer shuttle service. Quality Inn, Apalachee Pkwy, $55-$60 via RoomSaver again no advance reservations. Other places also appear in that booklet/web site.
This is not a major tourist city but there are things to see. You obviously are interested in state capitols so this will be a nice visit. There is a nice view from the 22nd floor of the state capitol building. A block behind the Capitol the Museum of Florida History is quite interesting. A couple blocks away is the Challenger Learning Center which includes a good IMAX Theater. Next to it is a science and art musueum, admittedly not the Smithsonian or Nat'l Gallery of Art but not bad either. The CSX main east-west line loops around downtown and offers about 6 or 8 freights per day, usually a couple near midday. Florida State University is about 1/2 mile from the Capitol, easily walkable, and is a very nice campus. If you are into sports, you'll want to see Doak Campbell Stadium (football) and Dick Howser Stadium (baseball) which are on campus.
I suggest avoiding a weekend visit when Florida State (or Florida A&M) has a home football game as hotel rooms are not available and would be ultra expensive. Weekdays during the legislative session (March and April) can be pricey as well. There is no problem on weekends when FSU has a home baseball series and the games are fun and very reasonably priced.
A good place to eat near the university is Shane's Rib Shack. There are many other fine places to eat around town as well.
I've only ducked into Montgomery briefly. The Capitol and the Jefferson Davis home are the main attractions that I have noted along with the Montgomery Biscuits minor league baseball and the old train station.
Let me know if you need more info including more lodging info in Tallahassee. Do check RoomSaver.com.
RRRICH Member # 1418
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Good morning, Ms. Sojourner -- the Orlando AMTRAK station is nowhere near the Greyhound station. I just looked up Greyhound in the phone book, and they are on N. John Young Parkway, but I have no idea whether that is a safe part of town or not -- all I know is that it is nowhere near AMTRAK.
As Silver Star said, the Jacksonville AMTRAK station is located several miles north of downtown, and the bus station is located downtown.
Hope you can work out a good trip to see our State's capitol, however!! let us know how your trip went!
--Railroad Rich
sojourner Member # 3134
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Thank you all for the info. Silver Star, I checked out Tallahassee hotels, and there seem to be a Doubletree and Holiday Inn Express Downtown; those would likely be fine for me, if the location is good; probalby more than I LIKE to spend but not so high that I wouldn't be WILLING to spend it, if you know what I mean. Do you know anything about those too? There also seems to be something called the Governor's Inn, but it's 3 floors with no elevator and sounds more expensive than the other 2.
I've looked at logistics, including Greyhound's schedules, and it seems like I can only go to Tallahassee if I overnight some place else as well. I could do one of these:
(a) Visit Tallahassee on my southbound trip: Amtrak to Jacksonville on Silver Star (early morning arrival), taxi to the Greyhound to catch the 1PM-ish bus to Tallahassee (3 hr ride), 2 nights in Tallahassee, catch a very early morning bus to Orlando, overnight there, and catch the Meteor next day to WPB. This would mean finding a good hotel to stay in, preferably one with some kind of free shuttle at least to the Amtrak station. I have already been to Orlando and don't care about a return trip that much, but I can look up an old friend there with whom to have dinner. I could also stay in Winter Park, where I've never been except on the train passing through but which looks so appealing from the train; I believe there is a good place to stay right near the station. I'd likely have a more costly taxi from the Orlando bus station, but I'd be right by the train station for my departure. This would be the least time on Greyhound, always a blessing.
(b) Do the same as above except instead of Orlando or Winter Park, continue on the same Greyhound bus from Tallahassee to Lakeland, overnight there, and catch the Silver Star next day at 1:21PM to West Palm Beach. This is 3 hrs more on the bus; I'd get into Lakeland from Tallahassee at about 3PM but would also have the next morning to see something of Lakeland. It's a town that always looks appealing when I pass it, but I'm not sure such a short stay is worth 3 more hours on the bus. Don't know what hotel costs would be like, though. Of course, I could stay a second night, but my suspicions are this is an expensive town to stay in, at least downtown as I'd need to.
(c) visit Tallahassee on my northbound trip. I would take the train from West Palm to Orlando, overnight someplace there, take a taxi to the bus station and catch a bus from Orlando to Tallahassee (preferably the really early one, if I can get to the bus station early), overnight in Tallahassee (or 2 nights if I have to take a later bus from Orlando). From Tallahassee, I'd catch a bus to Montgomery, about a 4 or 5 hour trip, overnight there, see the capitol next morning, catch a short Greyhound ride to Birmingham that afternoon, overnight in Birmingham, and catch the Crescent home next day. This is all more expensive of course, but I'd also see Montgomery, another state capitol. Plus, I'd have the advantage of not having to make that same day train-to-bus Jacksonville connection, always a risk with Amtrak! I could also take the bus from Tallahassee all the way to Birmingham and stay 2 nights there, making a round trip day trip on Greyhound to Montgomery, if the hotel situation is better in Birmingham for some reason.
Questions: (a) Does anyone have any opinions on which of these trips I should do?
(b) Is the Jacksonville bus station in an OK place safetywise? Would it be OK for me to hang around there several hours waiting for the bus? Would I be able to go out and walk around? I thought downtown Jacksonville was fine when I was there but don't know where the bus station is.
(c) Re Orlando bus station, I presume in such a busy town, it will be safe and fine in early morning, but any input about it would be welcome.
(d) What about the Tallahassee bus terminal--location? safety?
(e) Same questions for Montgomery and Birmingham bus terminals? Also, Birmingham train station.
(f) anyone have any advice on downtown or otherwise convenient (without a car) hotels in Orlando, Lakeland, Montgomery, or Birmingham?
Thanks a bunch for any input.
SilverStar092 Member # 2652
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In Tallahassee the Doubletree would be an excellent place to stay...an easy 3 block walk from Greyhound and perfectly safe plus they do have a free shuttle to get you around (maybe to also see the campus). There is no true downtown Holiday Inn Express. There is a Holiday Inn Select but I'd avoid it as there is serious talk of it being sold for student housing. The best backup hotel in the capitol vicinity would be Courtyard Marriott on Apalachee Parkway (about 1/2 mile from the capitol). The Governor's Inn is expensive and is about 1/2 block from the capitol.
The Jacksonville bus station is not my favorite spot but I think you'll be okay in the daytime. It is downtown. I'd suggest a weekday when downtown is busy with business people. You could kill time by riding the Skyway Express peoplemover which would offer good views of downtown as it crosses the St. John's River and also the branch that goes to the old train terminal. RR Rich is correct that John Young Parkway in Orlando is not real near Amtrak.
I don't recall seeing any reputable downtown hotels in Montgomery. There are a couple in B'ham as I recall but doing a separate RT Bham-Montgomery adds alot of bus riding. The B'ham Amtrak station is a dump as it is just a tiny waiting room below track level. If they allow access to the platform, there is a fair bit of freight action but I don't know if you can go up there on your own. Again, a weekday visit would be best since lots of business people equals a safer walking experience downtown.
Lakeland is in my opinion not worth the extra 3 hour bus trip. I'd use Orlando as my overnight stop. Winter Park is a very nice place to stop if the hotel there works out. So option A or C seems best to me...it all depends on whetehr Montgomery is important. The advantage with visiting there is the Crescent ride is a different route for your return.
There are 2 or 3 hotels within walking distance of the WPB station. One is the Marriott...be sure to get the one nearest downtown not Palm Beach Gardens.
Please send more questions/comments.
sojourner Member # 3134
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Thanks so much for the info, Silver Star. I checked the hotels you mentioned, and the Governor's Inn was actually less than the Doubletree! Both are too high so I'll keep looking for a better rate if I can get one, but it does seem those two are the best places to stay. I also see something called Park Plaza downtown, do you know that?
I get mixed up between Holiday Inn Express and Holiday Inn Select. I gather the former are the nicer ones?
Given the bus times and your comments on Birmingham station, I'll think if I go to Montgomery, I should do it coming down. That is, I'd go to Birmingham or Atlanta, then bus or shuttle (if there is one) to Montgomery, stay there, then bus to Tallahassee, then bus to Orlando, taxi to Winter Park, then down to WPB. I'll look into those Alabama, shuttles but frankly, I can only take so much bus, so I'll likely not do the Alabama on this trip.
If I go instead to Tallahassee via Jacksonville, I save a lot of bus time, yay! (I am not a bus fan, you know.) But I waste a lot of time (if the train is on time) in downtown JAX. I am sure I could find things to do there (though I've been there before and seen a lot of the stuff already); but the problem is, I'll have luggage, and I'm not likely to leave it at the bus station! What I could probably do is take a taxi from the train station to a hotel like that Adam's Mark (or whatever it's called) with a restaurant and check my luggage there; they would probably let me if I eat in the restaurant, even if I'm not overnighting at the hotel. Then I'd have to catch another taxi from the hotel to the bus, though. It all becomes an expensive proposition!
I sure do wish there were a Sunset Ltd to Tallahassee. I'd go to Pensacola too!
What is Pensacola like, btw? It always sounded interesting too. . . .
SilverStar092 Member # 2652
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Pensacola is an older city but is okay. The train station is right near the bay and the train route is beautiful as it crosses Escambia Bay on a tall bridge then follows the shore for miles. The big problem there is the hours as the Sunset was scheduled at night. I sure wish it would be restored!
I understand the bus comments as it is unpleasant to say the least. I do hope you can make it to Tallahassee. I will have to look into the hotel you mentioned as I am not sure I know it. Keep reminding me if I forget in the next couple days.
Your idea to check luggage at the Adams Mark (now a Hyatt) is a good one. Remember there is a city bus between Amtrak and downtown but I suppose you are concerned due to luggage. Another place to visit in downtown Jax is the Jacksonville Landing...some shops, etc right beside the river which is a nice place to shop then stroll. The Omni Hotel is across the street and the Hyatt (former Adams Mark) is not too far either.
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