Okeeheepkee Prairie Preserve

Okeeheepkee Prairie Preserve feels like a slice of wild Florida tucked into Tallahassee’s northwest fringe. A looping gravel trail hugs a sun-bleached pond, the surface often broken by the lazy ripple of turtles or the glinting eyes of an alligator. This isn’t a manicured city park—it’s open, honest land with native grasses and stubborn young trees offering only a promise of future shade. The playground here is intimate, best suited for younger children, yet its sensory features invite exploration from all ages. Birdsong and the whir of dragonflies fill the air as you circle beneath vast skies, passing blackberry thickets and glimpses of wildlife in their element. Locals come for easy jogs, family walks, or to introduce kids to Florida’s natural world with just enough wildness to spark curiosity but not fear. There’s a quiet pride in this place—a preserve that connects community to landscape and reminds both newcomers and longtime residents that nature still claims its space here.