A special thank you goes out to Visit Tallahassee for providing my family complimentary access to Mission San Luis during our visit to Tallahassee Florida. Opinions expressed are that of my own.
Planning an upcoming family vacation to the Tallahassee Area? If so, I highly suggest scheduling time to stop by and explore Mission San Luis.
According to their website, Mission San Luis is a place to journey back to the 1700’s and learn about native Apalachee Indians and early Spanish Settlers that co-existed together in the area. This reconstructed site consists of 60 acres of largely undisturbed archaeological deposits and represents one of the largest and most diverse collections of 17th century Spanish and Apalachee materials available anywhere.
FYI, if you are thinking this will be a simple and quick tour at Mission San Luis , then you will be in for a surprise. Between the rich North Florida history, hands on activities, and on grounds Reenactors, plan on a few hours of an entertaining walk into the past.
Now after visiting this area attraction and seeing my children’s reactions, here are 10 Awesome Activities For Families at Mission San Luis Tallahassee Florida!
1. Getting to hang out with Reenactors – Our tour guide Governor Deputy was funny and passionate about his work. He really interacted with the kids and encouraged them to participate. The same continued on as we met additional members of the community.
2. Scavenger hunt sheet – Let’s just say my very competitive children were on a mission to finish their list and it kept them engaged with items in the Mission San Luis museum and on the grounds. (Plus they got a prize at the end.)
3. Seeing the food of the native people – See how up close and personal my son got to the corn? It was interesting to hear how items were made and traded during these times.
4. Playing Musical Instruments in the Council House – Any excuse to make noise and march around, well my kids are totally into it. Plus it was explained how these items were made.
5. Visiting with a Gardener at Mission San Luis – Seeing the kids smell the herbs and learning about the plants and their healing properties was priceless. Plus, they recognized some of the items we grow in our own garden.
6. Experiencing what everyday life was like for a Spanish Settler’s Child – We learned it was a lot different being a kid back then. You had no choice but to grow up whether working in the house or heading off to be an apprentice.
Apparently a 10 year old gets to haul the water in 1700’s Florida and beds weren’t that comfortable.
7. Working for a Blacksmith – My son was able to help create a nail and was given it as a souvenir from Mission San Luis.
8. Holding weapons inside the Armory – The Lieutenant in charge explained how they operated firearms and brought out other items used in combat. My son got to hold a sword and all the children checked out a heavy cannon ball.
9. Being taught how to shoot a cannon – The friendly reenactor at the fort gave the kiddos a tutorial on how to properly fire a cannon. These little soldiers were ready to step up to the job.
10. Seeing bats inside the church – This is an actual church based on the archaeological dig. They even keep bats around to eliminate insects, you can hear squeaking and see them in the rafters. As a bonus, there is a bell outside the door that is operational and the children each got a turn ringing it.
Have you ever visited Mission San Luis? If so, what was your favorite part of the site?
For admission rates, hours of operation, and to learn more about Mission San Luis, visit missionsanluis.org. You can also check them out on Facebook at facebook.com/MissionSanLuis and Twitter at twitter.com/missionsanluis.
I hope you find these 10 Awesome Activities For Families at Mission San Luis Tallahassee Florida helpful, and stay tuned as I continue to post Family friendly attractions in the Tallahassee area.
Carlee @ FLL
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