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Tallahassee’s bouquet of Southern charm

Tallahassee has been ranked as one of the 20 Best-Run Cities in America for good reason. I moved from Utah to Tallahassee in 2004, and all of my favorite things about it not only remain but are even better today. Moving here was one of the best decisions I ever made, so I either welcome you home or encourage you to make the same leap.

I am so honored to share this issue with you: This is our official City Guide issue, a special edition of Tallahassee Magazine that will not only serve as an opportunity to showcase our community to pending prospects who are considering our city their next home, but it’s an incredible opportunity for our current locals to get to know or be reminded of the gems we have here.

For example—if you love the outdoors, then you just hit the gold mine. There are more than 700 miles of trails to explore in Tallahassee on both land and water. You will be in awe every day simply driving in your car as you experience the gorgeous canopy roads created by the live oak trees. The trees in Tallahassee are grounding and inspiring, and we get to witness this beautiful facet every day, no matter where we go.

Tallahassee has a thriving arts and culture scene—
it’s worth noting that we host the LeMoyne Chain of Parks Art Festival, ranked as the No. 1 fine art festival in Florida and No. 7 in the nation by Sunshine Artist Magazine in 2024—and incredible access to health care and continued education. Among the best things about Tallahassee, though, is its community. You will find very quickly the people who live here care about not only this incredible city but each of its residents.

One example would be the creative mind behind our incredible fashion cover shoot, Michelle Torregrosa. When I first moved to Tallahassee, the first boutique
I heard about was Divas & Devils House of Style. It was cool then and even cooler now. Michelle opened what is now Tallahassee’s longest-running independent fashion boutique back in 1996.

I have had the pleasure to work with Torregrosa many times over the years, but one of my fondest memories was partnering with her on our Tallahassee Top Salon event, a fundraiser Tallahassee Magazine once ran annually. Michelle was our fashion partner, dressing all the deserving models for their gorgeous makeovers. Not only is she a fashion icon, but she creates such a special experience for all who enter her store or are dressed by her. Her legacy of passion for vintage clothing—inspired by her grandmother shopping at antique stores and garage sales—is felt in all she curates. She exudes the type of hospitality that makes the fiber of our community so magical. 

Have I persuaded you yet? If you’re ready to call Tallahassee home, our team has developed an area on our website for all newcomers’ needs, from help with registration, voting, utilities, to resources for children and pets, transportation, and recreation. Visit tallahasseemagazine.com/newcomer-guide to find
out more.

Welcome home, 

McKenzie Burleigh, Publisher