Bradford Chain of Lakes

Those looking for lake living won’t have to wade too far from the city to find it. Comprising three connected lake systems, Bradford Chain of Lakes offers lakefront homes, loads of outdoor recreation and breathtaking natural beauty, all in a serene location.

Bradford Chain of Lakes includes 179-acre Lake Bradford, 51-acre Lake Hiawatha and 124-acre Cascade Lake, all connected by the Bradford Brook but each offering something unique. Throughout the Cascade Lake area, you’ll find mostly brick ranch-style homes and traditional brick homes, some featuring wood or vinyl siding. Most are tucked down side streets, but others are situated on large tracts of land that span nearly 2 acres.

Around Lake Bradford, residential streets branch off from Lake Bradford Road and feature traditional concrete block homes, various ranch-style homes and Florida-style bungalows, as well as newer Millennial models. You’ll find similar styles surrounding Lake Hiawatha but also new builds with Craftsman accents, such as exposed wood columns. These homes feature private docks that lead to shorelines hemmed with bald cypress. Homes in Bradford Chain of Lakes range from $150,000 to $320,000 — although lakefront homes along lakes Bradford and Hiawatha start around $300,000 and can climb as high as $800,000.

School-age children can attend Pineview Elementary, Sabal Palm Elementary and Nims Middle schools, while high school students are split between Rickards and Godby high schools, boasting a B+ and a B minus on Niche. Rickards High School hosts an International Baccalaureate program and is home to two unique academies, the Engineering Academy and the Millicent Holifield Academy of Health Sciences. Godby High offers several Magnet programs and other unique academies, including welding and nursing programs, and the Academies of Agriculture, Aviation and Information Technology.

Waterfront homes along lakes Hiawatha and Bradford might have easy access to the water via private docks, but residents who don’t live on the water can still access Lake Bradford from the Rez Lakefront Park. Rent a kayak or a canoe and dip your paddle into the lake’s glasslike blackwater surface. When waters are high, you can navigate Bradford Brook and hop from lake to lake. At Broadmoor Pond Park, take a stroll around the paved walking trail and gaze at the reflection of cloud and sky while surrounded by the white bloom of flowering southern magnolias. Nearby, the 113-acre Debbie Lightsey Nature Park boasts over 6 miles of greenways, picnic areas, boardwalks and overlooks for birdwatching.

The Tallahassee Museum of History and Natural Science is more than just a museum. Spanning 52 acres, the museum features a wildlife exhibit, nature trails, a butterfly garden and the Big Bend Farm, a reconstruction of 1880s rural life in north Florida that showcases blacksmithing and syrup-making. Oh, and there’s also a zip line, so you can soar from cypress tree to cypress tree with the forest floor beneath your feet.

Golfers can tee off at 9-hole Jake Gaither Golf Course. Recently added to the National Register of Historic Places, the Jake Gaither Golf Course was opened in 1956 and provided African American residents a place to golf during a time when they were restricted from playing elsewhere. The course offers individual lessons for golfers of all ages.

For everyday essentials, you’ll have to head 4 miles north to Walmart or 5 miles into campus to reach the nearest Publix, but with quick access to Capital Circle and other major thoroughfares, sailing to either location is convenient. There, you’ll also find your favorite fast-food joints and casual dining establishments, but with Downtown Tallahassee less than 6 miles away, you can quickly hop into town and explore Tallahassee’s hip and chic dining scene.

Written By

Colin Bailes

Photography Contributed By

Kevin Willis

Video By

Brandon Flash Craigie