5 Reasons Why Pensacola Is The Way to Beach
Nestled in Florida’s Panhandle, Pensacola is known for its awardwinning beaches, seaside charm and delectable coastal cuisine. For culture and sporting enthusiasts discover more than 460 years of history, festivals galore, the arts and year-round sporting events. Here are the top five ways to beach in Pensacola:
SUGAR-WHITE BEACHES AND CLEAR, EMERALD WATERS
You haven’t truly experienced Pensacola until you dig your toes into the sugar-white sand of its world-famous beaches. Feel the daily stresses wash away as you watch the waves roll in along Pensacola Beach and Perdido Key. The beach vibe is super chill. Come as you are and hang out with the locals at beach bars and restaurants. These picture-perfect beaches are accessible with ample parking. You can even leave the car behind and take a boat ride aboard Pensacola Bay Cruises to take in the stunning views of this beautiful coastal city.
460+ YEARS OF COLONIAL HISTORY
Pensacola is unique among beach destinations because it is a city with an old soul. Its roots date back to 1559 when Spanish conquistador Don Tristan de Luna established Pensacola as the first European settlement in North America. Over the centuries, the flags of Spain, Britain, France, the Confederacy and the United States have flown over the city. You’ll feel the sense of community pride for the diverse cultural influences that are reflected in Pensacola’s architecture, cuisine and festivals.
OUTDOOR ADVENTURES
Escape the everyday on plenty of multipurpose trails. There’s even the Florida Panhandle Shipwreck Trail for diving! Fishing is an outdoor lifestyle, but you don’t have to be a pro to fish in this area. Book a Gulf charter for deep-sea fishing or spend a relaxing afternoon casting from shore. There are also ample opportunities to surf, scuba, sail and swim, or take a dolphin tour for close-up encounters with some of the area’s most popular beach residents.
DELICIOUS COASTAL CUISINE
Pensacola’s unique coastal cuisine draws on the city’s colonial roots and proximity to the teeming fisheries of the Gulf. Whether your dining style is toes in the sand, grouper sandwich in hand, an elegant waterfront restaurant with chef-crafted cuisine, trendy downtown dining, or something inbetween, Pensacola is the place to satisfy those seafood cravings. Find everything from Spanish and French flavors to southern Cajun cooking. Depending on your choice, the cuisine can be decidedly upscale, but the atmosphere is always unpretentious and welcoming.
ARTS & CULTURE
Pensacola is revered as a must-see destination for cultural happenings. There’s the Pensacola Opera, Pensacola Symphony Orchestra, Ballet Pensacola, the historic Saenger Theatre and the accredited Pensacola Museum of Art. Pensacola’s thriving visual arts scene includes the First City Art Center, downtown galleries, and an eclectic local theater scene highlighted by the Pensacola Little Theatre. Follow the America’s 1st Settlement Trail for a walk through history along a 3-mile marked path through Downtown Pensacola. Year-round festivals, including the Great Gulfcoast Arts Festival and Foo Foo Festival, celebrate everything from the arts and music to seafood and aviation. Quite possibly the best aspect: it’s sophisticated but not intimidating, meaning anyone and everyone can easily attend.
Scenic Byway, a 220-mile corridor of forest and coastal treasures. The Dead Lakes State Recreation Area, in nearby Gulf County, offers perhaps the best freshwater fishing in the state, along with unusual scenery due to the stumps and dead tree trunks sticking out of the water. Another “natural” day trip is St. Vincent National Wildlife Refuge, accessible only by water. Here, you’ll see an incredible variety of wildlife, among them many species of birds, Sambar deer and the endangered red wolf. A good starting point is Indian Pass, an historic trading post and, supposedly, the site of Spanish buried treasure.
The Washington County town of Chipley has its fair share of interesting historical buildings in the South Third Street Historic District. And you can take an extraordinary look at early life here at the Five Oaks Museum.
South Walton has 16 beach neighborhoods that make for a beautiful drive along the coast. You’ll drive along Scenic 30A through a variety of distinct neighborhood styles—so distinct, in fact, that you’ll know when you’re going from one town into another. The area’s upscale aura is evidenced by its many artists and galleries, funky local boutiques, and farm-to-table dining philosophy. This route also offers numerous opportunities to kayak on coastal dune lakes, play golf at a PGA-quality course, and bike along the 18-mile Timpoochee Trail.
For something truly unique, check out the first Underwater Museum of Art (UMA) in the U.S. off Grayton Beach State Park, where a collection of 34 underwater sculptures have been installed as artificial reefs to provide anchor points for marine life to inhabit. This ecotourism attraction was named one of TIME magazine’s “World’s 100 Greatest Places.”
The Chautauqua Vineyards & Winery is a nice day trip from the Gulf beaches. You can tour the winery and learn the ABCs of grapegrowing, pruning, harvesting, crushing and bottling. You’ll be able to taste some of the wines that have earned Chautauqua over 140 awards, from dry wines and southern favorites to sweet muscadine and blueberry.
SHOPPING
In the Jackson County town of Marianna sits a local treasure called Southern Craft Creamery. They feature innovative ice cream treats such as Vanilla & Satsuma Jam and Tupelo Honey.
Reid Avenue in Port St. Joe is a half-milelong stroll back into the Old South. Outdoor gear? Books? Jewelry? Local pottery or artwork? Luxury spa treatment? It’s all here, along with restaurants running the gamut from Italian and Southern to Chinese and Mexican.
The Little Village in Panama City has an offbeat collection of outdoor shops. At The Little Mustard Seed, find a mix of furniture, handmade soaps and lotions, jewelry, and a thousand items that have been revived, renewed and restored. Historic Downtown Panama City is home to the Elegant Endeavors Antique Emporium and Main Street Antiques, which have been featured on different shows. Every Saturday, head over to the St. Andrews Farmers’ Market.
Across the water in Panama City Beach, Pier Park is an outdoor shopping and lifestyle center with a wide variety of items to buy, eat or ogle.
The Market Shops, at South Walton, offer outdoor shopping accompanied by musicians and artists. In Rosemary Beach, a planned town built in the mid-90s on the principle of “New Urbanism,” the French Quarter, with its balconies and vividly colored buildings and curling wrought-iron railings, is a delightful place to spend an afternoon shopping and dining.
In Destin, HarborWalk Village has a vibrant atmosphere, with vendors, artists and street performers outside, and stunning views of the Gulf of Mexico and Choctawhatchee Bay. On The Boardwalk on Okaloosa Island, you’ll find several restaurants and shops. Nearby Fort Walton Beach is filled with boutiques, restaurants and galleries—even a brewery. Hunt for bargains at Silver Sands Premium Outlets in Miramar Beach. And, in Fort Walton Beach, De’France Antiques and Flea Market has treasures you never knew you needed until now.
And if you have a yen to bring home something new from Pensacola, head for the shops on Palafox Street.