Pensacola area..

[HFC1969]

Thinking about taking a weekend trip with DS 11 & DD 4 to the area... ideas for fun stuff to do?

Places to stay?

Never been there, is it nice?

 

[stevenpensacola]

Native, and lifelong resident here:

check out these sites:

www.visitpensacola.com

www.visitpensacolabeach.com

http://www.nps.gov/guis/index.htm

http://www.navalaviationmuseum.org/

http://www.navalaviationmuseum.org/PlanYourVisit/Activities-(1)/BlueAngelsPractices.aspx

http://www.pensacolalighthouse.org/

http://www.adventuresunlimited.com/

http://www.samsfuncity.com/

http://www.floridastateparks.org/biglagoon/

http://www.historicpensacola.org/

Many new, nice hotels on the beach.

If this is too much $$, I would avoid any of the hotels near I-10/Hwy 29.

I-10/Pine Forest Road has quite a few new hotels, and is a nice area. There are some nice hotels in the Cordova Mall/Airport area...as well as downtown on Chase Street.

A very nice B&B in the historic district:
http://www.leehousepensacola.com/index.php

http://www.leehousepensacola.com/area.php

http://www.downtownpensacola.com/


If you have any specific questions, feel free to send me a private message.

 

[Wishing on a star]

Thinking about taking a weekend trip with DS 11 & DD 4 to the area... ideas for fun stuff to do?

Places to stay?

Never been there, is it nice?

Yes, it is very nice!!!
Just visited there last week.
The Blue Angels were amazing...
They practice/perform on tuesdays and wednesdays, if you could travel during the week.
Well worth it. (especially since it's free!)
DS bought a model blue angels jet, and had it signed by the Captain/Commander of the Blue Angels.

And, even more amazing was Pensacola beach...
Yes, it did look just like a Corona commercial!!
Like the photo in Steven's post.

The Naval museum, Blue Angels, and the beach should be more than enough for a short trip!

 

[stevenpensacola]

Did you know that you can watch the Blue Angels practice from the TOP of the Lighthouse?

Believe it costs $15...and requires a reservation...but those who've done it say that it is unbelievable....as you'll be at the same level, or above the Blues as they pass by.

I actually just spent the weekend aboard the Naval Air Station with my son's Scout Troop...we biked all over the place...climbed the Lighthouse...visited the museum...took the guided tour of Fort Barrancas...things I've done more times than I can count...but never gets old.

BTW...There is an incredible view of the Pensacola Pass from Fort Barrancas.

 

[sparklynails23]

Didn't they just open a new hotel on Pensacola Beach? A Hardrock or something?

 

[BC]

Do you know which hotels ares the newest on the beach? We are also thinking of a Pensacola/Panama City trip.

 

[stevenpensacola]

Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville Beach Hotel opened last year...VERY NICE!!!

http://www.margaritavillehotel.com/


The Holiday Inn Resort - Pensacola Beach just opened in February of this year:

http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/rs/1/en/hotel/pnspb

If you really want to live "high on the hog" you can stay at Portofino...

http://www.portofinoisland.com/





Pretty much all of the hotels on the beach are new or remodeled since Hurricane Ivan in 2004.

 

[BC]

Thanks!! Looks like all of them are really nice. Are they all pretty comparable in location?

 

[stevenpensacola]

Thanks!! Looks like all of them are really nice. Are they all pretty comparable in location?

Margaritaville is west of the fishing pier/central beach area...the Holiday Inn is about the same distance east of the pier.

Both are within walking distance to the "business core" of the beach where most of the restaurants/shopping are located...the only exception being PegLeg Pete's Restaurant...yet it would not be a bad walk even to there.

There is a nice walking, biking, skating path all along (but separate from) the beach road...and there is a free trolley which runs on the beach.

Portofino is located the greatest distance from the "core", but is adjacent to the Gulf Islands National Seashore...miles of sugar white beach with nary a condo in sight...(well...you can see them, but they're a long way off).

If you like to camp, the Fort Pickens Campground (in Gulf Islands National Seashore is where you want to be...in fact, the Fort Pickens area has to be one of my favorite places on earth. Incredible scenery, wildlife, history, navy jets buzzing overhead...I wish I was there now...sigh...

In case you've never been here...Pensacola Beach is much more laid back then Destin, Panama City, or Gulf Shores...unless you're trying to get to the beach at noon on a beautiful weekend or to the Annual Blue Angels Air Show on the beach...where it can be slow going getting to the beach. The trick is to go early and stay late...which is not a bad thing.

interesting...as I was putting this together, the Blues have cancelled two air shows for a safety stand-down:

http://www.pnj.com/article/20110523...ancel-show?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE

 

[stevenpensacola]

here's a nice, recent article on things to do:

http://www.pnj.com/article/20110514/BELLA/110512028/1146/bella?odyssey=mod|dnmiss|umbrella|2

 

[perdidobay]

I thought I knew all there is to know about P'cola, and I have been to many many Blue Angel practices and didn't know about seeing the show from the lighthouse. Thanks Steven for that bit of info!


To the OP... if you stay on Pensacola Beach, let me recommend Crabs (we got em) restaurant, it is right next to the pier. Lots of fun for kids there, a sandy beach to play in, playground and when I was there 2 weeks ago, a big inflatable slide for the kids. There are hermit crab races for the kids in the evening and although I haven't been there around sunset in a long time, they hopefully still do a "cannon" salute at sunset. Food is great too!

http://www.crabswegotem.com/


Edited to add: you might think about going there anyway even if you're not staying on Pensacola Beach, we drive 40 minutes from Perdido Key to eat there anytime we are in town.

 

[stevenpensacola]

... Perdido Key to eat there anytime we are in town.

seeing your screen name and post reminded me of Perdido Key...if you're looking for a really laid back beach vacation...Perdido Key is worth looking at...and it's much closer to all the attractions at the Naval Air Station.

http://www.visitpensacola.com/landing/perdido-key

although the folks who live out there may want to keep it a secret...

 

[perdidobay]

seeing your screen name and post reminded me of Perdido Key...if you're looking for a really laid back beach vacation...Perdido Key is worth looking at...and it's much closer to all the attractions at the Naval Air Station.

http://www.visitpensacola.com/landing/perdido-key

although the folks who live out there may want to keep it a secret...

ssshhhhhh....lol ....j/k, we are happy to let everyone know about our little secret slice of heaven.

 

[stevenpensacola]

Thought I'd give a little rundown on the various beaches along the northern gulf coast...

Mississippi Beaches...I think there are some nice barrier islands way offshore that are nice...but they are undeveloped and require a boat ride to get there. Mississippi coastal beaches...not impressive...water is not very pretty...unless you like gambling/casinos (which I don't). Pensacola Beach gets a lot of visitors from Louisiana/Mississippi.

Alabama Beaches: Dauphin Island...more of a residential beach area...kind of interesting in its own way...has Fort Gaines and Dauphin Island Sea Lab...oil/gas rigs visible from beaches...water not very pretty.

Gulf Shores/Orange Beach: Nicer beaches than Dauphin Island...can be very busy...touristy in summer...lots of Alabama folks flock here...large outlet mall not too far away...water not as pretty as water to the east due to proximity to Miss. River and Mobile Bay. There are some nice remote areas along this coast...especially towards Ft Morgan.

Generally...the further east you go, the prettier the water.

Perdido Key: very laid back atmosphere...not a lot of commercial development...close to Pensacola Naval Air Station attractions...contains part of Gulf Islands national seashore with miles of unspoiled beaches. More of a residential beach I think.

Pensacola Beach: see above posts...gets a lot of visitors from MS and LA during the summer...more of a blue collar crowd...lots of families...bordered by Gulf Islands National Seashore on each side...

Navarre Beach: similar to Pensacola Beach...but even more laid back...not much commercial development...bordered by Eglin AFB property on east and Gulf Islands National Seashore on the west.

Ft Walton Beach: just does not make much of an impression, imo...somewhat tacky...

Destin: very nice...yet very very busy...LOTS of traffic...more of a corporate, upper management type crowd...lots of visitors from Atlanta...beautiful water

Beaches of South Walton: Seaside, Grayton Beach...very very nice area, very very pricey area...beautiful communities and beaches...very upscale area.

Panama City Beach: to me...just tacky

Mexico Beach/St Joseph Peninsula: beautiful beaches...off the beaten path...still has the "old Florida" feel to them.

 

[stevenpensacola]

http://surfsmooth.com/video090711_blue_angels/090711_blue_angels.html

awesome video...

 

[Big Cuddly Bear]

I have subscribed..... deciding between here and Maine.