Located close to the Alabama border on the Gulf of Mexico, Pensacola, Florida, boasts fine sandy beaches, warm waters with a host of water-based activities, and a historical town centre with a mixture of architectural styles.
For many, the Pensacola beach area is the principal attraction, offering ideal bathing opportunities for most of the year. Water sports enthusiasts are able to windsurf, waterski and go out on deep-sea fishing expeditions. Seville historic district is one of the best in Florida, and contains Florida’s oldest church, Christ Church, as well as St Michael’s Cemetery. Several Spanish colonial buildings have been restored in the town and can be visited on foot.
Pensacola’s museums are varied and cover a lot of ground, with Pensacola Historical Museum, in Seville Square, retelling Pensacola’s story with exhibits on the nations that shaped the city. Alternatively, the National Museum of Naval Aviation has planes from WWII, and the Korean and Gulf wars. The 1881 boat-shaped Steamboat House is another interesting sight, as is the restored Dorr House, built during the 1870 lumber boom.
Most activity is centred on Pensacola beach, which has plenty of shops, cafés and a good choice of restaurants. Night-time entertainment comes in the form of free jazz, blues, rock and country music, played out from public pavilions, weather permitting.
Exploring the area by car is recommended. Santa Rosa Island, accessed by the Pensacola Bay Bridge, is superb for water sports activities. The Gulf Islands National Seashore encompasses Santa Rosa and points west across the Mississippi coastline. Camping, picnicking and hiking trails are prevalent here, and there are also historical sights such as Ship Island, Fort Massachusetts and Fort Pickens, site of Geronimo’s imprisonment.
Getting here by car is made easy by the proximity of I-10 and highway 90 with the city. Amtrak trains service Pensacola from all over Florida and the US, and Greyhound Lines buses are the cheaper option. Pensacola Regional Airport is just outside the city and mainly handles domestic flights.
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