Visit Pensacola-2016

VisitPensacola.com 4
Surf
and
Sand
by Kimberly Blair
From the minute you hear the quartz crystal sand
sing under the soles of your bare feet, you realize
you’ve stepped onto a beach paradise unlike any
other along the Gulf Coast. If that’s not awe­inspiring
enough, the weathering of the Appalachian
Mountains forged this brilliant white sand, oen
called sugar white, millions of years ago.
Pair this sand with the clear, turquoise­colored
Gulf of Mexico waters and you have the unparalleled
postcard seng and playground for kayaking, paddle
boarding, charng a dolphin cruise, surfing, swimming
or simply relaxing.
8 VisitPensacola.com
There’s more. Where else can you find 52 miles of coastline sporting two awardwinning vacation destinations, Pensacola Beach and Perdido Key, sandwiched
between a national seashore named Florida’s Best Beach in USA TODAY’s
10 BEST Readers’ Choice poll in 2015?
Gulf Islands Naonal Seashore boasts
three park areas preserved for the
public’s enjoyment. Johnson Beach on
Perdido Key has the only local spot for
primive beach camping. Bookending
Pensacola Beach, the seashore’s Santa
Rosa area features ancient dunes and
day­use picnic pavilions while the Fort
Pickens area is a treasure trove of
historic and eco­friendly aracons.
Explore Fort Pickens’ historic fort and
baeries spanning the Civil War through
World War II eras. Meandering trails are
waing to be hiked or biked and miles
upon miles of wide­open, prisne
shorelines are perfect for beach
10 VisitPensacola.com
combing, wandering or planng a beach
umbrella, far from the maddening
crowds.
Gather with locals to celebrate
spectacular sunsets ushering in cobalt
blue night skies. If you’re lucky, you may
witness a ritual that’s played out for
millions of years, a mother sea turtle
laying a nest in the warm sand dunes. Or
you just might catch a glimpse of a
magical occurrence, the Gulf glowing
with the fireflies of sea – luminescent
dinoflagellates.
Ready to catch dinner? Cast a line at
the Fort Pickens’ fishing pier, a hot spot
for fish gathering at the confluence of
Pensacola Bay and the pass to the Gulf.
Pitch a tent or plug in an RV at the
park’s two campgrounds and immerse
yourself in a coastal, outdoor experience
where the dress code is nothing more
than a swimsuit. A vast amount of the
seashore is underwater. Join a ranger­led
snorkel trip or strap on a pair of fins and
a mask, dive in and discover this
underwater marine world.
Pensacola Beach sports some of the
best dining and bars in the area. But it
also promotes its natural side with an
eco­tourism trail that highlights the
special features, marine life and plants
that make our paradise special.
Those picturesque sea oats blowing in our
coastal winds, for instance, play an important
role. Their roots hold together the so dunes
that protect our island from washing away.
Sea oat seeds provide food for beach
mammals. This and other amazing facts are
waing to be discovered on the trail.
Perdido Key and Pensacola Beach also
feature Gulf snorkel reefs an easy fin­flip
away from shore on which sea turtles,
octopus and fish of all sorts call home. Who
needs an aquarium?
Speaking of aquariums, if snorkeling is not
in your DNA, check out some of our marine
life in the giant pirate ship­themed aquarium
at the Perdido Key Chamber of Commerce,
courtesy of Animal Planet’s “Tanked” T.V.
series. Didn’t I say we are famous?
Clearly, no maer what your beach
vacaon bucket list includes, you’ll find it on
one of these amazing, award­winning
beaches. Remember, leave only your
footprints behind.
Don’t just take our word for it. This year, on
top of winning Florida’s Gulf Islands
Naonal Seashore Best Florida Beach in
USA TODAY’s 10 Best Readers’ Choice poll,
the Seashore’s prisne beaches also placed
second in the 10 Best Naturally Preserved
Shorelines in America. Pensacola Beach also
ranked No. 5 out of the Top 25 Best
Beaches in the U.S. in TripAdvisor’s annual
Travelers’ Choice awards.
VisitPensacola.com 11
head
By Jahna Jacobson
DOWNTOWN
Some vacaon desnaons give you the feeling that
the main street came in a kit and was thrown up
overnight, like the facades of a western town.
Pensacola’s downtown earned its charm the hard way
– one monument, one bold renovaon, one slow­
growing strand of Spanish moss at a me.
The Pensacola Cultural Center? Former city courthouse.
T.T. Wentworth Jr. Florida State Museum? Used to be City
Hall. Previously home to local lawbreakers, the old city jail
now houses Warhols and Calders as the Pensacola
Museum of Art.
12 VisitPensacola.com
VisitPensacola.com 12
BRING
NIGHT
on the
By Maegan Leonard
In a city where there’s never a shortage of things to do, I can
always find an excuse to get out and hit the town.
Blend Lounge has become my
one to pass up. With so many delicious
“home base”—the place where my
opons to choose from, plan to sck
crew usually starts and ends the night.
around for more than just one. You
But not before we head to Seville
certainly cannot leave Perdido without
Quarter and turn it up in the “boom
experiencing the live­music beach bar
boom” room, aka Phineas Phogg’s, or
that even Kenny Chesney wrote a tune
catch a dueling piano show at Rosie
about: The Flora­Bama Lounge. Beach
O’Grady’s.
meets country in this honky­tonk
Even if you don't drink whiskey—
roadhouse gem, the home of the
I’m a vodka girl, myself—pop into Old
infamous Interstate Mullet Toss.
Hickory Whiskey Bar and try
If you're a sucker for live music (me,
something new. Recommendaon for
me!) you'll be happily jamming at any
beginners: a Pimms Cup. If it’s
beach joint. Capt’n Fun Beach Club,
Wednesday night, The Fish House
Flounder’s Chowder House and
Deck Bar is the place to be for ladies
Bamboo Willie’s on Pensacola Beach
night. How can you turn down $2
host my personal band favorites, such
drinks? Bar games are aplenty at
as Rumor Mill, Gypsy Riot, The Molly
downtown local favorites: darts at
Ringwalds and Connuum.
O’Riley’s Irish Pub, pool at Intermission
To get the most out of what’s local, I
and just about any arcade game at
encourage you to try my vacaon rule:
Play. Skee­Ball, anyone?
order a different specialty drink
No maer the season, the beach is
everywhere you go. Here’s the
always calling my name. The newest
lowdown on must­try beach drinks:
kids on the block, Casino Beach Bar
190 Octane at Bamboo Willie’s frozen
and Red Fish Blue Fish, have become
drink bar, a Diesel Fuel at Flounder’s,
my personal hotspots to kick back,
Strawberry Mango Mojito at The
relax, enjoy a cocktail and watch the
Grand Marlin, an Irish Car Bomb at
sunset over Pensacola Beach.
Paddy O’Leary’s Irish Pub and The
For those staying in Perdido Key, the
marni menu at The Jellyfish Bar is not
Sandshaker Lounge’s famous
Bushwacker. Cheers!
VisitPensacola.com 21
arts
Appreciating
the
BY ANDY METZGER
If there’s one thing my 31 years as an arts administrator in Pensacola has shown me, it is that Northwest Florida’s
cultural community is exceponal, and not just for a metro area our size.
Through the decades, I have come
into contact with literally thousands of
people who hail from outside our
region. This includes visitors, military
personnel, people relocating here and
both military and civilian retirees. One
theme I’ve heard over and over is the
surprise, even shock, people experience
when they discover that we offer such a
rich and vibrant arts scene. Often,
people have anticipated encountering a
cultural wasteland, only to find the
exact opposite is true.
They marvel that we offer both a
first-class orchestra in the person of the
Pensacola Symphony and a top-notch
regional professional opera company in
Pensacola Opera. They can’t believe an
organization as multi-faceted and
innovative as the Pensacola Children’s
Chorus, which is frequently compared
to Broadway-level entertainment, exists
here or anywhere. Then they
experience Ballet Pensacola and realize
we also have a cutting-edge
professional dance company.
They are also delighted by our
visual arts scene with its many excellent
galleries, anchored by the Pensacola
Museum of Art, and also become huge
fans of the annual Great Gulfcoast
Arts Festival—a visual arts
extravaganza that also includes music
and dance.
Then there’s the eclectic theater
scene highlighted by the many
excellent productions presented by
Pensacola Little Theatre, as well as
those at the University of West Florida
and Pensacola State College.
The only complaint I ever hear
from anyone fortunate enough to spend
time sampling our cultural community
is the same complaint those of us who
have been here for a while sometimes
voice: “There’s so much going on that I
can’t get to everything!” In my book,
that’s a good problem.
VisitPensacola.com 23
By Brooke Johnson
Gather your camera, your walking shoes and a map, and let’s
take a tour of America’s oldest settlement: Pensacola.
Well before the flags of Spain,
France, Great Britain, the Confederacy
and Old Glory flew over our beautiful
region, the Native American Panzacola
tribe inhabited this land and gave
America’s oldest European settlement its
name. Modern Pensacola’s
multiculturalism draws from hundreds of
years of history that celebrates the rich
diversity of people, customs and
geography.
24 VisitPensacola.com
Start your tour at the T.T. Wentworth,
Jr. Florida State Museum. There you’ll
learn that in 1559, Spanish explorer Don
Tristan de Luna established a settlement
along Pensacola Bay, but it lasted only a
few years. Hurricanes and epidemics
caused deadly disruptions to the area’s
development, and it was eventually
abandoned. More than one hundred
years would pass before the Spanish
would return to develop the area again.
Pensacola thoroughly embraces its rich tapestry of culture. Signs of our
vibrant multicultural heritage are everywhere, if you’re looking for them.
Welcome and enjoy.
Next stop, is the Voices of
Pensacola Multicultural Center and
Museum. There you’ll discover that
African Americans played a vital role
in 1698 when a new wave of
Spaniards permanently settled the
region. Under Spanish rule, free
blacks and slaves lived in Pensacola,
where they were essential to the city’s
growth and economic development.
This same territory would
eventually be under the control of the
French and British and finally
became part of the state of Florida
when the Spanish ceded it to the
United States in 1821. Florida was
part of the Confederate States of
America from 1861 to 1865, which is
how Pensacola became known of the
“City of Five Flags.” For a hands-on
exploration of Pensacola's colonial
history, take a guided tour through
Historic Pensacola Village, a
collection of historical sites,
museums, exhibits and restored
structures covering multiple city
blocks in downtown. There you’ll
learn early 19th century cooking
techniques and trade skills from
costumed interpreters.
Stroll through St. Michael’s
Cemetery, an eight-acre sanctuary
sheltered by magnolias and live oaks
and crisscrossed by gravel paths. The
sacred ground hosts some of the
oldest graves in the nation, many of
which are unmarked. The Spanish
began conducting burials as early as
the mid-1700s at the site, where,
evidence suggests, colonialists and
slaves lie side by side.
Today, signs of Pensacola’s past are
geographically revealed in a historic
district of parks and plazas, roughly
40 square blocks, shaded by centuriesold live oaks and anchored by Palafox
Street. Early and mid-19th century
houses, constructed of brick or stucco
and replete with intricate ironwork
verandas and interior courtyards,
reflect our Spanish, French and Gallic
architectural influences. The
prevalence of British-built cottages
made of traditional clapboard and
brick remind us that our history is
very much still with us.
For a complete list of historical and cultural attractions, see page 72.
VisitPensacola.com 25
By Mark O’Brien
26 VisitPensacola.com
VisitPensacola.com 26
The jets streak across the sky, moving so quickly that you see them before you hear them.
Then a trailing wall of sound announces that, yes, the Blue Angels are overhead.
By the time you realize this,
the six jets are soaring toward the
heavens, plunging dramatically,
wheeling their way through jawdropping maneuvers, almost
touching wings as they display
the U.S. Navy’s mastery of the air.
These are just samples of a
typical spellbinding air show by
the Blue Angels, the elite flight
demonstration squadron based at
Naval Air Station Pensacola.
Thousands of people flock to
see the Blue Angels’ air show at
Pensacola Beach every July and at
NAS Pensacola every November.
But you don’t have to wait for
an official air show. You can check
out their practices at Sherman
Field most Tuesdays and
Wednesdays from March through
November. Watch them fine-tune
maneuvers, flying as low as 50
feet above the ground and as fast
as 700 mph.
After practice, the Blue Angels
pilots often go next door to the
National Naval Aviation Museum
to sign autographs and meet fans.
Just as the Blue Angels are
extraordinary pilots, this is an
extraordinary museum—home to
more than 150 lovingly-restored
aircraft, many of which
performed combat and rescue
missions. And admission is free!
The museum offers an
exhilarating taste of life in the
cockpit. A state-of-the-art
MaxFlight Simulator brings airto-air combat and stunt flying
up-close and personal. On
another simulator, you experience
horizontal rolls, longitudinal
pitches and vertical climbs.
The museum is also home to
the National Flight Academy—
an experience for 7-12th graders
that inspires interest in science,
technology, engineering and
mathematics for six days in an
immersive and fully simulated
aircraft carrier environment.
Half a mile from the museum
you can see Fort Barrancas,
another storied chapter in
Pensacola’s long military history.
It overlooks Pensacola Bay and
Fort Pickens on Pensacola Beach,
making it a prize asset for U.S.,
Spanish and British troops.
Whether it is historic forts or
trailblazing aviation, Pensacola
and the military march to the
same beat.
Ranked a Top 25 Museum
in the U.S. by TripAdvisor in
2014, the Naonal Naval
Aviaon Museum features
more than 150 restored
aircra represenng the
Navy, Marine Corps and
Coast Guard Aviaon in
nearly 350,000 square feet
of exhibit space. For more
informaon, go to
navalaviaonmuseum.org.
VisitPensacola.com 27
KIDDING
AROUND
By Sloane Stephens Cox
At least once a week, I inevitably hear those words every parent dreads: “I’m bored!”
Stocking up on cra supplies is helpful, but
I pull them out only if I’m craving a cardio
workout involving de­gliering furniture and
prying glue off granite countertops. And
enrolling my kids in aer­school acvies or
summer camps always gives me a false sense
of security that they’ll return home with less
34 VisitPensacola.com
energy than they had before they le.
But relaxing is only a pipe dream of this
parent, not of lively lile ones!
So I’m constantly on a quest for
worthwhile things to do in the Pensacola Bay
Area. The trick is balancing the outdoors and
indoors, the educaonal and recreaonal.
Acvies I choose must be fun for mulple
ages—adults included—and involve plans
beyond simply going to the beach.
What I’m always surprised to find is how
many excing new and not­so­new things
there are to do right here in my own
hometown.
Pensacola is the perfect place for any family
vacation, so start planning yours now!
To celebrate summer, first on our list is
hing Sam’s Fun & Surf City. We never re of
floang around the lazy river, zipping down
waterslides and splashing in the play structures.
And there’s plenty of crystal­blue water to dunk
my head under if the kids decide to bicker
about who gets to slide first. In the colder
months, we can sll hop on the go­karts, head
to the large arcade and indulge our compeve
sides on the 18­hole miniature golf course.
Another place we can’t resist is the
Pensacola M.E.S.S. Hall, where the convoluted
stuff in science textbooks not only begins to
make sense, but actually becomes enjoyable
and even cool. Kids explore and interact in the
mulple hands­on staons while we parents
pretend we aren’t relearning long­forgoen
X
facts. From mixing concocons to building
model modes of transportaon, the
experiences are self­guided at each child’s—
and parent’s—pace.
A short distance away, we can connue the
learning­disguised­as­leisure experience at the
Pensacola Children’s Museum. There, local
history comes to life in interacve displays and
exhibits. If I’m even able to pry them away from
the kid­sized Colonial Pensacola replica—and
that’s a big “if”—we head upstairs to check out
ancient local arfacts, play on computers,
assemble puzzles and peruse photos of
Pensacola’s past.
The Gulf Breeze Zoo is also a favorite. We
especially enjoy vising during the spring, when
the animals are frolicking around more than
usual on the 50 acres of lush terrain. We giggle
at the lazy kangaroos and the perpetually
hungry goats, whose tongues ckle the kids'
food­filled fingers. We love seeing the baby
animals, especially the ny spider monkeys
wrapped ghtly in their moms’ arms. And we’re
fascinated by the variety of animals and enjoy
poinng out which goofy ones remind us of
each other.
So, before I can yell, “No, you cannot slide
down the stairs in my suitcase!” or “Why did
you make a ‘secret poon’ out of my pricey
loon?” I remind myself that geng out of the
house to explore one of the most beauful
cies in America is rejuvenang, rewarding and
even relaxing.
PENSACOLA PETS
For those with four­legged kids, here’s a list of dog parks/beaches to take your pawsome canines:
Bayview Dog Park and Dog Beach – offers an
Roger Sco Dog Park – located on Summit
enclosed dry park and an acre­long dog beach
Blvd. and shaded by giant live oak trees.
along Bayou Texar.
Pensacola Dog Beach – Dogs on­leash are
Shoreline Bark Park – this quant lile park in
welcome at two designated areas on
Gulf Breeze offers benches seated under oak
Pensacola Beach near parking lots B and E.
trees.
VisitPensacola.com 35
Restaurants & Nightlife
Pensacola Beach
Casino Beach Bar & Grille
&DVLQR%HDFK%DU*ULOOHLVDOODERXWFXVWRPHUH[SHULHQFH:HRʴHUVLJQDWXUHLVODQGFRFNWDLOVPDGHIURPKDQGVTXHH]HG
IUXLWMXLFHVTXDOLW\FRDVWDOFXLVLQHGHOLFLRXVVKDUHDEOHV:LWKRXUUHOD[HGLVODQGYLEHDQGXQLTXHORFDWLRQQHVWOHGDWWKH
IRRWRIWKH3HQVDFROD*XOI3LHU&DVLQR%HDFK%DU*ULOOHPDNHVIRUWKHSHUIHFWEHDFKIURQWKDQJRXW6WRSLQDQGH[SHULHQFH
ZKDWLWIHHOVOLNHWREHRQYDFDWLRQHYHU\GD\
41 Ft. Pickens Rd. | (850) 932-6213 | casinobeachbar.com
Crabs - We Got ’Em
:HDUHGLUHFWO\ORFDWHGRQWKH*XOIRI0H[LFR$W&UDEV:H*RWȀ(P\RXFDQHQMR\LQVLGHGLQLQJZLWKEUHDWKWDNLQJYLHZV
RUVLWRXWVLGHRQRXURSHQDLU*XOIVLGHGHFNFRPSOHWHZLWKIUHVKVDOWDLUEUHH]HV
6 Casino Beach Blvd. | (850) 932-0700 | crabswegotem.com
Flounder’s Chowder House
)ORXQGHUȁVSURPLVHV\RXDXQLTXHO\LQWHUHVWLQJDQGZDUPDWPRVSKHUHZLWKH[FHOOHQWIRRGDQGGULQNVSUHSDUHGDQGVHUYHG
E\IULHQGO\HPSOR\HHV7KHUHDUHDOZD\VDORWRIIXQWKLQJVWRGRDQGIXQSHRSOHDW)ORXQGHUȁV&KRZGHU+RXVH
800 Quietwater Beach Rd. | (850) 932-2003 | flounderschowderhouse.com
Frank and Lola Love Pensacola
1DPHGDIWHUȃ)UDQNDQG/RODȄD-LPP\%XʴHWWVRQJDERXWDFRXSOHRQWKHLUVHFRQGKRQH\PRRQLQ3HQVDFRODWKH
UHVWDXUDQWIHDWXUHVDGHOLFLRXVPHQXDQGDOVRKDVDIXOOVHUYLFHEDULQDQXSVFDOHFDVXDODWPRVSKHUH)UDQN/ROD/RYH
3HQVDFROD&DI©RʴHUVLQGRRUDQGRXWVLGHVHDWLQJDQGLVRSHQIRUEUHDNIDVWOXQFKDQGGLQQHU
165 Ft. Pickens Rd. | (850) 916-9755 | margaritavillehotel.com
The Grand Marlin
:LWKYLHZVRI6DQWD5RVD6RXQGDQGVXQVHWVRYHU3HQVDFROD%D\7KH*UDQG0DUOLQRʴHUVDWUDQTXLOUHOD[HGDWPRVSKHUH
ZKHUHSDWURQVFDQHQMR\WKHPRVWPHPRUDEOHGLQLQJH[SHULHQFHRQWKH*XOI&RDVW
400 Pensacola Beach Blvd. | (850) 677-9153 | thegrandmarlin.com
H2O Cajun Asian Restaurant
-XVWOLNHZDWHURXUUHVWDXUDQWLVFRRODQGUHIUHVKLQJVHUYLQJIDUHIURPERWKODQGDQGVHDGD\VDZHHNPHDOVDGD\
:HȁUHDOODERXWIXVLRQ)DQF\DQG)XQ6SLF\DQG6ZHHW&RQWHPSRUDU\DQG&DVXDO
Hilton Pensacola Beach Gulf Front, 12 Via de Luna Dr. | (850) 343-6791 | hiltonpensacolabeach.com/restaurants
40 VisitPensacola.com
Pensacola Beach
Hemingway’s Island Grill
5HOD[LQRXUFDVXDOWURSLFDOFDI©DQGH[SHULHQFHDWDVWHRIWKH,VODQG2XULVODQGJULOORʴHUVDGLYHUVHPHQXLQVSLUHGE\
+HPLQJZD\ȁVWKLUVWIRUDGYHQWXUHDQGJUHDWIRRG(DFKGLVKLVKDQGFUDIWHGDQGGHOLYHUVDWDVWHRIWKHLVODQGV
400 Quietwater Beach Rd. | (850) 934-4747 | hemingwaysislandgrill.com
LandShark Landing
/DQG6KDUN/DQGLQJ%HDFK%DURʴHUV0DUJDULWDYLOOH%HDFK+RWHOJXHVWVWKHRSSRUWXQLW\IRUIXQDQGVXQ2ʴHULQJVQDFNV
EHYHUDJHVYROOH\EDOOKDPPRFNVXQGHUSDOPWUHHVDQGDʵUHSLW6HDVRQDOWLPHVPD\YDU\
165 Ft. Pickens Rd. | (850) 916-9755 | margaritavillehotel.com
Paradise Bar and Grill
3DUDGLVH%DU*ULOORQ3HQVDFROD%HDFKLVDQDZDUGZLQQLQJRSHQDLUEDUDQGJULOOORFDWHGEHKLQG3DUDGLVH,QQRQWKH6DQWD
5RVD6RXQG7U\VRPHRIWKHEHVWIRRGRQWKH,VODQGDWRXUZDWHUIURQWEHDFKZKLOHHQMR\LQJOLYHHQWHUWDLQPHQWE\VRPHRI
WKHPRVWWDOHQWHGEDQGVRQWKH*XOI&RDVW:HZHOFRPH\RXWRȃERDWLWELNHLWRUZDONLWȄWRWKHKRWWHVWVSRWRQWKH,VODQG
21 Via de Luna Dr. | (850) 916-5087 | paradisebar-grill.com
Red Fish Blue Fish Grill
,QVSLUHGVRXWKHUQVW\OHIRRGIURPORFDOLQJUHGLHQWV:HLQYLWH\RXWRUHOD[DQGHQMR\WKHZDWHUIURQWYLHZZLWKIULHQGVDQG
IDPLO\:HKDYHWKHEHVWȀEDFN\DUGȁRQWKHEHDFKZLWKWZRZKLWHVDQGEHDFKHVFRYHUHGDQGJUDVV\GLQLQJDUHDVDFWLYLWLHV
IRUWKHNLGVDQGDVW\OLVKFRFNWDLOEDU:LWKRXWDGRXEWLWȁVWKHEHVWSODFHRQWKH,VODQGWRZDWFKDVXQVHW
5B Via de Luna Dr. | (850) 677-8899 | redfishbluefishpensacolabeach.com
Riptides Sports Grill
5LSWLGHV6SRUWV*ULOO*XOI)URQW7LNL%DULVORFDWHGEHDFKIURQWLQWKHVSHFWDFXODUOREE\DQGSRROGHFNRIWKH+ROLGD\,QQ
5HVRUW+RWHO(QMR\*XOIYLHZVIURPRXUSDWLRDQGWLNLEDU:LWKKLJKGHʵQLWLRQʶDWVFUHHQ79VDQGFRQWLQXRXVVDWHOOLWH
IHHGVWKHJDPHLVDOZD\VRQ(QMR\TXDOLW\$PHULFDQFRPIRUWIRRGDQGJUHDWVSRUWVZLWKJRRGIULHQGV
14 Via de Luna Dr. | (850) 932-5331 | holidayinnresortpensacolabeach.com/riptides-grill-tiki-bar/
Terracotta Restaurant
6DYRUFRQWHPSRUDU\6RXWKHUQFRDVWDOFXLVLQHLQWKHFDVXDOO\HOHJDQWDWPRVSKHUHRI7HUUDFRWWDUHVWDXUDQW
10 Portofino Dr. | (850) 916-5000 | portofinoisland.com/dining/terracotta
The Wine Bar on the Boardwalk
:HORYHZLQHDQGIRRGDQGFDQQRWZDLWWRVKDUHRXUSDVVLRQZLWKRXUJXHVWV
400 Quietwater Beach Rd. | (850) 916-1009 | winebarbistro.com
Peg Leg Pete’s
Native Café
Lillo’s Tuscan Grille
Papa’s Pizza
Shaggy’s Pensacola Beach
The Dock
Drowsy Poet at Innerlight
Castaway’s Beachside
Boardwalk Café
Sidelines Sports Bar and Restaurant
The Dock
Smoothie & Ice Cream World
Cactus Flower Café
Jubilee Oyster Bar
Caprio’s Kitchen
JW’s Grille
Wild Roots/Beach Pops
Dog House Deli
Bonsai Sushi Lounge
Old Habana Cuban Café
VisitPensacola.com 41
Visitor Resources
Businesses and organizations included in these listings have partnered with Visit Pensacola to advance tourism in the Pensacola Bay Area.
Amusement & Leisure Attractions
Convention Services, Weddings & Entertainment
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
DeLuna Lanes & Peter B’s Grill, (850) 478-9522, delunalanes.com
Fast Eddie’s Fun Center, (850) 433-7735, fasteddiesfuncenter.com
Gulf Breeze Zoo, (850) 932-2229, gulfbreezezoo.org
Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park, (850) 243-9046, gulfarium.com
Pensacola Interstate Fairgrounds, (850) 944-4500, pensacolafair.com
Sam’s Fun City & Surf City, (850) 505-0800, samsfuncity.com
Wind Creek Casino, (866) 946-3360, windcreekatmore.com
Pensacola Bay Center, (850) 432-0800, pensacolabaycenter.com
Seville Quarter, (850) 434-6211, sevillequarter.com
The Team & Leadership Center Adventures Unlimited, (850) 623-6197,
adventuresunlimited.com
• Visit Pensacola, (850) 434-1234, visitpensacola.com
Animal Resources
Fishing & Diving
• Animal Hospital of Pensacola, (850) 479-2900, animalhospitalofpensacola.com
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Art Galleries
• Blue Morning Gallery, (850) 429-9100, bluemorninggallery.com
• Quayside Art Gallery, (850) 438-2363, quaysidegallery.com
The Arts
• ACE - Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Inc., (850) 472-1128, acepensacola.org
• Anna Lamar Switzer Center for Visual Arts, (850) 484-2550,
visualarts.pensacolastate.edu
• Ballet Pensacola, (850) 432-9546, balletpensacola.com
• Center for Fine and Performing Arts, UWF, (850) 857-6057, uwf.edu/cfpa
• Film CommissionYLVLWSHQVDFRODFRPSURIHVVLRQDOʵOPRʷFH
• First City Art CenterʵUVWFLW\DUWRUJ
• Pensacola Children’s Chorus, (850) 434-7760, pensacolachildrenschorus.com
• Pensacola Cultural Center, (850) 434-0257,
• Pensacola Little Theatre, (850) 432-2042, pensacolalittletheatre.com
• Pensacola Museum of Art, (850) 432-6247, pensacolamuseum.org
• Pensacola Opera, (850) 433-6737, pensacolaopera.com
• Pensacola Symphony Orchestra, (850) 435-2533, pensacolasymphony.com
• PSC Ashmore Fine Arts Auditorium, (850) 484-1847, pensacolastate.edu/sites/mt
• Saenger Theatre, (850) 595-3880, pensacolasaenger.com
A Reel Eazy Charter, (850) 932-8824, reeleazy.com
All Jack’d Up Charters, (850) 384-9059, alljackdupcharters.com
Chulamar Inc. & Fishing Fleet, (850) 934-8037, chulamar.com
Entertainer Charters, (850) 232-8252, entertainercharter.com
Fish Happens ChartersʵVKKDSSHQVFKDUWHUVFRP
Florida Panhandle Shipwreck TrailʶRULGDSDQKDQGOHGLYHWUDLOFRP
Priceless ChartersFKDUWHUʵVKSHQVDFRODFRP
Scuba Shack/Wet Dream Charters, (850) 433-4319, scubashackpensacola.com
Viking Diving, (850) 916-3483, vikingdivingpensacola.com
Golf
•
•
•
•
•
•
A.C. Read Golf Course, (850) 452-2454, naspensacola-mwr.com
Lost Key Golf Club, (850) 549-2160, lostkey.com
Osceola Municipal Golf Course, (850) 453-7599, osceolagolf.com
Perdido Bay Golf Club, (850) 492-1223, perdidobaygolf.com
Scenic Hills Country Club, (850) 476-0380, scenichills.com
Tiger Point Golf Club, (850) 932-1333, tigerpointgolf.com
Historical & Cultural Attractions/Tours
• African-American Heritage Trail, (850) 434-1234, aahspensacola.org
• Barrancas National Cemetery, (850) 453-4108,
cem.va.gov/cems/nchp/barrancas.asp
• Beach Bum Trolley, (850) 941-2876, beachbumtrolley.com
Chamber of Commerce & Welcome Centers
• DeVilliers Cultural Heritage e-Museum, devilliersmuseum.com, (850) 437-0025
• Greater Pensacola Chamber of Commerce, (850) 438-4081,
• Emerald Coast Tours, (850) 417-9292, emeraldcoasttours.net
pensacolachamber.com
• Go Retro, (850) 466-5220, goretro.us
• Gulf Coast African American Chamber of Commerce, (850) 438-3993,
• Historic Pensacola Village, (850) 595-5985, historicpensacola.org
gcaacc.info
• Museum of Commerce, (850) 595-5985, historicpensacola.org
• Pensacola Beach Chamber of Commerce, (850) 932-1500,
• National Naval Aviation Museum, (850) 453-2389, navalaviationmuseum.org
pensacolabeachchamber.com
• Native Paths Cultural Heritage Museum,
• Perdido Key Chamber of Commerce, (850) 432-4660, visitperdido.com
perdidobaytribe.org/about/native-paths-heritage-museum-jones-swamp
• Santa Rosa Island Authority, (850) 932-2257, visitpensacolabeach.com
• Pensacola Children’s Museum, (850) 595-1559, historicpensacola.org
• University of West Florida Welcome Center, (850) 474-3000,
• Pensacola Colonial Archaeological Trail, (850) 595-5985,
uwf.edu/admissions/undergraduate/visit-uwf/visitors-center
exploresouthernhistory.com/pensacola3.html
• Visit Florida I-10 Welcome Center, (850) 944-0442, YLVLWʶRULGDFRPZHOFRPHBFHQWHUV
• Pensacola Lighthouse and Museum, (850) 393-1561, pensacolalighthouse.org
• Pensacola Historical Museum, (850) 595-1559, historicpensacola.org
Churches
• Pensacola Old Chimney ParkSHQVDFRODVFHQLFEOXʴVRUJ
• Miracle Faith Apostolic Global Church, (850) 439-6225, globalrevival.com
• St. Michael’s Cemetery, (850) 436-4643, stmichaelscemetery.org
Convention Services, Weddings & Entertainment
• T.T. Wentworth, Jr. Florida State Museum, (850) 595-5985, historicpensacola.org
• Emerald Beach Weddings, (850) 377-7333, emeraldbeachweddings.com
• University of West Florida Archaeology Institute, (850) 474-3015,
• Emerald Coast Tours, (850) 417-9292, emeraldcoasttours.net
uwf.edu/archaeology
• Good Time Tours, (850) 476-0046, goodtimetours.com
• Veterans Memorial Park and Wall South, (850) 434-6119,
• Guide4Fun, LLC, (850) 287-5815, guide4fun.com
veteransmemorialparkpensacola.com
• Our Place Pensacola, (850) 438-7111
• WSRE Amos Performance Studio, (850) 484-1200,
wsre.org/community/amos-studio
• Palafox House, (850) 433-9450, palafoxhouse.com
72 VisitPensacola.com
Call us or stop by the Pensacola Bay Area Visitor Information Center. We’re here to help.
1401 E. Gregory St., Pensacola, FL 32502 | (800) 874-1234 | (850) 434-1234 (TDD/TTY accessible) | FAX: (850) 432-8211, (850) 434-7626
Hospitals
Parks & Trails
•
•
•
•
•
• Tarkiln Bayou State ParkʶRULGDVWDWHSDUNVRUJSDUNWDUNLOQED\RX
• Vince J. Whibbs, Sr. Community Maritime Park, (850) 436-5670,
pensacolacommunitymaritimepark.com
Baptist Health Care, (850) 434-4011
Gulf Breeze Hospital, (850) 934-2000
Medical Center Clinic/The Doctor’s Group, (850) 474-8000
Sacred Heart Health System, (850) 416-7000
West Florida Hospital, (850) 494-4000
Lodging
See pages 47–59 for lodging listings.
2XWGRRU2XWʵWWHUV&KDUWHUV7RXUV
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Adventures Unlimited, (850) 623-6197, adventuresunlimited.org
Aquatic Charters/Chase-N-FinsFKDVHQʵQVFRP
Blackwater Canoe Rentals & Sales, Inc., (850) 623-0235, blackwatercanoe.com
Bonifay Water Sports, (850) 932-0633, bonifaywatersports.com
Condor Sailing Adventures, (850) 637-7245, condorsailingadventures.com
Dolphin Express, (850) 619-8738, dolphinexpresscharters.com
Gulf Adventure Center, (251) 948-9494, gulfadventurecenter.com
Jolly Sailing, (850) 723-6142, jollysailing.com
Key Sailing, (850) 932-5520, keysailing.com
Lanier Sailing Academy, (850) 432-3199, laniersail.com
Outdoor Gulf Coast, (850) 466-8477, outdoorgulfcoast.com
Pensacola Paddlesport Rentals, (850) 255-5423, pensacolapaddlesport.com
Premier Dolphin Cruises, (850) 898-9002, pensacoladolphincruise.com
Waterboyz, (850) 433-2929, waterboyz.com
Parks & Trails
• City of Pensacola Parks & Recreation, (850) 436-5670, playpensacola.com
• Big Lagoon State ParkʶRULGDVWDWHSDUNVRUJSDUNELJODJRRQ
• Blackwater River State Park, (850) 983-5363,
ʶRULGDVWDWHSDUNVRUJSDUNEODFNZDWHUULYHU
• Escambia County Parks & Recreation, (850) 475-5220,
myescambia.com/government/departments/parks
• Edward Ball Nature Trail, (850) 474-2580,
XZIHGXRʷFHVUHFUHDWLRQDQGVSRUWVVHUYLFHVIDFLOLWLHVXZIWUDLOPDSV
• Florida Panhandle Shipwreck TrailʶRULGDSDQKDQGOHGLYHWUDLOFRP
• Fort Barrancas, (850) 934-2600, nps.gov/guis/planyourvisit/fort-barrancas.htm
• Fort GeorgeSHQVDSHGLDFRPZLNLIRUWBJHRUJH
• Fort McCree Ruins, (850) 934-2600, nps.gov/guis/learn/historyculture/fort-mcree.htm
• Fort Pickens National Park, (850) 934-2600,
nps.gov/guis/planyourvisit/fort-pickens.htm
• Gulf Islands National SeashoreQSVJRYJXLVʶRULGDKWP
• Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Plaza, (850) 435-1603,
cityofpensacola.com/facilities/facility/details/dr-martin-luther-king-jr-plaza-66
• Pensacola Beach Eco Trail, (800) 635-4803, visitpensacolabeach.com/eco-trail
• Pensacola Geo Tour, (850) 434-1234, visitpensacola.com/geocaching
• Perdido Key State ParkʶRULGDVWDWHSDUNVRUJSDUNSHUGLGRNH\
• 3HQVDFROD6FHQLF%OXʴVSHQVDFRODVFHQLFEOXʴVRUJ
• Plaza de Luna, cityofpensacola.com/facilities/facility/details/plaza-de-luna-75
• Plaza Ferdinand
QSVJRYQUWUDYHODPHULFDQBODWLQRBKHULWDJHSOD]DBIHUGLQDQGB9,,KWPO
• Rosamond Johnson Beach, (850) 934-2600,
nps.gov/guis/learn/historyculture/african-american-history-rosamond-johnson.htm
Restaurants
See pages 40–46 for restaurant listings.
Science & Educational Attractions
• National Flight AcademyQDWLRQDOʶLJKWDFDGHP\FRP
• Pensacola M.E.S.S. Hall, (877) 937-6377, pensacolamesshall.org
• PSC Planetarium, (850) 484-2188, planetarium.pensacolastate.edu
Shopping
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Blue Moon Antique Mall, (850) 455-7377, antiqueguide.biz
Cordova Mall, (850) 477-5355, simon.com/mall/cordova-mall
Eat Pensacola, (850) 764-3637, eat-pensacola.com
Envie Boutique, (850) 934-7050, tonenvie.com
Ever’man Natural Foods, (850) 438-0402, everman.org
Franklin Antiques & Flea MarketIUDQNOLQDQWLTXHVʶHDPDUNHWFRP
Joe Patti’s Seafood, (850) 432-3315, joepattis.com
J.W. Renfroe Pecan Co., (850) 432-2083, renfroepecan.com
Miles Antique Mall, (850) 607-6560, milesantiquemall.com
Palafox Market, (850) 434-5371, palafoxmarket.com
Quayside Art Gallery/Pensacola Artists, Inc., (850) 438-2363,
quaysidegallery.com
6DOW\%HDFK2XWʵWWHUVVDOW\EHDFKRXWʵWWHUVFRP
Silver Sands Premium Outlets, (850) 654-9771, premiumoutlets.com/silversands
The Bodacious Olive, (850) 433-6505, bodaciousolive.com
Tanger Outlets, (251) 943-9303, tangeroutlet.com/foley
Spas & Salons
• Aqua Spa at the Beach Club, (850) 916-5389, beachclubaquaspa.com
• Fusion Spa Salon, (850) 932-7724, fusionspasaveda.com
• Massage Envy, (850) 484-3689, massageenvy.com
Sports & Sporting Venues
• Escambia County Equestrian Center, (850) 941-6042,
myescambia.com/community/escambia-county-equestrian-center
• Five Flags SpeedwayʶDJVVSHHGZD\FRP
• Pensacola Blue Wahoos, (850) 934-8444, bluewahoos.com
• Pensacola Greyhound Track, (850) 455-8595, pensacolagreyhoundtrack.com
• Pensacola Ice FlyersSHQVDFRODLFHʶ\HUVFRP
• Pensacola Sports Association, (850) 434-2800, pensacolasports.com
Step-on Guide, Receptive Services
• Sunshine Express Tours, (850) 476-9149, sunshineexpresstours.net
Transportation
•
•
•
•
•
Enterprise Rent-A-Car,(850) 477-1352, enterprise.com
Good Time Tours, Inc., (850) 476-0046, goodtimetours.com
Pensacola International Airportʶ\SHQVDFRODFRP
Pensacola Aviation Center, (850) 434-0636, pensacolaaviation.com
Yellow Cab Company, (850) 433-3333, yellowcabpensacola.com
VisitPensacola.com 73
Pensacola Beach
98
NAS
PENSACOLA
98
Naval Live Oaks Reservation
Gulf Islands National Seashore
GULF
BREEZE
National Naval
Aviation Museum
Fort Barrancas &
Pensacola Lighthouse
SANTA ROSA
ISLAND
Fort Pickens Fishing Pier
PENSACOLA
BEACH
Fort Pickens
Pensacola Beach Boardwalk
Pensacola Beach Fishing Pier
Pensacola Beach
Visitor Information Center
GULF ISLANDS
NATIONAL SEASHORE
NT
O
Perdido Key
SO R
BAUER
RE
PERDIDO
BAY
G U LF
Big Lagoon
State Park
BEA
CH
HWY
Fort MCree
BIG LAGOON
GULF ISLANDS
NATIONAL SEASHORE
Perdido Key
State Park
P
ID O
E RD
KEY
Rosamond Johnson
Beach
PERDIDO KEY
BEACH
DR
Perdido Key
Visitors Information Center
Downtown Pensacola
110
ANTE
ANTE
90
S ST
TH
N N IN
S ST
AV E
RV
W CE
V
E CER
EG
E GR
ST
ORY
Pensacola Visitor
Information Center
ST
ST
M A IN
ST
Bartram Park
PK
NT
RO
YF
BA
Pensacola
Fishing Pier
98
Pensacola Bay
Bridge
Community
Maritime Park
Plaza De Luna
74 VisitPensacola.com
AV E
T
N IZ S
FOX
Seville Square
E
IN
W MA
TH
S N IN
A
S A LC
EN ST
LA
S PA
98
RD
W GA
W
Y
Pensacola Bay Center
29
ry (S
entu
To C
E TEN M ILE RD
WY
90
H
10
90
W
XH
Y
DA
N
Escambia Bay
Bridge
90
D
BLV D
AVALO N
BLV
E OLIVE RD
RD
FO
E O LIVE RD
VIS
IVE R S I TY P KWY
UN
LA
A
A
DP
ACOL
L
NO
29
10
PORT
B
A IR
VD
V
D AVI S
ST
NW
Pensacola
International
Airport
D
BL
L
VD
T.
T
Chimney
Park
ESCAMBIA
BAY
N
29
IN
ON
Y
BL
PR
Scenic
Highway
AVE
RC
HW
A
AI R
N
H
R
KI N G D
W GAR DE N S T
98
Scenic
Highway
ANTE
S ST
Pensacola Visitor
Information Center
98
NC
Garcon Point
Bridge
90
98
AV E
AS
B AR
RA
VD
AVE
LU TH ER
Y
V
E CER
W CER VAN TE S S T
BL
Bay Bluffs
Park
N 19 TH
HW
29
OU
S C EN IC
B
AY
AVE
LE
A R TI N
DR M
BI
DR
Pensacola
Fishing Pier
Community
Maritime Park
Pensacola Bay
Bridge
98
PENSACOLA
BAY
98
98
tional Naval
ation Museum
ree
2T
N1
ST
O
R-
90
I
110
R
DD
F IE L
AI
WF
D
T B LV
M
OX
N P A C E B LVD
AF
M
PENSACOLA
M
SU
N 9TH
P AL
E
N AV
AV
N
M IC H I G A
ST
NW
W
90
90
E
GA
HWY
L
L A NG EY
X
OL
FO
AC
LA
NS
PA
PE
CRE IG H T O
D
PO
LD
NO
10
R
H WY
10
RD
F
10
E NINE MILE RD
PENS
set)
ee In
RD
GULF
BREEZE
NAS
PENSACOLA
Naval Live Oaks Reservation
Gulf Islands National Seashore
Bob Sikes
Bridge
Fort Barrancas &
Pensacola Lighthouse
V IA
SANTA ROSA
ISLAND
Fort Pickens
GULF ISLANDS
NATIONAL SEASHORE
M E X I C O
PENSACOLA
BEACH
NA
D E LU
DR
Pensacola Beach Boardwalk
Pensacola Beach Fishing Pier
Pensacola Beach
Visitor Information Center