Pensacola - A Child's Playground

The Pensacola Bay Area is a kid’s dream getaway. From canoeing through the “Canoe Capital of Florida” and fishing off the Gulf of Mexico’s longest pier to flying a simulated jet and screeching around the go-kart track, the destination offers a vacation filled with discovery.

Beach Tips for Kids

1. Enroll your child in free summer camps at Gulf Islands National Seashore, the largest tract of protected seashore in the country. Ranger-led programs such as beach walks, bird watching, stargazing, snorkeling and fort explorations are offered throughout the year.
2. Take your family to Quietwater Beach on the sound-side of Pensacola Beach for calm waters and great sand for playing.
3. Pack drinks and snacks for a day on the beach.
4. Apply plenty of sunscreen and consider a lifejacket for new swimmers.
5. Bring toys such as buckets, shovels, Frisbees and games for hours of entertainment.
6. Learn to catch a wave at surf camp. Local surf shops Innerlight and Waterboyz offer camps for kids ages 8 and older.

Hands-on History

In Downtown Pensacola, you’ll find Historic Pensacola Village, which includes one of Florida’s oldest churches and several furnished homes and museums. Watch costumed Colonial guides make candles and cornbread, and load their muskets in preparation for war. Inside the village is the T.T. Wentworth, Jr. Florida State Museum. Admission to the museum is free, and the third floor features a fun, hands-on display for children in the Discovery Gallery.

At Pensacola Naval Air Station, Fort Barrancas, a pre-Civil War fort, and the Pensacola Lighthouse, one of the tallest in Florida, are other fun historic sites to explore.

Kid-Friendly Bites

Flounder’s Chowder House has its own beach and pirate’s ship playground. Kids’ meals come with a slice of watermelon and a rice krispy treat.

McGuire’s Irish Pub features a great children’s menu and 700,000 one dollar bills hanging from the walls and ceiling throughout the restaurant.

For a great vacation-breakfast your kids will love, try blueberry pancakes. You can pick your own blueberries at several local farms in July, or purchase fresh produce at the downtown farmers market on Saturday mornings at Palafox Street.