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10 Things You Must Do on a Trip to Pensacola

Whoever said Pensacola only has white sandy beaches, must have never read our take on the top 10 "to do's" on a trip to the Bay Area! Check out everything Pensacola has to offer starting here.

Situated in the Florida Panhandle, the Pensacola Bay Area is known for its historic charm, gorgeous beaches, award-winning tours and abundant wildlife. In fact, Gulf Islands National Seashore has twice earned the title of Florida’s best beach in USA Today's "10Best Readers' Choice" awards, chosen by voters of USA Today and 10Best.

Anybody who has visited our beaches knows why it earned such high rankings. But there’s more to the Pensacola Bay Area than just its beaches. Here are 10 things you must do on a trip to Pensacola.

1. Go to the Beach! (Obviously)

The most obvious thing to do in Pensacola is to hit the beach. Pensacola Beach and Perdido Key are both known for their pearly white sands and warm, crystal-clear waters. It's a paradise for beach-goers, a beautiful backdrop for relaxing or embarking on your next outdoor adventure. When not swimming or sunbathing, take a walk along the shoreline and collect seashells as souvenirs. Just remember our motto: Leave Only Your Footprints Behind.

Pensacola Beach

Pensacola Beach

Pensacola Beach’s mild temperature, sugar-white beaches, and crystal clear waters draw beach lovers, fishing enthusiasts and environmentalists alike.
Couple walking along Pensacola Beach

2. Explore 460 Years of History

Curious about Pensacola’s local architecture, museums and cultural influences? Pensacola offers centuries of stories and sites to discover. Explore the vast brick battlements and labyrinth of arched tunnels of Fort Pickens – a pre-Civil War era fort on Pensacola Beach. Spend the day touring Historic Pensacola Village to experience the rich heritage of America’s first European settlement. Comprised of 28 museums, historic homes and properties, the village encompasses 8.5 acres within the footprints of the original Spanish and British forts in downtown Pensacola. Start exploring.

3. Pull out the tents—or campers

Why camp in a forest when you can do it at the beach? Whether you’re traveling by RV or bringing tents, the Pensacola Bay Area is ideal for camping by the beach. Nature enthusiasts can enjoy primitive, natural settings in Perdido Key and Pensacola Beach. The campgrounds at Fort Pickens on Pensacola Beach can accommodate both tent and RV camping. And for those more into “glamping,” the new Pensacola Beach RV Resort is right up your alley.

Top Places to RV & Camp in Pensacola

Get ready to kick back and laugh with your friends and family, as you make s’mores around a campfire. Shoulder season (Fall-Spring) is prime time for camping, thanks to cooler weather and festive events.

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4. Try Some Fresh Seafood

Whether you desire an elegant waterfront restaurant, a laid-back beach bar, downtown dining, or something in-between, Pensacola is just the place to satisfy any seafood craving. Because of the area’s rich history, you’ll be able to find everything from French flavors and Spanish savors to southern Cajun cooking. For those wanting to take some of our fresh seafood home with them, you can’t leave without stopping in the world-renowned Joe Patti’s Seafood market– a Pensacola landmark for the past 90 years.

5. Get Outdoors

Meet a dolphin (or two)

Who doesn’t love Flipper? Known for their playful behavior, dolphins are highly intelligent creatures and very social. Did you know that dolphins have acute eyesight both in and out of the water? And they can hear frequencies 10 times that of a human? That means dolphins know where you are long before you ever see or hear them coming. Dolphins tend to live in pods and hunt and play together. The most common species of dolphin you’ll find around the Pensacola Bay Area is the bottlenose dolphin. Take an excursion to see dolphins and other wildlife around Pensacola Bay. Multiple boat charters leaving Pensacola Beach offer one- and two-hour tours that take you to areas known for dolphin viewing.

Get out the paddles

The best way to enjoy Pensacola Bay’s natural attractions is to explore them by water. Visitors can rent paddleboards, canoes or kayaks to discover beautiful areas like Big Lagoon State Park, Little Sabine Bay, Big Sabine Bay, Bayview Park, Johnson Beach, or Perdido River. These waterways take you through secluded bayous, dense marshes, narrow canals and serene beaches. Paddlers can see a variety of birds and wildlife as they pass through the various landscapes of beaches, wetlands and saltwater marshes.

Fly high above the water

The first thing to know about parasailing is that you’ll get much higher than you can even imagine. The other thing to know is it’s eerily quiet (but really quite relaxing, actually) when being pulled behind a boat, high in the air, in a giant parachute. It’s easy to go parasailing along Pensacola Beach and Perdido Key. Ride service businesses can give you personal training before pulling you across the bay for a bird’s-eye view of the city and the beach.

Hit the links

Pensacola is home to numerous world-class golf courses. Lost Key Golf Club is an Arnold Palmer signature designed course with premier grass called Sea Dwarf Paspalum. The course takes pride in being one of the few golf courses that is naturally resourced and protective of the environment. Marcus Pointe Golf Club is another great course with an award-winning 600 acres of rolling hills and fairways.

Go Fish

The Pensacola Bay Area is an angler’s paradise, and you don’t have to be a pro to enjoy it. Between the Gulf, three bays and a river that’s home to Florida’s most diverse freshwater fish population – we have a bounty of saltwater and freshwater fish species to choose from here. All it takes is a quick stop at the tackle shop or a call to your one of our many charter fishing captains and guides. Next thing you know, you’ll be hooked— well, hopefully just the fish. Whether you book a fishing charter or cast a line from one of the Gulf's longest piers, there’s rarely a bad day to cast a line out in Pensacola.

6. Discover Downtown Pensacola

Palafox Street in the heart of Downtown Pensacola is the hub for restaurants, bars, breweries, coffee shops, and shopping. Be sure to stop here while you're in Pensacola. Whether you're just looking to get outside and take a stroll, check out a brewery, uncover history at a museum, or dine on a waterfront, Downtown Pensacola has it all. It's the perfect mix of everything. It’s charming atmosphere along with the diverse range of activities offered, it makes for the perfect night or day on the town.

Itinerary: A Day Spent in Downtown Pensacola

Take a stroll in Downtown Pensacola

7. NAS Pensacola and the Blue Angels


No trip to Pensacola is complete without seeing our US Navy Blue Angels and stopping by Naval Air Station (NAS). The Blue Angels practice from March to November and typically fly on Tuesdays and Wednesdays (be sure to check out the full schedule), and can be seen from many viewpoints. They also host the Blue Angels Airshow on Pensacola Beach in July, as well as the Homecoming Show in November.

NAS Pensacola is a great piece of history to visit. Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola is widely known as the birthplace of naval aviation, where students primarily from the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard, commence their flight training each year. The base's origins trace back to the early 19th Century with the establishment of the Pensacola Navy Yard. Presently, NAS Pensacola attracts over 1 million visitors annually, offering numerous attractions on its premises, many of which are free or require a nominal admission fee. It is comprised of the National Naval Aviation Museum, Fort Barrancas, Barrancas National Cemetery, A.C. Read Golf Course, National Flight Academy, and the Pensacola Lighthouse.

8. Take A Tour

Take a guided tour or go adventure on your own. The Pensacola Bay Area is home to several different types – foodie, water, art, culture, and history tours. Find out what best interests you and tour away!

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9. Enjoy Arts & Culture

Pensacola thrives on its vibrant art scene, offering numerous avenues to immerse oneself in art and culture. The city hosts a range of festivals year-round, including the Great Gulf Coast Arts Festival, Foo Foo Festival, and the Pensacola Beach Songwriter's Festival. Whether you appreciate musicians, painters, theatrical performances, or songwriters, Pensacola provides diverse and exciting opportunities to enjoy art in various forms.

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10. Have a Bushwacker

Back in 1975, Linda Taylor Murphy of the Sandshaker Lounge on Pensacola Beach discovered a delicious chocolaty rum drink in the Virgin Islands. She brought the recipe back to the Sandshaker and created her own version - and here we are! The Bushwacker has become Pensacola's signature drink, best enjoyed at the beach, with live music, or at dinner. Today, the Bushwacker has spread throughout the region, with each establishment adding its own unique twist to this popular adult beverage.

Katie King

Author

Katie King

Katie King, a dedicated beach enthusiast, relocated from Atlanta to Pensacola in late 2002. Over the next 13 years, she served as a photojournalist and editor at the Pensacola News Journal, capturing the essence of Pensacola through her lens. Katie's photography has been featured in prestigious publications such as The New York Times, USA Today, The Los Angeles Times, and The Washington Post, earning her a place in the Newseum’s Top Ten Front Pages exhibit. For the past decade, Katie has thrived as an account manager and public relations specialist at EW Bullock Associates. Beyond her professional roles, Katie dedicates her time as the vice president of Northwest Florida Great Dane Rescue, where she can often be found chauffeuring these slobbery gentle giants around town. When not immersed in volunteer work, you'll likely spot Katie nurturing her garden in East Hill or soaking up the sun, sand and surf on the pristine shores of Pensacola Beach.

Resources to Help you Plan your Trip

Plan Your Trip

White sand beaches, emerald green water, and fun in the sun are just over the horizon! Make vacation planning easy with our expert resources and destination guides below. Still have questions? Call one of our dedicated tourism ambassadors at the Visitor Information Centers or message us on social media.

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Beach Webcams

Experience the serene beauty of Pensacola Beach and Perdido Key from anywhere in the world on these beach webcams. Get a glimpse of the beach conditions before you go, or enjoy the sights of the beach from the comfort of your own home.

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