Frisky Mermaid Dolphin Cruises and Pontoon Boat Rentals
715 Pensacola Beach Blvd Pensacola Beach, FL 32561 (850) 910-0635
Top 11 Things to Do on Pensacola Beach
Like many Florida locals, I keep a go-bag in my car for emergencies. No, it’s not for leaving the country, nor is it for hurricane evacuation. But whenever I want to escape our corporate life or the hum-drum of daily errands, I evacuate to the beach. My go-bag has essentials: shorts, flip-flops and sunscreen. I find a stretch of sugar-white sand and the gentle waves wash the stress away. While I rate that blissful inactivity 10/10, there’s so much more to do than idle your afternoon away in the sand.
So, here are some ideas to enjoy your visit to our beautiful stretch of squeaky, white-quartz shores.
Take a Walk on the Pier
Stretching over 1,400 feet into the Gulf, the Pensacola Beach Gulf Pier is a storm-tested icon with a majestic vista of our coast. After Hurricane Opal splintered the old pier in 1995, this pier rose out of the Gulf with a purpose. The hex-shaped concrete pilings deflect wave energy, and the 500-pound wooden panels are designed to blow out under hurricane storm surge to keep the pier’s structure intact.
You can fish without a fishing license, or you can just pay a few bucks for a 24-hour pass to walk the pier and take in the views. If you are looking to delve into the fishing scene on Pensacola Beach, be sure to check out Panhandle Salt Beach Fishing for all your fishing needs and you'll be set!
Along the pier, keep your eye out for dolphins, sea turtles, speedy gamefish, rays and the occasional shark from the comfort and safety of the pier deck.
Ride the Ferry; Bring your Bike!
Fort Pickens: Majestic Guardian of Pensacola Pass
Speaking of Fort Pickens, after nearly 200 years, the still-proud granite walls and massive cannon pose an imposing, majestic presence as they stand guard over Pensacola Pass. The sprawling fort, which once imprisoned the great Geronimo and where Union troops outgunned Confederate forces at Fort Barrancas, is nestled among the sand dunes with historic features like the fort itself, Battery Cooper and Battery Worth.
Fort Pickens is part of Gulf Islands National Seashore, where there’s plenty of beaches with designated parking, bike paths, a fishing pier and a campground. There’s also plenty of wildlife, including nesting sea turtles, osprey and colonies of least terns and black skimmers. You can ride your bike out to the fort — 9 miles from the fort entrance.
Find Flipper — Take a Dolphin Cruise!
Who doesn’t want to experience Flipper up close? Trust me, watching dolphins at play in the wake of a boat is a phenomenon you’ll never forget. Fortunately, Pensacola Beach offers multiple options to watch dolphins in the Santa Rosa Sound and Pensacola Bay – offering everything from shared tours to private cruises, from two-hour boat rides to full-day excursions. Take your pick of options!
Check out these dolphin cruises
Jolly Sailing and Dolphin Cruise
655 Pensacola Beach Blvd., 715 Pensacola Beach Blvd. Pensacola Beach, FL 32561 (850) 723-6142
Premier Dolphin Cruises
400 Quietwater Beach Road Pensacola Beach, FL 32561 (850) 898-9002
Laguna’s Adventure Park
460 Pensacola Beach Blvd Pensacola Beach, FL 32561 (850) 677-3905
Pensacola Beach Boat Charters
715 Pensacola Beach Blvd Pensacola Beach, FL 32561 (850) 405-7964
Key Sailing
400 Quietwater Beach Rd. Pensacola Beach, FL 32561 (850) 932-5520
Chase-N-Fins / Aquatic Charters
655 Pensacola Beach Blvd. Pensacola Beach, FL 32561 (850) 492-6337
Condor Sailing Adventures
Pier One Marina, 655 Pensacola Beach Blvd. Pensacola Beach, FL 32561 (850) 637-7245
Experience the Activity Mega-Plaza at Laguna’s
Beam Me Down to UFO’s Pensacola Beach
The iconic Pensacola Beach mini golf course offers down-to-earth fun along Pensacola Beach. Located next to Sideline Sports Bar and Restaurant on Casino Beach, UFO’s Pensacola Beach offers a fun walk through a network of mildly challenging holes nestled along the Gulf. The fun doesn’t stop there! Beyond mini golf, UFO’s also offers arcade games, ice cream, hotdogs, and nachos... even access to the pool next door!
Paddle with that Glowing Feeling
Bike and Dine the Bistros
One of the beautiful things about Pensacola Beach is the diversity of great eateries and relaxation joints within a short distance. Whether you brought a bike or rented one from the many rental places, you can cruise the beach bike paths to dine, and even take a sojourn through the eclectic neighborhoods.
Cruise west and you can linger over lunch between hammock hangs at The Salty Rose Bar & Grill, or head a few more miles down to the beach’s iconic destination for freshly shucked oysters at Peg Leg Pete’s!
Libations, Libations, Libations … The Mighty, Mighty Bushwacker
Every place has a culture carrier —something that represents the flavor and culture of a community. Ours is the Bushwacker — an ice-creamy rum-laced concoction that was born in the Virgin Islands, but like many outlanders and ex-pats, found its forever home here.
Linda Taylor Murphy brought the drink to the Sandshaker Lounge on Pensacola Beach in 1977, but now you can find it just about everywhere in our bistros and establishments.
They’re all good, but I’ll share my favorites here: The Sandshaker’s of course, is the O.G. and a must-try. Paradise Bar and Grill has a compact, hand-made version of the Bushwacker, as does Peg Leg’s which offers a 151 floater on top.
Catch the game… with a Beach Vibe!
Pensacola loves its football teams and just because you’re chilling at the beach doesn’t mean you can’t get in some gridiron screen-time.
We have many home teams — the New Orleans Saints, due to proximity, are claimed by many of us. But so are the Tampa Bay Bucs and the Atlanta Falcons. Some folks even dig the Jags. College ball is our cathedral, however, and the home teams are whoever you want: Alabama, Auburn, Florida and Florida State —and even LSU and Georgia.
You can find many a spot to watch: try the massive outdoor screen at Laguna’s. Casino Beach Bar and Grill also has multiple screens and packages so you can get your game on!
Enjoy Our Beautiful Beaches — Enjoy and Tread Lightly
The crowds gather at our popular Casino Beach spots —where we have all the amenities you would need to complete a day of salty fun. But what if you want some place quiet? We’ve got you covered.
You can see the sites on our Public Beach Access Map, but here’s a snippet so you can see what suits your style.
Pensacola Beach West View Webcam
The live camera offers you a view of Pensacola Beach looking west.
IMPORTANT: Our local wildlife depends on our shores as well, so watch for signs and tread lightly. Sea turtles etch their nests into the Gulf sand from May through October — and the hatchlings need our protection to keep the natural cycles going. Least terns, plovers and black skimmers also nest on shore, so during the spring and summer nesting seasons, stay clear of the marked nest areas.
We even have an Eco Trail to guide you. Entertain and educate the kiddo’s (and adults too) with a stroll along the Pensacola Beach Eco Trail. Along this interactive trail you’ll find educational signs tell the wonderful story of our ecosystem and the plants and animals and habitat that are vital to our island.
Is Pensacola Beach good for a day trip?
Pensacola Beach is perfect for a day trip, offering everything from relaxing on sugar-white sand to exploring local attractions like the Pensacola Beach Fishing Pier, the Pensacola Beach Boardwalk, and Fort Pickens.
Can you visit Fort Pickens on Pensacola Beach?
Yes, Fort Pickens is open to visitors and located within the Gulf Islands National Seashore. It’s a great spot to explore history, bike scenic trails, and enjoy quieter beach areas. Learn more on the Gulf Islands National Seashore page.
Are there water activities on Pensacola Beach?
Pensacola Beach offers a variety of water activities including paddleboarding, kayaking, dolphin cruises, and boating. You can explore options on the Pensacola water activities page.
Is there a central place for shopping and dining on Pensacola Beach?
Yes, the Pensacola Beach Boardwalk is a central hub with restaurants, shops, and waterfront views all in one place.
What’s the best way to get around Pensacola Beach?
Visitors can drive, bike, or take the Pensacola Bay City Ferry to explore different areas of the beach, downtown Pensacola, and Fort Pickens—all while enjoying scenic views from the water. You can also checkout more options, like the Island Trolley from Memorial Day to Labor Day, here.
