Nature & Wildlife

Immerse Yourself in Pensacola's Natural Wonders

Pensacola and Perdido Key beaches stretch through miles of unspoiled shoreline. Visitors won’t have to travel far to see the unique wildlife that calls the Gulf Coast home.

You don’t have to be a bird lover to thrill at the osprey and Great Bald Eagles circling and diving after fish.

While you’re strolling those sugar-white sand beaches, watch for tracks made by the elusive sea turtles who nest on our shores. Loggerhead, Green and Kemp’s Ridley— and on rare occasions even the massive Leatherback sea turtle — crawl ashore here in the darkness.

In the water, you'll see dolphins and rays gliding through the waves.

Birding Trail

Grab your cameras and binoculars and start your birding journey along our coastline.

5 Places to See Dolphins in Pensacola

Spotting dolphins in the wild are on the top of the sand-bucket lists of many Pensacola Bay Area visitors.

view from the dolphin cruise in pensacola

Discover 5 Unique Trails in Pensacola: Offbeat Hikes for Outdoor Lovers

Five offbeat and unique Pensacola hikes mix adventure and intrigue—from a seawall stroll for panoramic water views to an abandoned fishery decked in graffiti.

Make Way for Sea Turtles in Pensacola

It’s an amazing time of year again on the shorelines of Pensacola Beach and the Gulf Islands National Seashore (GINS). Sea turtle hatchling season is in full swing all over Florida, where about 90 percent of sea turtle nesting in the U.S. takes place.

5 Places to Paddle in Pensacola

For over 30 years, I’ve enjoyed the coastal waters of the Pensacola Bay Area. In that time, I’ve discovered so many beautiful areas to enjoy the water for kayaking.

Hiking Scenic Pensacola

Let me guess, you brought some hiking shoes along to the beach and you’re expecting to make a 2‑hour trip to get to the nearest place with a secluded trail, woods or a quiet waterway. Well, you and your hiking shoes are in luck.

Migrate to Pensacola to Explore the Great Florida Birding & Wildlife Trail

In Pensacola, we’re lucky to be located under the superhighway for birds, the Atlantic Flyway that stretches 3,000 miles from the Caribbean to the Arctic tundra on which a kaleidoscope of amazing birds migrates to and from their wintering grounds. We’re the official gateway to the Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail of which we boast 10 stops.

Pensacola offers an outdoor mecca of trails for the adventure enthusiast

Adventure (noun) An exciting or very unusual experience; participation in exciting undertakings or enterprises. Experience the ultimate adventure in Pensacola. With rolling hills, bountiful bayous, lazy lagoons, natural national seashores and the emerald green waters of the Gulf, there’s a gamut of outdoor activities that are yours for the taking.

Discover The Best Ways to Experience a Pensacola Sunset

What better place than Pensacola to watch a sunset? One of the most breathtaking sights in this city is its stunning sunsets. As the sun slowly descends below the horizon, it paints the sky with a magnificent array of colors leaving onlookers mesmerized.

Diving in Pensacola

Pensacola is a hidden secret if you want to scuba dive in the northwest Florida panhandle. We hear it all the time, “I didn’t realize the diving was so good in Pensacola!”. Let us tell you a little secret; it is so good!