Travel Guide to Pensacola Beach, Florida
We visited Pensacola Beach with a large group of friends to celebrate the marriage between one of our best guys and his incredibly beautiful, loving wife!! Pensacola is a beach town and it highly leans towards a spring break/family vacation vibe. There were also THREE other weddings happening here, so its also extremely popular for destination beach weddings as well. While there are some outdoor activities, most of them revolve around the beach or Pensacola Bay. We stayed for three nights right on the beach.
When should you go?
We visited Pensacola during the lovely month of October. I'd be lying if I didn't say almost every blog I read, for every city, country, etc. says to visit their town during the Autumn season, but its absolutely true! What's not to love about Fall vacations? The water was so warm and the sun was perfect. I'm not one who usually gets in the ocean for a long period of time because I get cold easily, but I stayed in it for a couple hours. Even during my morning walk on the beach, I was able to walk right into the water because it was so warm! Another good time to visit would be April - May. Before school lets out for the year and before hurricane season hits.
Where should you stay?
We stayed in the lovely Hilton on the beach. The views of the ocean were truly incredible, and if you have little ones, the pools would be the perfect spot for them! They have two great outdoors pools and one is zero entry for the toddlers to enjoy. I would definitely recommend a room with a balcony overlooking the ocean. They have standard rooms, to suites that have a king bed and bunk beds for the kids. Prices range from $280 per night to $700+ for suites.
Hotels not your thing? Well check out this adorable home named Molokai Villas which is a two bedroom home that features: 1 King, 1 Queen and 2 twin beds. It has an incredible view overlooking the river and a huge balcony to spread out on to enjoy morning coffee or evening board games. This home ranges from $85 a night to $420 depending on what time of the year you stay.
Another option would be to stay in this adorable pink house right on the water! This home is located right down the road on Navarre Beach. This home features 3 bedrooms with 1 king bed, 1 queen bed, 4 twin beds and 1 sofa bed. The price range is from $162-$586 depending on what time of year you travel.
What should you do?
1. Spend the day at the beach! You need to have at least one lazy day on the beach while in Pensacola. Grab a book, sand toys and your favorite drinks and head down to The Dock. If you stay in this area (near the water tower), you're convenient to restaurants, bars, boating docks, restrooms and all the hotels. The ocean is beautiful and the sand was so clean and white.
2. Rent some fun water toys. Rather you want to explore the area, or just enjoy the views, definitely check out a private sailboat, kayak, paddleboard or jet ski. There are so many options to do so while in Pensacola! If you enjoy the water, but aren't one to want to sit around, I highly recommend taking your day into the water on a fun toy. A sailboat can be rented out for a couple hours for around $300 total. A kayak or paddleboard can be rented as cheap as $15 an hour!
3. Make sure to checkout the Lighthouse and Maritime Museum. Climb 177 steps up the historic Pensacola Lighthouse for one of the most beautiful views on the Gulf Coast. Built in 1859, the lighthouse is located on board NAS Pensacola. The tower offers stunning views of Pensacola Bay, the Pensacola skyline, and the historic Navy Yard.
Please note: NAS Pensacola is currently open only to current DoD ID card holders and certain Veterans Health Identification Card holders. Unless sponsored through the Trusted Traveler program, no civilians will be granted access onto the base at this time.
3. Take a ride in the Gopher Carts. Wanting to head somewhere that's a little too far to walk to? Be sure to check out the golf carts with Gopher Carts. The driver comes and picks you up and takes you where you need to go. This is not only so much fun to see the town on a golf cart, but its also free! You only need to tip your driver. How awesome is that?
4. Be sure to visit the Sneaky Tiki. Follow the hidden path through the Pensacola Beach RV Resort and it leads you to the coolest bar, located right on the beach. It was voted “Best of the Coast” Beach Bar on Pensacola Beach for 2020 & 2021! You can enjoy signature craft cocktails, local brews, friendly service and one of the best views of the water. They have daily specials, Live Music, free cookouts and special events throughout the year. And with plenty of loungers, chairs or cabanas, there is a ton of space to spread out and hang with friends. The staff truly was so sweet and we even met a bartender who grew up in Indiana. Such a small world!!
Where should you eat?
1. Peg Leg Pete's - The only place in Pensacola where you can currently get oysters and lobster! This one was recommended by a lot of locals we ran into, and travelers who visit the area year after year. They have everything from fresh seafood, to fried food, to a French dip.
Peg Leg Pete’s is committed to serving great food at very reasonable prices by courteous, friendly people!
2. Flounder's Chowder House - This restaurant is located right on the beach. Your group can choose to sit outside in the sand, or inside on windy days. There is an outside bar, playground for kids, and even a volleyball court so you can stay and play after your meal. Flounder's serves incredible seafood dishes, heavenly steaks, burgers, pastas and beer boiled shrimp. It is definitely a must when you are in the area!
As always, if you're looking to book a trip, be sure to reach out to me at leann@traveletp.com. I'm happy to give you more recommendations and my planning services are always free. When looking to book a vacation, remember to support small businesses and book with your local travel agent!
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