27+ Can’t-Miss Issues To Do in Pensacola for Household Enjoyable

Do you wish to expertise all the fantastic thing about the Emerald Coast?  Go to Pensacola and loosen up on the wonderful seashores, strive superior meals vehicles and eating places, observe wildlife, go to historic forts, take a tour, and revel in water sports activities whereas staying in a snug rental! This Florida jewel is not going to disappoint.

Whether or not your journey consists of children or simply the 2 of you — and whether or not you wish to loosen up or present your adventurous aspect — there are many wonderful issues to do in Pensacola.

WATER SPORTS AND ADVENTURES

DOLPHIN CRUISE

Take a 2-hour Pensacola Seaside Dolphin Cruise with Wave Cutter Charters and see these glad animals of their pure setting. You might also see stingrays, sea turtles, and sharks alongside the way in which. Along with marine life, you’ll additionally get the prospect to see the Pensacola Lighthouse, Fort Pickens, and the Pensacola Navy Base.

Guide It: 2 Hour Pensacola Seaside Dolphin Cruise

PARASAILING

Parasailing is without doubt one of the finest water adventures on the market when you ask me.  It’s enjoyable and thrilling, but additionally fully enjoyable.

Radical Rides provides parasailing above the white sandy seashores of Pensacola. Strap in and prepare to be amazed by the sweetness that’s throughout you!

KAYAKING

Outside adventurers know that kayaking is a superb strategy to benefit from the stunning waters surrounding Pensacola.

Outside Gulf Coast provides kayak leases and supply to a kayaking spot of your alternative. And when you don’t know precisely the place you wish to kayak — no worries! They might help you out and provide options on the perfect locations to go.

DIVE CHARTER

You already know Pensacola has stunning seashores and emerald water – however what in regards to the magnificence beneath the water?  Time to test it out with a scuba journey!

Niuhi Dive Charters provides dive charters to the perfect dive spots round.  They’ll take you out on their boat to the perfect spots so that you’ll be capable of see the wonderful sea life, spear fish, and possibly even see a shark! You’ll go to places like wrecks, pure reefs, synthetic reefs, even the plane provider USS Oriskany.

Learn Extra: First Timer’s Information to Florida Panhandle Seashores: Destin, 30A, Panama Metropolis & Past

PENSACOLA WITH KIDS

THE PENSACOLA CHILDREN’S MUSEUM

The Pensacola Kids’s Museum is the proper place to your children to discover. Positioned in downtown Pensacola, the kids’s museum provides hands-on actions.

The Discovery Gallery provides a glimpse into years previous, as children 10 and underneath can see what life was like in colonial Pensacola.  The second flooring takes a deeper look into Pensacola’s historical past, that includes reveals on Native Individuals and the Civil Battle, amongst others.  There’s additionally a play gallery for all ages.

PENSACOLA MESS HALL

On the lookout for one thing to do on a wet day with the children?  Head to Pensacola MESS Corridor! 

MESS Corridor (which stands for Math, Engineering, Science & Stuff!) is a very distinctive science museum for teenagers.  This museum permits children to develop into actual scientists by asking questions and creating experiments.  It’s hands-on science for teenagers, and they’ll love studying via play!

PENSACOLA’S HISTORIC VILLAGE

For the older children in your group, how about spending a day exploring Pensacola’s Historic Village?

The historic village consists of 28 properties, together with museums and an archaeological path.  Included is the T.T. Wentworth, Jr. Florida State Museum, which is full of historic artifacts.  You’ll additionally discover the Museum of Commerce, the Kids’s Museum, and the Voices of Pensacola Multicultural Museum.

Guided excursions are provided Tuesday-Saturday at 11am and 1pm.

TUBING

Tubing is the proper water exercise for individuals of all ages in your group!  And taking a Blackwater River Tubing Journey is the way in which to go.

The Blackwater River is a spring-fed river with a sluggish present, so you possibly can get pleasure from a soothing tubing journey with the entire household.  Lease a tube cooler and produce alongside snacks and drinks, then cease at one among 30 seashores alongside the way in which.  And for an additional payment, even your pup can take part on this enjoyable journey, which ends on the historic Deaton Bridge.

GULF BREEZE ZOO

With children, you possibly can by no means go improper with a visit to the zoo!

With over 800 animals on 50 acres, the Gulf Breeze Zoo has loads to discover.  Feed a giraffe or an alligator, take a Safari Practice Experience via the African protect, go to the petting space, or watch birds take flight within the Australian aviary.

SPLASH CITY ADVENTURES

Able to get moist and wild?  Then it’s time to take your children to Splash Metropolis Adventures, previously generally known as Sam’s Enjoyable Metropolis, one among Pensacola’s most wonderful amusement parks.

Splash Metropolis Adventures is half water park, half theme park, and a complete lot of enjoyable.  With arcade video games, and indoor inflatables too, spending a day right here ensures your children will sleep in tomorrow.

PERDIDO KIDS PARK

The Perdido Youngsters Park is a picture-perfect park the place children of all ages can have a blast!

This stunning park encompasses a gated toddler space along with the bigger play space for older children.  There are rock partitions, wood duplicate Blue Angels airplanes and race vehicles, slides, swings, and a drumming space too!

For folks there are bigger bench swings, picnic tables, water fountains, and loos on website.

GULFARIUM MARINE ADVENTURE PARK

Positioned an hour away from Pensacola in Fort Walton Seaside, you’ll discover the Gulfarium Marine Journey Park!

Residence to marine animals — together with dolphins, sea lions, stingrays, turtles, alligators and snakes — the animal lovers in your group will love a go to right here. They’ve received exhibits, reveals, coaching demonstrations, and extra.

Guide It: Common Admission Ticket to Gulfarium Marine Journey Park

If you wish to rise up shut and private with the animals right here, they provide many various wonderful animal encounters, resembling…

• Uncover Turtles Encounter – This turtle-filled encounter for ages 5 and up will educate you that and extra whereas introducing you to our seafaring Loggerheads, quite a lot of freshwater turtles, and even our land-loving African spurred tortoises. Go behind the scenes to study their long-running sea turtle rescue and rehabilitation program. 

• Uncover Penguins Encounter – Feed, contact, and play with an lovable and vigorous African penguin. This expertise, for ages 9 and up, is coach led and provides distinctive particulars in regards to the species.

• Uncover Sea Lions Encounter – Rise up-close and private as you contact and feed California sea lions! Ages 9 and up are invited to affix in on the enjoyable with the trainers, and work together with these vigorous and intelligent mammals.

• VIP Coach for the Day – For ages 13 and up, this fully-immersive coaching day teaches individuals what it takes to be a marine mammal coach. Work side-by-side resident consultants to be taught all in regards to the park’s marine mammals, their habits, biology, their interactions with people and extra.

• Youngsters Reptile Safari – Calling all children ages 3 and up! Come and meet the cold-blooded residents of the Gulfarium Marine Journey Park on a Youngsters Reptile Safari. Rise up shut and even contact lizards, turtles, and extra!

EXPLORE PENSACOLA NAVAL BASE

There may be a lot to be taught and discover at Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola, that you could spend a whole day there!  Nearly 60,000 college students begin their flight coaching right here, however for you – there’s numerous enjoyable available.

PENSACOLA LIGHTHOUSE AND MUSEUM

Listed on the Nationwide Register of Historic Locations, this 160-year-old lighthouse has a complete lot of historical past (and possibly some ghosts)!

You (and your closed-toe sneakers) can climb the 177 steps to the highest, and revel in stunning views of downtown Pensacola, the Navy yard, and Pensacola Go – the place the Pensacola Bay meets the Gulf of Mexico.

On the bottom flooring, the museum options data on native historical past and the Civil Battle.

And since many individuals imagine the lighthouse is haunted, be sure you hold your eyes peeled for something…out of the atypical.  Climbers have to be a minimum of 44″ tall or 7 years previous. Open at 9am day by day.

NATIONAL NAVAL AVIATION MUSEUM

One of the common trip locations within the Pensacola Bay space, the Nationwide Naval Aviation Museum is a must-do exercise.

On this museum you’ll discover a duplicate plane provider to discover, greater than 150 plane from the Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard, a 3-D flight simulator, artifacts, and a movie of their theater.  Common admission is FREE and it’s open day by day.

BLUE ANGELS

If you wish to see the world well-known Blue Angels in individual, a go to to the Naval Base is the way in which to do it!

The Blue Angels carry out within the annual Homecoming Air Present each November, however they begin training in March.

The flight demonstration squadron practices over the museum most Tuesday and Wednesday mornings starting at 11:30 and lasting about an hour.  Arrive early, as a result of the car parking zone fills up quick!  Admission is free.

FORT BARRANCAS

Take a stroll via Fort Barrancas and expertise army historical past first-hand.

Inbuilt 1844, Fort Barrancas was used through the Civil Battle by Accomplice troopers who had been preventing towards Union forces camped at Fort Pickens.

A self-guided tour map is on the market to obtain, and you’ll discover the fort and stand the place cannons had been as soon as fired so way back.  The fort is open 9am Thursday-Monday.

FREE OR CHEAP IN PENSACOLA

STATE PARKS

Massive Lagoon is the physique of water that connects the mainland to Perdido Key and the Gulf of Mexico – and Massive Lagoon State Park sits straight on the shores of its namesake.

This stunning state park is thought for its swimming, boating, fishing, paddling, mountaineering, and tenting. Don’t neglect to climb the 3-story remark tower and take within the stunning views! A go to right here will solely price you $6 for parking.

Go to  the seashores at Perdido Key State Park and spend the day swimming, fishing, or absorbing the solar. Boardwalks take you over the delicate sand dunes and straight to the wonderful seashores. Parking is just $3.

Benefit from the nature trails at Tarkiln Bayou Protect State Park.  You possibly can take within the views of the bayou by way of the boardwalk, or hike throughout the complete park to Perdido Bay.  Parking is $3.

GULF ISLANDS NATIONAL SEASHORE

Stretching for 160 miles alongside the Gulf Coast from Florida to Mississippi, the Gulf Islands Nationwide Seashore is a significant a part of Pensacola. Fort Pickens, Johnson Seaside, and Naval Stay Oaks in Pensacola are all part of the nationwide seashore.

An annual move to Gulf Islands Nationwide Seashore stops is $45.  Or you should buy one among their weekly move decisions: $15 for pedestrians and bicyclists, $20 for motorcyclists, or $25 per automobile. Entrance payment areas embody each Fort Barrancas and Fort Pickens, the place you possibly can tour the historic buildings and observe wildlife.

Recognized for his or her stunning white sand seashores, the Okaloosa Space, Perdido Key Space, and the Santa Rosa Space additionally require the doorway payment, however are greater than value it!

PALAFOX MARKET

Take pleasure in a morning farmer’s market journey to Palafox Market, positioned in downtown Pensacola on Saturdays from 9am to 2 pm.

Open rain or shine, distributors right here provide recent produce, baked items, vegetation, artwork, and antiques.  Palafox Market brings anyplace from 1,500 to 4,500 guests each Saturday!  Parking is free.

SIGNATURE EVENTS IN PENSACOLA

• Style of the Seaside is a pageant held in October that exhibits off fantastic Pensacola delicacies. On Saturday, admission is free to the all-day occasion that options reside music, a child’s space, chef tastings, a cook-off, and native eating places providing their signature dishes for $5.

• One Friday night each month, you possibly can get pleasure from Gallery Evening in downtown Pensacola. That is one evening the place artwork galleries, boutiques, and eating places open their doorways for an evening full of artwork, music, and meals.  Admission is free.

• Each November, Pensacola is residence to Foo Foo Fest – an eclectic mixture of occasions that has one thing for everybody! Dance, artwork, meals, the Blue Angels, and music are all featured through the weeks-long pageant.  Most occasions are free, with just a few that require a ticket.

PENSACOLA BEACH

Pensacola Seaside was voted Florida’s finest seashore in USA At present’s Reader’s Alternative Awards for 2018, and it’s simple to see why!  Emerald waters and white sandy seashores make this one stunning journey. PS. Fido is welcome.

With enjoyable eating places and retailers lining the Pensacola Boardwalk, and a pier that leads you out into the Gulf of Mexico, you should have a lot to do and discover whereas at this wonderful seashore.

Learn Extra: 17 Finest Florida Seashores for Households to Chill out and Unwind

MUST-DO GUIDED TOURS

HOP ON HOP OFF PENSACOLA BUS TOUR

The Hop on Hop off Pensacola Bus Tour is a fairly self-descriptive title of what this tour represents!  For $30, you get a 50-minute guided tour, and all day to hop on and off an air-conditioned, 1930’s bus at 14 stops round Pensacola. 

Stops at museums, eating places, Pensacola Village, and forts are included. 

PENSACOLA ARCHITECTURE TOUR

Led by a neighborhood architect, the Pensacola Structure Tour takes you round city to be taught in regards to the various factors that affect the structure seen right here.

This 1.5-hour tour is taken in an air-conditioned bus, and can take you thru downtown Pensacola.

PENSACOLA LANDMARK CITY TOUR

Find out about Pensacola’s common landmarks on the Pensacola Landmark Metropolis Tour.  This 2-hour tour consists of tales in regards to the metropolis’s companies, buildings, and monuments.  As soon as aboard the air-conditioned bus, you’ll hear all kinds of tales – from the weird to the humorous. 

THE LONGEST SIEGE

Calling all historical past buffs!  Hear all about colonial Pensacola with the 2-hour personal tour referred to as The Lengthyest Siege.  You’ll be taught why the American Rebels and Spain needed the British out of Florida, and why it was the longest siege of the American Revolution.

PENSACOLA CIVIL WAR HISTORY TOUR

If you wish to be taught extra about how the Civil Battle affected this space, the Pensacola Civil Battle Historical past Tour is for you. This tour features a stroll via Fort Barrancas, as you study how Pensacola was largely destroyed through the struggle.  You’ll have an skilled tour information, and can discover downtown Pensacola too! 

OTHER PENSACOLA TOURS

• Ghost and Graveyards Tour – Don’t convey your children on this one! This tour is supposed for a mature viewers and can go away you chilled to the bone.  A cemetery tour, and tales about ghosts and hauntings will hold you spellbound on this 2-hour tour via a few of Pensacola’s sizzling spots. 

• The Andrew Jackson Tour – Need to study all the overall who captured Pensacola…twice?!  The Andrew Jackson Tour is for you!  You’ll discover one of many forts he conquered, see a few of the former battle websites, and be taught extra about his ways. 

• Naval Heritage Tour – The Naval Heritage Tour by Go Retro Excursions is a brief tour that gives you plenty of details about Pensacola’s army historical past.  You’ll tour the air base, earlier than ending on the Naval Aviation Museum. It’s an ideal intro earlier than exploring extra of the realm.

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