No bucket list vacation destinations would be complete without visiting the perfect beaches of Florida. And if in my child-free days, I would plop down on a plane seat to take straight off to Miami with its vibrant night scene, models-filled beaches, and a world-class art scene, now years later with two kiddos in tow our options have been adjusted a lot.
So when choosing the spot to vacate in Florida, we decided to take it slow and close to Texas and explore Pensacola and Destin, aka The Emerald Coast on the Gulf of Mexico.
Surprisingly, Pensacola took my vacation experience to a new level. It was a short but quite an eventful trip. Our 3-day stay sailed by in the blink of an eye.
1. Pensacola Beach
First things first, sugar-white stretches of coast and crystal clear waters are what drew us in to the Florida Panhandle in the first place.
But before we got to all this beach paradise in Pensacola Beach, we had to go through a toll bridge. To get to Pensacola Beach on Santa Rosa island from Gulf Breeze (the Pensacola Metropolitan Area) is the $1 toll charge. You pay only once when entering the island. It’s free when going back into town. Cash is no longer excepted in person due to social distancing measures.
We purchased our SunPass at a local Publix for $15, which includes a one-time fee of $5 and a minimum opening balance of $10. There’s no fee to access or park at the beach.
The scene didn’t disappoint. The beach looked like as you would see it on a promotional postcard. We came late in the day with fewer people on the beach and lifeguards taking off for the day. So we enjoyed almost private views of the sun setting against the emerald waters and played tag with waves to our heart’s content.
For those looking for sunset views or fishing, there’s the pier stretched above the Gulf waters and for the nominal price of $2.25 (all day access for observers) you can take a scenic walk to enjoy the sight. For fishing and other passes, visit the
Pensacola Beach Gulf Pier.
2. The Boardwalk, Okaloosa Island
On the second day, we headed toward Destin. It’s only a one-and-a-half-hour drive from Pensacola. Our impromptu stop at the Okaloosa Boardwalk to grab a bite turned out to be a full day stay.
Located within a few miles from Destin Harbor, The Boardwalk has it all from souvenirs and gelato shops to family-friendly eateries with live music and an open terrace overlooking the Gulf. It's all rested on the water’s edge.
By far, our favorite place to stop for a bite and enjoy the emerald views was
Al's Beach Club. It’s nothing fancy, but if traveling with the kids I cannot recommend it enough. The food and service were good, but what made us stay is the splash pad area for the kids.
Needless to say, dining with young kids is rarely an exiting let alone lasting experience. All you can think of is getting seated and having your food pronto. Anything else is rarely expected. Not this time though. Happy and busy kids at the splash pad are what made our family dining exceptional and lasting, we’ve had the time to enjoy the food and the live music later that day.
3. Downtown Pensacola
Downtown Pensacola wasn’t on the top of my can't-miss-things list. However, I am very glad we had a few hours to wander around downtown and see the sights. We started at Palafox Pier with waves crashing over the pier and lapping at our feet.
Then we went in and out of many antique and souvenir shops along the way,
until stopped by a few pelican statues and the “
Wish You Were Here” mural (2-98 E Romana St., Pensacola, Fl) to snap mandatory touristy photos for the future family get-togethers.
Floating plant baskets and floral displays frame the main street providing a pleasant shade on the scorching southern afternoon.
And if you feel like giving your legs a good stretch and learn a move or two, watch your step for the Foxtrot clue.
You’ll find galleries, shops, murals, museums, and restaurants to visit around every corner.
Bodacious Shops are a shopper's paradise with a coffeehouse, roastery, olive oil shop and a kitchen wares store are all under the same roof.
Chances are, you've already heard about the
McGuire's Irish Pub in Pensacola. It's known for its long-standing tradition to staple autographed one dollar bills to the walls and ceiling. The rumor is those bills are worth of two million dollars. Not to miss this local landmark look for the green double-decker bus filled with manikins.
Address: 600 E Gregory St, Pensacola, FL 32502
4. Seville Historic District
On the edge of downtown, there’s a hidden and prettiest gem —
Seville Historic District. Tucked away from the busy streets, this little square is perfect for aimless wandering if you enjoy the old times and history. You will find a hundred plus one beautiful houses, all different and unique in their own way.
Unfortunately, we didn't have enough time to marvel at many Victorian and Creole facades, but even that short trip that we took to stroll through the streets made quite an impression on my husband who is hardly an architecture enthusiast.
Some of the well-known houses are the Museum of Commerce, the Museum of Industry, Julee Cottage, and the T.T. Wentworth Jr. Florida State Museum if you fancy a visit.
After enjoying the beach this much, I threw my plans for visiting the other sights, such as the Pensacola Lighthouse and The National Naval Aviation Museum, out of the window. So I suppose we’ll just have to plan another Emerald Coast trip then.
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