From Wikitravel

Pensacola [1] is a historic beach city in northwest Florida, in the United States of America. The city is home to the Pensacola Naval Air Station, the National Museum of Naval Aviation and many historic districts that skirt the downtown area. Surrounded on three sides by water, the Pensacola area is full of history, shipwrecks, beaches and spectacular vistas.

[edit] Understand

[edit] History

Pensacola has a long and complicated history, predating any other European settlement in the United States of America. The area was first settled in 1559 by the Spanish conquistador Tristan de Luna, whose expedition failed within two years due to hurricanes, poor management, famine. The settlement wasn't reestablished until 1696, when the Spanish sent a new settlement party and established a city near current day Fort Barrancas. This new Pensacola soon became the largest city in Florida, and was an important strategic port. Over the course of Pensacola's 450 year history, it has changed hands seven times between five different countries, earning it the nickname, "The City of Five Flags." In recent history, Pensacola's economy has simplified to focus on military and tourism, with a bustling and growing service economy. However, with the trend towards consolidation of military bases, and the growth of other tourist cities on the Gulf Coast, Pensacola finds itself in a period of change. Political debate in the community is vibrant, and there is little consensus about what Pensacola's future should be.

[edit] Climate

Often described as having "three-and-a-half seasons," Pensacola has a subtropical climate with short, mild winters and hot, often humid summers. Pensacola's famous beaches are especially popular during the spring and summer, when the hot weather attracts sunbathers and swimmers. During the fall and winter, snowbirds from northern climates often vacation here, taking advantage of relatively warmer temperatures. Pensacola is vulnerable to hurricanes and tropical storms, especially between June 1 and November 30, a time called the hurricane season. In the event of a hurricane approaching the local area, alerts will be posted on local radio and television stations, advising what to do.

[edit] Get in

Pensacola is located in Escambia County, Florida's westernmost county, at the tip of the "panhandle" near the border with Alabama.

[edit] By air

• Pensacola Regional Airport (IATA: PNS), [2]. Currently served by six airlines providing direct service to Houston George Bush Intercontinental, Atlanta, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Chicago O'Hare, Memphis, Charlotte, Detroit, Tampa, Orlando, and Fort Lauderdale.

[edit] By car

• Interstate 10 from New Orleans to Jacksonville. The finger extension of Interstate 10 runs to downtown Pensacola and is called I-110.

• Highway 90 runs east-west from Mobile to Milton and Crestview along the same path as Interstate 10.

• Highway 98 also runs east-west but on a more southerly route through neighboring Gulf Breeze east to Fort Walton Beach and west to Fairhope, AL and Mobile.

• Highway 29 runs south from the Alabama line and is a good connector for cutting over from Interstate 65 that runs north-south through Alabama.

[edit] Get around

Driving is by far the best way to get around the Pensacola area. With the exception of downtown or a few historic areas of interest, parking is plentiful and cheap. Downtown has street parking and a few parking garages. Most streets run north-south/east-west. A few of the major streets change names as they run through the city, one of the most notable ones being (from east to west) Bayou Blvd, Brent Lane, Beverly Pkwy, Michigan Ave, and Saufley Field Road. A map will come in handy. A good rule of thumb is that you will eventually run into some sort of water whether you go east, south or west in town.

There are bicycle lanes throughout town, but most people will not notice them unless they are actually using them for their intended purpose. Downtown Pensacola is great to see from a bike, especially the old Seville area. Pensacola Beach has designated walking/biking paths that are usually much safer.

• Ecat is Pensacola and Escambia County's transit service. [3] It provides bus service to a county-wide area, stopping at local shopping centers and hospitals.

[edit] Taxis

• Yellow Cab of Pensacola 850 433-3333

• Pensacola Taxi 850 456-3000

• Metro Cab of Pensacola 850 433-9999

• Americab Express 850 490-0794

[edit][add listing] See

• Fort Pickens A historic pentagonal fort with the distinction of being the only southern fort to remain under Union control during the Civil War. Due to damage from Hurricane Ivan in 2004, and further damage by Hurricane Dennis a year later, the road leading to the fort is closed to vehicular traffic. Interested visitors can access the fort by boat, or overland on the damaged road on foot or bicycle; visitors attempting the trip overland should be prepared for a long, fourteen mile round trip. [4]

• Naval Air Station Pensacola [5] Home of the U.S. Navy's Blue Angels [6] and the National Museum of Naval Aviation [7]. Also located on the grounds of the Naval Air Station are the Pensacola Lighthouse and Fort Barrancas, a military fort built on a location that has been occupied by various military installations since the 18th century. The base is open to non-military visitors who wish to visit the Museum and historic attractions; they will be given a temporary visitor's pass at the gate.

• Historic Downtown Pensacola [8]This group of historic buildings, called the Pensacola Historic Village includes many museums such as the T.T. Wentworth Jr. Museum, a museum of history, The Museum of Commerce and the Museum of Industry. The Old Christ Church built in 1832 is also included in this group of buildings and has been recently refurbished. Guided tours are offered of several of the homes in the quaint, shady area around Seville Square.

• Pensacola Museum of Art[9] 407 S. Jefferson St. This museum is housed in the Old City Jail, a Spanish revival structure in downtown Pensacola. The collection focuses mainly on art from the 20th and 21st century and has many well known artists represented in their collection including Alexander Calder, Miriam Schapiro and Louis Comfort Tiffany. They present many special exhibitions throughout the year.

• St. Michael's Cemetery[10] Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, this cemetery is located on eight acres across the street from the Pensacola Civic Center, on the edge of the historic district. It is one of the oldest cemeteries in Florida, officially designated by the Spanish in 1807.

• Veterans Memorial and Wall South A large park along the Pensacola bayfront honoring Veterans of all of America's Wars. Includes a one-half scale version of the Vietnam Memorial in Washington D.C. and other monuments dedicated to World War I and II.

[edit][add listing] Do

• In early fall enjoy some tasty seafood and good entertainment at the Pensacola Seafood Festival.[11]
• Fiesta of Five Flags[12] celebrates Pensacola's long and colorful history with a local treasure hunt, downtown parade, a boat parade, and a reenactment of the landing of Don Tristan DeLuna, the Spanish conquistador who first set foot in Pensacola in 1559. Usually occurs in early June.
• The Pensacola Civic Center [13], featuring many well known bands and live concerts.
• The Pensacola Ice Pilots [14]. The Pilots are a minor league hockey team located out of 'The Hangar' at the Pensacola Civic Center.
• Net Strike Arena [15], the area's premier computer gaming facility and internet cafe. If you are looking to game this is the place for you.
• Big Lagoon State Park[16] 10 miles southwest of Pensacola. A coastal state park that sits between Perdido Key and the Gulf of Mexico. It has hiking trails, boat ramps, day-use facilities and camping areas.
• Diving opportunities include the newly "reefed" aircraft carrier Oriskany approximately 24 miles southeast of Pensacola Pass. Another dive includes the USS Massachusetts that was used as a target for artillery fire after being decommissioned in 1919. She sits in 30 feet of water near Pensacola Pass and is known to be an unpredictable dive.

[edit] Learn

Pensacola has many local public and private elementary, middle and high schools. It has four public high schools, including Pensacola High School [17] that has been ranked by Newsweek magazine as one of the top 1000 high schools in the country.

• University of West Florida 11000 University Pkwy. 850 474-2000. [18] Located north of town on a nature preserve, UWF is a public university offering undergraduate and graduate programs and is a member of the Florida state university system. It is significantly smaller than most state schools in Florida with a student population of roughly 10,000 in 2007. The school offers many research opportunities and has a highly regarded program in archaeology.

• Pensacola Junior College 1000 College Blvd. 850 484-1000 [19] PJC is the local public community college and offers over 100 degree programs. The campus also houses the local public television station and conducts music and theatre events open to the public throughout the year.

[edit][add listing] Buy

• duh, 501 N. 9th Ave. 850 439-0640. This garden and design center in a unique setting provides outdoor and indoor ideas for your home. The environment of the store is a sight to see and they spend a lot of energy finding pieces from the around the world to enhance their stock. A great place to dream and make a wishlist!

• Cordova Mall A large indoor shopping mall located at the intersection of 9th Avenue and Bayou Boulevard. It is surrounded by many small shopping areas and provides a great place to wander around on a rainy day.

• University Mall Located directly off Interstate 10 on Davis Hwy, it is the second mall in the Pensacola area; beginning in 2008, major renovations to the mall will convert it to an outdoor shopping center. The anchor stores Belk, Sears, and JCPenney will remain, and new businesses will open, replacing the current leaseholders.

• Downtown Pensacola, [20]. Offers an eclectic shopping experience, mainly on Palafox Street and the surrounding area. Popular shops include Distinctive Kitchens, an upscale kitchen accessories store that features cooking classes from local chefs, Running Wild, a specialty store for runners and joggers, and Dollarhide's, an upscale music store. Most businesses are only open weekdays, while being closed or open limited hours during the weekends.

• Pensacola Beach Shopping is great for all beach needs and souvenirs. Check out the large souvenir stores on the beach to get t-shirts, beach towels, hats, magnets, sunglasses. Other shops have more special items, like snow globes, local artwork, shells and surfboards. Check out the local favorite Waterboyz Surf Shop[21] for surfboards, boogie boards, skim boards, skateboards and all sorts of great beach gear. Plus they also have an indoor skatepark.

• Eden Garden Supply 5044 N Palafox St, (850) 439-1299, Hydroponic and Organic gardening shop. Learn how to grow your own fruits, vegetables and flowers year round or how to get a jump on the growing season every year. Indoor and outdoor growing systems, check with our staff for anything from prebuilt beginner systems to help in building your own special growing areas. Only hydroponics shop between New Orleans, Gainseville and Atlanta.

[edit][add listing] Eat

Located on the Gulf Coast, with good harbors, Pensacola has access to a wide variety of fresh seafood, and many local restaurants proudly use fresh caught fish and shellfish in their meals. Many local restaurants offer daily specials featuring the best of the day's catch. Being in the southern United States, Pensacola also features many restaurants that specialize in traditional southern cooking

• Angus Seafood Meats Spirits, 1101 Scenic Hwy, 850 432-0539, Delivery: 850 484-2992. American Steakhouse and Pub. The atmosphere is upscale, but not stuffy. They take their service very seriously, and are fast and friendly.
• China Doll Buffet, 6895 N 9th Ave Ste D, 850 484-8338. Delivery: 850 484-2992. The decorations at this chinese restaurant are breathtaking, and the mouth-watering delectable food is cooked to perfection. The General Tso's Chicken, Crab Legs, Mongolian Chicken, Peppered Chicken, Fried Wings are recommended at this excellent eating establishment for the individual or the entire family. On Friday and Saturday evenings, you can enjoy fresh, snow crab legs along with the other all-you-can-eat items.
• eat!, 286 N. Palafox St., (850)433-6905. [22] is a trendy, metropolitan restaurant in downtown Pensacola, run by Chef Alphonse "Lee" Lucier IV. The menu features traditional Southern style foods, prepared in new, modern way. The restaurant is often packed during the busy downtown lunch period, and there may be a wait during dinner service.
• Flounder's Chowder and Ale House, 800 Quietwater Beach Rd, 850 932-2003. Enjoy great seafood, wonderful service, and fun entertainment for the whole family on Pensacola beach.
• The Fish House, 600 S Barracks St, 850 470-0003, is well known by locals for its unique, imaginative meals and beautiful views overlooking Pensacola Bay. Chef Jim Shirley offers a unique menu with fresh, local seafood, and traditional southern food updated with modern twists. The restaurant's signature dish, the 'Grits a Ya Ya,' features grits with smoked gouda cheese, applewood smoked bacon, and Gulf shrimp, and is an example of the unusual food you can expect here.
• The Global Grill, 27 S. Palafox Pl, 850 469-9966, is an eclectic restaurant, featuring cuisines from around the world, located in the heart of downtown Pensacola. The upscale restaurant features tapas, small appetizers ranging from $4-20, and diners are encouraged to order multiple tapas and share with their companions; ordering an entree isn't required. The decor is its most memorable feature; both elegant and eclectic, the Global Grill has a modern, chic feel, with eye-catching local art on the walls and unique table settings for each table. The globally-inspired food, the communal aspect of sharing tapas, and the modern atmosphere have made the restaurant popular for couples and elegant group get-togethers.
• Hunan's Chinese Restaurant, 3102 East Cervantes Street, 850 438-7641, Delivery: 850 484-2992. Voted "Number One People's Choice Chinese Restaurant" in the area. Favorites include Steamed Fish in Ginger as well as the eggrolls. Open daily for lunch and dinner and offers a wide array of traditional Chinese and Oriental dishes on the menu, in addition to huge buffet tables. This quality Chinese food is available for delivery as well. Don't miss their sister restaurant next door, Horizen, offering what some call the best sushi in Pensacola.
• Jerry's Cajun Cafe & Market, 6205 N. 9th Avenue, 850 484-6962, gives a taste of Cajun country in Pensacola! Its relaxed dining environment serves up Louisiana favorites like gumbo, crawfish tails, boudin (a specialty sausage), etouffee, and jambalaya. It also has a small market that sells hot sauce, cajun mixes, cajun seasonings and coffee. Damaged by a kitchen fire in February 2007, the restaurant reopened in late October the same year.
• McGuire's Pub and Restaurant, 600 E. Gregory St, 800 22-IRISH. [23], is a popular Irish-themed pub and restaurant. One of the most well-known restaurants among locals for its quirky sense of humor, incredible hamburgers grilled with a special spice blend, and in-house beer brewery. During evenings, live entertainment and music can get rowdy. First-time visitors are expected to pin a dollar bill to the wall with their name on it, a tradition that has resulted in over a half-million dollars of money papering the walls and ceiling!
• O'zone Pizza Pub, 1010 N. 12th Ave., 850 433-7336, Offers home-made flavor, fresh ingredients, cold beer, and great music, all at a price even starving college students can afford!
• Skopelos on the Bay, Scenic Hwy, 850 432-6565, [24]. A romantic, fine dining restaurant overlooking Pensacola Bay, it specializes in fresh local seafood and steaks. A Pensacola landmark for almost 50 years!

[edit][add listing] Drink

• Try a local favorite, the Bushwacker, anywhere on Pensacola Beach. The frozen bushwacker, made with Kahlua, rum, and ice cream, is a perfect tropical addition to a lazy day on the beach! The drink is popular enough to be honored by the Bushwacker Festival, hosted at the Pensacola Beach Boardwalk every year in late summer.

• O'Charley's, 6245 N. Davis Highway, 850 484-8936, Delivery: 850 484-2992. A sports bar and restaurant chain featuring seafood dishes such as Whiskey Creek Salmon, Blackened Rainbow Trout and Caribbean Coconut Shrimp Dinner.

• Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St, 850 434-6211. A collection of entertainment and dining venues located in downtown Pensacola. First opened in 1967, beginning with Rosie O'Grady's bar, it has since been expanded to include two more pubs, banquet halls, a fine-dining restaurant (Lili Marlene's,) billiards hall (Fast Eddie's,) and dance club (Phineas Phogg's.) During the evenings, Seville Quarter is a popular party spot for college students and military men and women.

• Flora-Bama Lounge, [25]. Located on the Florida-Alabama State Line, this institution is famous for the Annual Mullet Toss, where participants attempt to throw a local fish, the mullet, across the state line. After a few disastrous hurricanes and the growing number of high-rise condos surrounding it, the Flora-Bama, despite rumors, is still going strong and has a great schedule of events. From chili cook-offs to musical entertainment and an annual polar bear dip, this place is in a league of its own!

• Jerry's Drive-In, 2815 E Cervantes St. While not actually a drive-in, this is a great place to sit and enjoy a cheap beer while watching the locals eat delicious hamburgers, fried anything and onion rings. Famous locally for their double-bacon cheeseburgers and great prices, there is usually a line to get a table. Be sure to bring cash, since credit cards aren't accepted at this mom and pop place!

[edit][add listing] Sleep

Pensacola offers dozens of beach-front hotel from small weathered motels to full service resorts. Vacation rentals are also a popular option for large groups or extended stays.

Many hotels are still recovering from Hurricanes Ivan, Rita, and Katrina. Be sure to confirm with you hotel that all their facilities, including pools and beach access, are available.

• Bay Beach Inn, 51 Gulf Breeze Parkway, 850 932-2214.
• Best Western Pensacola Beach Resort Standard motel on the beach. Small pool. Breakfast included. $160 queen/two doubles.
• Courtyard by Marriott Pensacola, 700 E Chase St., Toll Free: 800-321-2211 Phone: 850-439-3330, Fax:850-439-3338, [26]
• Crowne Plaza - Pensacola Grand Hotel, 200 East Gregory, 850-433-3336, [27]. Across the street from the Pensacola Civic Center this high-rise hotel offers newly renovated rooms (completed after various hurricanes swept through the area). The lobby and meeting rooms are housed in the historic L&N train depot attached to the glass atrium of the high-rise hotel.
• Hilton Pensacola Beach Gulf Front, 12 Via de Luna Dr., Toll Free: 866-916-2999,Phone: 850-916-2999, Fax: 850-934-0891, [28]
• Microtel Inn & Suites Pensacola, 8001 Lavelle Way, (850) 941-8902, [29].
• New World Inn, 600 S. Palafox St., [30]. A lovely location in downotown Pensacola, each room is historically themed to reflect Pensacola's long history.
• Noble Manor B&B, 110 W. Strong St.
• Ramada Bayview, 7601 Scenic Highway, +1 850-477-7155, [31].
• Ramada, 603 Pinestead Rd, , +1 850-476-9091, [32].

[edit] Stay safe

The beaches at Pensacola are a popular draw for visitors, but tragically, many swimmers get killed in drowning accidents. Following a few safety tips can keep you safe in case something goes wrong. When visiting the beaches, you may notice color coded flags flying near popular areas; these flags denote swimming hazards.

• Green Flag - Low hazard, calm water, swim with caution.
• Yellow Flag - Medium hazard, moderate surf and/or currents. Rip tides may be present.
• Red Flag - High hazard, high surf and/or strong currents. Rip tides are highly likely. No one should be swimming, but occasionally, surfers take advantage of the high waves during red flag conditions.
• Double Red Flag - Water closed to public.
• Purple Flag - Dangerous marine life, typically jellyfish, or occasionally red tide.

Rip tides are powerful currents that occur when water trapped near the shoreline escapes back into the ocean through a break in an underwater sandbar. They can drag even powerful swimmers out to see for a very long distance. To escape a rip tide, do not panic! If you are near a lifeguard station, you can wave your arms and shout for help. Wait until the rip tide is no longer carrying you out further from land, then swim parallel to the shoreline to escape the current. Then, you can swim back towards shore. Tropical weather can be a hazard, especially during the Atlantic hurricane season from June 1 to November 30. In the event of an approaching hurricane or tropical storm, pay attention to local television and radio news alerts, who will tell you what to do and what to expect. Typically when a hurricane is imminent, people staying at beaches, low-lying areas, and trailer homes will be asked to evacuate further inland. Hurricane-safe shelters will be provided to anyone who needs them.

[edit] Get out

• Perdido Key - about 16.5 miles away from downtown Pensacola. Home to Big Lagoon State Recreation Area, Gulf Island National Seashore, Fort Mcree, Flora-Bama and much more.
• Mobile- about 50 miles away.
• Gulf Shores, Alabama - a touristy beach town about 40 minutes from Pensacola with more great beaches, restaurants and tourist traps.
• Foley, Alabama has a huge outlet mall. Head west on Hwy 98, across Perdido Bay until you reach Foley.
• Milton a small town about 9 miles east of Pensacola that annually hosts the Scratch Ankle Festival, which highlights musical talent, arts & crafts and children's festivities.
• Adventures Unlimited [33] is about 12 miles north of Milton and offers canoeing, kayaking and tubing through the Blackwater River State Forest.
• Fort Walton Beach

This is a usable article. It has information for getting in as well as some complete entries for restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please plunge forward and help it grow!