Beaches and golf make Pensacola sparkle year-round
Sugar-white sands and rolling dunes extend for miles, merging
with the Gulf of Mexico as it sends waves surfing onto the shore.
Here and there a few humans walk or play or sit on the beach,
watching the weather and feeling their daily worries trickle away.
Is this some remote island in winter?
No, it's a typical day, summer or winter, on miles of beaches
that grace the Pensacola area. Sure, you can find crowded beaches if you're in the mood
for company, but you also can easily avoid long lines and enjoy the shoreline by yourself.
The beauty of Pensacola's pristine beaches is protected by federal and
state reservations which preserve them from development. Gulf Islands National Seashore
and Big Lagoon State Park offer huge swaths of untrammeled, easily accessible beaches open
to the public.
The waves come in all sizes. While the Gulf may send surf
crashing ashore, more sheltered bodies of water on both Pensacola Beach and Perdido Key
provide wonderful wading areas for children. And pools are available at most motels and
condominiums for travelers who like smooth swimming.
Summer is the heart of the season for families of tourists, but
spring and fall are shoulder seasons with pleasures of their own, and winter provides
snowbirds and retirees a restful refuge on the beaches.
Relatively little traffic and generally low prices beckon
beach-goers to the Pensacola area. And they will find not only sun and surf but also
plenty of nightlife and special events.
For those who want to get a bird's-eye view of Gulf Coast
wildlife, a trip to Big Lagoon State Park is a must. There, a tall observation tower lets
you see birds and other creatures in a habitat of woods and marshes, and campgrounds are
available.
Perdido Key even won a clean bill of health in "The
Physician's Guide to Quality," a publication aimed at medical doctors.
"Today, with its measured population, building and economic
growth, Perdido Key on the Gulf of Mexico is the perfect setting for your vacation,"
the magazine reported. "It offers a selection of superior accommodations, dining in
quaint restaurants and shopping in pleasant shops. Water sports abound, but should you
tire of the beach and sand, there's boating, deep-sea fishing, diving, golf and tennis to
entertain the family" Sounds like a prescription for the perfect vacation.
Seashore means coastlines, not long lines
The Gulf Islands National Seashore hopscotches along the coast from South
Mississippi to West Florida/preserving unspoiled beaches, open spaces and historic sites
once taken for granted.
Pensacola is in the heart of the National Seashore, which flanks
the city with a pair of barrier islands Perdido Key to its west and Santa Rosa
Island to its east.
These islands offer miles of white sand, emerald waters,
eye-catching vistas and a wide selection of lodging and nightlife when the sun goes
down. The Gulf Islands National Seashore also is home to forts and other historic
attractions. The preserved seashores are perfectly clear.
"Come to our beaches. Wiggle your toes into the
powdery white sand. Gaze out over the waves crashing at sea, then breaking gently on the
shore. Listen to the surf, the seagull cries, the wind whistling through the dune grasses
and sea oats and you'll come to understand why we've worked so hard to preserve this
natural splendor," says "The Insider's Guide to Florida's Great Northwest,"
a 500-page collection of facts and tips about the area.
The federal seashore, created in January 1971, covers a total of
150 miles, including 52 miles in West Florida. In keeping with that spirit of preservation
and recreation, the State of Florida and the cities of Pensacola and Gulf Breeze also have
popular expanses of protected parklands which complement the seashore.
Pensacola,
Florida - Located on Floridas Panhandle, close to the
Alabama border, Pensacola draws visitors looking for the ideal seaside vacation to play or
relax on the sugar-white sand beaches next to the soothing Gulf of Mexico surf. Visitors
enjoy fun in the sun and all its inherent activities, from wind-surfing to fishing, to
exploring a plethora of historic sites and taking in the show-stopping Navy Blue Angels
precision flying team.