Pensacola is ideal for ecotourists who want to explore the outdoors.

Ecotourism may be the new buzzword among trendy travelers, but this Gulf Coast area has been delighting nature-lovers, families and outdoors people for decades.

"To borrow a line from an old country song, we were ecotourism before ecotourism was cool," says Sheilah Bowman, director of the Pensacola Convention & Visitor Information Center.

West Florida has kept its natural beauty intact for several reasons. It's "Florida's Last Frontier," the final undeveloped part of the Sunshine State. Creation of the United States' second national seashore—in 1971—blocked much of the development that stunned other areas. And Pensacolians have great respect for history and nature, two traditions that are part of their Southern upbringing.

Outdoor opportunities stretch from the shimmering Gulf of Mexico to the rustic "Canoe Capital of Florida," where creeks, rivers and woodlands beckon.

The Gulf Islands National Seashore, which showcases unspoiled beaches, wide open spaces and historic sites once taken for granted. 'Pensacola is in the heart of the National Seashore, which flanks the city with barrier islands — Perdido Key (Spanish for Lost Island) to the west and Santa Rosa Island, better known as Pensacola Beach, Co the east. Those islands offer miles of white sand, emerald waters and eye catching vistas.

The federal seashore covers 52 miles in West Florida. In keeping with the spirit of preservations and recreation, the State of Florida and the cities of Pensacola and Gulf Breeze also have protected popular expanses of parklands.

Pensacola, for example, has fewer than 65,000 residents, but it provides 92 recreation areas— parks, libraries, a golf course and more parks. Photographers will have a field day at The Bluffs. This city park on Scenic Highway offers a stunning view of Escambia Bay; walkways along the bluffs make for easy viewing and spectacular camera shots.

Edward Ball Nature Walk, nestled on the University of West Florida campus, rambles through a tree-shaded bayou where visitors can feed fish and turtles. Indeed, UWF is one of the most tranquil of all college campuses; it is set amidst 1,000 acres of woodland.

Perdido Key has some of the best beaches anywhere—and it has statistics to prove it, too. Perdido Key State Recreation Area was ranked No. 12 in a 1994 survey listing the best beaches in the nation. The survey asked geographers and coastal experts to rank beaches on the basis of 50 factors including water quality, sand, cleanliness, congestion and accessibility.

The beach, which is easily accessible from paved roads, offers both ample space for those who want solitude and amenities for folks who want picnic shelters, showers and restrooms.

Santa Rosa Island has two tracts in the national seashore, and each tract has two sides. On one side, rolling dunes and the Gulf of Mexico beckon. On the other side, Santa Rosa Sound offers generally smooth sailing and a sandy landscape dotted with vegetation.

Fort Pickens, on the island's western end, offers not only pristine beaches but also bits of history. Geronimo was held prisoner there, and the fort had an early part in the Civil War. The area is especially popular with divers, boaters, and campers.

Gulf Islands National Seashore stops just west of Pensacola Beaches commercial area, a popular spot for bathers, shoppers and diners. The preserved seashore then resumes just east of the last residence on Via de Luna. Here, the seashore stretches out for about 16 miles of sand and surf with plenty of elbow room between dunes.

If you feel the need for woods and fresh water, look no further than nearby Milton, where a variety of canoe liveries offer all the accommodations you might need for a day or a week away. Families with small children especially like the shallow rivers which offer safety and sand bars that make great sites for picnics.

Canoes, tubes and kayaks co-exist on the rivers, which draw pristine water from Alabama forests. Blackwater State Recreation Area keeps development at bay and offers campers, hikers and canoeist plenty of room to roam.

"Pensacola is Florida the way Florida used to be," says Bowman. "Pensacola had ecotourism before the word was even invented."

Pensacola, Florida - Located on Florida’s 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.

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