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 the beach's sandy landscape is enhanced by a mixture of trees and other
vegetation.
The Fort Pickens area, at the island's western end, offers not
only pristine beaches but also bits of history. The area is popular with divers, boaters,
and campers who spend nights at the park's campground.
Gulf Islands National Seashore
stops just west of the Pensacola Beach 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 no interruptions
for commercial development.
Fort Pickens is the best-known of the fortresses built more than
160 years ago. Pickens was held by Union troops during the Civil War and later was the
place where Geronimo, the Apache leader, was imprisoned.
Fort Pickens, which has been largely restored and is open for
free public tours, is the hub of seashore activities, with a handy Visitor Center, museum
and auditorium offering information.
Pickens was one of three forts
built in the 1820s to guard the entrance to Pensacola Bay. Fort McRee on Perdido Key is
largely gone now, but it is not forgotten. Picnickers and boaters often head to McRee. And
Fort Barrancas has a long and storied past, including a stint under control of Confederate
troops in the Civil War. Barrancas, located aboard Pensacola Naval Air Station, offers not
only history but scenery, too, with wooded areas, picnic grounds and a nature trail.
The Naval Live Oaks Area on Santa Rosa Sound in Gulf Breeze
offers more than 1,000 acres of woods and waterfront ideal for walking and wading.The
preserved area is home to plenty of plants, small animals and birds. Nature trails and a
picnic area provide great settings for examining the live oaks, which are unusually strong
and naturally curved.
The Seashore headquarters also is located at the Naval Live Oaks
Area, along with a display of Indian artifacts and an orientation show explaining 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.