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All Articles for : Pensacola
Pensacola's Underwater Treasures
Divers went down. Target 2 turned out to be a ship that carried bricks and probably dates from just before the Civil War. Target 17 turned out to be the mother lode, the X on the treasure map, the find of the century.
Tags: history, museums, historical_sites, diving, Pensacola,
Free and Easy in Pensacola
With beaches as secluded or activity-packed as you wish, history in a fun sense and things that go whoosh and boom in the sky, Pensacola presents a whole new side of Florida that families will never forget (and budgets will never regret).
Tags: Pensacola, Perdido_Key, beaches, museums, dining, family,
Coastal Character
Pensacola anchors Florida's scenic northwest edge. The unspoiled shore flanks the city with barrier islands – Perdido Key Beach to the west and Pensacola Beach to the east – but reminders of its colorful Spanish heritage are never far away.
Tags: Pensacola, beaches, history, nature,
Northwest Florida Overview
The “Forgotten Florida” is that stretch of the Sunshine State from Pensacola east to almost Tallahassee. In olden days, it was a sparsely populated region of thick pine forests, with the old colonial city of Pensacola acting as its hub.
Tags: Apalachicola, Carrabelle, DeFuniak_Springs, Destin, Fort_Walton_Beach, Grayton_Beach, Gulf_Breeze, Marianna, Mexico_Beach, Milton, Navarre, Panama_City_Beach, Panama_City, Pensacola, Perdido_Key, Port_St_Joe, Santa_Rosa_Beach, Seagrove_Beach, Seaside, St_George_Island,
New and Notable in Northwest Florida
Nightlife beckons. If it’s blues you want, hit the newly opened Blues Café situated in downtown on South Alcaniz Street. The café gives local blues groups a stage nearly every night.
Tags: Pensacola, Port_St_Joe, Apalachicola, Panama_City_Beach, Panama_City, Destin, Fort_Walton_Beach,
Northwest Florida Beach Guide
Spend your vacation swimming, trying to spot dolphins in the Gulf, and shelling. Don’t forget to bring your fishing rod – plenty of people cast right from the shore.
Tags: Pensacola, beaches, Santa_Rosa_Beach, Seaside, Panama_City_Beach, St_George_Island,
Scouting the Northwest's Art Galleries
Belmont offers a series of art classes, many lasting for only a day or even a few hours. Learn how to blow glass, sculpt pottery, create glass beads or design your own jewelry.
Tags: Pensacola, Destin, Fort_Walton_Beach, Beaches_of_South_Walton, Grayton_Beach, Santa_Rosa_Beach, Panama_City, art, museums, culture,
Pensacola's Natural Lure
The Nature Conservancy calls Pensacola a hotspot for biodiversity, and you'll see that at its best along the area's bays and bayous.
Tags: Pensacola, nature, parks, canoeing, boating, sailing, fishing, diving,
Four Elements of Florida Beaches
Deep blue water laps the broad shoreline, and candy-colored lifeguard stations add a festive touch to the scenery. The most striking sights, though, are the throngs of gorgeous sun gods and goddesses that congregate in this playground of the rich and famous.
Tags: Grayton_Beach, beaches, Destin, Santa_Rosa_Beach, Fort_Walton_Beach, Cocoa_Beach, surfing, Clearwater_Beach, South_Beach, Pensacola,
Beach Party
Conveniently perched on the Florida-Alabama state line, it hosts the Annual Interstate Mullet Toss, a wacky April tournament where participants heave a dead mullet from Florida into Alabama.
Tags: Venice, beaches, events, festival, Pensacola, Cocoa_Beach, surfing, Fernandina_Beach, Key_West, Big_Pine_Key, Destin, fishing, Miami, Miami_Beach, South_Beach, Fort_Myers_Beach, Delray_Beach, Clearwater_Beach, Dunedin, Siesta_Key, Nokomis, Stuart, St_Augustine, Jacksonville, music, Panama_City_Beach, camping, St_Petersburg,
Art All Around Us
One of the oldest Colonial buildings in St. Augustine, the Prince Murat House, is named for Prince Achille Murat (Napoleon Bonaparte’s nephew) and contains antiques that have some historical connections to the Murat family.
Tags: architecture, Miami, tours, historical_sites, Pensacola, Seaside, Lakeland, Sarasota, Palm_Beach, Boca_Raton, Winter_Park, St_Augustine, canoeing, kayaking,
Stars and Stripes in Northwest Florida
Military folk and civvies alike flock here for more than the trolley tour. Admire such legendary aircraft as an F-14 Tomcat, much like the one Tom Cruise piloted in "Top Gun."
Tags: Pensacola, flight, history, museums, diving,
Shipwrecked
I’m talking Florida shipwrecks, where crystalline waters harbor wrecks teeming with marine life, and the history books have plenty of colorful stories to tell.
Tags: snorkeling, Florida_Keys, Key_West, Key_Largo, Daytona_Beach, Palm_Beach, Pensacola, boating, historical_sites, history, diving,
Go Dog, Go!
St. Pete Beach’s Don CeSar, the region’s signature 1928 pink palace, allows dogs, and even performs doggie massages.
Tags: Tampa, Winter_Park, Miami_Beach, Key_West, beaches, parks, resorts, hotels, bed_and_breakfasts, Beaches_of_South_Walton, Dunedin, St_Pete_Beach, St_George_Island, Pensacola, dining,
Jet Set
Each April, the start of the flying year, more than 160,000 people “drop in” to Lakeland for the seven-day Sun ’n Fun Fly-In which features daily air shows, a nighttime aerobatics display and, occasionally, fly-bys courtesy of the Blue Angels.
Tags: Lakeland, Tallahassee, history, Lake_Wales, museums, Pensacola, Merritt_Island,
Generation M (for Museum Going)
Imagine leaving your home forever to travel halfway around the world and battle the enemy in a strange land of alligators and dark-skinned giants.
Tags: Boca_Raton, Boynton_Beach, Fort_Lauderdale, Fort_Myers, Homestead, Jacksonville, Lakeland, Marathon, Miami, Naples, Palm_Beach, Pensacola, Ponce_Inlet, Sanibel_Island, Sarasota, Stuart, Tallahassee, Tampa, West_Palm_Beach, Panama_City, museums, family, St_Augustine, aquariums,
Planning a Florida Family Reunion
From renting a picnic shelter to reserving a block of campsites, Florida's parks are sometimes overlooked as reunion hotspots.
Tags: Kissimmee, Palm_Coast, Pensacola, reunions, family, resorts, parks,
Pensacola's Family Attractions
How often, after all, do you run into a pair of turkeys on the sidewalk? These full-feathered creatures seem to get a kick out of "gobbling" for giggling children.
Tags: Pensacola, zoos, family, museums, historic_districts, flight, historical_sites, art, piers,
Parrot Heads
This is a place of bikini tops and Bloody Marys for breakfast. Where the talk is about fishing, the weather and what port of call is next.
Tags: Amelia_Island, Fort_Lauderdale, Gulf_Breeze, Key_West, Marco_Island, Miami, Miami_Beach, Naples, Nokomis, Panama_City_Beach, Pensacola, Ponce_Inlet, Sarasota, South_Beach, St_Pete_Beach, Tampa, Venice, nightlife, beaches, resorts, hotels, dining,
Natural Beaches
If you count all bays and inlets - where you'll find the "secret" sandy getaways usually known only to locals - Florida has nearly 8,500 miles of shoreline.
Tags: Amelia_Island, Apalachicola, Cape_San_Blas, Fernandina_Beach, Grayton_Beach, Key_West, Pensacola, Ponce_Inlet, Ponte_Vedra_Beach, beaches, nature, wildlife, sealife, birding, camping, St_Augustine, parks, Florida_Keys, Tampa, New_Smyrna_Beach,
Northwest Florida Culinary Standouts
As construction rises on the Beaches of South Walton, so do fine dining opportunities.
Tags: Apalachicola, Beaches_of_South_Walton, Grayton_Beach, Panama_City_Beach, Pensacola, Sandestin, Destin, dining,
Northwest Florida Cuisine
Finally, Ryanne serves me a dessert of peaches infused with and covered in a caramel mixture, topped by homemade vanilla ice cream. My notes for this read something like, "Oh my God, oh my God."
Tags: Apalachicola, Pensacola, dining,
Beaches 101
Seekers of relaxation and tranquility go to Dunedin's state-protected Honeymoon Island and Caladesi Island for a serene visit with nature.
Tags: Amelia_Island, Anna_Maria_Island, Beaches_of_South_Walton, Cape_San_Blas, Captiva_Island, Cedar_Key, Clearwater, Clearwater_Beach, Cocoa, Cocoa_Beach, Daytona_Beach, Dunedin, Flagler_Beach, Fort_Lauderdale, Fort_Myers, Fort_Walton_Beach, Fort_Myers_Beach, Fort_Myers_Beach, Grayton_Beach, Key_Largo, Key_West, Marco_Island, Miami, Naples, Navarre, New_Smyrna_Beach, Palm_Beach, Panama_City_Beach, Pensacola, Sanibel_Island, Sebastian, St_Pete_Beach, Venice, beaches, parks, camping,
The Florida Trail
If you're from a mountainous state, don't assume "flat" Florida hiking is boring. Florida ranks third in the nation for botanical diversity, with more than 80 distinct plant communities.
Tags: Apalachicola, Ocala, Okeechobee, Pensacola, Suwannee, White_Springs, camping, hiking, nature,
Walk on the Wild Side
The grand sight of a whale splashing in the water is not usually associated with Florida. But northern right whales choose our northeastern coastal waters, almost exclusively, to give birth in winter months. They are among the most endangered species of large mammals in the world.
Tags: Big_Pine_Key, Crystal_River, Marco_Island, Naples, Orlando, Oviedo, Pensacola, Sanibel_Island, Sarasota, Sebastian, Tallahassee, Titusville, Vero_Beach, nature, wildlife, manatees, dolphins, Everglades_National_Park, Florida_Keys,
Florida's Retro Theme Parks
Many of the rides are highly embellished versions of rides you might see at the state fair - scrambler, Ferris wheel, Tilt-O-Whirl, bumper cars.
Tags: Homestead, Islamorada, Key_West, Orlando, Pensacola, Tampa, St_Augustine, museums, nature, theme_parks, water_parks, gardens, St_Petersburg, wildlife, zoos, aquariums, sealife,
Tracing Florida's Native American History
De Soto's army left no monuments or headstones to mark their passing. But the De Soto National Memorial, located where the conquistador is believed to have come ashore, captures this moment in history that would ultimately shape the great European nation's role in "La Florida."
Tags: Bradenton, Charlotte_Harbor, Crystal_River, Estero, Pensacola, Tallahassee, Tampa, history, historical_sites, museums, culture,
Music to Our Ears
All around the state, musical organizations recognize the need to build audiences.
Tags: Amelia_Island, Clearwater, Cocoa_Beach, Fort_Lauderdale, Fort_Myers, Gainesville, Jacksonville, Key_West, Lake_Wales, Lakeland, Miami, Miami_Beach, Mount_Dora, Naples, Ocala, Orlando, Palm_Beach, Pensacola, Sarasota, Tallahassee, Tampa, music, St_Petersburg, Melbourne,
Family Must-Sees
Your kids will be kissed and hugged by dolphins and sea lions respectively at Theater of the Sea in Islamorada.
Tags: Clearwater, Crystal_River, Fort_Myers, Gainesville, Islamorada, Jacksonville, Kissimmee, Marianna, New_Smyrna_Beach, Orlando, Palm_Beach, Pensacola, Tampa, Venice, West_Palm_Beach, Winter_Haven, Walt_Disney_World, SeaWorld, Universal_Studios, Busch_Gardens, Kennedy_Space_Center, museums, wildlife, sealife, family, Siesta_Key, Fort_Walton_Beach, theme_parks, zoos, water_parks, aquariums, Everglades_National_Park, Daytona_Beach,
Great Motorcycle Rides in Northwest Florida
Whether you follow Highway 98 down the coast past some of America's best beaches or head inland to explore the two-lane country roads that snake through Florida's famous state and national forests, there's a ride here for you.
Tags: Apalachicola, Grayton_Beach, Milton, Pensacola, Seagrove_Beach, Seaside, Tallahassee, motorcycling,
Go Off-Road
Osceola National Forest has 200,000 acres of wilderness with dozens of unnumbered forest roads that are open to dirt bikers.
Tags: Apalachicola, Dade_City, Gainesville, Jacksonville, Lake_City, Ocala, Pensacola, Tallahassee, motorcycling, parks,
High-Flying Days
Nearby Gulf Breeze has been dubbed Florida's UFO capital because of the many sightings reported there. Rumor has it that the UFOs are really experimental military aircraft.
Tags: Cocoa, Fort_Walton_Beach, Gulf_Breeze, Lakeland, Orlando, Pensacola, Tallahassee, Titusville, flight,
Eyes to the Sky
The Air Force Thunderbirds and Army Golden Knights rip through the skies over Punta Gorda to climax this two-day spectacular, more than 25 years old. T
Tags: Daytona_Beach, Fort_Lauderdale, Fort_Myers, Fort_Myers_Beach, Gainesville, Jacksonville, Jacksonville_Beach, Lakeland, Pensacola, Punta_Gorda, Stuart, Titusville, events, flight,
Pensacola Scenic Bluffs Highway
The Pensacola Scenic Bluffs Highway is a unique driving experience offering panoramic views of Escambia Bay from giant bluffs that are the highest points along Florida's entire coastline.
Tags: Pensacola, Scenic_Highway, driving_tours,
Florida's Lighthouse Trail
Through its lifetime, this lighthouse was hit several times by Union forces across the bay at Fort Pickens, sustained lightening strikes, and even the Charleston Earthquake of 1886 and a tornado, but the structure held firm and is now operated by the U.S. Coast Guard.
Tags: Daytona_Beach, Egmont_Key, Key_West, Pensacola, Tampa, lighthouses, driving_tours, Key_Biscayne, St_Augustine,
Big Water Heritage Trail
While in Belle Glade don't miss the Torry Island Bridge, the oldest manually operated swing bridge still in use in Florida.
Tags: Clewiston, Fort_Myers, Miami, Okeechobee, Palm_Beach, Pensacola, West_Palm_Beach, trails, tours, fishing, history, hiking, driving_tours,
Great Florida Birding Trail
Comprised of 564,961 acres, the Apalachicola National Forest was established in 1936 and hosts the largest red-cockaded woodpecker population in the world.
Tags: Apalachicola, Gulf_Breeze, Marianna, Pensacola, Tallahassee, Wakulla_Springs, birding, nature, driving_tours, parks,
Pensacola Bay Area and Milton
In the midst of the historic village, Seville Square, a grassy park graced by a romantic gazebo and a canopy of majestic oak trees, serves as a respite and a popular location for a variety of unique festivals.
Tags: Milton, Pensacola, museums, driving_tours, historic_districts,
City Profile: Pensacola Beach
Pensacola Beach offers an array of shopping, lodging, restaurants, beach bars and entertainment - all with minimum travel, traffic and cost.
Tags: Pensacola,
City Profile: Pensacola
After all, what else would you expect from a city named the seventh most polite city in the nation?
Tags: Pensacola,
Pensacola and Beyond
Paradise found – that's what many visitors think the first time they walk barefoot in the squeaky sugar sand next to the tourmaline-green water of the Gulf.
Tags: Gulf_Breeze, Pensacola, historical_sites, driving_tours, Tours_on_a_Tankful, flight,
Fort Walton Beach, Destin and Seaside
Destin, where anglers fall hook, line, and sinker for deep sea fishing, offers the quickest deepwater access along the Gulf - so close that you can fish and still see the shore.
Tags: Fort_Walton_Beach, Pensacola, Seaside, museums, fishing, driving_tours, Tours_on_a_Tankful,
North Florida Outdoor Adventure Trail
Wakulla, meaning "mysteries of strange water," is one of the largest and deepest freshwater springs in the world, with points at 185 feet.
Tags: Apalachicola, Cape_San_Blas, Grayton_Beach, Gulf_Breeze, Live_Oak, Milton, Pensacola, Steinhatchee, Suwannee, Wakulla_Springs, parks, nature, wildlife, driving_tours, music, canoeing, kayaking, camping,
Pensacola to Tallahassee
It's clear to see why this portion of Highway 90 has been designated a Scenic Highway before you leave the Pensacola city limits, as the road hugs the edge of wooded bluffs hanging 100 feet over Pensacola Bay.
Tags: Apalachicola, DeFuniak_Springs, Marianna, Milton, Pensacola, Quincy, driving_tours, Scenic_Highway, parks, Tallahassee,
Pensacola Bay Area Beaches
This 1,471-foot pier extends across emerald-green waters beyond two sand bars and leaves you with breathtaking views of the shoreline.
Tags: Gulf_Breeze, Navarre, Pensacola, beaches, disabilities_travel,
Pensacola Bay Area
Here you can take a long, secluded shoreline stroll along the deserted, powder beaches of another part of the National Seashore.
Tags: Gulf_Breeze, Milton, Navarre, Pensacola, history, beaches,
Awesome Family Adventures
Take lots of pictures because no one's going to believe your kids didn't make up this magical river.
Tags: Clearwater, Clearwater_Beach, Cocoa, Cocoa_Beach, Crystal_River, Islamorada, Madeira_Beach, Milton, Orlando, Panama_City_Beach, Pensacola, Steinhatchee, family, theme_parks, kayaking, canoeing, snorkeling, parks, water_sports, Everglades_National_Park, Universal_Studios, St_Petersburg, Port_St_Joe, fishing,
Fish On! Homosassa and the Gulf Coast
Fishing from kayaks continues to grow in popularity, and it's no wonder: the quiet craft draw only inches of water, allowing you to sneak up on fish in areas that most anglers can't access.
Tags: Apalachicola, Cedar_Key, Crystal_River, Fort_Walton_Beach, Naples, Pensacola, Sarasota, Steinhatchee, Tampa, fishing, water_sports, Homosassa,
Tournament Shootouts
Is it possible to win more than $150,000 just by going fishing? You bet your boat shoes.
Tags: , Key_Largo, Pensacola, Stuart,
Surfing for Fish
To determine if crabs, shrimp and the like are around, look for the food chain a step higher: wading birds, pelicans, cormorants, stingrays and small sharks.
Tags: Bonita_Springs, Carrabelle, Charlotte_Harbor, Cocoa_Beach, Estero, Fernandina_Beach, Fort_Walton_Beach, Gulf_Breeze, Indian_Rocks_Beach, Mexico_Beach, Miami_Beach, Pensacola, Pompano_Beach, Steinhatchee, fishing, Marco_Island, Florida_Keys,
Ethnic Diversity
The sponging industry continues to draw swarthy seamen and their families, making the neighborhood around the sponge docks a living museum.
Tags: Clearwater, Delray_Beach, Eatonville, Key_West, Miami, Orlando, Palm_Beach, Pensacola, Tampa, Tarpon_Springs, Ybor_City, St_Augustine, culture, history,
Florida's Performing Arts
When you have a yen for lighter-than-air dance, when you yearn for the beauty of form-made-fluid, a night at the ballet, and nothing else, will satisfy.
Tags: Gainesville, Jacksonville, Miami, Orlando, Palm_Beach, Pensacola, Sarasota, Tallahassee, music, theater, culture,
Must-Sees for African-American History and Culture
Here Martin Luther King stayed while supporting local civil rights movements. It was also home to the man who taught Ray Charles, a student at the local school for the deaf and blind, to read music in Braille.
Tags: Amelia_Island, Daytona_Beach, Eatonville, Fort_Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Key_West, Miami, Orlando, Pensacola, Tallahassee, historical_sites, history, historic_districts, art, culture,
Saltwater Fishing
It's deep, it's blue, and it's full of large game fish that can turn the shape of a rod into a pretzel. Here lurk awesome battlers such as blue marlin, wahoo, sailfish, dolphin, kingfish, swordfish, yellowfin and blackfin tuna, and sharks longer than the width of some boats.
Tags: Charlotte_Harbor, Miami, Pensacola, Sebastian, Tampa, fishing, piers, boating, nature, beaches,
Uniquely Florida Camping
Florida has literally hundreds of great campsites, from deserted coastal islands ideal for tents to full-service campgrounds that can accommodate luxury recreational vehicles.
Tags: Beaches_of_South_Walton, Big_Pine_Key, Flagler_Beach, Grayton_Beach, Key_Largo, Live_Oak, Ocala, Pensacola, Suwannee, camping, Everglades_National_Park, Destin,
Diving in Northwest Florida
After a dozen or so years on the ocean floor, this labyrinth of twisted girders and beams had become a virtual condominium for small reef critters.