Pensacola: Exploring the Florida Panhandle

What do you want from a vacation?  Good food, good weather, sea, sand, wildlife, activity, entertainment? Or a bit of everything?

Do you want it a buzzy packed-out area or somewhere more relaxed and refined?  Well, if it’s the latter I have just the place for you in Pensacola, Florida. As close to Alabama in the panhandle as you can get it combines old town America with the ubiquitous gulf shore beaches, history, theatre and fine food. What more could you want?

I started my journey with the compulsory trip along the Gulf Shores National Seashore. Driving the twenty miles from the South at Navarre Beach, which in itself is a sea turtle conservation area, northwards to Pensacola is a delight. The pure white sand offshore bar lends itself to one of THE drives in Florida. To the left the blue waters of the Gulf and to the right Santa Rosa Sound. Put your roof down, shades on, turn the music up and slowly meander up the narrow passageway.

What lay ahead was an eclectic mix of activities and some delicious food. First up though was checking onto the accommodation which was the almost new Holiday Inn downtown Pensacola.

Ideally situated it allows one to walk the entire downtown area in comfort. The rooms are well designed and brim full of all the ‘necessities’ of a modern hotel such as fast Wi-Fi, cable TV, fridge, coffee maker and massive bathroom. An adequate free breakfast is provided as well as hot popcorn 24×7 should that take your fancy.  Rooms are around $250 per night, and I would say well worth it given the location and the start to the day that the breakfast gives you.

What does the town offer? Well first up for me was drinks at a local hostelry called The Well and then a truly excellent meal at the Union Public House which had a real lively pub vibe as well as a varied and enticing menu. I had some of the regular Cajun boiled peanuts as a nibble before the main course of Crispy Pork Shank, Smoked Potato Mash, Sauteed Brussel Sprouts with Bacon and Onion Marmalade. All washed down with a pint of locally brewed Old Colony beer.

Next day I played golf at the Perdido Bay Golf course named “Best New Public Golf Course” by Golf Digest. The course was extremely well set up even on one of those rare cool mornings in this part of the world. No shortage of golf in the Pensacola region which is also the home of Bubba Watson the former Masters Champion.

Next up was lunch in the heritage rich Belmont- Devilliers district which in the early 20th century was the place to go for music, food and entertainment. Today much of the rich history is still there to be seen in the buildings, the food, the art and the sense of a community spirit enhancing all that it has and had. Just a fifteen-minute walk from my hotel it was a delight to spend an hour soaking up the vibe even during the day.

In the evening I had the pleasure of enjoying a show at Pensacola Little Theatre. A somewhat bizarre play based very loosely on internal battles with the IRA and a man who was obsessed by his cat. Yes, that’s what I thought but in fact it was very entertaining and hearing American amateur actors attempting Irish accents was very amusing.

My last day started with a bike ride along part of the aforementioned Gulf Shores National Seashore all the way to Fort Pickens a key military installation during the civil war. Electric bikes were the order of the day and supplied by Cycle Joint. Like most routes next to the sea wind is a factor. Downwind there was no need to engage battery assistance but going back it was a different matter.

A quick restorative lunch at the Reef on Pensacola Beach before I donned a wet suit for my first ever windsurfing lesson. Shawn, my coach, could not have been more helpful or patient as time after time I took a dive into the briny. But up I got again and again until, even if it was for a brief time, I succeeded in staying upright and utilised the sail. I was delighted if exhausted.

And the reward for the new king of the seas? A pot of PG Tips and a slice of Victoria Sponge? Yep, in the heart of Pensacola is a genuine tea shop called The Olde English Creamery. I have been to English tea shops’ before but this one was the real macaroon. PG Tips is an off the menu item only available for those with a genuine accent and happy to pay a couple of quid for a cup of Rosie Lee.

The final piece of the Pensacola activity jigsaw was a visit to the local the Pensacola Bay Centre, also known as “The Hangar“, to watch a Pensacola Ice Flyers match.  Named after the nearby Naval Air base the flyers home game was full of the traditional razzmatazz you would expect including spectacular pre-match build up, skate on introduction of the players, mascots on ice, solo singing of the national anthem and half-time entertainment. It was great. Unfortunately, the Flyers lost.

Give Pensacola a try. It ticks all the boxes.