Introduction
Pensacola is a historical city known as the city of five flags because throughout the history of Pensacola, five different national flags have flown over the city: the Spanish Flag, French Flag, the British Flag, Confederate Flag, and, of course, American Flag.
Pensacola is a unique city that’s home to beautiful beaches, attractions, and so much more. Whether you’re looking for a quiet getaway or the perfect family vacation destination, Pensacola has something to offer everyone. Here are some of our favorite things to do in this city:
- Historic Pensacola Village
- Pensacola Children’s Museum
- Downtown Pensacola
- Fort Pickens
- Pensacola Beach
- Pensacola Beach Boardwalk
- Sam’s Fun City
- Veteran’s Memorial Park
- Cordova Mall
For more great ideas for things to do, see, and eat all around Pensacola and across the Emerald Coast, be sure to check out these great deals from Groupon HERE.
Historic Pensacola Village
Tickets purchased to the Pensacola History Museum will grant entrance to Historic Pensacola, the Children’s Museum, and the Art Museum as well!
Pensacola’s Historic Pensacola Village is a living history museum, complete with characters in full costume and historical buildings. The village is open to the public year-round and offers visitors an excellent opportunity to learn about the history of Pensacola and its surrounding areas.
Pensacola Children’s Museum
This, of course, was Vivian’s favorite stop on our tour of Pensacola. The Pensacola Children’s Museum is a hands-on museum for children of all ages. The museum has over 100 exhibits and activities for children to enjoy. There are so many different things to do at this museum, that it would be impossible to list them all here, but Vivian’s favorite thing was probably the small grocery store (she likes pushing the miniature cart).
Downtown Pensacola
Downtown Pensacola is the heart of the city. As the oldest part of Florida, this area has a rich history and is filled with historic buildings. It is a beautiful place to enjoy, especially at sunset! You can walk from one end to the other in just a few minutes, but there are so many things to see along the way!
Check out the Go Retro Morning Hop-on Hop-off Downtown Pensacola Tour: https://www.tkqlhce.com/click-100656272-15230314?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.groupon.com%2Fdeals%2Fpeek-go-retro
During a hop-on and hop-off bus tour, discover what there is to see all around downtown Pensacola. Enjoy a ride on a comfortable tour bus while listening to a live narration of each location and landmark around town. Special discounts adding up to $100 are available at local shops and hotspots.
Fort Pickens
Are you a history buff? You’ll definitely want to check out Fort Pickens. Fort Pickens was built on Santa Rosa Island in the late 1850s and is now a National Park Service site. It’s the oldest fort in the National Park Service! The fort itself is open every day from 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
The lighthouse is open daily from 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., and they offer tours by appointment only during those hours as well. This is a great place for pictures!
Pensacola Beach
Located just 10 miles south of downtown Pensacola is Pensacola Beach, and trust us when we say it’s worth visiting! It is easily one of the best (if not THE best) beaches in Florida. There are miles upon miles of white-sand beaches and beautiful water. It’s one thing to imagine something like this…but it’s another thing when you actually see it in person!
Pensacola Beach Boardwalk
The Pensacola Beach Boardwalk is a popular spot to hang out, eat, and shop. In addition to shops and restaurants, there are also activities like go-karting or parasailing. Each time we have visited, the boardwalk has been bustling with people of all ages enjoying ice cream, taking pictures, and even playing beach volleyball!
Sam’s Fun City
Sam’s Fun City is a great place to go with kids, especially if you want them to run around and play. The indoor and outdoor activities are separated by a mini golf course, so you have some great options. You’ll find rides and games galore here, as well as food, playgrounds and mini golf.
This amusement park has everything from bumper cars to a dinosaur ride that spins you upside down! There are also arcade games throughout the park if you get bored with all of these other things (which I doubt will happen).
This park has been around since 1959 which makes it one of the oldest attractions on this list! It was originally called “Sam’s Merryland.” It’s definitely a good time!
Veterans Memorial Park
Veterans Memorial Park is an excellent place to take your children, family or friends. It’s also a great place to spend time by yourself, as there are many trails that you can explore. This quiet, serene setting overlooks a beautiful waterfront. It is also, of course, home to various military memorials.
Cordova Mall
We get a little flack any time we include malls in our blogs and vlogs because malls have fallen out of favor in recent year, and we get it, but sometimes, in Florida, you need a place where you can walk with your family and enjoy air conditioning! Frankly, the Cordova Mall is actually quite nice, and for families traveling with children, there’s a Disney-themed indoor play park! The mall is home to 119 stores, restaurants, and services.
Conclusion
We hope this guide has helped you plan your trip to Pensacola, Florida. This area is very special to us, and we know it will be to you, too!
For more great ideas for things to do, see, and eat all around Pensacola and across the Emerald Coast, be sure to check out these great deals from Groupon HERE.