Page 28 - Dreamscapes Magazine | Fall/Winter 2023

5 Reasons Why PENSACOLA IS
THE WAY TO BEACH
BY MADELAINE LAFRAMBOISE
Nestled in Florida’s Panhandle, Pensacola is known for its award- winning beaches, seaside charm and delectable coastal cuisine. For culture and sporting enthusiasts discover more than 460 years of history, festivals galore, the arts and year-round sporting events. Here are five ways to beach in Pensacola this winter:
SUGAR-WHITE BEACHES AND CLEAR, EMERALD WATERS
You haven’t truly experienced Pensacola until you dig your toes into the sugar-white sand of its world-famous beaches. Feel the daily stresses wash away as you watch the waves roll in along Pensacola Beach and Perdido Key. The beach vibe is super chill. Come as you are and hang out with the locals at beach bars and restaurants. These picture-perfect beaches are accessible with ample parking. You can even leave the car behind and take a boat ride aboard Pensacola Bay Cruises to take in the stunning views of this beautiful coastal city.
460+ YEARS
OF COLONIAL HISTORY
Pensacola is unique among beach destinations because it is a city with an old soul. Its roots date back to 1559 when Spanish conquistador Don Tristan de Luna established Pensacola as
DELICIOUS COASTAL CUISINE
Pensacola’s unique coastal cuisine draws on the city’s colonial roots and proximity to the
PHOTO: VISIT PENSACOLA
First City Art Center, downtown galleries, and an eclectic local theatre scene highlighted by the Pensacola Little Theatre. Follow the
the first European settlement in North
teeming fisheries of the Gulf. Whether your
America’s 1st Settlement Trail for a walk America. Over the centuries, the flags of Spain,
dining style is toes in the sand, grouper sand-
through history along a 4.8-kilometre marked Britain, France, the Confederacy and the
wich in hand, an elegant waterfront restaurant
path through Downtown Pensacola. Year- United States have flown over the city. You’ll
with chef-crafted cuisine, trendy downtown
round festivals, including the Great Gulfcoast feel the sense of community pride for the
dining, or something in-between, Pensacola is
Arts Festival and Foo Foo Festival, celebrate diverse cultural influences that are reflected in
the place to satisfy those seafood cravings.
everything from the arts and music to seafood Pensacola’s architecture, cuisine and festivals.
Find everything from Spanish and French
and aviation. Quite possibly the best aspect: it’s flavours to southern Cajun cooking.
sophisticated but not intimidating, meaning OUTDOOR ADVENTURES
Depending on your choice, the cuisine can be
anyone and everyone can easily attend. DS Escape the everyday on plenty of multipurpose
decidedly upscale, but the atmosphere is
trails. There’s even the Florida Panhandle Ship-
always unpretentious and welcoming.
wreck Trail for diving! Fishing is an outdoor
Travel Planner
lifestyle, but you don’t have to be a pro to fish
ARTS & CULTURE
in this area. Book a Gulf charter for deep-sea
Pensacola is revered as a must-see destination fishing or spend a relaxing afternoon casting
for cultural happenings. There’s the Pensacola from shore. There are also ample opportunities
Opera, Pensacola Symphony Orchestra, Ballet to surf, scuba, sail and swim, or take a dolphin
Pensacola, the historic Saenger Theatre and the tour for close-up encounters with some of the
accredited Pensacola Museum of Art. Pen- area’s most popular beach residents.
sacola’s thriving visual arts scene includes the
For Pensacola trip planning
VisitPensacola.com
28 DREAMSCAPES FALL/WINTER 2023