| Along the Florida Panhandle on the Gulf of | | | | have always been an important part of life in |
| Mexico you'll find the city of Pensacola. | | | | Pensacola from the early years when the |
| Pensacola is part of a stretch of Florida | | | | Spanish built Fort San Carlos de Barrancas to |
| loving called the 'Redneck Rivera' by the | | | | watch over the bay to the fishing fleets that |
| locals and in a way this is very true. Not | | | | bring in the fresh fish and gulf shrimp |
| only will you find some great upscale shops | | | | caught in the waters of the Bay and Gulf |
| and restaurants but you can also kick back | | | | here. Pensacola is also a sea port that |
| and relax on sugar white sand beaches as you | | | | connects Pensacola Bay to the Gulf of Mexico. |
| stare out at the emerald green waters of the | | | | So the sunsets enjoy some of the freshest |
| Gulf or you can charter a fishing boat and | | | | seafood you'll ever eat at one of the many |
| try to catch one of the many species of fish | | | | waterfront restaurants. Fishing in Pensacola, |
| that swim in the waters around there. The | | | | as in most of Florida, is good year round. |
| sunsets along the Gulf Coast are some of the | | | | It's not unusual for the local restaurants to |
| most spectacular you'll ever see, one of the | | | | offer selections caught the night before such |
| best places to see a sunset is on one of the | | | | as snapper, grouper, tuna and wahoo. In the |
| many piers dotted along the water here. It's | | | | early summer months the shrimp boats come in |
| a great place to just relax and take some | | | | offering their 'fruit of the sea' - shrimp |
| time to unwind and speaking of time you'll | | | | much to the delight of locals and tourist |
| have to be sure to set your watch to Central | | | | alike. If you prefer to catch your own dinner |
| Standard time because Pensacola is the | | | | you can book one of the many charter boats to |
| western most city in the Florida Panhandle | | | | take you fishing inshore for redfish, cobia |
| and just past the divide into Central | | | | or pompano, offshore charters can take you |
| Standard Time Zone, the rest of Florida is on | | | | fishing for the wahoo, mahi mahi and blue |
| Eastern Standard Time. Pensacola has a rich | | | | marlin. Families can plan a week there, of |
| history. It is known as 'The City of Five | | | | course there's the beach where you can lay on |
| Flags' because, at one time or another, it | | | | the sand all day or play volleyball on the |
| has been under the control of five different | | | | shore or build a sandcastle in the surf. You |
| governments including the Confederacy. When | | | | can go out in a boat where you can fish |
| the Spanish controlled it they called it | | | | snorkel or go for a dive and if you don't |
| Panzacola which was the Indian name, when the | | | | care to do any of that you can rent a |
| French had control it was Pensacolle, it | | | | sailboat, or get a canoe or kayak and explore |
| became permanently known as Pensacola when | | | | a river or one of the rare dune lakes in the |
| the English took it in 1763. You can relive | | | | area. When you're out on the water in the |
| the days of WWII and view the some of the | | | | Florida sun don't forget the sunblock, you |
| most famous aircraft used to defend our | | | | can still get a tan without frying yourself. |
| nation then - the Corsair, Dauntless and | | | | If you'd like to get away from the water all |
| Hellcat. You can also relive that first lunar | | | | together there are many shops to explore both |
| landing in 1969 as you walk through their | | | | 'mainstream' and quaint little local shops |
| recreation of the event. You can also take in | | | | that offer unique Florida style gifts and |
| a little history when you visit the Naval Air | | | | trinkets. If you'd like to combined a day at |
| Station there and tour the Lighthouse, Fort | | | | the beach with shopping visit the Quietwater |
| Barrancas or relive the glory days of Naval | | | | Beach Boardwalk, a local favorite spot. At |
| Aviation at their spectacular museum. The | | | | night you can enjoy one of several |
| Pensacola Naval Air Station, also called the | | | | restaurants there, some of which feature live |
| cradle of Aviation, is home of the world | | | | music certain nights of the week. If you'd |
| renown Blue Angels and the Aviation Museum | | | | like, you can make it a family night at a one |
| there is not to be missed. The National Naval | | | | of the may Putt-Putt golf courses, go see a |
| Aviation Museum includes the history of not | | | | movie or stop in a local ice cream shop. |
| only the Navy but the Marines and Coast Guard | | | | Pensacola is a beautiful place to stop and |
| as well. Believe it or not this place rivals | | | | appreciate the world around you, have a |
| the Smithsonian. It has nearly 300,000 square | | | | fantastic seafood meal and grab something |
| feet of exhibit space, one of the most | | | | uniquely Florida for the people back home. So |
| interesting displays is the historical S-3 | | | | come, enjoy and relax. |
| Viking jet which was used to transport | | | | |
| president George W. Bush to the USS Abraham | | | | Kirby maintains a travel guide with |
| Lincoln in 2003 where he made his famous | | | | information about things to do in Florida you |
| "Mission Accomplished " speech. The waterways | | | | and your family will enjoy. |