By Becky J.
Beall
This
season brings visions of sun and sand, as summer vacation plans start to become
more than passing thoughts. The Gulf Coast has many beautiful offerings, one of
which is award-winning Pensacola, Florida, where there is so much more than a
beach!
Pensacola
comes by the nickname “The City of Five Flags” quite honestly, having changed
hands more than a dozen times in some 450 years to include flags from Spain,
France, England, the Confederacy and the Unites States. Each of these
ownerships left strong influences on the seaside community that today are evident
through architecture, history, museums and culinary delights.
Downtown
Pensacola is only a short drive from the beach area and is absolutely worth the
time to meander through the revitalized district. Park your car and stroll down
the sidewalks ducking in and out of eclectic boutiques, cafes, art galleries
and more! More than 130 new businesses have opened within the last five years as
part of the renaissance this downtown has experienced. Wrought iron balconies
and street lamps offer a bit of a New Orleans feel – probably because both have
similar histories with multiple country influences as part of their heritage.
Three don’t miss
activities in downtown…
Joe Patti’s
Seafood Market
is a Pensacola icon having been there since the 1930s. Ranked the third best
seafood market in the United States, this family-owned and operated
establishment offers a gigantic assortment of fresh fish selections and a
unique gourmet market featuring fresh baked breads, sushi and even gelato!
Steamed shrimp is a popular to-go item (of course with a loaf of delicious
garlic bread).
A
quick (hour and a half) walking tour of the historic district is full of fun
facts and great period-furnished homes from the Colonial era to the Victorian
age. On this inexpensive guided Historic
Pensacola Village Tour, you’ll visit one of the oldest churches in Florida
and see first-hand some living history examples of life in the old days.
The
most exciting way to tour downtown Pensacola is with Emerald Coast Tours on bicycles or Segways! Nick and Rick are
extremely knowledgeable about the history of the city and map out their tours
to encompass breathtaking views of the bay. Their humor mixed with city facts
provides an awesome venue for family fun!
Sand and sun…
Pensacola
Beach features famous sugar-white sand and emerald-green waters dotted with sea
oats and wildlife. The area is a little less crowded than other popular
vacation destinations along the panhandle, yet they still have all the
amenities a family needs to enjoy a relaxing beach vacation. There are companies
and areas that provide canoeing, kayaking and paddleboarding, as well as boat
rentals and sailing opportunities. For more information on all of these outdoor
activities, check out www.visitpensacola.com.
Where to stay…
Accommodations
in Pensacola are much like other similar areas in that they have many great
hotels along with condos for those who like a little extra room to cook in the
unit, do their laundry and spread out. For hotels, the Hilton Pensacola Beach is spectacular! Rooms are spacious and the
hotel’s list of amenities is lengthy including: Bonsai Sushi Bar, H2O
Cajun-Asian Grill, beach service, water sports, spa/salon, two outdoor pools
and one indoor, whirlpool, children’s programs (seasonal), fitness center and
more! It is within walking distance to popular restaurants, shopping and
activities.
Portofino Island
Resort
is a lovely choice for families looking to make their home away from home in a
roomy, luxury condo. Not only are rooms larger than normal condo units, but you
will enjoy all the amenities of home…washer/dryers, gourmet kitchens, lots of
closet space and beautiful views of the Gulf of Mexico or the Santa Rosa Sound.
Each tower has its own pool and whirlpool so no overcrowding issues! The resort
is Mediterranean style with gorgeous architecture and tons of added amenities
such as the spa, fitness center and on-site tennis courts!
Culinary
delights…
As
with any beach town, there are restaurants that are too good to miss and
Pensacola is no exception! Lunch favorites include:
· Jaco’s Bayfront
Bar & Grille (South Palafox St) – flatbread pizzas and small plates with
gorgeous views of the yachts in the Palafox Marina and Plaza de Luna Park.
· Al Fresco –
fabulous food trucks in downtown (at Palafox and Main). Choose from Cajun food,
tacos, barbeque, the Greenhouse or Gouda Stuff Gourmet Melts (the classic
grilled cheese hits the lunch spot just right).
Dinner
selections are plentiful including these popular eateries:
· H2O – Celebrity
Chef Dan Dunn throws a Cajun-Asian spin on some seafood favorites that are
simply to die for! Check it out inside the Hilton Pensacola Beach.
· Red Fish Blue
Fish – a new restaurant (across from the Hilton, sound-side) with food as good
as the ambiance. Eat under the stars in their waterfront backyard and enjoy
local, fresh seafood with southern-inspired ingredients. (HINT: Yum Fish Dinner
is the bomb!)
· The Grand Marlin
– definitely a grand choice! Watch the sunset and enjoy the catch of the day at
this fairly new restaurant on Pensacola Beach Blvd at the causeway.
· The Fish House –
upscale dockside dining (South Barracks St) at its best featuring picturesque
views and innovative recipes using seafood favorites and house-smoked steaks.
Chef Jim Shirley is one of the five Pensacola Celebrity Chefs who presented
their culinary treats at the James Beard House in New York City in March of
2013 for the third consecutive year. The dish to have is the Grits a Ya Ya – a
world-famous southern dish of smoked Gouda cheese grits smothered in a sauce of
fresh cream, sautéed Gulf shrimp, spinach, Portobello mushrooms, applewood-smoked
bacon, garlic and shallots!
When
planning your summer beach vacation, think about the Pensacola Beach area.
Loaded with arts and culture, lots of adventure and beautiful beaches, you
really can’t ask for more.
If you go…
Emerald Coast Tours
5 W. Main Street, Pensacola
850-417-9292
Hilton Pensacola Beach
12 Via De Luna Dr., Pensacola Beach, FL 32561
850-776-4695
Historic Pensacola Village Tour
205 E. Zaragosa Street, Pensacola
850-595-5985
www.historicpensacola.org
Joe Patti’s Seafood Market
524 B. Street, Pensacola
850-432-3315
Portofino Island Resort
10 Portofino Drive, Pensacola Beach
850-916-5000
Getting there is half the fun in this family-friendly SUV!
2014 Lexus LX570 SUV
Fuel Economy: 12/17
Class: Standard SUV
Base Price: $81,780
Lexus makes this family vehicle for those in pursuit of
happy travels with lots of space and added amenities including a premium Mark
Levinson Audio System with an impressive 19 speakers and a dual-screen DVD Rear
Entertainment System with wireless headphones.
The engine fully accommodates this extra-large Lexus with
383-hp in a 5.7-liter V8 package. So while you give up a little in the fuel
economy department, you gain the power to jump out in traffic and negotiate the
highways like a boss!
My favorite features of this vehicle include:
Bluetooth and Navigation – two must haves for this
traveling mom.
Beautiful wood trim in the interior cabin of the SUV.
Heated and ventilated seats.
Rain sensing wipers (love love love this!).
Overall safety features from the multitude of airbags to the tire pressure
monitoring.
Don’t let the massive size of this Lexus fool you, it
drives well and handles with typical Lexus style. It’s perfect for this travel
mom who loves the space and luxury, if she has the budget.
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