Pensacola is a hop and a skip away from South Mississippi and the perfect getaway to forget your worries.
We headed to Pensacola on probably the foggiest day of 2023. In fact, the fog that day delayed flights all over the Southeastern US. It was so thick that it didn’t lift until around 2 PM, which is much longer than normal.
As we crossed over Mobile Bay, you could not see the massive USS Alabama through the thick fog that blanketed the Bay. You also could not see the water as we passed over it. It was surreal.
By the way, the USS Alabama is a great stop for the entire family. It is massive, and the self-guided tour is really fun. I took Luka when he was much younger, and he still remembers it. There is also a submarine that you can tour on site, but it is much smaller and compact; not good for those who are claustrophobic.
For those who love Buc-ee’s, you’re in luck if you are on I-10. Within the last year or so, they built one in Robertsdale, Alabama, right on the interstate.
Crossing over the Florida-Bama state-line is always exciting for me. I get so excited, like a child. The Florida Welcome Center has fresh squeezed orange juice and grapefruit juice for each visitor, and there are brochures galore.
Toll Bridge
Driving into Pensacola Beach, you must cross a toll bridge. You can either buy a Sun Pass at the Florida Welcome Center or at the Pensacola Visitors Center, if you don’t already have one, or you can take your chances with the Toll by Plate, which is what we do. The toll fee for crossing into Pensacola Beach is $1. There is no cash accepted at the toll booth, nor is anyone manning the toll booth.
If you do the Toll by Plate, like us, you will receive a invoice in the mail (to the address your vehicle’s tag is registered) within a couple of weeks. You can either mail in your payment or go online to pay.
The Beach
Public beach access is everywhere in Pensacola. I like to get away from people, so we usually park in one of the public parking areas between Pensacola Beach and Navarre. A lot of the larger parking areas have public restrooms and outdoor showers to rinse the sand off.
If you have dogs that love the beach, there is a dog beach, conveniently named Pensacola Dog Beach.
Like I said before, it was crazy foggy in Pensacola Beach when we went, so it made for some interesting photos.
Fishing
If you like to go fishing, make sure you have a fishing license and bring your poles. The Pensacola Beach Gulf Pier is the place to be for fishermen. You’ll have to watch your catch though, because the pelicans love to steal.
Surfing
While we were at the beach and on the pier, we saw some guys surfing. It was pretty awesome. I didn’t even know the waves in the Gulf were surf-able. The surfers seemed to really enjoy themselves and stayed out there for a couple of hours.
Food
A gem of a find in Pensacola Beach is Peg Leg Pete’s on Fort Pickens Road. The area it is located in consists of condos, hotels, vacation rentals, and residential housing. It also backs up to a marina, which we love.
Peg Leg Pete’s has a few signature frozen cocktails to choose from. We lucked up getting Stephanie for our waitress. She was very knowledgable about the menu, and she gave excellent recommendations based on our preferences. Their Grouper Nuggets were delicious, especially with their homemade cocktail sauce. The calamari was the best I’ve had…I don’t usually care for calamari at all. Kevin had the Grouper BLT, and he said it was awesome.
Aside from food and cocktails, Peg Leg Pete’s is great for the whole family. They have activities to keep your kids preoccupied, such as a license plate scavenger hunt…finding all 50 state license plates. The license plates are nailed all over the walls, so you can find most of them from wherever you are seated. The birds zoom in, out, and through the outdoor deck seating area, and they hang around and wait for someone to drop food on the floor. They also have a great little sandy playground area…swings, slides, and things to climb on.
If you are at the Pensacola Beach Pier, you’ll happen across Casino Beach Bar & Grill. We didn’t eat there, but we did get a couple of cocktails. Kate, our bartender, gave some really awesome suggestions on different flavored syrups she had behind the bar to make my margarita a little more interesting. The ones she made me were phenomenal, adding in the suggested, Grand Marnier. Kevin stuck with his Long Island Iced Tea, which he had also had at Peg Leg Pete’s.
Things to do other than the beach
Mini golf is a personal favorite of mine, and UFO’s alien themed mini golf did not disappoint. It isn’t quite as fun as Pirate’s Cove Adventure Golf in Gulf Shores, Alabama, but it is still really fun. UFO’s also has ice cream and an arcade, which is a great treat. For those who don’t care for the mini golf so much, the arcade typically wins them over.
Laguna Beach Bar & Grill has a go-kart track and a ropes course for those who enjoy the thrill. Luka loves the ropes course and tests and overcomes his fear of heights. Laguna Beach did not disappoint. They have a great dining patio that overlooks the Santa Rosa Sound. Their hamburgers are juicy and delicious.
Fort Pickens – Gulf Islands National Seashore
For those who enjoy historical locations, Fort Pickens is a must see. It was opened as a US Military fort in 1834. Now, it is maintained by the National Park Service. There are campgrounds, beaches, and hiking trails. You can tour the place yourself, or you can opt for a ranger guided tour to get more in depth information about the seashore and military compound.
The gate to the Fort Pickens area is opened year-round from 8 AM to sunset, while the entrance gate has varied hours throughout the year. From the beginning of March to the end of October, when the days are longer, the entrance gates are open from 5 AM to 8 PM. When the days are shorter, November 1 through February 28/29, they are open from 5 AM to 6PM.
The entrance fees vary, depending on commercial or private vehicles, pedestrians/bicyclists, and motorcycles. For most of us, we would be in our private vehicles, which would be an entrance fee of $25, and that would give you access to the area for up to 7 days.
You can find all the information about the Fort Pickens area at https://www.nps.gov/guis/planyourvisit/fort-pickens-area.htm.
We hope that you this helps you better plan your trip to Pensacola Beach, Florida. May you have a safe and fun road trip adventure.
