A Pensacola family vacation is filled with astonishing natural wonders, as well as stunning beaches, proving conclusively this part of Northwest Florida really is a true all-rounder.
Paddleboarding, Gulf Coast, Pensacola
Start with beaches and take your Pensacola family vacation from there
A Pensacola family vacation appeals to everyone, which isn’t surprising, given you’ll find an incredible amount of history, wildlife and excitement on this sumptuous stretch of coast, tucked up in Northwest Florida.
For a start, it’s home to Pensacola Beach and Perdido Key, and both barrier islands host parts of the Gulf Islands National Seashore: the longest federally-protected seashore in the US.
Known for its iconic beach ball water tower, Casino Beach is the main hub on Pensacola Beach. Here visitors can enjoy a vibrant mix of restaurants, shops and recreational things to do. For those seeking greater tranquility, Perdido Key offers a more relaxed vibe.
But what you’ll quickly come to learn is how easy it is to mix beaches with everything else on a Pensacola family vacation, from food festivals to fascinating Historic Pensacola Village, the colourful downtown district, museums, great restaurants, waterparks, amusement parks and, of course, outdoor adventures.
Another beautiful beach day, Pensacola family vacation
100s of years of human history and millennia of natural wonders
As befits America’s first European settlement, Pensacola has history going back to 1559 when Spanish conquistador Don Tristan de Luna first set foot on the shores of Florida, with the complexities of the various flags from France, Britain and America being planted in the intervening centuries.
But the hundreds of species living on Pensacola’s beaches and salt marshes date back much further, inhabiting the pristine barrier islands and enjoying the incomparable views, which are, we have to say, pretty incredible.
Though, with famously sugar-white beaches and salt marshes teeming with wildlife, visitors are never far from an example of why this corner of northwest Florida is naturally wonderful.
Coastal hiking, Pensacola family vacation
Don’t miss a thing on your Pensacola family vacation
Home to everything from bottlenose dolphins to cownose rays, hermit crabs and loggerhead turtles, Pensacola beaches are the perfect opportunity to get up close and personal with spectacular nature.
The National Park Service at Fort Pickens offers a visitor centre and museum where you can go on a tour of the pre-Civil War era fort and learn about its history, local ecology, and the role of the US in military defence.
Alternatively, the Gulf Islands National Seashore at Johnson Beach gives you scenic hiking trails, kayaking in the calm waters of Big Lagoon, and a peaceful, less-crowded beach experience.
Kayaking, Big Lagoon State Park, Pensacola
Follow nature trails through paradise and learn as you go
Although hiking on your own terms is possible too, due to the excellent signage and myriad options around Pensacola beaches.
Try the Pensacola Beach Footprints in the Sand Eco Trail which features over 30 information boards posted along an eight mile stretch of Pensacola Beach, each one exploring a different ecological topic. It’s here you’ll find out the secret to Pensacola Beach’s white sand, discover the dangerous journeys of sea turtles, identify mysterious seashells and discover what it’s like to explore the island by kayak.
Pensacola is perfect for cycling with kids
Add the Discovery Trail at Johnson Beach to your Pensacola family vacation
Another short and lovely hike for the whole family, The Discovery Natural Trail at Johnson Beach on Perdido Key has some hidden gems of natural beauty, as befits its Gulf Islands National Seashore status.
The trail takes you on a raised boardwalk through dunes, pine trees, salt marsh outlooks, and brings you to a beautiful view of Big Lagoon, which is another kayaking hotspot.
If you’re hiking with older kids, Big Lagoon State Park near Perdido Key features a 4.9-mile birding trail, as well as a 2-mile estuary trail.
Big Lagoon is also an absolute paradise for nature loving adventurers, with fishing areas, opportunities to spot wildlife, and places to swim and kayak; it’s even a prime location for crabbing.
Get into watersports on your Pensacola family vacation
Carnivorous plants and beautiful state parks go together in Pensacola
Want to see a plant that eats insects on your Pensacola family vacation? The answer to that should always be ‘yes!’, and if so, Tarkiln Bayou Preserve State Park near Perdido Bay has a unique environment that is home to four rare, carnivorous pitcher plant species, all of which may be viewed from an elevated boardwalk, so you don’t get too close.
Also, you’ll find some good ways to stretch your legs here, especially along the 6.5-mile Perdido Bay trail, as well as the 1.5-mile Tarkiln Bayou Trail, which is wheelchair accessible.
Jones Swamp Wetland Preserve in West Pensacola covers 1,300 acres and the nature trail here is another one with an elevated boardwalk, this time over creeks, where just might spot river otters at play: some of the cutest animals to see in the wild.
Just remember, wherever you walk in the Pensacola Bay Area’s picturesque natural parks and trails, be mindful of your step, and leave only your footprints behind.
Snorkeling, Pensacola family vacation
You’ll find some of Pensacola’s most spectacular sights underwater
Some of Pensacola’s most incredible scenery is hidden right beneath the waves, and you can snorkel directly off the beach in many areas. You’ll find the water temperatures in this part of Northwest Florida range from about 25° in summer to 15° or so in winter, which is when visibility is generally at its best.
Pensacola Beach and Perdido Key both have artificial reefs that are perfect for snorkeling. The reef at Park East is located on the east end of Pensacola Beach, past the Portofino Towers, and the reef on Perdido Key can be accessed from the public beach area off Sandy Key Drive. Both reefs are located 500 feet off shore and attract a wide variety of fish, sea turtles and all kinds of Gulf wildlife.
So dive in and discover all that Pensacola has to offer, because if you want to get wild in the best possible way, you’ll be in the right place.
Now head to Visit Pensacola for everything you need to plan your next Pensacola family vacation