Attraction of the Week: Pensacola Beach on Florida’s Emerald Coast
Disclaimer: We are not paid to promote any restaurant, hotel, activity, product, or attraction. All opinions are subjective and based on our personal experience. Your experience may be different.
Mike and I recently enjoyed a roadtrip to The Emerald Coast to take part in the Gulf Coast Half Marathon. We figured this would be a beautiful location to check off my Florida half (I am attempting to run a half in every state). This region of Northwestern Florida is one of the more natural and rural areas of the state if you don’t count spring break season. The name comes from the beautiful emerald green waters found along the beaches of the coastal towns in the panhandle region.
Most panhandle towns have all become popular spring break & summer destinations. College students up north tired of the cold winters flock down here to enjoy the crystal clear waters and variety of beachside bars and restaurants. Families love vacationing here every summer to enjoy warm waters for swimming and a variety of waterfront activities. I recommend visiting outside of the rowdy spring break season if you are seeking more of a low-key environment.
We visited in late April, so fortunately right after spring break ended. If you can time your visit right, prices are a bit cheaper and the temperatures are not as intense. Daytime averages this time of year are in the upper 70’s-lower 80’s – compare that to 90’s with extreme humidity in the summer. Coming from Tampa, the temps actually felt a little cool to us. The marathon conditions were actually pretty decent (much cooler than I expected for Florida). I actually placed 2nd in my age group – as my first half marathon age group award, I was pretty excited!
Although the water will be much too chilly for swimming in the spring (summer brings forth the famous “bath water like” temperatures), most other activities like beach volleyball, relaxing with a good book on the beach, catching a sunset, fishing, boating, cruises, waterfront dining, collecting seashells, etc. will be much more enjoyable. We chose mainly to relax following a fun and scenic, yet exhausting race.
A quiet gem on the Panhadle
Pensacola sees less tourists than Destin and Panama City, yet still offers the same gorgeous beaches with the trademark sugar white sand and emerald green waters. We are used to seeing white sand beaches, having convenient access to Clearwater and St. Pete from Tampa, but I felt the water was even clearer here.
As an added bonus, I really like the downtown here; there are lots of great local businesses to support. There are also some touristy waterfront restaurants and beach bars. For those looking to get more active, you will find plenty of opportunity for outdoor sports and a nice lineup of yearly events.
Pensacola Beach is located on Santa Rosa Island, which is one of the longest barrier islands in the US. The waters are a beautiful blue-ish green color and the white sand is smooth and cool to the touch. Outside of spring break, I would say it is the perfect beach destination for anyone seeking a lazy, laid-back vacation vibe. You can easily spend your entire vacation at the beach, although there is much more to do in the area.
If sunbathing sounds boring to you, don’t worry as there is a ton to do for more active types. I am usually not want to lie around on the beach, but I took it a bit easier on this vacation. After running 13 miles, I definitely wasn’t up for any adventure sports. If I ever come back, I would love to try parasailing.
Other activities at and around the beach include: beachfront bars and restaurants, fishing, and all sorts of water sports. From the 1400+ foot pier, you can fish or attempt to spot dolphins and manatees. Hit the beach early in the morning for the best chance of seeing wildlife. We didn’t see anything on this visit, but we have seen both at other Gulf coast beaches.
The pier was originally built in 1931 and later destroyed by Hurricane Opal. The new pier was built in 2001. It is now considered the “gold standard for fishing” according to this news article.
Dining Waterside
The Portofino Beach boardwalk is home to a number of bars, restaurants, and shops. Cactus Flower Cafe (a Cali style Mexican cafe) and Hemingway’s Island Grille are 2 popular dining options. For a more touristy vibe, head over to Bamboo Willie’s, a beachfront bar featuring an outdoor deck overlooking the water. All the bars were hopping with decent crowds during our visit.
We dined at The Grand Marlin for breakfast. This is a fantastic waterfront restaurant offering a wide range of seafood specialties. The airy outdoor deck allows you to enjoy a casual meal while taking in pretty views of the Gulf. The menu is easily customizable to fit a gluten-free diet, one of the few in the area to offer many options.
Downtown: a step back in time
Downtown is a quaint little section of town featuring beautiful tree-lined streets, historic architecture, and plenty of local shops and restaurants. It’s got that old-school Main Street charm. We love checking out local cafes and coffeeshops wherever we travel. We enjoyed an Americano at Fosco Coffee Barre, a cozy local coffeehouse serving fantastic espresso drinks in an attractive brick walled space.
For dinner, we enjoyed an authentic Italian dinner at V Paul’s Italian Ristorante. We enjoyed the food and the romantic dining space. I ordered a veggie primavera which was topped with asparagus and a garlic sauce.
A great daytrip to the Gulf Shores
If you are looking for more to do, Gulf Shores, Alabama is only an hour or so away. Attractions in this area include more white sand beaches, state parks, cruises, the Alabama Gulf Coast zoo, various mini golf courses, and Waterville USA water park.
Update: On a recent roadtrip, we spent the night in a cute little town called Foley, a low-key gem which is just a short drive from the Gulf. We stopped at this local tea shop called the Copper Kettle which was decked out in the most eccentric tea themed decor. We also loved biking the Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry trail at Gulf State Park and seeing the Bamahenge Stonehenge replica. I recommend a daytrip if you are up for a drive.
Why this is a great Florida beach destination
Overall, I would say this is a laid-back area to consider if you have been to busier tourist areas like Clearwater, Miami Beach, and Sarasota too many times.. This area is much greener, quieter, and less touristy than more popular destinations.
In general the area feels less congested with more of a natural, beachy vibe. You will find more individual restaurants versus chains, more green grass and trees vs. concrete, and pristine, uncrowded beaches. Nature, beaches, relaxation, and fun all come together for the perfect Gulf vacation pick.
