Florida

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Florida, from the Florida Keys with Key Lime Pie to the bustling city of Jacksonville to the north, offers theme parks, beach resorts, the exciting everglades, and more.

Winter Day Pensacola Beach Top Reasons Pensacola is the Perfect Winter Getaway My husband and I have, in recent years, become snowbirds of sorts. What started as a long weekend during the holidays has turned into two or three weeks or more in a warm and sunny winter location. Like most “snowbirds” getting out of the cold is the main reason for “flying south for the winter”. In Pensacola, the winter months (Nov-Feb) are typically mild to warm, with temperatures ranging from the mid-'60s to the low-'70s. But, with the sun shining most days, it can feel warmer. During our most recent mid-December visit, I rarely wore more than long sleeves or a light windbreaker. In addition to the warm climate, here is our list of why Pensacola, Florida, “The Way To Beach”, is the perfect place for a winter getaway. Pensacola's Beaches Are World-famous and Historic Just over the bridge from downtown Pensacola, Pensacola Beach is home to 18 miles of the most amazing fine-quartz white-sugar sand beaches and clear emerald-green water. We've been to a lot of beach locals and I've got to say that without a doubt, Pensacola beaches are some of the best I've ever experienced. Pensacola Beach has tons of public access including within the Gulf Islands National Seashore and Langdon Beach. Stretching out 1,471 feet over the water Pensacola Beach Fishing Pier has something for everyone. The pier is the perfect place to fish, stroll, or just sightsee. Along with some great fishing, the pier is great for bird and marine life watching. It is also the best vantage point for some of the greatest sunsets on Pensacola Beach! Oh, and if you're lucky you might even see the Blue Angels practicing or just doing a fly-by to say hello. Picturesque and Walkable Downtown Downtown Pensacola is picture-perfect. There is an exciting array of shops including restaurants, bars, boutiques, and galleries. In fact, Palafox Street was named one of “America’s Top 10 Streets” by the American Planning Association. You will find Palafox (and surrounding streets) has a very “French” old-world feel, reminiscent of New Orleans, with wrought iron balconies, outdoor dining, and music wafting through the air. It is also very walkable. I'd even suggest that walking is the best way to experience the historic downtown area. Dis You Know That Pensacola Is America's First Settlement? While downtown, be sure to take a walk on (at least part of) America's First Settlement Trail, a three-mile marked path through downtown and the Historic District. There are 20 stops and over 70 points of interest along the Trail, in which you'll discover over 260 years of history, learn of Pensacola's humble beginnings, and how it became the vibrant city it is today. Winter Is The Perfect Time To Visit Pensacola History Museums Being the first settlement in America (c.1559) Pensacola has a lot of history. It is nicknamed "The City of Five Flags", due to the five governments that have ruled it during its history--Spain, France, Great Britain, the Confederate States of America, and the United States of America. The best place to learn more about Pensacola's colorful history is at the Museum of History, which is housed in the three-story Mediterranean Revival architecture of the former Pensacola City Hall (c.1907). Just behind the Museum of History on 8.5 acres sits Historic Pensacola Village, dating back to the early 1800s. Visitors can take a guided Historic House Tour which goes through the Lavalle House (1805) Old Christ Church (1832), the Dorr House (1871), and the Lear/Rocheblave House (1890). A self-guided tour of the Village includes the Museum of Commerce and the Museum of Industry (my personal favorite), in addition to the historic buildings above. The Pensacola Museum of Art is another fantastic museum. Centrally located in Pensacola's historic downtown district, it's housed in the old 1906 City Jail. The two-story museum is filled with multiple arts exhibits both permanent and rotating. Note: If you are a museum lover, take advantage of the seven-day ticket which gains you entrance to all the downtown Pensacola museums. Keep in mind that the museums are all closed on Mondays and only the Museum of History, the Children's Museum, and the Museum of Art are open on Sundays from noon to 4:00. Wintertime Hiking In Pensacola Is Exhilarating To be sure, you won't be scaling mountain tops or crossing massive gorges but then you won't have any expensive hiking equipment to buy either. Most trails on the Florida Panhandle are flat and easy--along the beach, through bayous, and across prairie lands. Big Lagoon State Park, approximately 10 miles southwest of Pensacola, offers five miles of hiking trails through nearly 700 acres of saltwater marshes and pine flatwoods. It is also the gateway to the Great Florida Birding Trail. At Perdido Key State Park 'hiking” is mainly along the beach. A boardwalk from the parking lot crosses over the dunes to the beach. Shelling and bird watching are popular activities at the park during the winter months.Tarkiln Bayou Preserve State Park offers two trails--A half-mile ADA-accessible trail of sidewalk and elevated boardwalk meander through prairie, cypress, and titi forests and a more rugged 6.5-mile trail that crosses muddy areas as it makes its way through the oaks and pines to the Bayshore beach. Winter is the Perfect Time to Explore History at Fort Pickens On the western tip of Santa Rosa Island, part of the Gulf Islands National Seashore stands Fort Pickens. This national park offers year-round outdoor activities including beautiful beaches, overnight camping, and scenic hiking trails trails, Fort Pickens Trails and the Naval Live Oaks Area. The massive pre-Civil War fortress built in 1834, once housed Union troops and the Apache leader Geronimo. Park rangers offer free tours daily or you can immerse yourself in a self-guided tour. Pro Tip: You could easily lose yourself exploring Fort Pickens--expect to spend several hours at least. Be sure to stop in at the Fort gift shop for one-of-a-kind treasures to bring home. Experience The Diverse Arts and Culture Scene Pensacola has a charming, quaint feel. But when it comes to arts and entertainment, this coastal city knows how to make quite a scene. Pensacola is the only city from Tampa to Mobile, Alabama to host such a diversity of cultural experiences. The city boasts the Pensacola Opera, the Pensacola Symphony Orchestra, Ballet Pensacola, and the historic Saenger Theatre all within the downtown historic district. Note: Any one of these venues is a great way to spend a chilly winter afternoon or evening. There are exceptional shows scheduled at each throughout the winter months. Be sure to check their individual schedules in the links above. Winter Spells Festival Time in Pensacola Drawing more than 200 regional and international artists, the Great Gulf Coast Arts Festival is held annually in early November in Seville Square. Each Veteran's Day Weekend locals and visitors alike look to the skies at the Blue Angels Homecoming Airshow. Also in November is the Foo Foo Fest, a “big fun” 12-day celebration with an eclectic line-up of events of high artistic and cultural caliber, delivered with a hefty dose of Southern sophistication. A popular, family-favorite annual event that starts in November and runs throughout December, the Winterfest and Trolley Tours draws both locals and visitors from afar. Stroll about the plazas around the Old County Courthouse, watch the “snow” fall in the evening sky, drink hot chocolate and eat gingerbread cookies, and even meet Santa and Rudolph. The ever-anticipated, entertaining, and fun Trolley Tours are a “Must-Do”. Everyone Loves Mardi Gras The iconic Mardi Gras celebration returns to Downtown Pensacola, as the largest street party to feature live music, food and drinks, and free public access to the vibrantly decorated Mardi Gras floats, making it the must-attend event of the season. Mardi Gras runs from the first Friday in January until Fat Tuesday. Come February, visitors can experience the most extravagant parades of the season with the Pensacola Grand Mardi Gras Parade downtown, the Pensacola Beach Mardi Gras Parade, followed by the Krewe of Lafitte’s Illuminated Parade. The Pirates of Lost Treasure host their own unique Mardi Gras celebration with the Pirate Flotilla – an annual floating boat parade that travels down the Intracoastal Waterway in Perdido Key. Are you a Comic Book Fan? Part short film festival, part celeb meet and greet, drawing thousands of attendees from around the world, Pensacon is the premier comic book and pop culture convention held each February for a span of three days. NOTE: Arrive early and expect traffic delays for ALL events. Allow extra time if you have to cross any of the bridges to get to an event. If you're staying in or near downtown we suggest leaving your vehicle parked and walking to the downtown events. With so many winter activities in Pensacola, once you arrive you won't want to leave.

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