Looking for a winter retreat? Someplace with mild weather and plenty to do? Here are the top 7 reasons to spend winter in Pensacola, Florida.
Why Winter In Pensacola, Florida? In recent years, my husband and I have become snowbirds of sorts. What started as a long weekend getaway 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, there are plenty more reasons why Pensacola, Florida, is “The Way To Beach” for a perfect winter getaway. Here are my top 7 reasons why you might want to consider spending winter in Pensacola, Florida.
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 many local beaches, and I’ve got to say that, without a doubt, Pensacola beaches are some of the best I’ve ever experienced. Pensacola Beach has numerous public access points, many within the Gulf Islands National Seashore.
A mild winter day at Gulf Islands National Seashore. Photo by Loretta Berry
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 sightsee. Along with great fishing, the pier is spectacular for watching birds, marine life, and people. It is also the best vantage point for some of the most magical sunsets on Pensacola Beach! If you’re lucky, you might see the Blue Angels practicing or just doing a fly-by to say hello.
View from the Pensacola Pier. Photo by Loretta Berry
Picturesque and Walkable Downtown
Downtown Pensacola is picture-perfect. An exciting array of shops, including restaurants, bars, boutiques, and galleries. Palafox Street was named one of “America’s Top 10 Streets” by the American Planning Association.
Picturesque Palafox Street in downtown Pensacola. Photo courtesy of Visit Pensacola
Palafox, and surrounding streets, have 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 suggest strolling as the best way to experience the historic downtown area.
Downtown Pensacola. Photo by Loretta Berry
Pensacola is America’s First Settlement
While downtown, 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. You will discover over 260 years of history, learn about Pensacola’s humble beginnings, and how this town became the vibrant city it is today.
America’s First Settlement Trail. Photo by Loretta Berry
Winter in Pensacola is the Perfect Time to Visit 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, housed in the former Pensacola City Hall (c.1907), with its three-story Mediterranean Revival architecture.
Pensacola History Museum. Photo by Loretta Berry
Historic Colonial Pensacola Village
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 Museum of Industry (my favorite) and the historic buildings above.
Old Christ Church in Historic Pensacola. Photo by Loretta Berry
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 art 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 Pensacola Childrens Museum, and the Museum of Art are open on Sundays from noon to 4:00.
Wintertime Hiking in Pensacola is Exhilarating
You won’t be scaling mountain tops or crossing massive gorges, but you won’t have any expensive hiking equipment to buy either. Most trails on the Florida Panhandle are flat and easy along the beach, bayous, and 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.
Hiking during a winter getaway in Pensacola, Florida. Photo courtesy of Visit Pensacola
At Perdido Key State Park ‘hiking” is mainly along the beach. A boardwalk from the parking lot crosses over the dunes to the sand. 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
- 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
Explore History at Fort Pickens During Your Winter in Pensacola
On the western tip of Santa Rosa Island, part of the Gulf Islands National Seashore Fort Pickens, the national park offers year-round outdoor activities, including beautiful beaches, overnight camping, scenic hiking 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.
Note: You could easily lose yourself exploring Fort Pickens, expect to spend several hours. Be sure to stop in at the Fort gift shop for one-of-a-kind treasures to bring home.
Bunkers and cannons at Fort Perkins. Photo by Loretta Berry
Experience the Diverse Arts and Culture Scene
Pensacola has a charming, quaint southern feel. But this coastal city knows how to make quite a scene when it comes to arts and entertainment. Pensacola is the only city from Tampa to Mobile, Alabama, to host diverse cultural experiences.
The city boasts the Pensacola Opera, Pensacola Symphony Orchestra, Ballet Pensacola, and the historic Saenger Theatre, all within the downtown historic district.
The Pensacola Ballet. Photo courtesy of Visit Pensacola
Note: All of these venues are a great way to spend a chilly winter afternoon or evening. There are exceptional, quality shows scheduled at each venue throughout the winter months. Be sure to check their individual schedules in the links above.
Winter Getaways Spell 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 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 artistic and cultural events, delivered with a hefty dose of Southern sophistication.
A popular, family-favorite event that starts in November and runs throughout December is the annual Winterfest and Trolley Tours which draws locals and visitors from afar. Stroll about the plazas around the Old County Courthouse, ride the Winterfest train, watch the “snow” fall in the evening sky, drink hot chocolate, eat gingerbread cookies, and even meet Santa and Rudolph. The ever-anticipated, entertaining, and fun Trolley Tours are a “Must-Do.”
Winterfest Polar Express Trolley Tour. Photo by Loretta Berry
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 unique Mardi Gras celebration with the Pirate Flotilla—an annual floating boat parade traveling down the Intracoastal Waterway in Perdido Key.
Mardi Gras Parade in downtown Pensacola. Photo courtesy of Visit Pensacola
Are You a Comic Book Fan?
Pensacon is the three-day premier comic book and pop culture convention held each February. It is part short film festival and part celeb meet and greet, and it draws thousands of attendees from around the world,
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.
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If You Get Away for the Winter in Pensacola
A winter in Pensacola vacation sometimes requires thinking outside the box. Try to experience things you normally wouldn’t during the summer beach-filled months. Water sports and outdoor activities such as boating, kayaking, and dolphin tours are always available. With so many exciting winter activities in Pensacola, you won’t want to leave once you arrive. Let Wander With Wonder be your inspiration when planning your next “snowbird” winter escape to Florida or another sunny state like Arizona.
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