Pensacola Best Western

Situated on the glittering waters of the Gulf of Mexico in the westernmost part of the Florida panhandle, Pensacola offers a compelling mix of beaches, history, shopping and fun. Known as “The Upside of Florida” and often referred to as “P-cola” by locals, Pensacola is bordered by water on three sides and has the distinction of having been owned by five nations throughout its history: Spain, France, the U.K., the U.S. and the Confederacy. As the home of Naval Air Station Pensacola, the military plays a large part in city, along with the good vibes and sunny outlook.

Things to see

Naval Air Station Pensacola

No visit to PensacolaOpens in a new window would be complete without a visit to the Naval Air Station, which is home to numerous attractions. Chief among them is the National Museum of Naval Aviation, which, among other things, houses more than 150 impeccably-preserved aircraft. The Naval Air Station also boasts Fort Barrancas and the Pensacola Lighthouse, a black-and-white lighthouse that was built in 1858.

Pensacola Historic Village

In addition to boasting a wide array of historic buildings, this pedestrian-friendly district is home to numerous unique and interesting museums. There are lots of restaurants, cafes and bars here too, so it's a great place to spend an afternoon or evening.

Beaches

Boasting a glorious coastline, the city's beaches include Perdido Beach and Pensacola Beach. Both are ideal sunbathing spots, but if you're looking for some action, you can partake in the many available water activities, like surfing and fishing.

Yearly events of note

Mardi Gras

Join in Pensacola's annual Mardi Gras event, which is held on the weekend before Fat Tuesday. All kinds of excitement abounds, including three terrific parades, live performances, arts and crafts vendors, food stalls and much more. Pensacola hotels tend to get booked well in advance of this event, so be sure to plan accordingly.

Pensacola Seafood Festival

Celebrate Pensacola's amazing seafood by checking out this lively eventOpens in a new window, which is held near the end of September every year. In addition to featuring artist booths, activities for kids and live music, the festival affords plenty of opportunities to sample local favorites like "grits-a-ya-ya," which consist of grits with shrimp, fried onions, cheese and bacon. Fried grouper is also quite popular and readily available.

Traveling to Pensacola

With six major airlines offering direct service to major cities like Chicago, Atlanta, Washington D.C., Houston and Miami, Pensacola International Airport (PNS) is the obvious choice for travelers who are arriving by air. From there, you can hop in a taxi or avail yourself of the numerous buses that serve the airport courtesy of Escambia County Area Transit.

Traveling to Pensacola by car is easy. Interstate 10 serves as the major east-west artery, while Highway 29 and Interstate 65 provide easy access from the north. Greyhound also operates a terminal in Pensacola, so getting there by bus is easy and convenient too.

Climate

When it comes to climate, many like to say that Pensacola has three seasons due to the fact that it doesn't experience much of a winter. Its subtropical climate means that winters are generally short and mild with an average high in January of 61 degrees. Summers, on the other hand, tend to be very hot and humid, but breezes from the gulf help to make things more comfortable much of the time. Spring and fall tend to be mild. If Pensacola's weather is extreme in any way, rainfall is the main culprit. The city is among the rainiest east of the Mississippi, so be sure to bring along a raincoat and umbrella.

There's really no bad time to visit Pensacola. If you're concerned about costs, though, Pensacola hotels tend to be the most affordable from September through early April. Most budget hotels are located along Interstate 10, and the more upscale hotels are located downtown. If you're mostly visiting Pensacola to enjoy the beaches, late spring and early summer afford plenty of sunshine, warm temperatures and relatively low humidity.