Smaller children may enjoy splashing around in the calm waters of Santa Rosa Sound on Quietwater Beach, just in front of Portofino Boardwalk. Bring along beach toys, chairs, and a picnic for a full-day of fun. Pensacola Beach and Perdido Key are also great choices where older children play in the surf, build sandcastles and collect seashells.
Museums
The T.T. Wentworth, Jr. Florida State Museum is featuring a dollhouse exhibit through summer, featuring 42 intricate dollhouses designed by Jane Fontaine. The museum will also host free tea parties throughout the year. The museum also includes an exhibit on Pensacola’s history and a children’s room complete with costumes, props and colonial scenes for an afternoon of fun. Admission is free. (850) 595-5990, www.historicpensacola.org.
The National Naval Aviation Museum has launched an exciting game called Famous Flyers. Children can match clues about heroic and daring pilots to museum exhibits, such as the first American in space and the first African-American to complete the Navy’s flight training program, then turn in a completed game card to receive museum coupons and a chance to win one of two grand prizes. The museum offers more than 180 vintage aircraft (many are okay to touch), flight simulators, an IMAX Theatre and special exhibits including a cockpit trainer exhibit for kids to climb into. The Blue Angels practice air shows most Tuesdays and Wednesdays from March through November — a thrilling experience for the family. Admission is free. (850) 452-3604, www.navalaviationmuseum.org.
On the first and second Saturday of each month, Pensacola Museum of Art provides workshops for children ages 6-14. While parents explore Downtown Pensacola, their children can create art from 1-2:30. Cost is $10.
Where to Eat
Families can pack their picnic and enjoy two free outdoor concerts each week. Tuesday nights, head to the Pavilion on Pensacola Beach for Bands on the Beach, and Thursdays head to Downtown Pensacola for Evenings in Old Seville Square. www.VisitPensacola.com
McGuire’s Irish Pub has long been a Pensacola landmark and features several hundred thousand dollars in single bills, signed by patrons and posted throughout the restaurant. Located in Pensacola’s original 1927 old Firehouse, the restaurant serves award-winning food, including USDA prime steaks, and is kid-friendly. www.mcguiresirishpub.com, (850) 433-6789
Adventure and Fun
Sign up for sailing lessons from one of the best instructors and the best sailing schools in the country. Lanier Sailing Academy was named 2007 Outstanding Sailing School, and John Struchen was named 2007 Outstanding Instructor by American Sail Association. Lanier Sailing Academy offers basic, half-day courses to full, week-long trips on the water for both children and adults learning to sail. Besides its renowned school, Lanier Sailing Academy provides guided sails such as sunset cruises and ecology and history tours. www.laniersail.com, (850) 432-3199
Known as the “Canoe Capital of Florida,” Coldwater Creek and Blackwater River offer wonderful canoe and kayak excursions through pristine nature in nearby Milton. Shallow rivers allow families to take small children and sandbars offer the perfect spot for a picnic. Local resorts and hotels at Pensacola Beach offer sea kayaking in the Gulf of Mexico and Pensacola Bay. www.Adventuresunlimited.com, (850) 623-6197
Gulf Islands National Seashore offers miles of scenic biking trails. Perdido Key Road offers a 5-mile round trip course, and on Pensacola Beach at Portofino, an 8-mile course winds along the water amidst sand dunes. For mountain biking, the University of West Florida has a 4-mile trail, and for a simply fun ride, Tiki Island on Pensacola Beach rents bicycles big enough to seat eight. www.tikiislandgolfandgames.com, (850) 932-1550
Gulf Islands National Seashore offers a variety of ranger-led tours year-round with daily tours at Fort Barrancas, full moon walks and barrier island outings, as well as snorkeling adventures during summer. www.nps.gov/guis, (850) 934-2600
Resorts such as Portofino Island Resort & Spa offer amenities for kids and parents alike. Hilton Pensacola Beach Gulf Front also offers programs for kids in summer. The Portofino Family Adventure Pass gives families unlimited use of kayaks, mirage kayaks, sea cycles, boogie boards, surf boards and snorkeling equipment. Portofino Pirate’s Club offers kids 5-12 an exciting schedule of active and creative activities and games. Kidz Night Out gives parents a break and children a night of fun with 3D Rollercoaster Adventure Night, moonlight turtle hunts and ghost crab excursions. Portofinoisland.com, (850) 934-5590 and Hilton.com, (850) 916-2999
Sam’s Fun and Surf City is Pensacola’s only amusement and water park. Featuring more than 20 rides and attractions, Sam’s is blast for kids of every age. www.samsfuncity.com, (850) 505-0800
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5 comments:
These are great. I would love to hear from residents about their favorite kid-friendly activities in Pensacola.
Of course, the beaches are always a favorite. One thing we really enjoy is feeding whole bagels to the sea gulls! They try to carry the bagels, but drop them; then the bagels roll, and they try to pick them up and carry them again.
There are so many things we love about our area. The beaches (and going over to Peg Leg Pete's), The Zoo where you can feed the giraffe and ride the train, the Navy museum (which is just the coolest place ever!), the wild animal sanctuary (which is a little hard to find but worth it!), and Fourth of July fireworks...one of our family traditions!
I have lived here my whole life and enjoyed many of these suggestion but never thought to access the knowlege to enjoy this with my children reading the web page has made me aware that are area is a great place for my children to explore ther world thanks for allowing me to see this
with the great imformation on parks and what they have to offer every family.
These are things we have already done and enjoyed with my son-who is now 4. There is also 3 places with inflatables around town that are great for kids of all ages. Other than that, we haven't found much else for the younger kids...we would love it if there was an aquarium closer to town. We need some more indoor things for kids to do here!
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