Culture, entertainment showcased - Festivals, scheduled throughout the year, add to Pensacola’s cultural attractions. The Great Gulf Coast Arts Festival draws tens of thousands to historic Seville Square to view and purchase a range of art. The city’s downtown also offers the Pensacola Museum of Art, housed in the old city jail, and the Pensacola Cultural Center, which stages several theatrical performances each season. In addition, local and national musical groups and theater troupes perform at the beautifully restored Saenger Theatre.

Sam’s Fun City Amusement Park hosts events throughout the year and features re-creations of the Brooklyn Bridge, Statue of Liberty, a 45-foot tall Ferris wheel, carousel, several amusement rides, an arcade, miniature golf, and go-kart tracks. Sam's Surf City Water Park is the newest addition featuring four thrilling waterslides, a 750’ endless river, two kiddie interactive play pools each with pint size slides, and much more.

Pensacola’s cultural experiences don’t stop with the eyes and ears. Taste the delectable choices for which Pensacola’s restaurants receive acclaim. Sample Southern barbecue, fresh seafood, Cajun specialties, or stick with traditional dishes such as succulent steaks or juicy burgers. The variety of restaurants includes local eateries that have been a part of Pensacola history for decades as well as franchise establishments near the city’s two major malls.

Nightlife - The variety of Pensacola’s nightlife guarantees that everyone can find his or her niche. The majority of bars, restaurants, and dance clubs populate the beaches and downtown areas, and attract fans of all ages. Live music prevails at many clubs, with jazz, country, Cajun, reggae, folk, and rock tunes featured, and the techno-beat of dance clubs draws college students and the military crowd.

Perdido Key’s Flora-Bama Lounge and Package Store is a regional landmark, sitting directly on the state line of Florida and Alabama, with live music 365 days a year. McGuire’s Irish Pub downtown is where patrons “kiss the moose” as they sing along to folk favorites and dine on famed corned beef and cabbage, prime rib, and 18-cent bowls of Senate bean soup. Flounder’s on Pensacola Beach offers guests the opportunity to dance under the stars and get sand between their toes, after a scrumptious meal of seafood and other fare. Seville Quarter comprises a group of five bars and restaurant areas, where patrons can meander from reggae to country to dueling pianos to the dance floor, and stop for a game of pool or catch the latest sports games in between.

Military honored - Known as the “Cradle of Naval Aviation,” thousands of military aviators and support personnel have at one time or another made Pensacola their home. Several bases throughout the area continue to train military personnel, while many veterans permanently make Pensacola their homeport.

The National Museum of Naval Aviation, one of the three largest aviation museums in the world, is located on Pensacola Naval Air Station. The museum provides a stunning display of aircrafts from the early days of naval flight to space travel. The museum also features an IMAX theater and fascinating exhibits on topics such as prisoners of war in Vietnam, a recreated World War II town, and a walk-through partial replica of a ship. The aviation museum’s Flight Adventure Deck offers youth groups interactive, Smithsonian-quality displays on topics ranging from gravity to aerodynamics.

Just around the corner, the U.S. Navy Blue Angels practice at their home base. The team performs throughout the country during its season but gives Pensacola visitors a chance to watch weekly practices. They also perform two shows in Pensacola – one in July and one in November.

Other military-related sites in Pensacola include a replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall and two well-preserved forts, Fort Pickens and Fort Barrancas.

Let us show you Pensacola and give you Florida’s warmest welcome.

For more information on the Pensacola area, call the Pensacola Bay Area Convention & Visitors Bureau at (800) 874-1234 or (850) 434-1234.