When planning a family vacation to Pensacola, you and your kiddos will expect to have fun on sandy beaches and warm waters. It’s a wonderful place to explore and relax.
There are many outdoor activities to choose from.
When it’s time to come in from the beach, there are still more activities to experience.
Pensacola has been named a top family-friendly destination by Southern Living so here are some things to check out.
Getting Your Toes in the Sand at Pensacola Beach
Pensacola Beach is well known for its sugary white, soft sand.
The clear water is also beautiful and memorable here with deep greens and blues.
While some areas are more crowded, there are quieter areas usually fringed with seagrass.
Lifeguards keep everyone safe.
The beaches are sunny and warm throughout the year so that you can enjoy the coastline.
For breathtaking views, take a stroll down the Pensacola Beach Fishing Pier and Observation Post that spans 1,471 ft over the Gulf of Mexico.
Contents
- Things to Do in Pensacola With Kids
- Visit the Pensacola Beach Boardwalk
- Stroll the Pensacola Beach Gulf Pier
- Explore the National Naval Aviation Museum
- Catch the Excitement of the Blue Angels on a Cruise
- Get Hands-On at the Pensacola Children’s Museum
- Get Close to History at Fort Pickens
- Check out the Pensacola Lighthouse and Museum
- Discover the Sea at Night with Glow Paddle
- Get Moving at Laguna’s Adventure Park
- Get Wild at the Gulf Breeze Zoo
- Pensacola Safety Overview
- Frequently Asked Questions
Things to Do in Pensacola With Kids
Visit the Pensacola Beach Boardwalk
After time on Pensacola Beach, spend some time on the boardwalk browsing the shops there.
There are both locally-owned shops and national brands. If you and your family are there on the weekend, there are handmade goods for sale by local makers.
Prices are affordable, and you may find the perfect souvenir for your vacation time.
There are also a number of good restaurants where everyone gets ready to eat.
Don’t forget to take a photo with the famed giant shell sculpture on the beach.
Stroll the Pensacola Beach Gulf Pier
We’ve already mentioned the pier, but it is a great place to view the Gulf waters and enjoy the fresh sea air.
There is also the chance that you will be able to spot dolphins and other sea creatures in the waters below.
The other attraction of the pier is that is a great place for fishing.
A variety of fish can be found here including flounder, redfish, and trout.
There is a bait and tackle shop on the pier that rents fishing gear if you didn’t bring your own.
There is a fee to enter the pier, but it is good for all day so you and your family can linger as long as you want.
If you have any family members interested in aviation or kids destined to be future jet pilots, a trip to the National Naval Aviation Museum is a must while in Pensacola.
The museum is located at the Naval Air Station Pensacola in Florida.
Visitors are able to view a massive collection of aircraft and artifacts.
There are also exhibits that guide visitors through the history of naval aviation.
They cover moments from the very beginning to the modern era.
With more than 150 planes to examine, kids who are interested in flying and planes will love this museum.
On display are early biplanes and modern jet planes with everything in between.
Interactive exhibits provide additional educational information and fun such as the Blue Angels Simulator.
There is also a cockpit trainer and flight deck trainer.
Check their calendar for scheduled air shows.
Also, admission is free.
Catch the Excitement of the Blue Angels on a Cruise
After exploring the Naval Museum, head out on the Pensacola Bay Ferry to catch the Blue Angels during one of their practices.
The Blue Angels are one of the most popular flying military teams in the US.
During their shows, they execute amazing aerial acrobatic moves that leave viewers in awe.
The Pensacola Bay Ferry is a way to see them practice while cruising on the water.
Leaving from the Pensacola Bay Center, the boat heads to Fort Pickens.
This is where the Blue Angels practice.
During the 90-minute cruise, you’ll be able to see the planes perform their maneuvers from a close location.
The spectacular views of the Gulf of Mexico and Pensacola Bay are an added plus.
Get Hands-On at the Pensacola Children’s Museum
The Pensacola Children’s Museum encourages children to explore a wide variety of topics.
With 100 hands-on exhibits, kids can learn while interacting with the exhibits.
Exhibits range from indigenous peoples to learning to sail a ship, explore the ocean, and understand cave exploration.
They can experience a one-room schoolhouse and guard a fort while trading for goods.
In the maker space, kids use their imagination to create engineering projects through STEAM activities.
The open space with multiple tables allows for kids to collaborate.
Get Close to History at Fort Pickens
Located on Santa Rosa Island, Fort Pickens is a historic US military fort named after Andrew Pickens, an American Revolutionary War hero.
Built-in the 1830s, it was designed to defend Pensacola Bay.
Confederate forces attacked the fort during the Civil War for almost a year.
After the war, it was used as a training base and ultimately decommissioned in 1947.
During the visit, your family can explore the fort either by yourselves or with a ranger.
The history of the fort is shown through exhibits in the center.
Check out the Pensacola Lighthouse and Museum
At 151 ft tall, the lighthouse is the third tallest in Florida.
Built in 1859, has a 15 ft diameter Fresnel lens with prisms that allow it to be seen for miles.
After climbing the 177 steps to the top, you’ll be treated to panoramic views of the Gulf of Mexico, Pensacola Bay, and the Pensacola skyline.
The museum has exhibits on maritime history, the role of lighthouses, and a model of the USS Pensacola that was used during the Civil War.
The lighthouse is located at the Naval Air Station, so a government-issued ID is required to enter.
Discover the Sea at Night with Glow Paddle
Discover the sea at night by kayaking with Glow Paddle.
It’s an experience that the whole family will enjoy.
Clear kayaks are lit with LED lights so that kayakers can travel around Sabine Bay.
This is an opportunity to look for sea turtles, stingrays, and maybe even dolphins.
Being on the water under the starry night sky is also part of the experience.
This is a perfect activity for older kids and teens.
Reservations are required.
Get Moving at Laguna’s Adventure Park
Located at Laguna’s Beach Bar and Grill, the adventure park is a favorite activity spot.
The bar and grill offer brick oven pizzas and other great food and drinks for after the fun.
In the games area, there is a ropes course, zip lining, and even go-karts.
If you’re feeling brave, there is also a huge water slide and bungee jump built for smaller bodies.
During warm days, there is a splash pad for cooling off.
They also offer a ropes course for smaller kiddos (under 48″) called Tiny Tykes.
This is also a perfect beach area to enjoy the water views.
Get Wild at the Gulf Breeze Zoo
The Gulf Breeze Zoo exhibits and cares for 900 animals in a 50-acre zoo.
The 200 species represent animals from around the world.
You and your children can learn more about zebras, lions, elephants, and tigers.
There are also a variety of birds, primates, and reptiles to see and experience.
But the things that get kiddos the most excited about are the opportunities to feed some of the animals and get even closer to them.
At the Gulf Breeze Zoo, visitors can feed the giraffes and camels, but they can also feed hippos, alligators, and Scottish Highland cows.
These are experiences that will not be forgotten soon.
There is also a mining sluice, where kids can learn about the mining process.
In the budgetary aviary, little ones can interact with these small birds.
Everyone will enjoy the farm, or petting zoo, where time can be spent interacting with sheep and goats.
Another attraction not to miss is the Safari Express Train Ride.
This narrated 15-minute trip takes everyone around the park to see the animals close up such as gorillas, Nile hippos, and orangutans.
Pensacola Safety Overview
READ THE FULL REPORT: Pensacola Safety Review
Safety Index:
- OVERALL RISK: MEDIUM
- TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW
- PICKPOCKETS RISK: MEDIUM
- NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM
- MUGGING RISK: MEDIUM
- TERRORISM RISK: MEDIUM
- SCAMS RISK: LOW
- WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the weather like in Pensacola?
With its location in the northwest of the Florida Panhandle, the average high temperature is 77° and the average low is 59°.
Expect summers to be hot and humid while winters will be mild and short.
Rain is always a possibility, particularly in the summertime.
The average water temperature is 84° in July and August making these the best months for swimming.
During the winter, the water temperature drops to an average of 64°.
What is the best time of year to visit Pensacola?
The weather is beautiful all year round in Pensacola.
The warmest months are June – September.
These months are also the best time for swimming and enjoying the beach.
July – August is the rainiest period of the year.
January is the coldest time.
Regardless of when your family visits, you’ll have an enjoyable time.
Is Pensacola safe with kids?
Yes!
Pensacola is safe to visit with your kids.
The crime rate in 2020 was 602 per 100,000 people.
This rate is lower than the national crime rate.
It also makes it comparable to other cities such as Jacksonville, Seattle, or Portland.
As tourists visiting the beaches and going to sights of interest such as the National Aviation Museum or Fort Pickens, you and your family should have no problems.
Criminal activity occurs away from tourist areas and happens on the mainland.
Is there great fishing in Pensacola?
Yes!
Pensacola is known as the red snapper capital of the world but there is a wide variety of fish that you can catch including tarpon.
Fishing is allowed from the shoreline where you will find redfish, spotted trout, and flounder.
Head out into deeper waters, and you’ll find Mahi Mahi,
yellowfish, and blackfin tuna, to name a few. Sailfish, marlins, and swordfish can also be found in deeper waters.
Fishing trips with guides are available for rent.
