Exciting Summer Water Fun in Pensacola, America's First Settlement and a Dream Coast

According to the city web site, Pensacola was founded in 1559 by the Spaniard Don Tristan de Luna on Florida's coast beside the Gulf of Mexico, celebrated with the first Catholic Mass in North America. The oldest Spanish settlement in what is now USA, Pensacola was followed by several other Spanish settlements before the rest of Europe founded cities and towns along the American Atlantic Coast. recall that HubPages member DJ Murrah reminded us that Thanksgiving did not begin at Plymouth, but - besides eons of Native American monthly celebrations - the thanks given by settlers began what is now the Southern US.

This Gulf location in Western Florida gives the city a personality different from cities located on other Florida coasts -- The water even seems a different color in this region. If you have seen the sci-fi film CONTACT with Jodi Foster, you may remember the crayon picture her character did as a child of Pensacola. When her adult character reaches a distant planet through a worm hole via her experimental spacecraft encouraged by extraterrestrials, the world looks like a dream version of Pensacola. This dream version is what the water and beach at Pensacola look like to me. A good water vacation is a dream from which one does not want to return.

Mid-summer is humid and winter is busier, so I recommend Pensacola and Gulf Islands National Seashore in late August and September before the equinox turns the land to autumn. This national seashore is made up of a near-dozen islands and parts of islands in Florida and Mississippi, presenting plenty of water activities.

NOTE: Island chains belonging to these two states reach down together in the Gulf of Mexico, while Alabama does not reach down as far, even though it is between the other two states.

Although there are many historic military forts in the park of this national seashore, much of the protected area is underwater, providing many opportunities for viewing the Atlantic bottlenose dolphin. This and the white beachers are other features that gives Pensacola its dreamlike quality. Dolphins are used several places around the state for physical and emotional therapy; the bond between human and seagoing mammal are difficult to explain.

Water Related Activities

For me, island primitive camping near the shore, dolphin watching, and shore birding are favorites, along with hiking with a park ranger on a guided tour of history, geography, wildlife and native plants through the park and along the beach.

Other activites that many people enjoy here include fishing, swim, and snorkeling. The local Andrew Jackson Trail is great for hiking and biking, but is only one of nine different trails here. All of them take visitors to the Naval Live Oaks area, which is the first national tree farm, named by President John Quincy Adams. The wood for the historic American ship USS Consitution was taken from these strong live oaks. In relation to ships, a tour of local shipwrecks is featured at the national seashore as well.

Camping

The national seahore provides space for primitive camping for 14 consecutive days per visit at the following places:

• Cat Island
• East Ship Island
• Horn Island
• Spoil Island (Sand Island)
• Perdido Key -- This is a barrier island on which you can see many birds and other wildlife. It is fairly large and covers over 240 acres right on the Gulf of Mexico with white sand beaches and sand dunes, sea oats, abundant wildlife, and plenty of places to swim and relax. Other activities include surf fishing, birding, use of boardwalks to view habitats and wiidlife, picnicking, and the primitive camping. Camping permits are self-register and free. Public showers are also available and camp fires may be built according to regulations on the beach.
• Petit Bois Island

Pensacola holds the greastest number of special events during June and September out of the summer months. In September, enjoy:

• Labor Day Weekend - Jamaican Fest. Music, food, family activities and contests.
• Mid-September - The Annual Perdido Key Open Beach Volley Ball Tournament. It's a newer of the Olympic events and the professionals make big money at it!
• Mid-September - Gallery Night for arts and culture, a gallery hop in Downtown Pensacola.
• Mid-September - Taste of the Beach. An annual sampling of island cuisines.
• End fo September - The Pensacola Seafood Festival. Seafood, of course, live performances, shopping, fine arts, crafts, and a 5K run.

Chulamar and Katelyn Charters is the first Ferry Service business in Pensacola to offer transport to Fort Pickens by ferry since Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005. The Gulf Islands National Seashore reported that much of their land is Mississippi on West Ship Island was under a 30-foot flood, but that is has recovered . Charter boats include the Chulamar and the Katelyn, which can take passengers from Pensacola Beach to either Fort Pickens at the national seashore and its surrounding park and aquatic preserve or out to fishable areas.

Additional fishing charters start out from Gul Breeze FL, a few miles north of Pensacola Beach across a causeway bridge. Dolphin watching tours are also scheduled from Gulf Breeze.

The local bus service has been operating since 1950, but public transportation has been a vital part of Pensacloa since the 1880s, when mules pulled trolley cars. ECAT bus system, whose logo is the Florida Panther, offers free beach trolley service in the summer months and the first part of autumn.

The free trolleys take passengers around all of Pensacola Beach. They are avaiable every weekend Friday - Sunday. beginning Memorial Day Weekend and ending September 30. Added routes and times are featured for the large 4th of July celebrations, the US Navy Blue Angel Air Show held every year, and Labor Day Weekend.