Trip Motivation
Ben’s family lives in Pensacola, FL, so we make this trip multiple times a year. We would probably still make this trip often even if we didn’t have family who lived there. Pensacola has the closest beach to Nashville (you can make it here in 7 hours!) and is just close enough for a weekend trip and perfect for a 3-day weekend.Â
In 2021, we spent Thanksgiving with our immediate family in Nashville but took advantage of the day off after and drove down to spend a weekend in Pensacola.Â
Drive to Pensacola
Check out this post for tips for road trips with kids. This is a nice quick drive (assuming no traffic). From Nashville, you’ll take I65 down through TN and AL towards Montgomery and then, depending on which area of the gulf you’re heading towards, you’ll cut down on smaller highways to get to the beach. See this post for highlights of our favorite stops on this route.
On this most recent trip, we left early Friday morning (7am) and made it to Pensacola by 3pm. On the way back, we left after lunch and faced some traffic bringing us back to Nashville in the late evening. In addition to gas and fast food stops, we took a quick break at the Peach Park. This is my favorite stop at about the halfway point off of Exit 205. Â In addition to a storefront, there’s a gift shop, restaurant, and ice cream! Peach ice cream and cobbler are always a welcome treat. The bathrooms at this stand are clean, and you can see pictures of the last 20 years of Miss Peaches. There’s also a small playground to get the wiggles out.
Where to Stay
There are numerous hotels around Pensacola with a wide range of prices and locations. Ben’s family lives Northwest of the downtown area, and, on previous visits, we have prioritized being close to their home and stayed at a Holiday Inn Express in this area. This area of town is farther from the beach but very affordable – although the area didn’t feel the safest. Closer to downtown, there is a 2-star inexpensive Quality Inn that allowed us to be closer to the beach. We haven’t yet paid for or stayed on the Pensacola Beach beachfront properties. On a future visit, if it’s during the summer and we anticipate spending a lot of time at the beach, we may look at using our IHG points to stay at the Holiday Inn on the beach.
On our recent stay, we spent 2 nights at the Hyatt Place near the airport. This hotel cost an inexpensive $85 a night/8k points. Hyatt is our favorite brand, and the hotels are always clean with room to spread out, a decent breakfast, and friendly staff. This hotel had a fitness center and indoor pool and was pet-friendly (They waived the fee for us due to our hotel status). On a previous visit, we were upgraded to a suite, but we were not on our recent visit. This hotel is about 10 minutes from downtown and 20 minutes to the beach. You can earn Hyatt points from Hyatt stays, the Hyatt credit card, and Chase points, which can be transferred to Hyatt. Learn more about points here. Â
Activities in Pensacola
Number 1: The Beach!
Depending on the time of year you go, anticipate at least a quick stop at the beach. As someone who grew up surrounded by beaches, sometimes watching the waves at the beach is a necessary break every once in a while. If you’re going in warmer months, pack and prepare for spending more time at the beach. Because we drove down, we were able to bring our own sand toys and hooded towels. The main beach area is Pensacola Beach by the Beach Ball Tower. Note that there is a small toll you pay online after based on your license. On the way, you can stop by Publix before the bridge for snacks.
Because Ben’s family is local to the area, he grew up going to other beaches farther west closer to Alabama. A little bit a drive from the downtown area, the Perdido Key beaches are a less crowded option with several opportunities for free parking along the drive. Additional inexpensive beach options in this area include Johnson’s beach and Gulf State Lagoon Park
Joe Patti's
Another stop that we make on every trip is a visit to Joe Patti’s Seafood market. This market has a long counter where you can pick up fresh fish and seafood to cook or bring home. On our recent trip, we brought an empty cooler and came back loaded up with shrimp and swordfish. When you enter, you’ll grab a number and survey the options. They move fast through the numbers so pay attention!Â
In the same market, there’s a sushi bar, a craft beer and wine shop, and an area with bread and desserts. Kids get a free scoop of gelato! Outside, there are fresh beignets and a cool fishing boat to look at. Even if we’re not buying seafood, we’ll stop by for a visit for beer and ice cream!
Playgrounds and Splashpads
Our favorite playground is near the Wahoo’s baseball stadium. There are lots of climbing options, and the view is lovely with the waterfront right next to it. There is also a little-known indoor area for tots that is open during baseball games and weekday mornings. Going to a game could also be a fun and inexpensive thing to do on a trip during the summer.Â
Other playgrounds we’ve gone to include Sanders Beach, a pirate playground near the airport, and a small fun splash area near the Plaza de Luna Memorial.
Indoor Fun
MESS Hall – This is a newer hands-on science museum. We spent hours here on a recent visit, and our kids loved it. They recently moved to a small building, and all their experiments and exhibits are meant to be played with probing questions. So much of the fun of science is guessing and predicting what will happen. They also had boxes of experiments that you could bring to a table to do and options for take-home fun as well. Ellie cried when we left. This museum is on the ASTC reciprocal pass which means it was free for us to visit. We will definitely be making a return visit
Cordova Mall play area – When I asked Carter if he had things he wanted to include on his list of favorite things to do in Pensacola, he asked me to include the mall. There is a Disney-themed indoor playground that the kids loved and we enjoyed an easy dinner of ramen and bubble teas. Not a stop to go out of your way for, but if you need indoor fun, our kids recommend it.Â
Children’s Museum – We haven’t been here yet, but I’ve heard good things about this children’s museum with tons of options for imaginative play.
Pensacola Aviation Museum – Right now, this museum is limited to military only. We have visited previously and enjoyed the planes and history this museum offers. You can even climb into some, and they have virtual reality options as well. If they open it back up to the public, this would be a great stop for older kids.Â
Favorite Restaurants
Have you ever had a bushwacker? It’s a delicious, chocolately alcoholic frozen drink. A few bars in Pensacola claim to be the originators, and there’s even a festival in the summer. The Dock is a restaurant on Pensacola Beach that offers basic bar food as well as this and other frozen drinks. It’s not particularly a kid-friendly restaurant, but there are picnic tables in the sand and kid’s options such as burgers and chicken tenders.Â
The Oar House is a favorite stop close to the downtown area. They have tables overlooking the nearby marina and yummy seafood options. My favorite is paella. There’s also a kid’s menu. The kids love the fried shrimp.
On our recent trip, a little ways out of town near Perdido Beach, we went to a restaurant called The Point. They are known for their mullet fish. We had great fried shrimp and fish. Rumor has it that Jimmy Buffett is also a fan of their seafood and stops in when in town.
Final Thoughts
A trip to Pensacola is an easy way to get some beach time without getting on a plane from Nashville. We will continue to make this trip often and are looking forward to warmer beach days, yummy seafood and time spent with family.Â
