About Pensacola 

Located in Florida’s Western Panhandle, Pensacola offers a variety of activities in and out of the water to residents and visitors. With more than 50 miles of shoreline alone the Gulf of Mexico, Pensacola has been dubbed a beachgoer’s and fishermen’s paradise. Pensacola also has a few well-known rivers – the Black Water River and Cold Water River – that offer fishing, canoeing, and camping.

Pensacola enjoys a unique history. Known to be the first established settlement in the United States, it was founded in 1559 by Don Tristan de Luna. Since then it has been under rule by France, Spain, Great Britain and the United States.   Pensacola is home to Fort Barrancas, Fort McRee and Fort Pickens – where Geronimo was held captive prior to his well-known fate.

People associated with Pensacola include Michelle Snow, Joe Durant, Fred Levin, Don Sutton, Buck Showalter, Jay Bell, Travis Fryman, Emmitt Smith, Justin Gatlin, Roy Jones, Jr., and home of General Chappie James, the first African-American General.
Pensacola also celebrates with the Polar Bear Dip, Black History Month, the International Film & Television Festival, Festival on the Green, Pensacola JazzFest, Spring Fest, Crawfish Creole Fiesta, the Pensacola Interstate Fair, and the Frank Brown Songwriters’ Festival.

Downtown Pensacola has a lot to offer residents and visitors alike. Numerous stores, shops and cafés as well as galleries, antique stores and flea markets,  located within the historical district give you plenty of choices to shop or eat until your heart’s content. 
Pensacola also has 3 well-recognized colleges – Pensacola Junior College, Pensacola Christian College and The University of West Florida, which was chosen by US News Magazine as one of the nation’s best colleges to attend. 

Pensacola is also known for its military involvement and installations. These include the following:

NAS PENSACOLA
NAS Pensacola, known as the "Cradle of Naval Aviation," serves as the launching point for the flight training of every Naval Aviator, Naval Flight Officer (NFO), and Enlisted Aircrewman. NAS Pensacola's primary flying organization, Training Wing Six (TRAWING 6) includes three jointly-manned (Air Force and Navy personnel) US Navy training squadrons, VT-4, VT-10, and VT-86, with the mission of training USN, Marine Corps and other services' Naval Flight Officers and Navigators. These units fly a variety of aircraft, including the T-34C, T-2C, T-1A, and T-39. NAS Pensacola also serves as the home station and primary practice site for the Navy's Flight Demonstration Squadron, the Blue Angels.

The Blue Angels
Among the numerous display teams around the world one is truly outstanding: the Flight Demonstration Team of the US NAVY, the BLUE ANGELS. Founded in 1946, the BLUES definitely belong to the world’s most famous and attractive aerobatic teams. The BLUES make full use of the raw power of their Boeing F/A-18A Hornet – accordingly, their displays are always spectacular. The Blue Angels performs at approximately 70 air shows at 40 locations throughout the United States and abroad. The mission of the Blue Angels is to enhance the Navy recruiting effort as they seek to attract talented and qualified youths to join them in the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps.

Naval Museum/IMAX Theater
One of the largest and most beautiful air and space museums in the world, the Naval Museum has more than 130 restored aircraft representing Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Aviation. These historic and one-of-a-kind aircraft are displayed both inside the Museum's 291,000 square feet of exhibit space, and outside on the Museum's 37 acre grounds. The Museum also tells the human side of Naval Aviation and features memorabilia from each era of flight including personal mementos from historic battles, flight logs, vintage equipment and flight clothing. The IMAX Theater is almost 7 stories tall with a 6-channel, 15,000-watt sound system. Experience a take-off in an F-18 fighter jet. Land on an aircraft carrier at over 150 miles per hour and cruise the skies at mach speed.

In closing, Pensacola offers attractions and amenities to anyone from any lifestyle at any age.  Which is why we here at Team Sandy Blanton feel as if Pensacola is literally a Paradise undiscovered.

Check out more about Pensacola by browsing the Local Info section of this website.