Pensacola Day Trip: How to Maximize 24 Hours of History and Adventure with two places to eat
Sometimes, the best adventures are the ones that pack a punch, and our recent Pensacola Day Trip was exactly that. In just 24 hours, we traded a lively street festival for a lighthouse climb and finished with a staggering tour of naval history. If you’re looking for a quick yet deep dive into this historic Florida city, here is our playbook.
Saturday Afternoon: Downtown & the Seafood Spectacle
We arrived on a Saturday afternoon, settled into our hotel, and immediately headed downtown. We were thrilled to discover the streets were completely taken over by the Annual Pensacola Seafood Festival.
We’ve been to our share of festivals, but the sheer scale of this one was impressive! It spilled across Seville Square, Fountain Park, and Bartram Park, attracting over 100,000 attendees over the three-day event. It’s hailed as one of the largest arts and crafts fairs in Northwest Florida, drawing over 150 artisans. We walked around, soaking in the vibrant energy, grabbed a local beer, and enjoyed strolling the streets before heading off for a quieter snack away from the crowds at Union Public House (below: pimento cheese puffs, sweet potato fries, corn dog).
Sunday Morning: Breakfast at The Ruby Slipper
Our hotel included breakfast, but knowing we weren’t in Pensacola long, and since we skipped dinner the night before, we decided to find a place in town to enjoy the area a little more. Justin enjoys breakfast, it might be his favorite meal of the day to eat out. So we usually try to find a place that not only has great reviews but also an interesting menu…although he sticks to a standard, I like to try new things. We didn’t realize the Ruby Slipper was a chain until we got to Mobile, but it was a lovely eatery. Our server was super friendly and attentive, and I thought my breakfast was delicious.
I ordered the “One Tomato, Two Tomato” benedict which was a fried green tomato, a slice of a grilled red tomato served on top of a buttermilk biscuit, with poached eggs and hollandaise, and I kept the side salad (picture below). Justin got the “Three Little Pigs Omelet”, which was not his standard breakfast, which had sausage, ham, applewood-smoked bacon, with Swiss cheese served and was served with grits and a buttermilk biscuit.
Sunday Morning, Part I: The Pensacola Lighthouse Climb
Determined to start our second day on a high note (literally), we hit the road early for the Pensacola Lighthouse and Maritime Center.
We were the second people to arrive and, after paying the admission fee (for us it was $10 per person), immediately started our ascent. The current Pensacola Light, built in 1859, is the oldest and tallest lighthouse on the Gulf Coast. Due to the design of the stairs, enclosed back shoes are required.
I love lighthouses and towers, but about a third of the way up the 177 open iron steps, I started to feel a flicker of panic. The steps, an open patterned designed, narrowed inwards, and I found myself holding the rail with two hands—a first for me! Whether it was the dizzying climb or not enough breakfast, we made it to the top.
The reward was worth it: a spectacular view of the Gulf Coast and Pensacola Bay. A friendly volunteer at the top, a young military man, gave us some great tips on things to do nearby. We were the only ones up there, allowing us to walk the ledge twice before descending. It was a delight to see the massive Fresnel Lens up close, which is still maintained by the U.S. Coast Guard and casts its light 190 feet above sea level!
After descending (taking our time!), we explored the Keeper’s House, now a museum featuring exhibits on past keepers, various lenses, and a powerful women’s exhibit. It was a wonderful start to the day.
Sunday Morning, Part II: National Naval Aviation Museum
Just a stone’s throw down the street, also located on NAS Pensacola, is the National Naval Aviation Museum. We had visited Wings over the Rockies in Colorado just weeks prior and thought it was great—but this was on a completely different level!
This is the largest Naval Aviation Museum in the world, completely free to the public, and is home to over 150 beautifully restored aircraft displayed across more than 350,000 square feet of exhibit space.
The collection is jaw-dropping, ranging from WWI biplanes to massive modern jets. We spent a couple of hours exploring, moving through the main hangar and the second hall, reading signs, and marveling at iconic planes like the Blue Angels F/A-18 Hornet.
We skipped the Giant Screen Theater and the flight simulators, but there was enough to easily fill an entire day. Even seeing about half the exhibits was exhausting, but inspiring. The museum is a truly fantastic tribute to the history and heritage of Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard aviation.
A Day Well Spent
Pensacola looked like a great town, unfortunately we didn’t have time to explore more. Our 24 hours was a remarkable journey through celebration, history, and the skies and set the tone for the rest of our vacation.
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