Except for walking the historic area downtown, you'll need a car to get around Pensacola. Renting a car will also allow you to explore the Gulf Islands National Seashore, as well as the neighboring resort towns of Fort Walton Beach and Destin.

Best Time to Go

Since the Pensacola area receives over 320 days of sunshine a year, just about any time is a good time to visit. However, temperatures during the winter season tend to be slightly lower, with highs in the mid-50s to mid-60s. Summer highs reach the low to mid-80s, and the air feels humid even though there are breezes off the Gulf.

Cautions and Safety Concerns

Though the blue-green Gulf waters seem relatively calm on the surface, dangerous currents can lurk underneath. Be sure to heed the warnings of the flag system used on area beaches:

Green: calm conditions, low hazard

Yellow: moderate surf, medium hazard

Red: high surf, high hazard

Double red: dangerous surf, closed to public use

Purple: dangerous marine life

No flag: no lifeguard on duty

Surf conditions can be deceiving. To receive the latest surf advisory, call 850-932-7873 for Pensacola beaches and the Gulf Islands National Seashore for beaches within its boundaries (Opal Beach on Santa Rosa Island and Rosamund Johnson Beach on Perdido Key).