Pensacola Beach Blog Posts

Flora-Bama Polar Bear Dip: Chillinâ in the Gulf on New Yearâs Day

Wednesday, December 4, 2024

Pensacola Beach Songwriters Festival

Celebrating the Writers and Stories Behind Their Songs

Thursday, July 25, 2024

Easter Happenings Will Soon Be Hopping on the Gulf Coast!

All along the Alabama and Florida Gulf coasts, communities are getting ready to celebrate Easter with live music, egg hunts, bunny visits, and more â and visitors of all ages are welcome to join in! Following is a list of several Gulf Coast Easter events!

Thursday, March 21, 2024

Flora-Bama Mullet Toss: Flying-Fish Fun on Florida’s Perdido Key

Saturday, March 16, 2024

Hangout Music Fest Planning Star-Studded Lineup for Gulf Shores this May

Monday, February 26, 2024

Flora-Bama Polar Bear Dip: Chillin’ in the Gulf on New Year’s Day

The Flora-Bama Lounge invites adventurers from near and far to continue the New Year's Day tradition of taking a dip in the Gulf of Mexico.   40th Annual Polar Bear Dip   On Monday, January 1, 2024, scores of partiers, some in costume, others in wetsuits--and more wearing nothing but swimsuits--will gather at high noon on the beach outside

Saturday, December 9, 2023

Bellingrath Gardens Magic Christmas in Lights Dazzles Guests

Spectacular Christmas displays light up Bellingrath Gardens & home over the holiday season. Lighting Up Holiday Nights at Bellingrath Gardens & Home Millions of lights will illuminate the sky over Bellingrath Gardens & Home this holiday season. Magic Christmas in Lights celebrates its 28th annual enchanting event at the 65-acre Theodore

Tuesday, December 5, 2023

Frank Brown International Songwriters' Festival Spotlights Composers

The Flora-Bama Lounge, on the Orange Beach, Alabama and Perdido Key, Florida line, is one of many venues where songwriters perform in the Frank Brown International Songwriters' Festival.   Photo by Beth Childs   International Songwriters' Festival's 39th Year   The Gulf of Mexico and its white-sand beaches are the backdrop every fall

Monday, November 13, 2023

Beach Wedding Venues

  Planning a beach wedding on the Gulf Coast is a dream come true for many couples. With its stunning turquoise waters, pristine sandy beaches, and breathtaking sunsets, this location offers the perfect backdrop for a romantic and unforgettable celebration. From selecting the ideal beachfront venue to choosing the perfect coastal decor, planning

Monday, October 23, 2023

2023 Pensacola Beach Songwriters Festival

Celebrating the Writers and Stories Behind Their Songs   This year's festival attendees will enjoy listening to songwriters perform as they have yearly since 2009.   MORE THAN 100 SONGWRITERS SET FOR THE 2023 PENSACOLA BEACH SONGWRITERS FESTIVAL   If music provides the soundtrack of our lives, then songwriters deserve a lot of credit

Tuesday, September 26, 2023

These Dog-Friendly Beaches Welcome You AND Your Furry Friends

He or she may be your family’s best friend, but when it comes to including Piper or Penny in your next beach excursion, knowing where your pooch will be welcome takes some extra planning. While it’s true that many Florida and Alabama beaches don’t allow dogs, there are still plenty of dog-friendly beaches, including the following.

Friday, September 22, 2023

Unleash the Fun! Dog-Friendly Beaches and Vacation Rentals Await You and Your Pup!

Friday, September 22, 2023

Emerald Coast Poker Run: Playing Cards for a Cause

Annual Event Making a Difference for a Quarter Century You don’t have to own a boat to have plenty of fun during the Emerald Coast Poker Run. Participants and party-goers alike are sure to have a blast at the annual boating and fundraising event, presented by the Emerald Coast Foundation as part of Boat Week. History shows this event -- which

Wednesday, July 19, 2023

Elevate Your Beach Trip

Experience the ultimate in luxury aboard a private yacht such as Holloway Yachts in Destin, FL. photo credit: Destin City Lifestyle Magazine   Infuse your beach trip with luxury indulgences for incredible memories, less hassle and more time spent with family and friends.   We can all agree a vacation to the Gulf Coast is a luxury in and of

Friday, March 10, 2023

Itâs LuLuPalooza Time

Good food, good music, and lots of hand-clapping, head-bobbing, toe-tapping fun. Thatâs what to expect when the annual LuLuPalooza kicks off on Saturday, May 29, 2021 at LuLuâs Gulf Shores restaurant and marina . Under the guidance of LuLuâs owner Lucy Buffett â yes, sheâs Jimmyâs sister â this popular music

Friday, May 7, 2021

It’s LuLuPalooza Time

Good food, good music, and lots of hand-clapping, head-bobbing, toe-tapping fun. That’s what to expect when the annual LuLuPalooza kicks off on Saturday, May 29, 2021 at LuLu’s Gulf Shores restaurant and marina . Under the guidance of LuLu’s owner Lucy Buffett – yes, she’s Jimmy’s sister – this popular music

Friday, May 7, 2021

Sand In my Boots Music Fest Planning Star-Studded Lineup for Gulf Shores

[caption id="attachment_4400" align="alignleft" width="600"] Foo Fighters perform at a previous fest. Photo by Oliver Walker.[/caption] Hangout Fest fans have jammed with some  of the hottest new artists on today’s music scene in Gulf Shores, Alabama. Past lineups for this packed three-day event have included Foo Fighters, The Killers

Friday, April 16, 2021

Flora-Bama Mullet Toss: Fishy Fun on Florida's Perdido Key

If you think a mullet is just a bad haircut, you probably haven’t heard about the Flora-Bama Lounge’s Annual Interstate Mullet Toss and Gulf Coast’s Greatest Beach Party . Centerpiece of this tongue-in-cheek Perdido Key event is a strange but satisfying three-day competition. It involves tossing a mullet  – a small fish

Tuesday, October 13, 2020

Blue Angels Homecoming Air Show: Exciting 2019 Season Closes in Style

On November 8 and 9, Naval Air Station Pensacola will welcome the Blue Angels back to the base for their homecoming air shows. The Friday and Saturday shows will mark the Angels’ 73rd anniversary. Since 1946, they have been traveling the country, wowing audiences with their precision flight formations (sometimes bringing them as close to

Thursday, October 17, 2019

Gulf Coast Fishing in Northwest Florida and Alabama â A Year-Round Affair

Itâs a fact that the sugar-white sands and blue-green waters of the Northwest Florida and Alabama Gulf coasts attract millions of visitors each year. But did you know that these locations also offer some of the best fishing in the world? In fact, the fishing fun is just as bountiful as sunshine here. And you donât have to sign up for a charter and

Thursday, August 16, 2018

Gulf Coast Fishing in Northwest Florida and Alabama – A Year-Round Affair

It’s a fact that the sugar-white sands and blue-green waters of the Northwest Florida and Alabama Gulf coasts attract millions of visitors each year. But did you know that these locations also offer some of the best fishing in the world? In fact, the fishing fun is just as bountiful as sunshine here. And you don’t have to sign up for a

Thursday, August 16, 2018

Travel Insurance: Keep Your Money, Even If You Can’t Keep Your Plans

When given a choice, most of us would opt out of paying for travel insurance. Who wants to spend money to guard against something that most likely won’t happen? Most of us, though, have experienced instances when our plans have gone awry, making us feel like a member of the Griswold family from National Lampoon’s Vacation . That’s when

Monday, September 12, 2016

Beach Safety Tips for an Amazing Vacation

BE SAFE SWIMMING Make sure everyone in the family knows how to swim. Swim where there’s a lifeguard, and don’t swim alone. When swimming in the ocean, avoid getting into water that is more than waist-deep. Young and/or inexperienced swimmers should wear U. S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets. If you're planning on going boating

Thursday, July 21, 2016

Blue Angels Air Show: Keeping Your Cool in Pensacola's July Heat

There’s nothing quite like watching the Blue Angels, the U.S. Navy’s flight demonstration team, perform aerial acrobatics near its home base at Naval Air Station Pensacola. Most everyone enjoys watching fast planes, and if the sight of their vapor trails doesn’t send you daydreaming, then the sounds of the screaming jets roaring overhead

Thursday, June 23, 2016

Aquatic Adventures Aplenty at Navarre Beach Marine Park

Colorful fish swim around a section of artificial reef at Navarre Beach Marine Sanctuary. Photo by Sandi Kemp. If you like your beach getaway to be equal parts relaxation and adventure, then Navarre Beach Marine Park is the place for you. Located on a barrier island and surrounded by Santa Rosa Sound on one side and the Gulf of Mexico on the other,

Friday, October 9, 2015

Pensacola Beach Deals – Extend Your Stay in Paradise!

Say âI doâ to sun, sand, surf, and love with special savings on spring stays at Paradise Beach Homes this season. Take a break and save in spring when you book one of Pensacola Beachâs most accommodating accommodations. Romantic retreat and family fun Wedding-friendly beach house rental in Pensacola Beach, Florida, managed by Paradise Beach Homes. Spring

Tuesday, April 28, 2015

Pensacola Beach Deals - Extend Your Stay in Paradise!

Say ‘I do’ to sun, sand, surf, and love with special savings on spring stays at Paradise Beach Homes this season. Take a break and save in spring when you book one of Pensacola Beach’s most accommodating accommodations. Romantic retreat and family fun [caption id="attachment_2645" align="alignleft" width="300"] Wedding-friendly beach

Tuesday, April 28, 2015

Special Events Lure Visitors to Gulf Coast Year-Round

[caption id="attachment_2566" align="alignleft" width="461"] Anglers of all ages are welcome to compete in the Destin Fishing Rodeo.[/caption] Warm weather, emerald waters, and beaches so white that they dazzle the eyes are the major attractions for most visitors to the Florida and Alabama Gulf coasts. But the region also plays host to music festivals

Sunday, March 15, 2015

Trade in your snow shoes for flip flops!

With warmer temperatures just around the corner, now is the time to start getting into a Spring state-of-mind. And what better way to get into the spirit than with a spring break beach deal in Northwest Florida? Luckily, ResortQuest By Wyndham Vacation Rentals is currently offering hot deals like 15 percent off your vacation rentals, through April 12

Saturday, February 28, 2015

How To Pack the Perfect Beach Bag

The best way to ensure a relaxing day at the beach is to start with a little planning. Giving some thought to what to pack in a beach bag means you won’t get settled on the sand only to discover that your bottled water and sunscreen are back at your condo or hotel room. Following are some tips on how to pack the perfect beach bag, along with some

Saturday, January 10, 2015

Dining In and Around Pensacola Beach

[caption id="attachment_2333" align="alignleft" width="960"] Outside the Pensacola Fish House and neighboring Atlas Oyster House in downtown Pensacola[/caption] The white sands and turquoise waters of Pensacola Beach are the perfect backdrop for a beautiful Gulf respite. But we humans do not live by dolphins/golf/swimming/fishing/sandcastles alone.

Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Turn Your Sandcastle Creations Into Cash!

Enter our Sandcastle Facebook Photo Contest this summer, and you could win CASH and a FREE sandcastle-building lesson! The grand prize is $200 plus a two-hour lesson from beachsandsculptures.com , owned by professional sand sculptors Rick and Capri Mungeam. The lesson (good through the end of 2015) includes a demonstration of proper sand-sculpting tools

Tuesday, May 20, 2014

Enter Our Gulf Coast Getaway Giveaway TODAY!

During the month of May, we’re offering one of our lucky Facebook fans the chance to win a three-day, two-night stay in a deluxe two-bedroom condo on the beautiful Gulf Coast, from Gulf Shores to Panama City Beach. To enter, just visit us at https://www. facebook .com/ Beachguide ‎ and click on the contest link. Be sure to ‘share

Thursday, May 1, 2014

Easter Happenings on the Gulf

All along the Alabama and Florida Gulf coasts, communities are getting ready to celebrate Easter this weekend with live music, egg hunts, bunny visits, and more — and visitors of all ages are welcome to join in! Following is a (partial) list of what’s going on. Destin and South Walton — The Village of Baytowne Wharf, Sandestin, April

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

The Gulf Coast Welcomes Spring With Food, Wine, Music, and Fun

[caption id="attachment_1922" align="alignleft" width="960" caption="The Seabreeze Jazz Festival is coming to PCB's Pier Park April 23-27."] [/caption] With a lineup of events that includes music festivals and food festivals, plus the iconic Flora-Bama’s annual Mullet Toss, folks along the Gulf Coast are gearing up to have fun this spring. Following

Monday, March 31, 2014

Aviation Museum Offers Family Fun Away From the Beach

As an outing for a rainy day, or just for a break from sun and sand, Pensacola’s National Naval Aviation Museum offers an exciting and educational experience for the whole family. One of the most-visited museums in Florida, the kid-friendly facility offers free admission, free parking, and free guided tours of everything from vintage aircraft

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Songwriters Take the Spotlight at Annual Music Festival

The Gulf of Mexico and its white-sand beaches are the backdrop for the 29th annual Frank Brown International Songwriters Festival. Rated one of the top 20 events in the Southeast by the Southeast Tourism Society, the Frank Brown festival showcases the talents of songwriters from around the world. This year, the 11-day event runs from Thursday, November...

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Any Timeâs a Good Time for Fishing in the Gulf

As home to more than 200 species of fish, the Gulf of Mexico attracts thousands of anglers every year. In fact, thereâs something biting year-round, all the way from Destin â known as âThe Worldâs Luckiest Fishing Village❠and boasting one of the largest charter fishing fleets in the U.S. â Â  to Gulf Shores â which annually hosts the popular

Monday, September 9, 2013

Any Time’s a Good Time for Fishing in the Gulf

As home to more than 200 species of fish, the Gulf of Mexico attracts thousands of anglers every year. In fact, there’s something biting year-round, all the way from Destin — known as “The World’s Luckiest Fishing Village” and boasting one of the largest charter fishing fleets in the U.S. —   to Gulf Shores

Monday, September 9, 2013

What To Pack for the Beach

While you don’t need a whole lot of stuff for a trip to the beach, it still pays to put a little thought into what you’re packing. Otherwise, you’ll either end up lugging too many pairs of shoes or discovering when you arrive that you’ve forgotten something basic like suntan lotion or your bathing suit. Following are our suggestions

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Pensacola Beach Hosts High-Flying Air Show

The annual Pensacola Beach Air Show is flying high again this summer with 24 different aerial acts, plus plenty of food and live entertainment for the whole family. This year’s action-packed show, presented by the Santa Rosa Island Authority, is scheduled for Friday and Saturday, July 12 and 13. Admission is free. Show time on both days, which

Monday, June 24, 2013

Fish to Fly Again at Flora-Bamaâs Mullet Toss

Mark your calendars now for Thursday, April 25. Thatâs when the Flora-Bamaâs strange but popular rite of spring, the 29th annual Mullet Toss, gets under way. The iconic roadhouseâs curious celebration continues daily through Sunday, April 28, with a bikini contest, a keg toss, and a tug of war in addition to the mullet-throwing contests. For the uninitiated...

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Fish to Fly Again at Flora-Bama’s Mullet Toss

Mark your calendars now for Thursday, April 25. That’s when the Flora-Bama’s strange but popular rite of spring, the 29th annual Mullet Toss, gets under way. The iconic roadhouse’s curious celebration continues daily through Sunday, April 28, with a bikini contest, a keg toss, and a tug of war in addition to the mullet-throwing contests...

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Stevie Wonder Heads Star-Studded Hangout Line-up

The Hangout Music Fest has done it again. For the fourth year in a row, the popular Gulf Shores extravaganza is boasting a knock-your-socks-off line-up of stars that would do any city proud. Headliner for this year’s show is the legendary Stevie Wonder, 22-time Grammy Award winner and a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Wonder, a 50-year

Monday, March 11, 2013

Contest-Winning Beach Photography Tips

If you think all shots of sand and surf have to look the same, think again. By following a few simple  beach photography tips from the pros, you’ll be able to create prize-winning photos that capture memorable moments you and your family will enjoy again and again. Following are some (nontechnical) suggestions for better beach photos: - Look...

Thursday, February 28, 2013

Stroll Into the Past at Fort Pickens

Costumed interpreters and the lights of hundreds of candles will bring the past alive at Fort Pickens during “A Candlelight Tour of Fort Pickens” on Saturday, February 9. The largest of four forts built in the mid-1800s to defend Pensacola Bay and its navy yard, Fort Pickens was also one of only four bastions in the South never to be occupied

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Chillin’ in the Gulf

The folks at the Flora-Bama have made it a tradition to start off the new year with thrills and chills. Literally. Every New Year’s Day at high noon, crowds of partiers, some in costume and others scantily clad, jump into the chilly (think a temperature in the mid-50s) waters of the Gulf of Mexico during the iconic roadhouse’s Polar Bear

Thursday, December 20, 2012

Chillinâ in the Gulf

The folks at the Flora-Bama have made it a tradition to start off the new year with thrills and chills. Literally. Every New Yearâs Day at high noon, crowds of partiers, some in costume and others scantily clad, jump into the chilly (think a temperature in the mid-50s) waters of the Gulf of Mexico during the iconic roadhouseâs Polar Bear

Thursday, December 20, 2012

Gulf Coast Boat Parades Light Up Local Waters

All along the Gulf Coast, ‘tis the season when captains and crews wrap their vessels in Christmas lights and take to the water for the annual holiday boat parades. Pensacola Beach will put on a dazzling spectacle of decorated vessels on Friday, December 7, with in its popular Lighted Boat Parade. The procession starts at Pensacola Beach Marina

Friday, November 30, 2012

Theyâre Playing Their Songs

Grammy Award-winning stars and soon-to-be stars are converging on the Gulf Coast this month for the 28th annual Frank Brown International Songwriters Festival. The 11-day event, scheduled for November 8 through 18, will showcase the talents of some 200 songwriters from around the world. Theyâll be performing their original works in multiple venues around

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

They’re Playing Their Songs

Grammy Award-winning stars and soon-to-be stars are converging on the Gulf Coast this month for the 28th annual Frank Brown International Songwriters Festival. The 11-day event, scheduled for November 8 through 18, will showcase the talents of some 200 songwriters from around the world. They’ll be performing their original works in multiple venues

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Blue Angels Homecoming Bash

Celebrating their return to Pensacola after their 2012 tour of the U.S., the Blue Angels will host a Homecoming Air Show on Friday and Saturday, November 2 and 3, at the Pensacola Naval Air Station. The Angels, the U.S. Navy’s Precision Flight Demonstration Squadron, are famous for their tight formations and breathtaking stunts, performed at speeds

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Big Wheel Keeps on Turning Heads in Pensacola Beach

Update on this story:  The wheel has been moved from Pensacola and is now part of the Atlanta, Georgia, skyline. Renamed SkyView Atlanta, it's at 168 Luckie Street NW, www.skyviewatlanta.com. There’s a new addition to the Pensacola Beach skyline, one that dwarfs the city’s iconic beach-ball water tower. Called 360 Pensacola Beach

Thursday, August 16, 2012