NEWS

Vacationing Artfully with the Girls

Vacationing Artfully with your girls comes easy in a place as culturally and historically diverse as Pensacola but breaking down the perfect agenda for a place with such a wide variety of adventure, shopping, relaxation, and dining can be daunting. Because of this, we’ve put together the list below to help get your planning headed in the right direction and to ensure you hit all the high points for a memorable and relaxing trip. So, pack your bags and grab your girlfriends – it’s time to hit the road to Pensacola!

Relaxation Station

A good getaway starts with a great property rental. The Portofino Island Resort not only offers your standard accommodations – the full-service property has more than 300 luxury rooms that all offer water views. Placed between the Gulf of Mexico and Santa Rosa Sound on 28 acres, it’s an elegantly coastal atmosphere that offers enough to never even want to leave the property. You can top off your time at the spa or at the onsite market and dining options.

Another hot spot for any girl’s trip is the Oyster Bay Boutique Hotel. Located in the incredibly walkable downtown Pensacola, it’s a short walk to all the fantastic offerings of our eclectic and historical city.

Live Adventurously

For the groups that like a little taste of adventure when they vacation, Pensacola offers plenty of action on the water. Parasailing high above Santa Rosa Sound and Pensacola Bay provides an adrenaline boost with fantastic, world-class coastal views. If heights are out of the picture, take the group out on a charter sailboat for a sunset cruise – or even rent a boat to go exploring. The green waters of the Panhandle are known for scuba diving and snorkeling, and in fact, the area features the exploration of the USS Oriskany, the world’s largest artificial reef!

Hit the Shops

No girl’s trip is complete without some serious shopping, and Pensacola offers the ultimate shopping experience well beyond the basics of malls or retail outlets. The downtown area allows you to walk to a variety of unique, locally-owned shops, art galleries, coffee shops, and more that are the perfect stops to make while strolling down the beautiful historic Palafox Street and surrounding areas. Another must-see shopping destination is the beautiful Boardwalk on Pensacola Beach, which is home to a variety of boutiques and a beautiful backdrop for an afternoon of retail therapy.

Eat Well

There’s an abundance of eclectic culinary offerings in Pensacola that can appeal to any palate. From Mediterranean cuisine at the Agapi Bistro & Garden to a fantastic breakfast at Bodacious, the choices seem to be endless – and any eatery you pick is sure to be outstanding. Indulge at Alice’s Pensacola Gulf Coast Restaurant Wine Bar, a new hot spot that was recently ranked Best New Restaurant in 2020, or hit up Global Grill that has a menu that takes guests around the world for a global culinary experience. Like entertainment with your meal? Check out 5 Sisters Blues Café, which features live jazz music during brunch every Sunday.