A Quick Weekend Getaway to Pensacola

First off, the Latin Salsa Festival for dance lovers occurs every June. There are also museums, such as the Pensacola Museum of History, Voices of Pensacola Multicultural Center and the Pensacola Museum of Art. The Multicultural Center focuses on the different groups of people that have shaped Pensacola historically over the centuries and the Museum of Art has works from Picasso and other greats. There are walkable history paths, one along the water’s edge. There are also other pieces of history to study and see in the Museum Plaza area, which is adjacent to the Museum of History. There is also a children’s museum in the same area.

The Museum Plaza is a nice grassy space with ample nearby street metered and lot parking. It’s a beautiful historic area downtown and there is more I did not get to see, such as the Plaza Ferdinand VII. And, apparently, there is also a hop-on, hop-off tour that would have been quite fun and entertaining. Next time I want to escape my house and go somewhere interesting and laidback, Pensacola, here I come!

Breakfast

I would head over to the Publix grocery store and get some lovely fresh baked goods. Their guava cheese turnovers are amazing! While you’re there, you can grab some fresh-squeezed juices and coffee/tea as needed.

Also, if you have never been to a Krispy Kreme, or if you’re craving one, there is a location right off of Ninth Avenue and they have that drive-through for the hot donuts, too!

Alternately, I had thought about eating at the Ruby Slipper Cafe, which is just off of Main Street in downtown. This is a local chain from New Orleans and I know they have great eggs, pancakes, bloody Marys, praline bacon and more. If you were to get up late, this would be a great spot for brunch. Or, depending on where you are staying, you may want to brunch at Another Broken Egg, which is also a fantastic spot for both breakfast and lunch.

Lunch

I would have packed a little picnic from Publix if I had not planned to eat at the festival. At the Saturday festival, there were over a dozen food trucks with food ranging from Jamaican to Mexican, juices, lemonade, coffee, ice cream and so much more! The trucks were all parked downtown around the Museum Plaza where the Latin Salsa Festival was held. On the other hand, I also love a good late breakfast/brunch, and I’ve listed some of my favorites above in the breakfast section.

Dinner

Hands down, I truly enjoyed The Fish House. It was a short walk from my hotel, the Hilton Garden Inn, and the path to get there was a lovely walk along the water’s edge with signage explaining the history of the area. The food menu was expansive and the view was of the marina, with both indoor and outdoor dining options. I need to return to eat more than I could eat as one person! Service was great and the seafood was excellent.

Another option is the Atlas Oyster House, which was adjacent to The Fish House. That also looked amazing! There were also quite a few interesting restaurants within walking distance in the downtown area off of Romana Street and Palafox Street. Next time, I would love to try one of the wine bars in that intersection.