Let's face it: perception is everything. And, unfortunately, for beautiful Pensacola, FL, the perception lately, brought on by the BP spill, has been damaging to the tourism industry and small businesses in the area.
Make no mistake -- Pensacola is still home to the most gorgeous, white beaches in the world. Rich in history, culture, entertainment and nightlife, it's a must-go destination for tourists of all ages.
For more info on visiting the 'Cola, go to the
Pensacola Visitor Guide.
Fun facts about Pensacola:
- Home to the whitest sand in the world, Pensacola beaches are comprised of 99% pure quartz sand, covering 40 miles of shoreline.
- Pensacola was the first European settlement in the continental United States, founded by the Spanish in 1559.
- From 1886 to 1887, the famous Apache Indian chief Geronimo was imprisoned at Pensacola's Fort Pickens, which you can visit today.
- The first Catholic Mass in the US was held on Pensacola Beach.
- Pensacola was the original capital of Florida, and it was here that General Andrew Jackson changed flags with the Spanish Governor, bringing West Florida into the United States.
- Pensacola is home to one of the largest, most impressive air and space museums in the world, the National Museum of Naval Aviation.
- The Pensacola Lighthouse, built in 1859, still faithfully guides mariners into Pensacola Bay with its magnificent First Order Fresnel lens.
- An active port since the 1600s, Pensacola has an impressive collection of historic shipwrecks, including diveable wrecks as shallow as 15 feet of water, or as deep at 180'.
