Pensacola Beach boasts a reputations as a beach town with major military presence and support. With Veteran’s Day looming, plan your long weekend or autumn vacation to this Northwest Florida coastal community. Not only will your family enjoy the beaches, you’ll also get a lesson in military history. While you’re on the Gulf Coast, check out these Pensacola attractions:
Naval Air Station & National Naval Aviation Museum
You know fun awaits in the place considered the cradle of naval aviation. NAS Pensacola is the home of the Blue Angels, a flight demonstration squadron. At any given time, all you have to do is take a break and look to the heavens to see the Navy’s best pilots maneuver overhead. Not to mention, the air station opens to the public and offers one of the best aerospace museums in the United States. The National Naval Aviation Museum houses more than 150 antique aircrafts, as well as a flight simulator and IMAX theater. You can spend all day here, and won’t hear a single complaint from the kids.
Fort Pickens
Take a walk in the past at Fort Pickens. Built in the 1830s, Fort Pickens is the largest of the the group of fortifications designed to defend Pensacola Harbor. Now, there are daily tours of the fort and trails throughout the site. The whole family can enjoy this walking history tour of Pensacola.
Barrancas National Cemetery
What better place to pay homage to those who served the United States than at Barrancas National Cemetery? This gravesite has a rich history reaching back to the Civil War. Both Union and Confederate soldiers were laid to rest here, as Pensacola’s forts remained under Union control during the Civil War. However, both sides’ fallen were interred at Barrancas National Cemetery.
Explore the history and the beaches in Pensacola Beach this November. Book your Veterans’ Day getaway on the Gulf Coast now.