Thread: Nonrev Correspondant - Pensacola FLA

Chris,

I will check on transportation to the Angels show. It does get crowded and in the past a Trolly and water taxi was offered.

You may wish to check out the Delta crew hotel. It used to be the Holiday Inn Gulf Breeze now the Bay Beach Inn 850-932-2214, close to the bridge to the beach. I do not know what the Delta rate is but have heard they have discounts for Delta employees only.

The 2 USAirways hotels are Hampton Inn University Mall 850-477-3333 and Ramada Inn North (which is in the middle of a comercial strip so may have good deals) 850-477-0711.

Another good location is Ramada Inn Bay View. It is constantly in the ASU guide, overlooks the water. Their number is 850-477-7155.

A old standby by the locals is Five Flags Inn 850-932-3586 it is probably filled up but worth the try as it is on the beach.

If you do wish to see the Angels you may want to stay in Navarre. The bridge from there to the Pensacola Beach barrier island is less traveled and still gets you to the Gulf Islands National Seashore.

Here are some hotels listed in the phone book:
Best Western Navarre 850-939-9400
Comfort Inn Navarre 850-939-1761
Holiday Inn Navarre Beach 850-939-2321 - www.thetropics.com.
One final hotel, off the interstate but close to a new bridge to Gulf Breeze. The brand new Red Roof Inn in Milton 850-995-6100.

Blue Angel info:
www.inpensacola.com/fe/cityguide/blueangels/

Water Taxi info:
<a href="http://www.inpensacola.com/fe/cityguide/travel/articles/transmain.asp" target="_blank">http://www.inpensacola.com/fe/cityguide/tr...s/transmain.asp</A>

In the previous forum Debbie from MCO asked about a Pensacola instution Trader Jons. They now have a web site:
www.traderjon.com

Coyne,

Thanks again for all your help. I checked out the Blue Angels schedule and saw a later date that they are coming to GA. so we decided not to sweat the crowds on vacation and maybe see them later in GA. I reserved at the Sandpiper Gulf Aire for the 15-17 and got the 18th free. On the 19th (Friday) I will drive from PNS to PFN to meet up with some friends there. The current plan is to drive the whole thing but I am contemplating a plan B.

If we fly down and take a cab from the airport to the hotel, are there enough restaurants, stores etc. close by for us to walk to and not have a car the whole time? If so, I may just do that and then rent a car just to drive over to PFN and fly out of there.

Chris,
From this map:
<a href="http://www.visitpensacolabeach.com/images/bchmap.gif" target="_blank">http://www.visitpensacolabeach.com/images/bchmap.gif</A>
The Sandpiper Gulf Aire is just East of all the Shops. Should not be much of a walk, or the trolley goes by every 30 minutes.
I am not sure how much a cab costs. I should be working on the 15th, so depending when you fly in I may be able to drive you over to the Beach.
The only problem with not having a car is it limits you in seeing our wonderful Navel Air Museum and Forts. Though not having a car will force you to take it easy and relax, not a bad thing.
Only advice on car rental....Dollar out of Pensacola is not a corporate owned location. It is very pricy to drop off elsewhere in Florida. Stick with Avis, Hertz or National.
Write me if you have anymore questions.

I had heard that most car rentals in FL let you drop off at another location without a drop-off fee. [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img] Are you saying that this is the case with most companies except Dollar? [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_confused.gif[/img]

I do want to see the naval museum and forts so I may still drive down but maybe I'll rent a car for just two days. I'll check my options.

Thanks for all of your help!!!!

Chris,

Almost all Dollar airport rental locations in Florida let you drop off elsewhere in Florida. Two of the exceptions are Pensacola and Daytona Beach. Most of the other rental car companies at Pensacola do allow drop off at other Florida locations.

If you were here on a weekend in the summer you could also go to the top of our lighthouse. The tallest lighthouse on the Gulf Coast. It is a crossed the street from the Naval Air Museum. The view is great up and down the Florida/Alabama coast.

We were at the beach last week. The water is bathtub warm, and a beautiful blue green. No shark attacks only some seaweed and a few jellyfish. Also not a hurricane in sight.

Let me know if you need anything else

Hi Coyne - loads of great info!

Perhaps an unusual question.... when you have weather reports on TV, they often talk about the Florida Panhandle. (I have also heard of a Texas and Oklahoma Panhandle as well). Where is it and what does it mean?

While I am here, I am starting thinking about my next trip to the US - aiming for New Orleans mid/end Sept - I remember you gave some advice before - do you think this is a reasonable time to go? I was wary about those times where the place gets overloaded with US college vacationers. Also how do you anticipate the national mood around the anniversary of Sept 11?

All the best!

According to the dictionary, Panhandle: a long, narrow, projecting strip of territory that is not a peninsula, esp. such a part of a specific state. Alaska also has a panhandle. I was born and raised in a penisula that looked like a mitten. Who am I to question calling something a panhandle....I can kind of see it on Florida, Texas is hard....

We just call our part of Florida - LA - for lower Alabama. There is a saying that to go South in Florida you have to go North. Here we have all things Southern. Grits, crawfish, catfish, women with big hair and big teeth, and tons of pick-up trucks with gunracks in the backwindow and fishing poles hanging out the cab.

September is a wonderful month to visit. The weather has started to cool-down. The Children are back in School. Hotel and car deals can be found. I will have to make sure New Orleans has no festivals going on when you narrow down the day.

I know that there are events up and down the Mississippi sometime in the Fall. You may wish to check on the river trail if you come.

Only item you need to keep track of at that time is Hurricanes. Last year spared us from any big storms. With Hurricanes you usually know a couple days out if they are stirring in the Gulf.

As to the mood. The country passed the test with July 4th. We should have memorials and services. Security will be hightened but that happens every other week. I would not worry about it too much. Despite what the movies portray we are pretty much civilized.

Let me know if you are able to visit! [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif[/img]



[This message was edited by CSSup on July 07, 2002 at 08:49 PM.]

I did some research for one of our Employees visiting the Northern Gulf Coast area. Wouldn't want it to go to waste.

We are approaching the Fall, which I beleive is the best time to visit the Gulf Coast. Hotel prices are lower. Barring a Hurricane the weather is great. Off peak rates at golf courses start. Beaches are less crowded and the water is still bathtub warm.

Local websites for area travel information:

Web sites:
Destin: <a href="http://www.destinfl.com/" target="_blank">http://www.destinfl.com/</A>
Destin Shopping: <a href="http://www.silversandsfactorystores.com/" target="_blank">http://www.silversandsfactorystores.com/</A>
Seaside: <a href="http://www.seasidefl.com/" target="_blank">http://www.seasidefl.com/</A>
Grayton Beach (voted in the 90's as the best beach in the USA):
<a href="http://www.graytonbeach.com/pinkston.html" target="_blank">http://www.graytonbeach.com/pinkston.html</A>
Pensacola: <a href="http://www.nonrev.net/articles/pensacola/index.htm" target="_blank">http://www.nonrev.net/articles/pensacola/index.htm</A>
<a href="http://www.visitpensacola.com/" target="_blank">http://www.visitpensacola.com/</A>

Area restaurant info:

In Pensacola the best upscale seafood restaurant is Skopelos Seafood & Steak 850-432-6565 it is not on the beach but overlooks the Pensacola bay. On the beach is Flounders Chowder House 850-932-2003 which is owned by the Family who runs our most famous restaurant McGuires Irish Pub 850-433-6789 <a href="http://www.mcguiresirishgifts.com/" target="_blank">http://www.mcguiresirishgifts.com/</A> McGuires has locations both in Pensacola and Destin and I believe it is the best food value in the area. I have also heard Boy on a Dolphin 850-932-7954 at Pensacola Beach is also a good choice.

The best web site for the Destin Restaurants is: <a href="http://www.destin-florida-destinationguide.com/destin-florida-restaurants.html" target="_blank">http://www.destin-florida-destinationguide...estaurants.html</A> on the list I have heard The Backporch Restaurant and Capt. Dave's on the Gulf are good food.

One place you should consider going to before returning up north is Joe Patti Seafood <a href="http://www.joepattis.com/" target="_blank">http://www.joepattis.com/</A>. This seafood market has a great selection and even better prices. The store packages your seafood for the trip back at a small charge. Take some giant gulf coast shrimp back with you to impress your Family and Friends.