If you're looking for a Florida beach holiday with a serious history lesson hiding inside it - Pensacola might just be the place!
Whilst we love a relaxing beach trip, we're also homeschoolers, so I am always looking to make our trips educational in one way or another. I had actually never heard of Pensacola until I was invited to a wedding there this year, so I was bowled over when I started doing my research and found out about it's lengthy history.
Unfortunately for us, the Pensacola leg of our trip didn't exactly go to plan... It turned out to be the weekend of the famous Pensacola Air Show (which, if you've never experienced it, turns the entire city into a wonderfully chaotic, completely gridlocked celebration), had car-hire troubles which left us using Ubers (which were crazy expensive due to the aforementioned Air Show), and had the beginnings of Tropical Storm Bertha rolling in! This accumulated into a beautiful few days with long-lost friends and chilling at the beach, but it also meant that our carefully researched itinerary was gone with the wind.
And yet Pensacola left it's mark in the very best way - because even when the historical sites stayed out of reach, we had access to this incredible thing called the internet and were able to read up on, and come to understand what we were looking at, and the significance of the land on which we stood.
So consider this our honest guide - part what we experienced, part what we researched and would wholly recommend, and entirely our genuine take on why Pensacola belongs on every educational family travel list.
The City of Five Flags
Pensacola is actually one of the oldest European settlements in North America, with a history stretching back to the 1500s (as an Australian, this is always wild to me, as we are such a young nation by comparison!). Over this time, it was ruled by 5 different nations, hence the nickname The City of Five Flags. These were: Spain (twice), France, Great Britain, the United States of America, and the Confederate States of America.
It begged us to ask the question why? Why did so many different nations want this particular piece of coastline? What made Pensacola so valuable? What happened to the people who were already living here when the Europeans arrived?
You can read up more about the many historical sites that help to answer these questions on offer here https://historicpensacola.org/
Visiting The Historic Pensacola Village with Kids
The Historic Pensacola Village was at the top of our itinerary and remains firmly at the top of our "next time" list. It's a collection of preserved and reconstructed historic buildings spread across the downtown area, and tells the story of Pensacola from it's earliest colonial days to the 19th century.
From everything we researched, it's exactly the kind of place our family loves - walkable history where children can explore and really try to feel and understand the lives of the people who lived them.
If you visit Pensacola, please go, and then message me to tell me all about it!
https://www.visitpensacola.com/blog/step-back-in-time-at-historic-pensacola-village/
Inside Fort Pickens - Where History Meets the Gulf Coast
We are still sad about missing out on Fort Pickens - especially my military obsessed boys..
Built in the 1830s and sitting at the western tip of Santa Rosa Island within the Gulf Islands National Seashore, Fort Pickens is an incredibly preserved brick fortification with a history spanning the Civil War, the Spanish-American War, and the imprisonment of Apache leader Geronimo in the late 1880s.
The photographs alone are extraordinary (as a photographer, this was what I was most excited about!), with the enormous historic structure rising out of white sand, surrounded by turquoise water.
https://www.visitpensacola.com/directory/fort-pickens-gulf-islands-national-seashore/
Where the Emerald Coast Meets the Classroom
Here's where I can speak from genuine experience, because although the historical sites were out of reach, the beaches absolutely were not..
Pensacola sits at the western edge of the Emerald Coast, named for the extraordinary green colour of the Gulf of Mexico's water. Standing on the beach for the first time, with the white sand of Navarre Beach in the foreground, and the darkness of the clouds of Tropical Storm Bertha in the background, the emerald waters really shone - and we were immediately obsessed.
The Gulf Islands National Seashore - Nature Study at it's Finest
The Gulf Islands National Seashore stretches across barrier islands off the coasts of Florida and Mississippi, and the stretches near the Pensacola coast are pristine!
The barrier island ecosystem is fascinating - constantly shifting, shaped by wind and water, and home to sea turtles, shorebirds, dolphins, and a huge variety of marine life. Simply walking the shoreline and observing your surroundings can be considered a genuine educational experience.
Which, when you teach your children to approach experiences with curiosity, is easy achievable!
What Makes Pensacola's White Sand Beaches so Unique?
This was one of our favourite discoveries - and it came entirely from online research rather than an educational program.
The sand at Pensacola is made entirely from Appalachian quartz-crystal, carried down by rivers over millions of years and deposited along this stretch of coastline. It's so fine and reflective, that it stays remarkably cool even in the heigh of the summer sun.
Understanding why a place looks the way it does is one of the most important geography lessons you can give a child.
The Living Culture Hidden in Plain Sight
Now I might be a bit biased with my current opinion on the culture that we experienced during our visit to Pensacola. The reason being that this was the VERY FIRST place that we ever visited in the United States of America... and it was the busiest weekend of their entire year.
By any means, the city was pumping, the beaches were stocked full, and the energy was high!
The Blue Angels, the US Navy's flight demonstration team, are based at Naval Air Station Pensacola, and the annual air show weekend draws enormous crowds from across the country. The whole town wears their love for the Blue Angels as a badge of honour, you can see it all over.
Pensacola's Art Scene
As a family, we also love art. Exploring the art scene of a place can also really tell the story of it's history and it's people. From the galleries, to the shops, to the creative murals scattered around town, you could really feel the energy of downtown Pensacola.
From an educational stand point, this helps the children ask completely different questions about the place they're visiting - which colours, landscapes, and stories keep appearing? How does the artist interpret the local landscape, history, and everyday life in Pensacola?
Visiting the Sunday Market on Palaflox, and browsing the boutique stores & galleries, you are able to see examples of the creativity of the local people.
Local Food as a Cultural Experience
And then there's food... my favourite part of any trip.
Pensacola is unique because we very much got the Floridian vibe, with eateries set up like old Beach Shacks serving fresh seafood - whilst also having the proximity to the southern states which provided an influence of Louisiana-style food.
Our first dining experience was at Flounders Chowder House near Pensacola Beach. We loved the beachy vibes, with access to the beach, the water, and a playground being a must for the kids. The food was a great example of what I said before, where we had fresh seafood, but were served Beignets to start. It's a real melting pot of cultures.
How We Turned Every Pensacola Experience into a Lesson
One of the most common questions I get asked, is how we make travel educational. The simple answer is research, but it also requires a certain culture within your family. By that I mean that we have raised our children to be hungry for knowledge, and hopefully I can help provide some tips on how to plant that seed in your own family.
Our Favourite Educational Stops for Little Learners
Here's what we'd wholeheartedly recommend to families with curious little learners based on our research.
Historic Pensacola Village for colonial history brought to life for children, this is a non-negotiable for our return trip.
Fort Pickens for military history, stunning coastal geography and one of the most remarkable settings on any historical site in the area in our research.
The National Naval Aviation Museum - free, vast and genuinely brilliant for children. Although you do need to be a US Citizen, or visit with a US Citizen in order to get on base where it is located.
The Pensacola Lighthouse and Maritime Museum for beautiful views and tangible connection to the city's maritime identity.
Pensacola Museum of History is a more general history museum, but has permanent exhibits detailing the history of the region and housing fantastic artifacts.
The beaches and the Gulf Islands National Seashore which are as educational as any museum when approached with the right questions.
Making History Stick - Even When You Didn't Make It There...
Here's what I've learnt after years of travelling - the research you do before and after the trip matters just as much as what you experience while you're there.
Because we did so much research and discussion before arriving in Pensacola, once we were there, questions started to form as we made connections between what we were now seeing, and the things that we had read. These started up conversations over the dinner table, or while sitting at the beach, and then lead to further research and discussions.
We would then head home most evening and write in our journals about the things we had seen and learnt. Making these things stick in our brains our of genuine curiosity and engagement.
How to make trips to the museum engaging:
As a homeschool parent, I always have resources printed and ready to go - our Museum Explorer Challenge being one of them. Unfortunately we didn't get to use it on this trip, but I think it's worth a mention as they help to get the kids engaged and excited about trips to museums - particularly the more boring ones...
You can find it here for free on our website.
Planning Your Educational Visit to Pensacola
A few things to know before you go:
Check the events calendar before you book... The Pensacola Airshow seems spectacular, but if a historical and quiet vacation is your goal, then this is a weekend to avoid. I would say the same for visiting during school holiday time.
You will need a car... Pensacola is not a walkable city, and public transport is almost non-existent. Especially if you want to explore the Gulf Islands National Seashore and Fort Pickens.
Best Time to Visit with Kids... Summer is hot, like really hot. Whilst it makes the days longer, we found it hard to be out and about in the heat of the day. I'd recommend visiting late spring or early autumn to beat the crowds and the heat, while still being able to swim.
How long do we need? We'd recommend four or five days to cover everything (and more!) that we mentioned. We felt the pull of everything we didn't get to see!
Ready to Explore Pensacola with your Little Adventurers?
Pensacola surprised us - even on a trip when so much didn't go to plan.
Psssst... we're busy putting the finishing touches our Junior Explorer Pensacola Pack; a beautifully illustrated printable activity pack that helps curious little learners dig deeper into the history, geography and culture of this incredible place. Packed with hands-on activities, observational challenges, sketching pages, and discovery journals, it's designed to turn your family's visit into a genuine learning adventure.
Pop your details below to join The Little Adventurers Club and we'll send you a heads up the moment it lands - plus you'll get unlimited access to our full free resource library while you wait!
Happy Exploring,
Cydney
Tags: Pensacola with kids, educational travel Florida, family travel Pensacola, homeschool travel, worldschooling, history for kids, Gulf Coast families, nature activities kids, learning through travel, Go Little Adventurers, Junior Explorer Series, Little Adventurers Guide, Fort Pickens, Historic Pensacola Village, Gulf Islands National Seashore
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