Posted on 2/11/2022 by Emily Seay

15 Fun Family-Friendly Activities To Do In Pensacola Beach

 If you're wondering what to do during your stay in Pensacola Beach, look no further!  Here's some fun and unique family-friendly activities and attractions right in Pensacola Beach! We've also done the hard work for you so inside this blog, you'll find the phone numbers, websites, costs and details for each one!  Bring the kids along for some bonding, some fun, laughter and memories your family will cherish forever!  

 

Photo Credit: Glow Paddle

1. Glow In The Dark Paddle-Boarding

  • Provider: Glow Paddle
  • Contact: (850) 979 ? 4569
  • Website: https://www.glowpaddle.com/
  • Cost: Prices start at $59/per person
  • Details: Light up your night as you paddle in a clear kayak or stand-up paddleboard with waterproof colorful lights to illuminate the water below!  Kids are welcome and ages 10-17 can be in a solo kayak.  Weight limit is 30 - 450lbs.  Kayaks, paddleboards, PFD?s and glow bracelets included!

2. Pensacola Beach Pier

  • Provider: Pensacola Beach Public Works
  • Contact: (850) 595-4719
  • Website: https://www.fishpensacolabeachpier.com/
  • Cost: Free
  • Details: Located on Casino Beach, there?s no fishing license required to fish along one of the longest piers on the Gulf of Mexico!  Everything needed to fish is onsite as well, including bait, tackle, rental rods, coolers and carts!  There?s also food and drinks in case you get hungry!  Plus, there are a number of restaurants next door with great views of the Pier!

 

3. Fort Pickens

  • Provider: National Park Service
  • Contact: https://www.nps.gov/guis/learn/historyculture/fort-pickens.htm
  • Cost: Varies depending on mode of transportation type.  See full pricing structure at: https://www.nps.gov/guis/planyourvisit/entrancefees.htm.  Entrance fee does cover access into multiple areas of Gulf Islands National Seashore including Fort Pickens Area, Opal Beach at the Santa Rosa Area, Okaloosa Area, Fort Barrancas Area and Perdido Key Area.
  • Details:  Built in 1829, Fort Pickens was established to protect the Pensacola Bay and Pensacola Navy Yard from foreign attacks.  Today, it remains a great location for learning about history, sightseeing the waterway as an American Flag waives proudly over the fort!  With picnic areas, a discovery center and a bookstore, you and your family are sure to have a wonderful day exploring the site!

Photo Credit: Dan Castles

4. Gulf Islands National Seashore, Including Night Walks

  • Provider: National Park Service
  • Contact: https://www.nps.gov/guis/planyourvisit/things2do.htm 
  • Cost: Varies, depending on activity.  Some are free, some require an admission fee
  • Details:  Experience untouched Florida beaches inside the Gulf Islands National Seashore!  It spans 160 miles through both Mississippi and Florida along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico.  Throughout the seashore, you will find barrier islands, forests, forts, bayous and more!
  • Night Walks: If you love to see stars and the night sky without being distorted by light pollution, this is for you!  Did you know that protecting the night sky is also part of a complex ecosystem, dependent on dark?  The National Park Service has a dedicated program solely devoted to this effort, called Night Skies!  There are even months out of the year when the Milky Way is especially clear directly over the Gulf, making for some epic photo opportunities!  Learn more at: https://www.nps.gov/guis/planyourvisit/experiencing-dark-night-skies.htm

 

5. Surfing Lessons

  • Provider: Gulf Coast Surf School
  • Contact: (850) 324-7416
  • Website: https://www.gulfcoastsurfschool.com/
  • Cost: From $100
  • Details: Surf?s Up!  Try your hand at something different or perfect your skills with both land and water lessons!  Ages start at just 6, so it?s perfect for the whole family to participate!

Photo Credit: Cruisin' Tikis

6. Tiki Tours

  • Provider: Cruisin? Tikis Pensacola Beach
  • Contact: 18507788454
  • Website: https://www.cruisintikispensacolabeach.com/
  • Cost: Prices vary. Please visit website for up-to-date pricing and scheduling information.
  • Details: Go for a cruise onboard a floating tiki!  Cruisin? Tikis offers four different cruise types including a 3-hour cruise, a 1.5-hour bay cruise, a 1.5-hour sunset cruise or special event/custom cruises to fit your liking.  Booking online is available.

 

7. Dolphin Cruises

  • Provider: Jolly Sailing
  • Contact: (850) 723-6142
  • Website: https://jollysailing.com/dolphin-cruises/
  • Cost: Varies depending on preferred cruise
  • Details: All ages are welcome aboard a plethora of dolphin cruise experiences to choose from, including sunset cruises, snorkel cruises, private charters and more!

Photo Source: Glow Paddle via Courteous Media

8. Kayak With A Mermaid

  • Provider: Glow Paddle
  • Contact: (850) 979 ? 4569
  • Website: https://www.glowpaddle.com/paddle-options
  • Cost: From $65.  See site for accurate pricing and availability.
  • Details: Spend your time in a clear kayak while a mermaid swims around you!  This experience lasts 45 minutes per session.

 

9. Beach Services

  • Provider: Lazy Days Beach Service
  • Contact: (850) 698-0928
  • Website: https://lazydaysbeachservice.com/
  • Cost: Varies depending on services
  • Details: Get your dose of R&R with various beach side rentals and services!  From beach chairs and umbrellas to water sports, bike rentals and more, you are sure to find the perfect rental to fill your fun!

 

10. Fishing

  • Fishing along the coast of Pensacola Beach is a pastime observed by many who visit here throughout the year.  Choices available include inshore, offshore, fishing off the pier, fishing inside the Gulf Islands National Seashore and many more!  Many charters are located on Pensacola Beach Blvd, around Caf? Nola.
  • To make your search a little easier, we fast-tracked a Google Search for Fishing Charters In Pensacola Beach for you!

Photo Credit: Key Sailing

11. Sailing

  • Provider: Key Sailing
  • Contact: (850) 932-5520
  • Website: https://www.keysailing.com/sailboat-rentals/
  • Cost: Varies depending on your booking; catamaran rental rates start at $60
  • Details: Along with other watersport rentals, Key Sailing offers two types of catamaran sailboats for escaping the noise of the world and gaining the wind in your sails!

 

12. Water Activities: Parasailing, Jet Skiis, Waterskiing, Pontoon Rentals, Kayak & Paddleboard

  • Provider: Radical Rides
  • Contact: (850) 934-9743
  • Website: https://radicalrides.com/
  • Cost: Varies
  • Details: Get your dose of vitamin sea with any of these watersport rentals to inject some adventure into your beach vacation!  Parasailers can be as young as 3, waver runner operators must be at least 14.  Kayak and paddleboard rentals can even be transported to your rental and for more than one day!

*Photo Credit: Laguna's Beach Bar + Grill

13. Adventure Park

  • Provider: Laguna?s Beach Bar & Grill
  • Contact: (850) 677-3905
  • Website: https://lagunaspensacolabeach.com/park-activities
  • Cost: Varies depending on activity, prices start at just $5.
  • Details:  Challenge your family?s mind while having a blast with the adventure course at Laguna!  Obstacle courses include a ropes course, zip rail and a clip-n-climb.  They also have mini golf, go karts, a splash pad and many water sport activities to choose from as well!

 

14. Sandcastle Building Lessons

  • Provider: Dan Castles
  • Contact: Dan Anderson on Facebook
  • Website: https://dancastles.com/
  • Cost: Prices start at $100 per two hour lesson.
  • Details:  Do you want to build a?sandcastle? Yes, it?s true!  You can learn how to build castles that will impress your family, friends, neighbors and the people passing down the beach!  FYI, Dan only does one booking per day and bookings fill up weeks in advance sometimes, so please plan accordingly or for your upcoming beach vacation.

 

15. Don't Forget Your Golf Cart Rental!

  • Pensacola Beach Properties
  • Contact: (850) 934-0099
  • Cost: Varies based on length of rental, prices start at just $70
  • Details: 4 person or 6-person golf carts can be rented for as little as 1 hour or up to weekly increments!  These come in handy, especially during popular travel dates so reserve yours early!

 

For more information regarding a stay in Pensacola Beach, check out our list of rentals!  if you are currently a guest of ours and have any questions, our team is here to serve you!  Please give them a shout at (850) 934-0099!

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