The sprawling Gulf Islands National Seashore extends from Florida into Mississippi and offers visitors a wide variety of recreational activities among gorgeous natural scenery. If hiking, biking, swimming, boating, fishing, snorkeling and camping don't excite you, perhaps you'll enjoy a visit to the park's four historic forts, which span military history from before the Revolutionary War to World War II.
Fort Barrancas, for example, was the site of a colonial British naval base and two Spanish forts before the U.S. built the current installation in the early 1840s. Visitors to the seashore can also sign up for free ranger-guided tours or participate in nature and science programs to learn about the area's indigenous plants and animals, including the bottlenose dolphins often spotted frolicking near shore.
Gulf Islands National Seashore
Park Headquarters
3500 Park Road
Ocean Springs, MS 39564
850-934-2600
nps.gov/guis/index.htm
When the relaxed beachside lifestyle begins to grow dull, a visit to Sam's Fun City in nearby Pensacola offers the perfect remedy. This family-friendly amusement park includes more than 20 thrill rides, a large children's area, a miniature golf course and arcade, a go-kart track and the Surf City Water Park, which boasts 15 water slides. With all of the fun and excitement on hand, visitors may work up an appetite and enjoy a visit to the Bullwinkle's Family Food 'n Fun restaurant on site, which features traditional summer carnival fare (e.g., burgers, pizza, corn dogs and ice cream). Admission to the park is free, and guests can buy individual tickets or various combination passes to for the rides and other attractions.
Sam's Fun City
6709 Pensacola Blvd.
Pensacola, Fl 32505
850-505-0800
samsfuncity.com
One of the largest aviation museums in the world, the National Naval Aviation Museum features more than 150 aircraft on display, as well as 4,000 historic artifacts from the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard. In addition to its permanent and special exhibits, the museum includes an IMAX movie theater with a seven-story screen, a breathtaking Top Gun flight combat simulator and the Cubi Bar Cafe, which faithfully re-creates the look of the famed Cubi Point Officer's Club in the Philippines. Best of all, admission to the museum and guided exhibit tours are always free, and the museum is open every day, year-round except for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day.
National Naval Aviation Museum
1750 Radford Blvd., Suite C
Naval Air Station
Pensacola, FL 32508
850-452-3604
navalaviationmuseum.org
