Pensacola, Florida Real Estate
The city of Pensacola is a cultural mecca unlike any other. With an estimated 461,227 residents in 2012, Pensacola is the county seat of Escambia, Florida, and is known as the “City of Five Flags” Downtown Pensacola is the center of an economic and cultural revival that is often referred to as the downtown revitalization. This revitalization has included breakthrough events such as the Palafox Market, Gallery Nights, and the recent construction of the community maritime park with the new Blue Wahoo’s stadium (The Blue Wahoos is an MLB AAA league professional baseball team).
Pensacola has long been the home of an incredible arts, crafts, and culinary history that has grown in recent years with the establishment and continuation of many 4 star dining choices. The city also features “The Big 5”: award-winning museums, art galleries, theaters, ballets, and an opera. Pensacola is also home to the University of West Florida, Pensacola State College, and Pensacola Christian College, as well as numerous public and private grade schools.
Pensacola is also the home of the famous Blue Angels. Spectators can watch them perform on practice days and at a yearly Blue Angel airshow hosted by Pensacola Beach. Residents of Pensacola also enjoy the area’s numerous parks and recreational facilities such as Big Lagoon State Park, Perdido Key State Park, Tarklin Bayou Preserve.
Whether enjoying a baseball game with the MLB AAA – baseball team “Blue Wahoos” at the Maritime Park Baseball stadium, or just enjoying one of the numerous dining choices downtown, Pensacola has something for everyone.
“The Big 5”
Pensacola is a cultural melting pot, and it is the only city from Mobile, AL to Tampa, FL to offer “The Big 5” which includes: the Pensacola Ballet, the Pensacola Opera, the Pensacola Little Theatre, the Pensacola Symphony, and the Pensacola Museum of Art which is an accredited museum of visual arts.
Gallery Night:
One Friday each month, the streets of downtown Pensacola come alive with the sounds, smells, and sensations of the music, art, and cuisine of Pensacola’s talented, and regionally renowned artists. Gallery Night, as it’s known to locals, is a block party bonanza of sights and sounds, art galleries, and incredible activities for family and friends. Enjoy a stroll down the sidewalks of Pensacola and indulge in the incredible lifestyle that Pensacola’s Gallery Night has to offer. Recent estimates put the Gallery Night attendance at approximately 15,000+ people, making it the most successful event of its kind along the Gulf Coast.
Palafox Market:
Twice a week, in the shade of the trees along Martin Luther King Jr. Plaza, locals come together to bring to Downtown Pensacola the Palafox Market. The market features fresh produce, local meat, cheese, floral arrangements, fine arts and crafts, baked goods, natural products, home goods and furnishings, herbs, antiques, and collectibles. The Palafox Market is another incredible example of the downtown revitalization and resurgence that is evident throughout downtown Pensacola. It is a really exciting way for residents of Pensacola and surrounding communities to support, eat, and shop locally.
Blackwater River Recreational:
Pensacola is an outdoorsman’s paradise. Only 30-40 minutes away from Pensacola is Blackwater River State Park. This expansive, lush state park is a hotspot for camping, canoeing, kayaking, hiking, and a variety of other outdoor activities. The river is one of the purest sand-bottom rivers in the nation, making the Blackwater River a popular place for swimming, fishing, camping, and paddling. Shaded campsites are just a short walk from the river and a picnic pavilion overlooks the river. Nature enthusiasts will enjoy strolling along trails through more than 600 acres of undisturbed natural communities. In 1980 the park was certified as a Registered State Natural Feature for its exceptional illustration of Florida’s natural history. One of the largest and oldest Atlantic white cedars stands among the many that line the river. In 1982 this tree was recognized as a Florida Champion tree.
4-Star Dining:
Pensacola is an epicenter of culinary creativity. Restaurants such as Jacksons, Global Grill, the Fish House, the Atlas Oyster Bar, McGuire’s Irish Pub, and many others. Pensacola also has its share of lunch-friendly eateries and gastro-pubs including Hopjacks, New York Nicks, Hub Stacies, Al Fresco, Dharma Blue, the Leisure Club, Type by Chef Blake Rushing, and others.