We love to visit the Florida State Parks here at Pensacola with Kids. On Saturday, July 17, Florida State Parks will waive admission fees in honor of Recreation and Parks Month. Stop by the Florida State Parks website to find a park that you want to visit. There are state parks with sinkholes, springs, caverns, gardens, hiking, tubing, swimming, and picnics! Here are some posts I have written about state parks we have visited:
Yellow River Marsh Preserve Park
Big Lagoon State Park
Tarkiln Bayou Preserve State Park
Falling Waters State Park
Eden State Gardens
Alfred B. Maclay Gardens State Park
This is the last week for the Bass Pro Family Summer Camp! “Camp” occurs on Tuesday and Thursday as well as Saturday and Sunday from noon to 6. Check the website for the official schedule and be sure that the Spanish Fort and Destin stores are participating!
It is hot.
Miserable hot.
I have lived in Pensacola since 1996 and I still am not used to the heat and humidity that hits about this time (I am enjoying the small reprieve today!!). Check out my guest post at Trekaroo, Cooling off in the Panhandle. I have written before about how much I love Trekaroo and I was honored to be asked to write a guest post about a month ago. Originally, the topic was going to be about favorite beach spots, but with news of the oil spill we switched gears and I wrote about different places you can cool off in the Panhandle: rivers and lakes, splash pads, and water parks.
I would love for you to make a stop at the article on Trekaroo and leave a comment with your favorite place! Better yet, after you leave a comment, join Trekaroo and write some reviews to your favorite Panhandle spots.
If you are looking for something to do this weekend, drive over to Foley, Alabama for the 6th Annual Gulf Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival. We have been going for the past three years and my children absolutely love it! Watch the beautiful balloons float through the air, listen to bands, or check out the arts and crafts vendors. We love to go out at night so that we can see the balloons all lit up against the night sky. There is a children’s village with different activities including a visit from the Gulf Coast Zoo and Alligator Alley. Be sure to visit the website to see the official festival schedule before heading over there. Wind is also a factor when balloons are flying so check for updates.
Things To Know Before You Go:
- There are shuttles running from different parking lots, but try to park in the lot right next to the fields. When we went, we first parked in a school parking lot where we waited thirty minutes for a shuttle that never showed. I assume it showed later but we didn’t want to wait anymore! We got back in the car and drove closer to the fields where we got a great parking space near the balloon fields.
- Pack a cooler for when you get back in the car. It is hot and you will be glad you have that juice box or water bottle in the car! NOTE: You CAN NOT bring your cooler to tthe festival. It must stay in the car!
- Wear sunscreen and tennis shoes. You will be outside the whole time and walking through grassy fields (which were quite muddy last year!).
The 6th Annual Gulf Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival is located at the Foley Sportspark, 18507 Hwy. 98 W. You can also connect with Gulf Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival on Facebook.
Two weeks ago we decided to take a little day trip to Gulf Shores to visit the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo. It took about an hour to get there, mainly because it is a two lane road most of the way (we took Sorrento Road). The zoo is a little difficult to see from the street so be sure to look for the small sign on the side of the road marking the entrance.
You enter through the gift shop and pay your entrance fee. When you pay for your tickets, you have an opportunity to purchase little cups of feed for certain animals around the zoo. When you exit out the doors, you can turn left or right and then you just make a big circle around the zoo. While at the zoo, you will see everything from birds to deer to bears and lions.
It was a warm day while we were there, so this is mostly what we saw:
A lot of the animals were in hiding because it was so hot. This was one of our favorite animal to visit!
And this was our other favorite animal to visit:
A Few Things To Know Before You Go:
- It is summertime and it is hot. Unless you want to pay $1.25 for a soda or water, make sure you pack a cooler to keep in car. It will be nice and cold for you and the family after you visit the zoo.
- You can get through a zoo visit in about an hour to an hour and a half.
- From the zoo you can see Waterville USA and the amusement park. I wish we had realized this because we probably would have planned to visit both of these at the same time as our zoo visit.
The Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo is open every day except for major holidays from 9am to 4pm. Adult tickets are $10.00, children’s tickets are $7.00, and senior tickets are $8.00. Children two and under are free.
It is almost Memorial Day. This means school is almost out. In my family, this means ROAD TRIP!!!!!
We are planning two major road trips and several small ones in my household, and I thought that it would be fun use the next month or so to highlight some of the areas within driving distance of Pensacola. Places that are great for a short road trip. Road trips are a great way to get some travel in without breaking the bank. You don’t have to buy plane tickets, you can pack your lunch, and although gas prices are ridiculous in my opinion, they are still not as high as they have been in the past.
What are your favorite road trip destinations from Pensacola? If you are interested in writing a guest post, send me an email. If not, then just leave a comment with your recommendation and I will do the research!
Oh my goodness. I can’t believe that May is here already! Here is your weekend roundup of activities. If you know of a family friendly event going on around the area, please leave a comment. As always, call ahead or follow the links to make sure that the information is still accurate.
April 30 and May1 – Jay Rodeo - Rescheduled to these dates. Visit website to find out how to get free children’s tickets.
May 1 – Visit the Palafox Market
May 1 – Destin Green Fest (Abrakadoodle flyer here)
May 1 - Dauphin Island Arts Festival
May 1 – Home Depot Kids Clinic – Build a picket fence planter.
May 1 – Lowes Build and Grow Clinic - Build a school house.
May 1 – Northwest Modelers Inc Open House – Model Airplanes!!
May 1 – Wet and Wild Festival
May 1 – Gulf Coast Kid’s House Chocolate Fest - Support the Culf Coast Kid’s House and enjoy chocolate treats from loval restaurants. There is a special kid’s area that will feature activities, games and prizes.
May 1 – Spring Garden Festival - Volunteers share their horticultural expertise.
All Weekend – 26th Annual Crawfish Festival
Here are some of the activities going on around and town this weekend. If you have an activity or event to add, please leave a comment on this post! As always, we recommend that you follow the links or call the contact numbers to confirm details before you go.
April 9 – Pajama Storytime at Barnes and Noble - Wear your pajamas, enjoy hot chocolate and cookies, and read a story with Spot.
April 9 – Pirate Trolley – The Curse of Tristan de Luna
April 9 – Blizzard Race 1 – Five Flags Speedway
April 10 – Lowes Build and Grow – Build a mini baseball game.
April 10 – Port City Farmer’s Market
April 10 – Storytime at Barnes and Noble – Spot visits today!
April 10 – Camelia Classic Open Car Show – Bellingrath Gardens, Alabama
April 10 and 11th – JazzFest 2010 – Located in Seville Square
April 10 and 11th – Reptile Show at Pensacola Fairgrounds
April 10 and 11th – Eglin Air Show
April 11 – Book Clubs at Barnes and Noble – Nancy Drew and American Girls Book Clubs meet today.
Also, I received word from the Community Redevelopment Agency that the splash fountain feature at Plaza de Luna is now on for regular hours. The hours are as follows: Monday to Thursday 11am- 2pm and 5pm to 7pm and Friday, Saturday and Sunday 11 am to 8 pm. I will post more about this later!
This weekend, the Bass Pro Shop is celebrating the next generation with tons of family activities! On March 13 and 14 from noon to 5pm, participate in the following activities: casting game, fishing basics class, shooting gallery, and sailboat races. You can get your picture taken and put on a Field and Stream cover. If you complete all the activities, you get a free Bass Pro Next Generation DVD. Best part? Everything is free!
There is a Bass Pro Shop located in Spanish Fort, Alabama at 20000 Bass Pro Drive and the contact number is 251.607.5900. There is also one located in Destin, Florida at 4301 Legendary Drive and the contact number is 850.269.6200.
Panama City, Florida is just a short two to two and a half hour drive from Pensacola. It makes for a great overnight trip or weekend away. You can take Interstate 10, but my family prefers to travel Highway 98. Although the speed limit is much slower than the interstate, you can enjoy beautiful water views, tasty food, and if you need to pull over there are plenty of attractions, gas stations and photo opportunities. Panama City is known mostly for its beaches. It is still a popular spring break destination for college students and snowbirds alike but Panama City is an excellent destination for families as well. We travel to Panama City often because we have family there. In those trips, we have been able to discover some great family-friendly activities.
St. Andrew’s Oaks By the Bay – This park is an amazing setting for family photography. We have had several portrait sessions here and the pictures are always gorgeous. The park has big beautiful trees with moss hanging off of them, a boardwalk leading out to the bay, and the marina is just a short walk away. My kids love taking the boardwalk to the water and splashing around. There is always sealife to be found and the last time we were there we saw a huge horseshoe crab. Don’t forget to check out the four headed palm tree! Best of all, the park is free! While you are there, if you would like to have family pictures done, we recommend Adria Peaden Photography. Her photographs are stunning and she always makes me look glamorous (see our family photos taken at Oaks by the Bay here and here)!
Junior Museum of Bay County - For just a few dollars a person, you can visit this children’s museum. You could spend the whole day here if you wanted! There are hands-on science exhibits, a grocery store, a reptile room, and much more. Outside, there is a long boardwalk through the woods and a small village with the homes representing pioneer life. You can read my full review here.
Shipwreck Island – This waterpark will keep the kids and adults busy all day long. There is something for everyone. The children’s area is extensive with lots of little slides, tunnels to crawl through, and water to splash in. We never felt crowded out of an area. My son loved the White Knuckle River and made Daddy J go on that ride at least ten times! (We let my son take pictures with a waterproof camera on this trip!)
Pier Park - This sprawling shopping center boasts 1 million square feet of space! There are some yummy restaurants like Red Robin, Margaritaville, and the Hofbrau Beer Garden. The shopping choices are unlimited! Our favorite thing to do is head to Pier Park, stop by the Candymaker Candy Store to pick up a little treat and then go ride the carousel. The carousel is the original from the world famous Miracle Strip. There are a couple of other amusement park like rides, sandboxes, volleyball courts and a small train.
Coconut Creek Family Fun Park – I have not been here with the kids, but my husband and I used to love exploring the maze. Coconut Creek has a miniature golf course, but the thing that we love is the Gran Maze. The best part? Kids under 6 play for free! The giant maze is about the size of a football field. There are observation towers so that you can view the maze. How long will it take you?!?
St. Andrew’s State Park and Shell Island - You can’t travel to Panama City Beach without actually visiting a beach can you? Skip the touristy spring break areas and visit St. Andrew’s. You can enjoy camping, kayaking or sunbathing. From Memorial Day to Labor Day, take a shuttle boat to Shell Island where you might see dolphins along the way!
Alvin’s Island – This is one big tourist trap but there are some fun souvenirs that you can pick up on the cheap. The kids will like the daily shark and alligator feedings!
Museum of Man in the Sea – This muesem follows the travels and growth of man in the sea. See underwater labs, dive suits and submarines.
Gulf World Marine Park and Zoo World - At Gulf World, see dolphin, sea life, underwater and reptile shows. For an extra cost (a lot extra!) you can swim with the dolphins. At Zoo World, see over 200 animals. There are shows and lots of family friendly events around the holidays. There is a Zoo Boo at Halloween and an Easter bunny visit!
Sea Dragon Pirate Cruise – We have not done this yet, but we know several people who have and they loved it! Your kids can sail on a pirate ship, spot dolphins, fire the kid cannon, have a snack and look for treasure. It looks like it is lots of fun!
