Welcome to Florida!

This picture was taken in the middle of winter. Explains why you would want to be here. Especially if you love sunny days and oranges. Yep! You have guessed correctly if you think I am in the Sunshine State, Pensacola specifically. The beauty captured in this picture is none other than the beautiful Pensacola Beach. Many powerful hurricanes have blown through destroying almost everything in its path but could not destroy the beauty of this place. This picture is post Hurricane Sally, the most recent hurricane to strike Pensacola September 2020 weeks after the massive hurricane Delta which peaked as a category 4 storm. Please don't allow this information to suggest you remove this amazing place from your bucket list.

I was born and raised here and I am currently still here. Holding on to my childhood memories of long hot sunny days at the beach, picking pecans in the fall during cool autumn evenings, downtown festivities during the winter and springtime picnics and luncheons. Here in Florida life is sweet.

Life is sweet and from my experience the people are just as sweet. A Melting pot of people culture and accents, anyone can come and feel very welcomed here. Life on the beach is very free as it attracts many visitors beginning the week of what is known as "Spring Break." People fly from around the world to visit the beautiful beach here and enjoy the festivals . Neighboring cities like, Orange Beach, Alabama and Foley, Alabama join as well. A few celebrities have been spotted here by locals. Famous retired Dallas Cowboy football player is spotted around, visiting relatives we assume or just adoring his hometown once again. It has always been said don't forget your roots!

The beach is not only filled with good people but an abundance of good places to eat. I enjoy eating sushi from Ichiban when I'm in town. It's healthy and absolutely delicious. When on the beach I enjoy a pile of seafood from Flounders or delicate sweet and smoky lamb ribs from The Grand Marlin. Downtown and around is filled with elegant restaurants with menus oozing variety. Coconut shrimp Salad from Nick's Boat House, Country Fried Turkey from Cracker Barrel, The Floridian omelet from Another Broken Egg, just to name a few are examples of such. Most of these places reveal a stunning view of the beautiful body of water that surrounds us.

Summer days are long and hot. Their is no school during most of the summer. Most college students attending local colleges here opt out of taking the summer term because it is slightly different than the rest and their are fewer teachers in the summer. Most are used to being off during that time. The heat will drive you to to the beach. I enjoy feeling the sun beaming on my exposed honey skin, the wind whipping my face and the sand whipping past my ankles with an ice cream cone melting against my tongue. This is how I spent my summers during childhood through adulthood and up until the Covid-19 pandemic.

The summer is filled with tourist as they come to take advantage of the prime beach weather experienced during this season. Some also like to see the Navy Blue Angels excite everyone with an airshow. Downtown is filled with lots of festivities. The Seafood festival, the Gulf Coast Jazz Summer Fest, Blue Wahoo baseball games and many other concerts and events.

Temperatures slightly drop during the fall and things to tend to slow down a bit. Every year the weather pattern seems to be exactly the same. The Interstate fair is scheduled to last through the last week of October, sometimes it spills a few days into November. It always ends on a Sunday, and no matter what date that Sunday falls on that is always the beginning of colder weather. The last day is the discounted day of the fair and unless you really need the discount you wouldn't want to be in this chilly weather. By this time people vacate the beach and abandon it until next Spring. Unless you're a beach lover like me or a fisher, then you'll surely visit year-round.

Autumn is a great time for kayaking and the beaches are less crowded with tourist. Perdido and White Island are also good places to go kayaking. The Pensacola Interstate Fair is another fall treat as well as the Halloween festivities held at the Gulf Breeze zoo located near the beach.

During winter downtown turns into a winter wonderland thanks to an organization called Winterfest. Winterfest is responsible for all of downtown's winter festivities and tends to light the streets up with white bulbs and colorful garland. Christmas Trees are out on almost every corner and despite the cold weather so are people. Parades for the winter holidays are also held in the streets of downtown. Santa and the Grinch sit in the center of downtown for all the kids to come and visit.

Does this place sound like home? Well this is home to me! I love the weather, the food and the people. I hope you have enjoyed your virtual visit to my hometown as much as I enjoyed giving you this virtual tour and phenomenal taste of Pensacola, Florida.