Hello all you travelers out there! My name is Mike Fisher, and I'm speaking to you once again from TripShock headquarters in Destin, Florida.
Pensacola Beach, Florida, has remained a popular family-friendly vacation destination for decades.
Surrounded by Emerald Gulf waters, visitors to Pensacola Beach are quickly swept away by the beach-side culture.
Beach activities, watersports, historical sites, and a strong military presence supply a wide variety of things to do in Pensacola Beach, Florida.
With spring break 2015 already in motion, and summer vacation right around the corner, TripShock.com has compiled a list of the top seven kid-friendly activities in Pensacola Beach, Florida.
With family vacations in mind, the list below was built on activities that are affordable or free, and most of all, kid-friendly.
Before you start learning about these great activities, I have a traveler's tip for you.
A free trolly runs through Pensacola Beach and beyond.
The service is provided by the Santa Rosa Island authority, and is perfect for transporting the whole family to some of the activities below, including the Pensacola Beach dolphin cruises and the Pensacola Beach Pier.
Trolley service is seasonal and begins May 15th 2015.
Looking for a water activity that's fun, affordable, and doesn't wear you out?
A family fun dolphin cruise in Pensacola Beach provides hours of relaxing sightseeing for all ages!
Adults enjoy educational narration and the serene landscapes of Pensacola Beach, while the kids revel at the sights of dolphins and other marine life.
The boat, named Portofino One, tours in relatively calm waters, leaving motion sickness a rare occurrence.
Food and beverages are available, as is covered seating.
Dolphin tours depart daily and year-round, and tickets start at $15 with special rates for large groups.
Family vacationers in Pensacola Beach can expect to see and hear plenty of action in the skies from Air Force helicopters to Navy jets.
The Emerald Coast is brimming with military action.
With Eglin Air Force Base, Hurlburt Field and the Naval Air Station surrounding Pensacola Beach, it's no surprise that some of the world's finest pilots set up shop in town.
Among the best of the best are the Blue Angels.
This team of Navy pilots is known worldwide as some of the fastest flying and most technically experienced pilots.
A Blue Angels Air Show draws crowds in the thousands, but you can see them in Pensacola Beach from the comfort of a 63-foot catamaran.
Hitch a ride with a handful of other anxious spectators, and catch a live Blue Angels practice run!
This boat cruise is exciting for all ages, but especially makes for a fun activity for kids.
While riding aboard the catamaran, the sights aren't limited to the skies.
Look to the water to find marine life including dolphins, stingrays, seabirds, and sharks!
Searching for a fun family activity close to the beach? Then the Pensacola Beach Gulf Pier is the place for you!
For a small fee, try your hand at fishing off this massive dock and you may just catch a dinner of cobia, mackerel, redfish, or mahi-mahi.
To make things easy, the pier provides rentals and sales of all you need for a day of fishing in Pensacola Beach.
Rods and reels, bait, coolers, and nets are all available at a low cost...
...and daily, weekly, and annual pier passes include temporary fishing licenses.
Whatever you catch you can keep, and if you get hungry, there's an on-site snack bar to provide food for you and the kids.
The Pensacola Beach Gulf Pier offers something different than your typical watersport tour, and will provide fun, family memories for years.
The Gulf Pier makes for an amazing family fun day in Pensacola, but fishing on the pier requires preparations and knowledge of saltwater fishing that many don't have time to acquire.
After all, when you're on a beach vacation in Florida, the last thing you need to think about is how to tie a fisherman's knot
That is why sometimes it's better to take the family on a family fishing excursion!
Orange Beach, Alabama, is just a short drive from Pensacola Beach, and offers plenty of activities that are difficult to find in the Florida Beach vacation hot spot.
One of such is a kid-friendly fishing charter!
Captain Buddy Powers specializes in a family-friendly fishing trip that's tailored for first-time or novice fishermen...
...but just because the trip is made for beginners, doesn't mean that you won't catch a prized fish!
With year-round trips, expect to catch redfish, speckled trout, snapper, flounder, shark, and even more!
Bait, tackle, and fishing licenses are included in the cost, and by day's end, you'll be so stocked up on table fare and fond memories...
... putting a price on the experience will be impossible!
So far, you've seen activities that focus on the Pensacola skies and Pensacola Beach waters...
...but now you'll be able to see the Gulf Coast landscape from the sky on a family-friendly helicopter tour!
Head to Orange Beach, Alabama, for one of five thrilling helicopter tour options, piloted and narrated by an experienced native Orange Beach pilot.
Noise reduction headsets with voice-activated microphones are provided so guest riders can gossip about the spectacles below.
The beach, buildings, and marine life below make for adventurous sightseeing for children and adults.
Customer satisfaction is some of the highest of any helicopter tour on the Gulf Coast, with top marks across the board.
Book a seat on a waterfront helicopter tour for a once-in-a-lifetime experience for the whole family.
The Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, Florida, is home to one of the most visited museums in the state.
The all-ages exhibits feature real historic aircraft, vintage documents, uniforms, and dioramas that display America's naval history and shining brilliance.
The family activities continue at the Naval Aviation Museum, with attractions including the IMAX theater, flight simulator, Blue Angels x4d experience, and the QV Bar Cafe...
...A delicious restaurant and replica of the famous Cubi Point Officer's Club.
Best of all, admission is free to the Naval Aviation Museum, which results in a cheap and extraordinary family fun day in Pensacola Beach.
A Florida beach vacation is not complete without a first-hand encounter with exotic marine life.
The Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park on Okaloosa Island offers spectacular shows, education exhibits, and beautiful ocean views, with kid-friendly activities left and right...
...there is no better place to take the family on your Gulf Coast vacation!
Most of the park is covered from rain and wind, which makes for a prime destination if you're looking for things to do when it's raining in Pensacola Beach.
The on-site food and gift shop provide all you need for a full day of fun, and with ticket prices starting at only $19.95, the value is unbeatable!
The Gulfarium is open 7 days a week, besides Thanksgiving Day and Christmas, and free parking available to all Adventure Park guests.
If you're searching for more things to do or places to stay in Pensacola Beach or Navarre, be sure to check TripShock.com!
TripShock.com offers up-to-date deals and the lowest rates on Pensacola Beach hotel reservations and activities.
Again, my name is Mike Fisher with TripShock.com, and we'd love to see you on the Emerald Coast!