Bay Bluffs Park, part of the Scenic Bluffs Preserve, protects the highest coastal area of Florida. Right on Florida Scenic Highway 90, along Escambia Bay.

View from the bluff.

I don’t think too many people really know much about Pensacola.  I know most Floridians don’t.  Even if you look it up, read reviews, ask around, you don’t come up with much.  You might find out that the naval air station is big, people like to fish and it’s in the Central time zone.

I was here in 1976 with the state Bicentennial Commission when they were designating and placing a historic marker.  Maybe they forgot to tell anyone.

What you don’t hear about is the beautiful historic district and the many shady town parks that have been well-preserved, protected and maintained.  (One disconnect is the ultramodern, monolithic city hall, but at least it’s on the other side of town.)

The town is low-profile, views of Pensacola Bay are prominent, and the historic district offers a pleasing mix of both residential and business.  The style is a hybrid, streets with Spanish names and buildings that comprise various stages of Florida Vernacular, Spanish Revival, and Victorian. Larger buildings are Spanish Baroque, Greek revival, Chicago and Gothic Revival styles. It’s a mixed bag that works quite nicely.

The view from dinner.

Pensacola is pleasant, walkable and friendly. Since we were here on a Monday, the historic tours weren’t operating, but on the plus side, Monday is 25 cent oyster night at Atlas Oyster/Fish House. So, that’s $3 for a dozen terrific, plump Louisiana Gulf oysters!

At 6:35PM the AA Blue Wahoo’s minor league baseball team (a Reds affiliate) took the field against the Mississippi Braves, in their terrific bayfront stadium. Too bad we only had one night, we would’ve loved to go.

Pensacola is out-of-the-way and hard to get to for most, but it is one of Florida’s treasures and worth a visit.

Next, headed west along the Gulf coast.

I promise not every post will have a train, or will it . . .?

Daily Trivia Questions (answers tomorrow):

What 5 flags have flown over Pensacola?

What showcase flight squadron trains here?

The chimney from the Hyer-Knowles Mill is all that remains of a once thriving wood mill industry along the coast. Confederate officers ordered the mills dismantled during the Civil War, to keep them from use by the invading Union soldiers.

Food truck fun in downtown.

The restored 1912 L&N Depot serves as the lobby for today’s Crowne Plaza Hotel. Trains still run along the route, but no longer stop at this location.