Sunday, February 26, 2017

Pensacola Area Continued...

As I mentioned last post, there is a lot to do around here!!  With several state parks, a national seashore and historical buildings, one can easily spend a month here. That means there will be one more post on Pensacola....whew!




In addition to all the resorts on Pensacola
Beach and the beautiful white sand, there are several cool bars and places to eat!


The National Museum of Aviation is a must for airplane enthusiasts:

NC4 the first "flying boat" to cross the Atlantic



P-40B Tomahawk

 Pensacola is the home of the Blue Angels Navy demonstration team.
retired Blue Angels

Fort Barranca





enjoyed a tour of  Fort
Barranca on a cool day!



Spanish influence at the fort due to a short period of Spanish control




Blackwater River State Park

Blackwater River is a pristine, sandy bottomed river, designated a Florida Canoe Trail


A trail at Gulf State Park gave us a good view of this nesting bald eagle





We drove west on Perdido Key
until we entered Alabama
and had to stop at LuLu's for
a beer.  Lucy Buffett, Jimmy
Buffetts sister, owns this and
several other ventures in this
area.
Yep, 29 cent gumbo with an entree! It was yummy!
 We walked the Brakenridge Trail at Navel Live Oaks State Park and saw several dolphins!



 

Tuesday, February 21, 2017

Pensacola Area, FL

The Pensacola area has many state parks and a national seashore among other things to check out and we have been busy trying to see as much as possible!  The weather has been mostly awesome so because today has been a rainy day, I'm getting a post out!

We met up with Mike's cousin, Dave, and Mary for this adventure and we'll be together for out next stop in Alabama:



Tarkiln Bayou Preserve
State Park




Big Lagoon
State Park

Great views of the
Intracoastal
Waterway!
nice hiking and nature trails here!

the observation tower provides a very nice view of the waterway




this section of the national seashore is the "remote" Perdido Key Area
 Perdido Key is all about resorts, good food and plenty of drink;)  We had to check out the quirky Flora Bama beach bar and restaurant:



live music with a collection of discarded bras hanging over head

a half mile boardwalk takes you along the coast...

Mike, Mary and Dave (Mike's cousin) 

heading out on the boardwalk

nice little park!



Ended this day at
the Pensacola Bay
Brewery!




Pensacola does pelicans and we
saw them everywhere
downtown....
mural

these outdoor food trucks are actually air streams









a favorite in these parts,  a good Irish Red and good food!

Spam Museum, Austin, Minnesota

We were staying just a few miles away in Blooming Prairie and, of course, were going into Austin to a couple of breweries....how could we no...