Pensacola is a historic beach city in northwest Florida, in the United States of America. It is located in Escambia County, Florida's westernmost county, at the tip of the "panhandle". The city is home to the Pensacola Naval Air Station, the National Museum of Naval Aviation and many historic districts that skirt the downtown area. Surrounded on three sides by water, the Pensacola area is full of history, shipwrecks, beaches and spectacular vistas.
Pensacola should not be confused with its neighbor, Pensacola Beach, covered in a separate article.
History of Pensacola
Pensacola has a long and complicated history, predating any other European settlement in the United States of America. The area was first settled in 1559 by the Spanish conquistador Tristan de Luna, whose expedition failed within two years due to hurricanes, poor management, famine. The settlement wasn't reestablished until 1696, when the Spanish sent a new settlement party and established a city near current day Fort Barrancas. This new Pensacola soon became the largest city in Florida, and was an important strategic port. Over the course of Pensacola's 450 year history, it has changed hands seven times between five different countries, earning it the nickname, "The City of Five Flags." In recent history, Pensacola's economy has simplified to focus on military and tourism, with a bustling and growing service economy. However, with the trend towards consolidation of military bases, and the growth of other tourist cities on the Gulf Coast, Pensacola finds itself in a period of change. Political debate in the community is vibrant, and there is little consensus about what Pensacola's future should be.
Climate of Pensacola
Often described as having "three-and-a-half seasons," Pensacola has a subtropical climate with short, mild winters and hot, often humid summers. Pensacola's famous beaches are especially popular during the spring and summer, when the hot weather attracts sunbathers and swimmers. During the fall and winter, snowbirds from northern climates often vacation here, taking advantage of relatively warmer temperatures. Pensacola is vulnerable to hurricanes and tropical storms, especially between June 1 and November 30, a time called the hurricane season. In the event of a hurricane approaching the area, alerts will be posted on radio and television stations, advising what to do.
Before booking a hotel room, make sure you are getting the lowest price for it. Different hotel booking websites offers the same room at different prices. If you stick with one site all the time, you could be paying more for the same room. Now why pay more?
The form below is a Research Engine. It doesn't take bookings. Instead it lets you find the hotel booking website that offers the room you want at the lowest price. You can see and compare what different sites are offering, and then click to choose the one with the best price. Do this, and you're guaranteed to save a whole lot of money on your room reservations!
