Since starting our vacations at the gulf, 27 years ago, we have slowly traveled up the pan handle of Florida searching for the best balance of beautiful beaches, great restaurants, state parks, museums and entertainment. Happily we have found it all here in the Pensacola / Perdido Key / Orange Beach Area. There are plenty of state parks with miles of beach and bike trails, great fishing both in-shore and off-shore, awesome beaches and amazing restaurants and entertainment. Pensacola has a great downtown with charming shops and eateries. They provide a full calendar of fun events to celebrate every season. Go see a Blue Wahoo baseball game and dine at a open air food truck park just down the street or enjoy a parade! Don’t miss a visit to Joe Patti’s Seafood Market. It’s one of the few family owned fish mongers still in business. If you are here and planning a trip back into Pensacola, Perdido Key Seafood Market is a great option for local fish, shrimp and dips. They even steam your shrimp to your desired spice level.

Here a list of some of our favorite restaurants:

In Pensacola, we love Five Sisters Blues Cafe. This is a fun Creole restaurant with daily specials and a rich history. For decades this area was the epicenter of African-American business and social life. It was here that the progression of musical culture made it’s mark in Pensacola. Well know Black artist from B.B. King to Clarence Carter would pass through on there way along the Mississippi Blues Trail. Wednesday is wing night, a definite - don’t miss!

The Oar House is right at the the bridge before leaving Pensacola. It is on the intercoastal and at a dock. There are a lot of pretty boats, it is very reasonable priced and yields some amazing sunsets.

When in Orange Beach our go to place is GT’s On The Bay- great drinks, great food, and in the warmer months there is usually a band playing on the covered outdoor space. It back up to the intercoastal has a great dock you can walk on to watch the sunsets. They have a huge playground that is next to the outside seating so Mom and Dad can enjoy a drink and the music while the little ones burn off some energy.

In Perdido Key don’t miss JellyFish. It’s across the street from the condo and walking distance. It has daily drink specials and excellent seafood and pasta. It a nice way to take in a sunset on the outdoor patio. In the same building they also have a pizzeria, ice cream shop and Daiquiri bar downstairs.

Within walking distance toward the bridge is the Perdido Key Sports Bar. It has great food, great drinks, plenty of TV’s to watch you favorite game and a pool table. They are a great anytime of day place but they stay open late along with their kitchen and always has a fun crowd. They normally have bands on Friday and Saturday nights. They are one of venues hosting the Frank Brown Song Writers Festival that takes place in November for the last 40+ years.

Fisherman’s Corner is just over the bridge and is excellent. Whether you are hungry for a burger, pasta, or a fish platter, they do a great job and have very reasonable pricing.

Next door to the Fisherman’s Corner is the Salty Pearl. It’s more laid back with outdoor seating and great happy hour specials starting at 3:00. Great chargrilled oysters, four different ways.

The Shrimp Basket has a laid back vibe with a variety of fish and shrimp options and great specialty drinks. They have several locations to choose from. Don’t miss their Alabama Eye Opener.

Whether you choose the Flora-Bama Yacht Club, Flora-Bama Grill or The Flora-Bama, you can’t go wrong. There’s always live music, great drinks and a laid back atmosphere. The food is fine but is surpassed my the low key vibe and the scenery. It’s been an icon since 1964 with a welcoming feel that will make you feel right at home. Party on Saturday night the come back on Sunday to Worship on the Water at the Flora-Bama, where “it’s ok to not be ok”. You’ll find a welcoming crowd every Sunday and you will leave feeling better than you came in.

For a great sunset meal, try Cobalt at Alabama point in Orange Beach. It is located right on the water and with amazing sunset views in the warmer months.

Most Happy Hours start at 3:00 - 5:00 between November and March and 4:00 - 6:00 between April and October. The bars will have great deals on lighter bites to start off your evenings right!

Our newest go-to-restaurant is Coastal. It’s huge with both outdoor seating and indoor. It was build by the owners of Flora-Bama so there is normally live music playing and great drinks. The bartenders are amazing and will go out of their way to make you the perfect drink…whatever it may be. Their Char-grill oysters is excellent. It’s served on a hot metal plate strait from the broiler with garlic butter and oyster liquid collecting is a delicious pool just ready for you dip your ample supply of toasted baguette slices.

If you want the best cheesesteak sandwich in the world, go the Sloop. This is the sandwich you will be talking to your friend about when you get home. Simply amazing with you choice of types of cheese or cheese wiz. Add the cherry peppers to spice it up a notch and if you just need seafood, make it a Yacht and add grill shrimp and queso-cheese. The staff is great and you will feel like family my the time you leave…or at least distant cousins. Their menu is in the condo! It’s that good.

For a great burger, try The Cove. It’s a local dive bar with music on most nights. It’s not fancy. It is kid friendly if you are eating. They have a great burgers, a fun staff, pool tables, and did I mention it’s not fancy.

If you want fancy, ACME Oyster is a block down the road from the Sloop. The building is nice and bright, the food is good, with the feel of a type of seafood place you would expect at the beach. In the summer kids can play cornhole in the back. It can easily handle large parties.

Next to ACME is Tacky Jacks. There is always something going on. It is kid friends with fun drinks for all and it has good nachos, burgers and your typical beachy food.

If you are a craft beer lover, a great place with great merch is Big Beach Brewing. It is located across the street from ACME and Tacky Jacks. They have a rotating list of local favs from your lagers to Juicy IPA’s.

The Wharf is a great place for shopping and food. Shade’s is a cool place for unique tee shirts, sunglasses. They normally offer you a free beer if you buying their merch. 8-Reale is an very cool speakeasy. with a hidden door entrance. You have to visit the website for the latest door code (it changes daily). The drink are high end and craft-fully made. A short walk form 8-Reale is Jenni-Lane Bar and Grill the have amazing happy hour specials that go until 6:00. Your first Martini type drink is one dollar and they have one dollar oysters all day! Yes, you read that correctly. They also have a lighter side menu that they service until 6:00. The outside patio overlooks that Wharf Marina.

If you are a coffee drinker, the absolute best coffee roaster I know is Rob at MacDaddy Coffee. It not a brick and mortar store, but a website with dozens of flavored coffees at amazing prices. He roast the coffee, 9 pounds at a time and the method he uses removes the skins from the bean while roast so the coffee is never bitter. Hot, Iced or lukewarm it’s still a great cup. Mix and match with Rob’s Fab Five and get five flavors, each one pound, shipped to your door for a low price.