Welcome to Margaritaville! The Margaritaville Beach Hotel
in Pensacola, Florida
Location:
The Margaritaville Beach Hotel is located on Pensacola Beach in Pensacola, Florida. This is an outstanding location right on Pensacola Beach with the Gulf on one side and the Lagoon on the other. The Beach is absolutely stunning with soft white sand and NO tar balls! Believe me, I looked long and hard for the tar balls but they were no where to be found. The lagoon across the street from the front of the hotel offers all kinds of water activities. The Landshark Landing Restaurant right next door is a great place to see and be seen in Pensacola offering cold beer, great food and live bands.
When you arrive at the hotel you walk into a beautifully appointed lobby which immediately draws you to the view beyond. The lobby offers very comfortable furniture, the smell of the salt air and a captivating view of the beach right behind the hotel. The front desk staff was very friendly and willing to help accommodate in any way possible. Right away I noticed buckets lined up behind the desk just waiting to be handed out to children who are going out to the beach for the day. Not an expensive amenity, but a very thoughtful one for those of us who are busy moms. The clientele is mostly between 40 and 60 although you do see some children and also some older folks. Honestly I was concerned that the hotel would draw more of an adult oriented crowd with late night parties but was pleasantly surprised at the number of children I saw and also the diversified age of the clientele. The hotel had a nice evening vibe to it but not a party atmosphere that would be uncomfortable or inappropriate for those traveling with children.
Dining:
Frank and Lola Love Pensacola Cafe
Yum! Of course you can have the "Cheeseburger in Paradise" burger but I highly recommend the Filé Gumbo, Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes and for dessert..... N.Y. Carnegie Deli Cheesecake for Two! The food is affordable and offers plentiful portions so you will not walk away hungry. Looking for something different? Try the Crab and Shrimp Mac and Cheese made with Boursin cream but this is quite the meal... I suggest this for lunch so you can walk it off on the beautiful beaches the rest of the afternoon. Pensacola Beach also offers a variety of other dining options within a quick drive that are hip and oh so yummy. Be sure to venture out and try other local restaurants.
The rooms are extremely comfortable and very nicely decorated. I must say that with all of my traveling adventures it is difficult to surprise me in a standard hotel. However, I was so struck by the warm and beachy yet elegant feel of the bathroom that I am recreating it in my own bathroom at home. The furniture is very reminiscent of something you would find in a grand old plantation style hotel on a beach in the Caribbean and the beds are absolutely scrumptious. This was the best night's sleep I had in a hotel in quite some time. The balconies, though not large, are comfortable and offer a small table and chair set so you can watch the beautiful Pensacola sunset at the end of a long day.
Historical Attractions:
The Saenger Theater - 118 South Palafox Place, Pensacola, Florida (FL), 32502-5630, USA
Tel: +1 850 444 7699
Spend a night at the theater and enjoy one of the lively Broadway hits, musicals, dramatic performances or concerts staged at the Saenger Theater. Pensacola's Saenger Theater is housed in a beautiful Spanish Baroque-style building that is of significant historical interest, while the theater itself has been open since 1925.
Pensacola tourist attraction open: Monday to Friday, box office - 10:00 to 17:00
Pensacola tourist attraction admission: charge
St. Michael's Cemetery - 7451 Corner of Alcaniz and Garden streets, Pensacola, Florida (FL), 32501, USA
Tel: +1 850 436 4643
A cemetery might not be number one on most visitors' holiday itineraries, but this is a burial ground with more to offer than just memorials to the interred. Having been used as a graveyard since the mid-18th century, attractions at St. Michael's Cemetery include the last resting place of many prominent Pensacola figures, as well as hundreds of slaves. The cemetery is now host to an open-air museum, allowing visitors to learn about the history of the influential figures who are buried here.
Pensacola tourist attraction open: Monday to Sunday - 10:00 to 17:00
Pensacola tourist attraction admission: free
Fort Pickens: Fort Pickens is a pentagonal historic United States military fort on Santa Rosa Island, at the entrance to Pensacola Bay. It is named after American Revolutionary War hero Andrew Pickens. The fort was completed in 1834 and remained in use in some form until 1947. Fort Pickens is currently part of the Gulf Islands National Seashore, and as such, is administered by the National Park Service. The Fort Pickens Area encompasses the western seven miles of Santa Rosa Island, including the fort itself as well as numerous auxiliary batteries.
Plan to spend most of the day at Fort Pickens as it is a very large area and be sure to take some water. Note: the road to Fort Pickens is subject to flooding so check with the NPS in case of inclement weather to be sure the road is open. Interesting note: In the 1880s, Geronimo and other members of the Chiricahua-Apache tribe were prisoners at Fort Pickens. Ask your Park Ranger for more information.
Comments