2 Days: Pensacola Beach, Florida
/If I could sum up our vacation in a single statement it would be: Traveling during a pandemic is so different. I would even say that it has been a stressful experience. Hence, my vow to only take mini trips for the rest of the year… Being cognizant of not getting to close to other people, ensuring that I constantly washed my hands after touching anything, and confirming that everything is clean definitely takes a toll on your enjoyment of your vacation. But that’s not to say that this past week’s trip wasn’t great! My family drove 8 hours to Pensacola Beach, which was actually only our midpoint stopover on our continued journey to the Great Smoky Mountains, and spent 2 days enjoying the sunshine on our beach front hotel. While I’m not sure I would want to travel to Florida again during the pandemic (Floridians do not understand the concept of social distancing), it was nice to get out of our normal routine and soak up some Vitamin D.
Pensacola Beach
Pensacola Beach was not as crowded as many other beaches in Florida (have you seen the photos of Miami Beach?!?!) and they attempted to space umbrellas 6 feet apart. We went pretty early in the morning (think 6:30am) to enjoy the sunrise and the absence of people. The waves are strong, the sand soft, and the shoreline filled with pretty white seashells. A dreamy beach if you ask me!
Gulf Islands National Seashore
It costs $25 per vehicle per day to enter, but once you pay you’ll discover lots of empty shoreline and beaches. Perfect for a day outdoors and social distancing! The whole park is around 7 miles and towards the end of it there is a huge fort, Fort Pickens, where you’re able to explore the ruins. I saw people biking around and wished I had brought my bike as well!
Red Fish, Blue Fish
Probably some of the worst food I’ve ever had…. and that is saying a lot because I’m constantly eating out! I guess there isn’t much to be expected when it comes to tourist towns, but I was still shocked at the poor quality of food served at Red Fish, Blue Fish. The gumbo had a watery taste to it and the seafood was flavorless. On top of this, the restaurant forgot half our takeout order and we had to make two trips… If you find yourself in Pensacola, I strongly recommend skipping this restaurant!
Hampton Inn Pensacola Beach
We stayed at the Hampton Inn on Pensacola Beach and had a cute little balcony that faced the beautiful sparkling ocean. It was so nice waking up every morning to the sound of seagulls, the salty smell of the ocean, and lots of sunshine. While we spent the mornings out on the beach, once the beach became crowded in the afternoon we would head back to our hotel balcony to spend the rest of the day social distancing from the crowd. It was the perfect way to enjoy the beach while remaining safe from a distance. Hampton Inn also provided free breakfast, but instead of their typical breakfast buffet, their employees prepackaged breakfast items into brown paper bags for people to take. It was a very streamlined process, which was much appreciated. Overall, my family really enjoyed this hotel!
It was definitely a unique experience traveling during the pandemic… Let me know if you have any other ideas and tips on how to travel safely during this time. Stay safe yall!
