The Gulf Islands National Seashore hopscotches along the coastline from South Mississippi to West Florida, its goal to preserve unspoiled beaches, wide open spaces and historic sites once taken for granted.
Pensacola is in the heart of the National Seashore, which flanks the city with a pair of barrier islands---Perdido Key to its west and Santa Rosa Island, better known as Pensacola Beach, to its east.
Those islands offer miles of white sand, emerald water, eyecatching vistas---and a wide selection of lodging and nightlife when the sun goes down. The Gulf Islands National Seashore also is home to forts and other historic attractions.
The federal seashore, created in January 1971, covers a total of 150 miles, including 52 miles in West Florida. In keeping with that spirit of preservation and recreation, the State of Florida and the cities of Pensacola and Gulf Breeze also have popular expanses of protected parklands which complement the seashore.
Take a quick tour across highlights of the Gulf Islands National Seashore in the Pensacola area. The beaches are open to the public year round; the Fort Pickens and Perdido Key areas each charge a $4 per car admission charge which is good for seven days.
Perdido Key State Recreation Area was ranked No. 12 in a 1994 survey listing the best beaches in the nation. The survey asked geographers and coastal experts to rank beaches on the basis of 50 factors including water quality, sand, cleanliness, congestion and accessibility.
The beach, which is easily accessible from paved roads, offers both ample space for those who want solitude and amenities for folks who want picnic shelters, showers and restrooms.
Santa Rosa Island has two tracts in the national seashore, and each tract has two sides. On one side, rolling dunes and the Gulf of Mexico beckon. On the other side, Santa Rosa Sound offers generally smooth sailing and the beach's sandy landscape is enhanced by a mixture of trees and other vegetation.
The Fort Pickens area, at the island's western end, offers not only pristine beaches but also bits of history. In addition, the area is popular with divers, boaters and campers who spend nights at the park's campground.
Gulf Islands National Seashore stops just west of the Pensacola Beach area, a popular spot for bathers, shoppers, and diners. The preserved seashore then resumes just east of the last residence on Via de Luna. Here, the seashore stretches out for about 16 miles of sand and surf with no interruptions for commercial development.
Fort Pickens is the best known of the fortresses built more than 160 years ago. Pickens was held by Union troops during the Civil War and later was the place where Geronimo, the Apache leader, was imprisoned ---- and made into a sightseeing attraction by local entrepreneurs.
Fort Pickens, which has been largely restored and is open for free public tours, is the hub of seashore activities. It houses a handy Visitor Center and a museum and auditorium offering information about the area.
Pickens was one of the three forts built in the 1820's to guard the entrance to Pensacola Bay. Fort McRee on Perdido Key is largely gone now, but it is not forgotten. Picnickers and boaters often head to McRee. And Fort Barrancas has a long and storied past, including a stint under control of Confederate troops in the Civil War. Barrancas, located aboard Pensacola Naval Air Station, offers not only history but scenery, too, with wooded areas, picnic grounds and a nature trail.
For details about the Gulf Islands National Seashore, please call 904-934-2600.