The Pensacola Beach Boardwalk is the social hub of the beach — a stretch of shops, restaurants, and bars along the Gulf of Mexico shoreline. It is where you rent kayaks and paddleboards, book parasailing and dolphin-watching tours, and find most of the places to eat and drink after a day on the sand.
The boardwalk area is also the site of the Pensacola Beach Ball — the giant blue neon beach ball on a stalk that serves as the area's unofficial emblem and landmark. At night, when it glows against the sky, it is visible from several miles away and makes an easy landmark.
The atmosphere is relaxed and unpretentious: families, spring-breakers, retirees, and fishing enthusiasts all coexist without much friction. The best time to be here is sunset, when the Gulf turns extraordinary shades of orange and the pelicans come in low over the water. Several bars and restaurants face directly west, designed for exactly this purpose.