More Than Just Beaches

By Jere Hough Meteorologist / Feature Reporter

In television talk you live in a double market...a viewing area dominated by two cities, Mobile and Pensacola. They are similar in many ways, but each has many special features uniquely its own. Pensacola has spectacular beaches...and much more. More Than Just Beaches

Published: Fri, February 29, 2008 - 5:11 pm Last Updated: Wed, June 25, 2008 - 4:17 pm

Jere Hough

Like most cities, Pensacola is defined in large part by its geography, in this case, that geography is water. The City is surrounded by water on two sides: Pensacola Bay to the east and Santa Rosa Sound to the south. The Gulf of Mexico is just two bridges away. There are 52 miles of beaches here, including Pensacola Beach on the remarkably clear Gulf. The area has the largest tract of protected shoreline in the Country.
There is rich history here, too...dramatically displayed in the Historic Pensacola Village, a collection of old homes and buildings from the city's long past. But it's not quite the oldest city in the U.S.
Dena Bush with the Village explains, "What we like to say is we are America's oldest settlement. We were settled in 1559 by Don Tristan de Luna. Unfortunately, the expedition encountered a hurricane, and they were unsuccessful."
Hurricanes...2004's Ivan was the latest assault on the Coastal City, a hard hit, but Pensacola has had a lot of practice in recovery and adapting to change from storms and change in ownership.
Bush names all Pensacola's past governments: "Spanish, French, British, American, Confederate, and then American again.
Today, Americans know Pensacola as the home of the Blue Angels...always a thrilling show, even for the hometown crowds who have seen them perform many times. The Blue Angels are part of Pensacola Naval Air Station which also houses the National Museum of Naval Aviation. It's a different show from the Blue Angels...but it's a dandy none-the-less. A hundred planes on display inside, over fifty more outside, and the admission? Free.
One of downtown's most distinctive buildings houses the TT Wentworth Museum, a collection of interesting, mostly old, things. The now-National Fishin' Chicks, started fishin' in the local waters.
And perhaps the City's Crown Jewel: Pensacola High...since 2005, ranked in the Top 40 US High schools by Newsweek Magazine.
Meteorologist Jere Hough stands near a fountain in a small park. He observes, "From its wonderful beaches, to its long colorful history, plus its deep roots with Naval Aviation there's a lot that adds to the quality of life in Pensacola. Did I mention the parks? There are a hundred City Parks including this small one right across from Seville Square."