This past February, between ending our adventures in Hawaii and beginning our expedition to Alaska, we squeezed in a little road trip to Florida. As mentioned in my previous post, part of my motivation was to use a promotional vacation I had regrettably purchased (impulse buying at its finest). Inevitably all turned out well, as we took advantage of the opportunity and spent a few days in the Orlando area, specifically Lego Land, fulfilling a little 9 year-old’s dream.

The main reason for our visit though, was to detour across the panhandle and spend a few days in Pensacola. You see, there is a certain special sailor, who calls me “Mom,” stationed there.

Like so many others who missed once-in-a-lifetime milestones due to Covid, we were unable to celebrate with Gabriel in person as he graduated from Navy boot camp. Soon afterwards Gabe received orders to “A” school in Pensacola, so we made plans around the slim chance that we might steal away a few moments with him. My expectations were exceeded as we unexpectedly got to enjoy an entire evening catching up and eating dinner as a family, no matter how brief it was.

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While we couldn’t just sit and twiddle our thumbs waiting to hang out with Gabe, we decided to play the role as tourists and take in the sights for the day.

#1 Pensacola Lighthouse

Despite having been stationed in Pensacola ourselves, between 2007-2010, we never had the opportunity to climb the lighthouse as it was closed for renovations during those years. Built in 1859 and standing 159 feet tall, the Pensacola Lighthouse has been a beckon on the horizon of Pensacola Bay for over a century. Withstanding the test of time, it has survived an artillery attack during the Civil War, lightning strikes, hurricanes, and an earthquake.

Myself, like so many others, finds lighthouses intriguing. While I can’t put my finger on it, perhaps it lies somewhere between the secrets of the past and the stories the lighthouse could tell. Or maybe it’s the symbol of hope lighthouses stands for, as their light stretches out far across the darkness, acting as a savior to those lost at sea.

Nonetheless, the Pensacola Lighthouse is now open to the public, and for a small fee you can ascend the wrought-iron spiraling staircase all the way to the gallery deck. A total of 177 stairs, I started to regret our decision about half way up, as I realized how out of shape I was. Finally standing on the metal grate, looking out across the bay, I quickly forgot about the burning in my calves and enjoyed the breathtaking view.

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Once back on solid ground, we explored the Maritime Museum, the keeper’s quarters, and of course, the gift shop. The kids even practiced their knot tying skills at stations set up along the walkway.

#2 National Naval Aviation Museum

Our second stop for the day, less than a mile down the road, was the National Naval Aviation Museum. At over 350,000 square feet, it is the world’s largest Naval Aviation Museum, and free of charge. Over 150 meticulously restored aircraft, representing the Navy, Marines, and Coast Guard, can be found on display. As we meandered throughout the exhibits, it was impossible to not feel as though we had stepped back in time and were experiencing part of history, first hand.

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The kids were most enthralled by the Apollo 11 exhibit, which played a video detailing the in’s and out’s of life as an astronaut. As we strolled through the gift shop we even purchased an “astronaut ice cream bar” to satisfy everyone’s curiosity. Afterwards we all decided we will stick with the food groups that haven’t been freeze dried!