Discover Pensacola: Ultimate Guide to Young Adult Adventures

Pensacola is the perfect destination for young adults. With tons of things to do, delicious places to eat, and so many picture-worthy spots, we've got you covered with all the fun highlights.

As a young adult myself, I am always looking for the next fun thing to take my friends to when they come visit me! There's ALWAYS something to do here in Pensacola.

Beach Time

Pensacola is home to the most beautiful white sand beaches. Whether you're on Pensacola Beach or Perdido Key, you can go for that refreshing dip and put your toes in the sand! There are plenty of public beach access points to choose from when planning out your beach day. To get your beach day setup done for you, check out Lazy Days Beach Rentals. Swell Ride is also great if you'd like to rent a stand up paddleboard - one of my favorite activities! They'll also do kayak rentals and skiff fishing rentals as well.

In addition to those public beaches, the Gulf Islands National Seashore is pristine beauty - with over 40 miles of federally protected shoreline, you're set. Be sure to step back into history and explore the Fort Pickens area of the National Seashore. This area is perfect for camping, birdwatching, walking along the trails, fishing, and more! If you're over in Perdido Key, stop by Johnson Beach. There are several pavilions here, a kayak launch area, and even a bike path to explore.

Want something to DO on the beach? If you're looking to do a little sunset picnic and take photos (which is my idea of a perfect end to the beach day), Pensacola Picnic Co will be there! Glow Paddle is another favorite of mine, offering night time glow clear kayak tours on Pensacola Beach. Going on a sunset sailboat ride is another fabulous and Instagram worthy way to end the day so be sure to check out Condor Sailing and Key Sailing.

Nightlife & Entertainment

There are plenty of places to check out if you're looking for some nightlife and entertainment in Pensacola. Downtown Pensacola is a great spot to go check out breweries, bars, and live music. The Handlebar, Seville Quarter, and Vinyl Music Hall are all popping with concerts, live music, piano bars, karaoke - you name it!

One of my favorite events to attend is Gallery Night, which takes place usually on the third Friday of the month. Palafox Street is closed off to pedestrian traffic only, and there are special vendors, happy hour specials, and live music - it's the perfect way to spend the evening! If you happen to be in town whenever this event takes place I highly recommend checking it out!

If you find yourself out in Perdido Key, there's also fun nightlife there. You've got to go grab a bushwacker and enjoy all the live music at the Flora Bama Lounge, Package, and Oyster Bar. There's live music to enjoy 365 days a year, and it's a must do when you're visiting the area.

On Pensacola Beach, there is typically live music at Bamboo Willie's and the Sandshaker. Be sure to check the schedules. Bands on the Beach is another great event to enjoy live music. This takes place on Tuesdays (weather permitting) from April - October and is right on the beach at the Gulfside Pavilion.

Arts & Culture

Pensacola is home to the big 5! In Downtown Pensacola, you experience the Pensacola Opera, the Pensacola Symphony Orchestra, Ballet Pensacola, the historic Saenger Theatre, and the accredited Pensacola Museum of Art.

There are also plenty of art galleries to explore, live music, and festivals. Pensacola isn't called the festival city of the south for nothing. Foo Foo Fest is always a fun experience and takes place every fall, and has four cornerstone events or "anchor events". These four are the Blue Angels Homecoming Show, the Frank Brown International Songwriters Festival, Pensacola Eggfest, and the Great Gulfcoast Arts Festival. In addition to those cornerstones taking place annually are other Friend of Foo events.

Food & Drink

No trip to Pensacola is complete without enjoying the delicious restaurants and cocktails of course. There are several options around town with good vibes, tasty food, and pretty views if you're looking for that.

In Downtown Pensacola, Union Public House is the perfect spot to grab a drink and food. It has a modern aesthetic and is a crafty Southern Pub sure to satisfy your hunger.

Jaco's Bayfront Bar and Grille is right on the bay and offers great sunset views paired with various dishes like seafood, flatbreads, and more. Angelena's is another delicious spot if you're looking for a nice Italian dining experience.

Looking to grab a drink? The Kennedy offers a fun atmosphere with the nostalgia of the 1960s and a modern twist. The Well is a Floridian cocktail bar that is the perfect spot for that Instagram post.

200 South is another spot with good vibes. With over 40 beers to choose from and delicious bar eats it makes for the perfect stop on your Downtown adventure. Further down Palafox is O'Riley's Irish Pub - a Pensacola staple and a great spot to enjoy the night with friends. They serve up Irish-inspired dishes and a few traditional American dishes - along with your beer and spirits, of course. Play is another fun bar with arcade game - they even have a private karaoke room you can rent out called Electric Serenade.

Pensacola Pub Crawls is a great place to start if you're wanting a little taste of it all! It's guided beverage tour and you can customize all the stops, sign me up!

If you're wanting a non alcoholic beverage, read our blog on the best mocktails around town.

Pensacola Beach is home to several fun spots for all your cravings. Flounder's is one of my personal favorites - between the delicious seafood options, views of the bay, beach volleyball, diesel fuel drinks, and frozen drinks, the overall atmosphere is unbeatable. Located across the way is Casino Beach Bar and Grille. Boasting views of the Gulf and Pensacola Beach Pier, grab a bite to eat and watch the sunset as you wind down from the day. Senor Frog's is another fun spot located right on the Pensacola Beach Boardwalk.

Don't forget to grab a drink at the Sneaky Tiki Bar. It's hidden behind Pensacola Beach RV Resort, but follow the path that leads you down to the water. Enjoy the view from one of their lounge chairs or hammocks, or boat up and float up if that's your vibe instead!

Perdido Key is home to the Flora-Bama, a Pensacola institution. Stop on over at the Flora-Bama Ole River Grill for a delicious bite to eat as you overlook the water. It's located directly across from the Flora-Bama and they offer a variety of seafood, steaks, po-boys, desserts and more. Mmm!

More tasty stops include Paul's Pizza (with delicious pizza and a daiquiri bar) and the Jellyfish Restaurant and Bar with a delicious seafood cuisine!

Get Moving

In Pensacola, there's plenty of ways to get out and get moving if you're wanting to get some working out in on your trip. Pensacola Beach Yoga offers classes weekly right on Casino Beach next to Pensacola Beach Pier. Be sure to check the schedule. If you're looking to explore Pensacola on wheels, check out Emerald Coast Tours and MEDUSA Electric Bike Rentals.

There you have it - your perfect guide to all the must sees, eats, drinks, and experiences for young adults. What are you waiting for?

Author

Hannah Pinson

Website Associate, Visit Pensacola

Hannah is the Website Associate at Visit Pensacola. She has lived in Pensacola for about seven years and grew up in the Florida panhandle. She loves going to the beach to catch a good sunset in her spare time. Hannah is passionate about all things digital and loves content creation as well as taking photos and videos. She also enjoys exploring all the things Downtown Pensacola has to offer. Whether it be grabbing a bite to eat or going for a sunset swim in the Gulf, Hannah is definitely a Pensa-local.

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