quote:

the battleship park in Mobile.

^^^^^^^^^^^
It will be really hot and lots of climbing narrow stairs. I reallly enjoyed it several years ago but it was December.

I regards to Sigmunds post above : if you have a firearm that is found in a search at the gate it will be confiscated and you will be arrested. Confirmed during a discussion with a guard at the gate.
As for Joe Patti’s; I stop there every time I go to Barrancas cemetery to my folks grave. I’ll drop several hundred dollars. The the wife freezes and vacuum seals and freezes most of it.

quote:

Originally posted by BOATTRASH1:
I regards to Sigmunds post above : if you have a firearm that is found in a search at the gate it will be confiscated and you will be arrested. Confirmed during a discussion with a guard at the gate.

We stopped at Jim's Firearms & used their locker svc prior to entering the base.
Was surprised how simple of a check the gate guard gave us.
Jim's Firearms staff, 5 stars, great staff there, very friendly & know their stuff regarding what to leave with them prior to entering the base.

NAS Pensacola Aviation Museum, fantastic. I could easily spend a whole day taking my time through there.
A little chaotic with 5 kids in tow, but they all had a great time. We got there a bit before noon & it wasn't crowded [guy at the entrance said the next 2 days would be packed with the Blue Angels practice runs]. We left about a half hour before closing.
Ate at the Cubi Cafe in the Museum. Decently priced & good food.
All in, Jim's storage fee & lunch, I think we were out about $70. Not bad for feeding 5 & seeing all the Museum.

Hoping the BA beach run flies far enough south one of the next 2 days, we've been going midway between Pensacola & Navarre beaches, a bit east of the Portofino towers [Pensacola Beach Park East, per Google Maps].

I'm late for the OP, but maybe someone else will benefit.

I ride my bike down to Pensacola at least once a year. I used to camp just down from Ft Pickens until I got old enough that I had to admit that sleeping on the ground hurts. Now I usually stay at the Holiday Inn Express just down from the entrance to the National Park.

Ft Pickens is awesome if you have any interest in old forts. I love to wander around and take photos of it. Even if the fort itself isn't of interest, I highly recommend anyone in the area pay the paltry fee to enter the park. Even on days where Pensacola Beach itself is crowded, you can almost always wander around the nearly deserted and quite lovely beaches on the park. Plus there is the added cool factor of finding old gun emplacements and watchtowers. It's a neat place.

Last time I was there I discovered Peg Leg Pete's, which is near the park on the far western bit of Pensacola Beach. It has the usual large tourist restaurant bit (although the food is a bit better than the average tourist trap) but if anyone should find themselves without kids I highly recommend stopping in and going to the old original bar. By my second beer they were treating me like a regular that had been coming in every night for years. Cold beer, good oysters, and bartenders who strike the perfect balance of making you feel welcome without being intrusive. I absolutely love the joint.

Of the restaurants on the beach itself, Flounders is pretty good (and owned by the same folks who own Crabs and McGuires).

The Naval Aviation Museaum is a must for anyone with any interest in the subject at all but be sure to read the rules before you visit. They used to be pretty lenient with civilians, but after the shooting they closed the base entirely for several years and I'm not sure the Marines at the gate are entirely thrilled that they have opened it back up. They were very polite when I was there last, but they were also very much about their business. Their house, their rules. Don't bring a weapon and if you are on a bike they expect helmet, long sleeves, and gloves. The days of the guard locking your pistol in the guard house while you visit are long over.

Once on base follow all traffic signs and don't wander. Go to the museum (and the lighthouse, it's cool) and then back out the gate you came in on. The aircraft on display are awesome and the museum staff are very knowledgeable. Just remember you are on an active military base and be respectful of that and everyone will have a good time.

I remember the first time I rode my bike down there and got stuck on that long bridge. Unbeknownst to me, the Blue Angels were in town and putting on a show. I walked my bike up that bridge and then down the other side (down was way more unpleasant). My clutch hand was cramped and my legs were cooked from that air cooled engine by the time I finally got off the bridge and moving again. Good times. Happily since they went to a automatic toll system the lines don't back up like that anymore.

And now that it's on my mind, I guess I'll take a couple days off next month and ride down...

I live in Santa Rosa county just over the border and work downtown pcola. There’s another Skys with better parking on woodbine road. 1st left over the causeway out to Pensacola. The owners happen to be neighbors.

Don’t miss the Naval Air museum.

If you have a place to cook fresh seafood then Joe Patti’s has good raw fish /shrimp. I don’t think they sell anything cooked there.

Depends on your budget Hub Stacy’s, Lucy’s, near the historic village good Pearl & horn further downtown is good along the water, nicks boathouse, the oar house also decent. George is really good. Anything on the beach is going to be over priced the rents are obscene and food prices reflect it. Cafe Nola a block west of mcguires is good. Seating is a nightmare and they take pride in being slow but Bonelli’s Italian is top notch. Try to get a reservation. V.Paul’s downtown is very good as well. There’s a Thai place on 9th that is good and a tiny Thai place in gulf breeze on the right as soon as you cross the bridge into GB from pcola.

Also most places not on the beach or downtown if you’re not seated by 8 you’re out of luck. Town closes up pretty early

If you want to open the wallet, Jackson’s, The District, Angelina’s. all white tablecloth and very good.

Saw it mentioned Tops is good burgers. On Cervantes. Also near 9th and Cervantes is a BBQ place very good

If you run out of luck you can always hit waffle house 24 hours.

Have fun and don’t worry about the rain every day at 3 it clears up within an hour or so.


Also. Kyle has moved on from Gulf coast guns I saw him int here the other day before he left. Didn’t mention where he was headed.

quote:

Originally posted by ElToro:
I live in Santa Rosa county just over the border and work downtown pcola. There’s another Skys with better parking on woodbine road. 1st left over the causeway out to Pensacola. The owners happen to be neighbors.

Don’t miss the Naval Air museum.

If you have a place to cook fresh seafood then Joe Patti’s has good raw fish /shrimp. I don’t think they sell anything cooked there.

Depends on your budget Hub Stacy’s, Lucy’s, near the historic village good Pearl & horn further downtown is good along the water, nicks boathouse, the oar house also decent. George is really good. Anything on the beach is going to be over priced the rents are obscene and food prices reflect it. Cafe Nola a block west of mcguires is good. Seating is a nightmare and they take pride in being slow but Bonelli’s Italian is top notch. Try to get a reservation. V.Paul’s downtown is very good as well. There’s a Thai place on 9th that is good and a tiny Thai place in gulf breeze on the right as soon as you cross the bridge into GB from pcola.

Also most places not on the beach or downtown if you’re not seated by 8 you’re out of luck. Town closes up pretty early

If you want to open the wallet, Jackson’s, The District, Angelina’s. all white tablecloth and very good.

Saw it mentioned Tops is good burgers. On Cervantes. Also near 9th and Cervantes is a BBQ place very good

If you run out of luck you can always hit waffle house 24 hours.

Have fun and don’t worry about the rain every day at 3 it clears up within an hour or so.


Also. Kyle has moved on from Gulf coast guns I saw him int here the other day before he left. Didn’t mention where he was headed.

And yet not one mention of the Doughnut Hole.

Shame shame shame !

I like water pig bbq. It's got a decent menu.

Red fish, blue fish was good but the wait took forever.

Donut hole in Pensacola ? I think That’s in Destin.

Lickin good is where I get mine. But don’t eat donuts very often

Parlor doughnuts is on the menu for tomorrow.
We found them in Ft Walton & it's a must stop every time we're here.

They also opened one in Houston last year

I went through there in Jan '86 and remember a place called the All New (back then anyways) Matador Club. Right on one edge of Eglin AFB.

If it's still there, I don't recommend it.

quote:

Originally posted by 83v45magna:
I went through there in Jan '86 and remember a place called the All New (back then anyways) Matador Club. Right on one edge of Eglin AFB.

If it's still there, I don't recommend it.

Ha Ha Ha Ha1 The good old Matador1 Got roped into going there once around 1977. Never again.

I’ve heard Johnson’s Beach is great to visit, if on that side. It’s on my to-do list.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/zdCaTN...le.maps.preview.copy


If over there, may as well stop at the Flora-Bama.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/qzQMUr...le.maps.preview.copy

I'll echo the suggestion...

Battleship park is great, you can go just about anywhere on the Alabama, and there are plenty more things to see. Tanks, planes, USS Drum, the kids should have a blast.

Lots of stairs to climb and low clearance!



Had a great time walking around the Alabama, dang thing smells like fuel oil everywhere.