Pensacola Beach has been a favorite beach destination for generation after generation. Home to the protected Gulf Islands National Seashore, Pensacola Beach beaches have remained untouched through the centuries. Imagine a place where you can relax on the whitest, most pristine beaches you'll ever find. Indulge in delicious seafood from award-winning restaurants. Have fun with your family on the island or in the emerald waters of the Gulf of Mexico.

From fishing to diving, building sandcastles on the beach or just relaxing to a good book in your beach chair, just sit back and enjoy what Pensacola Beach has to offer.

The history of Pensacola Beach is fascinating. Francisco Maldonado, a lieutenant under Conquistador Hernando de Soto, visited the area during the early Spanish exploration of North America. He anchored in Pensacola Bay for the winter of 1539-1540. In 1559, Don Tristan de Luna y Arellano led the first settlement of the region. His 11 ships, with 1500 settlers, anchored in the bay and established its colony on the site of today's Naval Air Station Pensacola. A hurricane decimated the colony a few weeks later, killing hundreds and sinking 5 ships. Suffering long-term famine and fighting, this first settlement was finally abandoned in 1561. A presidio was constructed on Santa Rosa Island in 1722 near the location of the more recent Fort Pickens. Hurricanes in 1741 and 1752 forced its relocation to the mainland.