Dreamscapes Travel & Lifestyle

DREAMSCAPES WINTER/SPRING 2024 38 T here's something magical about Pensacola's beaches. There's this calming effect you experience when you step onto that sugar white sand. Here you can relax and just be yourself. No schedules. No commit- ments. Just soak up the sunshine, bask in the sound of the ocean and take in the beauty of miles of unspoiled, pristine beach. Discover the relaxed "Way to Beach." It is truly therapeutic. As the westernmost city in the Florida Panhandle, Pensacola is unique among beach destinations because it's a city with an old soul. Offering eclectic neighbourhoods and early colonial history dating back literally 464 years, it's worth digging beneath the sand to see all the different ways to experience beach activities in and around Pensacola. For starters, head to downtown Pensacola. This pedestrian-friendly coastal city is a vibrant destination great for shopping, dining and nightlife. The architecture and atmosphere reflect a multicultural community influenced over the centuries by the Spanish, French and English. In downtown every step you take is a walk through history. When it's time to dine, the Pensacola area shines. From beach bars to fine restaurants, there are plenty of opportunities to enjoy fresh seafood from the Gulf of Mexico. Before you order your meal or as a post-meal local favourite, you'll have an array of opportunities to try Pensacola's signature drink, the Bushwacker, a chocolatey frozen cocktail. For even more pampering, whether it's a serious serenity now moment from a deep- tissue massage and therapeutic wrap using algae jam and sea foam at one of the luxurious local spas; or it's savouring a delectable dish at an award-winning restaurant; or it's enjoying an easy breezy retail browse along the beaches and beyond—you'll certainly feel the city stresses melt away. From Pensacola Beach to Perdido Key, a Pensacola experience will get you into the relaxation groove and have you thinking, this is definitely the "Way to Beach." Travel Planner Plan your trip at Visitpensacola.com DS Did You Say Wellness Retreats? BY MADELAINE LAFRAMBOISE PHOTOS: VISIT PENSACOLA FIND THEM IN PENSACOLA

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