The Tourists - Sites, Sand & Sea Edition

Part 4, Days 5 & 6 - Florida panhandle

(links in orange/yellow)

We got up and going the next morning - stopped for breakfast before heading toward our eastern most destination - Destin, FL

We stopped at Fort Pickens 

We toured the fort, DD earned ANOTHER Jr. Ranger badge

We drove to Destin, made a stop at the Hard Rock Cafe

 Then off to the beach!

We went to Henderson Beach State Park  We had to pay a small entrance fee but the beach was VERY clean and not crowded. It was a nice state park.

The day we were there the red flag (high surf) and the purple flag (marine life warning) were both out so we didn't spend a lot of time in the water, but there was lots of playing in the sand!

(and there's nothing better than a nap while listening to the surf)

We had dinner and headed back to Pensacola for the night.

According to DD we stayed at the "fancy hotel" (Super 8) because it had a jacuzzi suite listed on the brochure.

It was a decent hotel - the room was very spacious and clean.

We had hotel breakfast the next morning (1st day of summer) and headed to the Naval Station to watch the Blue Angels practice and visit the Aviation Museum

We went to the Pensacola Lighthouse and DH, DD & I made it to the top (177 steps). DS decided the stairs were too much and he waited in a big window well with a few other people.

Looking up from the bottom of the staircase to the top

Views from the top of the lighthouse (I was glad I made the trek!):

Fort Barrancas is also on the base and we paid a visit to that too (I won't post MORE fort pictures)

We had lunch and took naps at the hotel.  We drove out to Pensacola Beach to play in the sand for a couple of hours (still had high surf)

 Dinner that night:  (DD is still asking if we have Whataburger here)