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Pensacola, Family & Florida Sunshine
Our first visit to see Emily in Pensacola — full of family, food, beaches, baseball, and Florida sunshine.
✈ Blue Angels practice attempt
🗼 Pensacola Lighthouse & Maritime Museum
🏖 NAS Pensacola beach time
🍤 Seafood at Crabs in Gulf Breeze
⛳ Mini golf and Final Four basketball
❤️ A week of memories with Emily
The hum of the tires on the asphalt marked the beginning of our adventure.
On a Tuesday afternoon, Christie and I pointed the truck south and headed toward Auburn. The familiar roads felt like the opening chapter of a trip we had been looking forward to for weeks. Before making our way to Pensacola, we had one important stop to make — seeing Emily.
That evening, we met up with Sawyer and headed to Plainsman Park to watch Auburn take on UAB. The crack of the bat, the roar of the crowd, and the atmosphere of an Auburn baseball game made for the perfect start to our trip. After the game, we settled into our hotel, excited for what the rest of the week would bring.
Chasing the Blue Angels
Wednesday started early.
Really early.
By 6:00 a.m., we were on the road toward Pensacola with one goal in mind: watching the Blue Angels practice.
Everything went smoothly until we reached Blue Angel Parkway. What should have been a short drive turned into an hour-and-a-half crawl through traffic. As it turned out, we were not the only people with plans to watch America's most famous flight demonstration team.
Eventually, we made it onto NAS Pensacola and parked at the National Naval Aviation Museum. Excitement filled the air as people made their way toward the viewing area.
Then came the announcement.
Low clouds and gusty winds had grounded the practice.
Fortunately, it did not last long.
As we walked back to the truck, my phone reminded us that we were meeting Emily for lunch at Chick-fil-A. One look at her smiling face erased any frustration we had about the canceled show.
After lunch, Emily helped us get our base passes, and we spent the afternoon exploring her world. She took us to the Pensacola Lighthouse & Maritime Museum, showed us the nearby beach, and gave us a tour around NAS Pensacola.
It was our first glimpse into the place she now calls home.
Seafood, Sunsets & Schnitzel
That evening, we crossed over to Gulf Breeze for dinner at Crabs.
The seafood was outstanding.
I ordered the Crab and Shrimp Linguine Alfredo while Christie and Emily both enjoyed the Crab and Shrimp Tacos. We started with calamari, and the appetizer alone could have fed a small family.
The next day brought another favorite: Sonny's BBQ.
Years ago, Sonny's locations were scattered around metro Atlanta, but most have disappeared. Sitting down to a tray of barbecue brought back memories of years gone by.
Later that afternoon, Christie and I spent time on the base beach.
I also learned an important lesson.
Florida sunshine does not care if it is cloudy.
Despite the overcast skies and cool breeze, I managed to earn myself a healthy sunburn that lasted for days.
That evening, we headed downtown to Bavaria Pensacola, where I enjoyed one of the best schnitzel dinners I have had in a long time.
Local Favorites
Friday gave us more time with Emily.
For lunch, she introduced us to Captain Joey Patti's, a local Pensacola favorite that immediately earned a spot on our own list of recommendations. Christie and I love finding places that feel like hidden gems, and this one certainly fit the bill.
That evening, we watched The Chosen: The Last Supper, followed by a late-night stop at Rock N Roll Sushi.
Between seafood, barbecue, German food, and sushi, I am pretty sure we covered every major food group in Pensacola.
Mini Golf & Final Four Basketball
Saturday began with brunch at First Watch in Gulf Breeze.
Emily's boyfriend had recommended it, and he was absolutely right. Everything was fresh, flavorful, and worth the visit.
After brunch, we headed out for a round of mini golf.
After a hard-fought battle that surely involved skill and not luck whatsoever, I emerged victorious by exactly one point.
One point.
I am not saying I am a mini-golf champion, but the scorecard does not lie.
The rest of the afternoon was spent gathering ingredients for a homemade salad dinner back at our suite. Emily had been craving a home-cooked meal, and Christie delivered.
That evening, we watched Auburn play in the Final Four. The Tigers came up short, but sharing the game together made the outcome a little easier to accept.
Having Emily stay the night was the real win.
Heading Home
Sunday morning arrived too quickly.
As always, packing up and saying goodbye to Emily was the hardest part of the trip.
The drive back to Heflin gave us plenty of time to reflect on the week — the excitement of chasing the Blue Angels, the beaches, the restaurants, the laughs, and simply spending time together.
What started as a trip to visit our daughter became something much more.
It became a collection of memories.
The kind you will find yourself smiling about months later.
Our first Pensacola trip was filled with family, food, Florida sunshine, and a reminder that the best adventures are often the ones spent with the people you love.
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