If the beauty of a natural coastal habitat appeals to you, then you'll love the Pensacola area. A 40-foot tower at Big Lagoon park provides a terrific view of marshlands, dunes, birds and animals. With open canopy forests accented by diverse flora and fauna in and around it, the river attracts canoe aficionados and environmentalists. Naturally, with water everywhere, water sports enthrall many local enthusiasts. Windsurfing and jet skiing attract some, while the USS Massachusetts beckons divers to its underwater archeological preserve.
Laminated maps assist divers on self-guided explorations of the ship.
Others prefer more sedentary activities like fishing from the Bob Sikes Fishing Bridge over Santa Rosa Sound. Miles of seashore await walkers. So do The Bluffs, with scenic walkways and spectacular views of Escambia Bay. Serious hikers enjoy the numerous nature trails in the Naval Live Oaks area of the national seashore on the east side of Gulf Breeze. Florida boasts more golf courses than any other state, including a dozen or so in the Pensacola area.