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Pensacola,
while still considered a resort town, has grown to fulfill the demands of
an economically diverse population. You may be the next Bob Villa looking
for a "fixer-upper" in a nice neighborhood for less than $40,000 to fit
your budget. Or you may have money to spare for that palatial beach house
with an ocean view. Whether you are an empty nester moving on to that
condo on the ocean after decades spent in a child-friendly neighborhood
close to school or you are a young family looking for safety and security
when purchasing your first home, Pensacola neighborhoods have a little something
for everyone.
Gulf
Breeze, being a relatively young city, has only recently seen the wave
of tourism and residential boom that its neighboring towns have enjoyed
for many years. With its numerous coves, densely wooded areas and
mossy oaks defining the peninsula, Gulf Breeze holds onto its natural
state with pride. Farther east along Highway 98 subdivisions charm their
residents with man-made canals, small inlets and shady lanes. Much
of Santa Rosa County is small towns and rural communities situated along
the bays and bayous with a network of pristine freshwater rivers preserved
by the Blackwater State Park.
Residents
and visitors alike are drawn to Perdido Key by the solitude of the area
rather than commercial appeal with only a handful of restaurants and few
hotels. Condos dot this barrier island that tends to be quieter than Pensacola
beach due to its more remote location. Roughly 15 miles west of Pensacola,
public areas are confined to the preserved areas of the Gulf Islands National
Seashore on the island’s eastern tip or the Perdido Key Recreation Area
in the heart of the key itself.
Pensacola
Beach is located about 8 miles from downtown Pensacola over the Pensacola
Bay Bridge and accessible through the city of Gulf Breeze. This area of
Santa Rosa Island is commercial as well as residential. If you are one
of those whose family vacationed on the beach years ago, you may be astonished
by the transition from the funky, beachcomber’s paradise to an upscale
oceanside resort. After Hurricanes Erin and Opal in 1995, many of
the quaint cinder block cottages had to be rebuilt. Now, colorful multi-story
homes on 15-foot stilts increase the cost and value of the neighborhoods.
The older, small beach houses still remain among the new public areas,
landscaping and hotels but Pensacola Beach looks better than ever.
Northwest
Florida summers come early and stay late, bringing the characteristic
heat, humidity and warm waters to the Gulf of Mexico. The shortened spring
and fall seasons are blessed with mild temperatures in the 70’s and 80’s,
which make the flurry of outdoor festivals more enjoyable on the sun-filled
afternoons and cool evenings.
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