The westernmost city in Florida’s Panhandle, Pensacola is barely located within the Sunshine State—it’s hours from hotspots such as Disney World, South Beach, or the Florida Keys—but it’s a perfectly Floridian destination nonetheless. In fact, part of Pensacola’s appeal is the fact that it straddles the border of Alabama, part of Florida on paper, and yet is closer to the small Southern town of Mobile than any of the world-famous tourist attractions within its own state. Pensacola is a place where you can get away from it all, where the sand gleams as white as sugar and the water sparkles like emeralds. There are centuries of history, beaches galore, and lots of outdoor activities, so it’s especially beloved by families and couples. Explore the History of the Panhandle You might hear Pensacola referred to as “The City of Five Flags”: flags of the governments of Spain, France, the United Kingdom, …