One of the absolute highlights of our week in Panama City Beach was the thrilling opportunity to see the Blue Angels in action! We woke up bright and early and made the nearly three-hour drive to Naval Air Station Pensacola to catch one of their practice sessions.
We were fortunate to have great weather that morning. The Blue Angels wowed us with their signature aerobatic maneuvers, executed with stunning precision and split-second accuracy. For those unfamiliar, the Blue Angels are "the Navy's flight demonstration squadron of the United States Navy." You can read more about them on Wikipedia here.
After the airshow, we cooled off inside the Naval Aviation Museum, exploring its impressive collection of historical aircraft. The amazing Navy veteran Lieutenant Cash Barber, who celebrated his 100th birthday in May, was regaling visitors with stories of life in the navy and flying the amphibious aircraft, the "Catalina" during World War II. Truly inspiring.
We stopped at the Pensacola Light around the corner for a picnic. Just as we were finishing lunch, it started to rain. Alas, no visit to the lighthouse. Or the Gulf Islands National Seashore, much to our disappointment.
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| Entrance to Pensacola Light |
The next few days found us back in Panama City Beach, soaking up the sun and dipping our toes in the warm, clear waters of the Gulf. Thoughts of buying some gear to scoop up the blue crabs we spotted scuttling along the shore definitely crossed our minds — maybe next time!
We enjoyed the glorious sunsets. A perfect ending to our vacation.
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| sunset at Schooners Restaurant |
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| sunset at SpringHill Suites, near the PCB Pier |
Have you ever been to Pensacola or Panama City Beach, or seen the Blue Angels in action? We'd love to hear about your experience — share your stories or tips in the comments below!
