Looking for indoor things to do in Pensacola on a rainy day? Here's our guide
Enjoying the fleeting spring weather can be a tough prospect while dodging April showers.
Pensacola is known for its beautiful beaches, but what is there to do when your spring break is rained out? Plenty, as it turns out.
Here's an exhaustive list of things to do indoors in Pensacola when it's too hot or wet to enjoy the great outdoors.
Rock climbing in Pensacola
Rock climbing and Pensacola are two things that don't seem to fit well together. Unless you're looking to drive a few hours to a more topographically diverse area, you're kind of out of luck. But if you don't mind climbing on indoor walls, then there are a few places that might catch your interest.
Weatherford's Outback
Where: 3009 E. Cervantes St.
Located inside Weatherford's Pensacola, The Outback is a small facility that was built in 1992 and was actually the first of its kind in the Southeast. There are 10 routes on top ropes that include several overhangs and a chimney. The highest point reaches about 35 feet and there is a 55-foot overhang open to experienced climbers during slower times. Additionally, they've got a climbing tower available for lead climbing to practice multi-pitch climbing. It costs $20 for new climbers, $15 for children under 14 and gear can be rented for $15.
Weatherford’s wall is generally open seven days a week, from 3-9 p.m. Monday-Saturday and Noon-6 p.m. on Sundays. It’s a first come, first serve situation.
UWF Climbing Center
Where: 11000 University Parkway
The UWF Health, Leisure and Sports Facility has a 36-foot-high climbing wall that sports 1,500 square feet of climbing space. There are eight top ropes, a bouldering-only space and the center is open to all skill levels. Nautilus Card holders can get climbing gear at no additional cost. HLS members can sponsor two guests per visit, and guest passes can be purchased for just $8 a day. Community members who utilize climbing gear must pay a $5 gear rental fee. A shared Google Spreadsheet is also used to track climbers' progress.
Museums
Pensacola was established in 1559 by Don Tristan de Luna by Spanish settlers, making it America's first and oldest multi-year European colonial settlement. This makes Pensacola a hot bed of good museums.
Historic Pensacola Village
Where: 205 E. Zaragoza St.
The Historic Pensacola Village is an 8.5-acre area that has 28 historical properties located where the Spanish and British forts were originally located in downtown Pensacola. Here's a look at some of the more popular museums, but click here for a full list.
African-American Heritage Society
Where: 200 Church St.
The African-American Heritage Society aims to preserve, promote and integrate African-American history, heritage, culture and diversity in the Pensacola area. The organization puts on several events, but if you're looking for a way to check out what they have to offer on a regular basis, you can visit its retrospective exhibits at the historic Coulson House, located at 200 Church St.
The Pensacola Children's Museum features exhibits designed so parents and young children can learn and play through interactive spaces that include a colonial classroom, a Publix Super Markets exhibit, a kiddie corral and more.
Arcadia Mill Archaeological Site
Where: 5709 Mill Pond Lane, Milton
The Arcadia Mill Archaeological Site was the first and the biggest water-powered industrial complex in Northwest Florida during the 19th century. There are several facilities to check out, like the museum exhibit, which features 1,000 square feet, highlighting Arcadia's unique story by exploring its various historical and archaeological aspects. It also features a museum store, a treetop classroom, a free little library, interpretive signs for trees and plants and a 1.3-mile loop open from sunrise to sunset.
Pensacola Children's Museum
Where: 115 E. Zaragoza St.
The two-story Pensacola Children's Museum features lots of hands-on learning fun for kids. On the first story, kids can check out the Discovery Gallery, which features a miniature Historic Pensacola where kids can interact and play. It also features the Fort, the Post and a Spanish ship to explore. The second floor includes the colonial classroom, the Publix Super Markets Interactive Exhibit, a Land and Sea exhibit and a Kid's Clinic. The Pensacola Children's Museum shares admission with the Pensacola MESS Hall, giving visitors 50% off admission to the MESS Hall if they present a Pensacola Children's Museum and vice versa. Tickets are $12 for adults and $7 for kids. Discounts are available for AAA members, military and dependents, seniors ages 65 and older and UWF alumni. Kids under 3, members, UWF students and SNAP/EBT cardholders get in for free.
National Naval Aviation Museum
Where: 1750 Radford Blvd., Suite B, NAS Pensacola
The National Naval Aviation Museum is finally open again to the public. This national attractive features more than 4,000 artifacts and over 150 restored aircraft from the Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard. The free entrance lets you walk through each of the museum's attractions, but you can elevate your experience with Flight Simulators, the Giant Screen Digital Theater, the authentic Cubi Bar Cafe and The Flight Deck Store.
Pensacola Lighthouse
Where: 2081 Radford Blvd., NAS Pensacola
The Pensacola Lighthouse includes 177 of the most historic steps in Pensacola. Climbing to the top of the Pensacola Lighthouse, which was built in 1859, offers stunning views of Pensacola Pass, where Pensacola Bay meets the Gulf Coast, three historic forts, the Pensacola skyline and the historic Navy Yard. Plus, you can take a peak through the fully restored Keepers' Quarters, home to the Richard C. Callaway Museum. Admission is $9.50 for adults, $6.50 for kids 12 and under, seniors 65 and older and military members.
Quina House Museum
Where: 204 S. Alcaniz St.
The oldest building in Pensacola still in its original location, dating back to 1810, the Quina House Museum can be toured free of charge Tuesday through Saturday.
Pensacola Museum of History
Where: 330 S. Jefferson St.
The Pensacola Museum of History is the flagship museum located in the former Pensacola City Hall building that was constructed in 1907. It's a self-guided tour featuring general historical galleries with permanent and rotating exhibits.
Escape Rooms
You might have thought that the escape room trend is dead and buried, but the four locations in Pensacola alone beg to differ. Escape rooms are games you play with a group of friends. The goal of the game is to discover clues, solve puzzles, accomplish tasks and ultimately escape the room(s) your group is in — all within a time limit.
Here are the local rooms, but feel free to branch out as there are plenty in the surrounding area, too.
Escape on Palafox
Where: 28 1/2 Palafox Place
Pensacola's first escape room features three rooms: The Museum Robbery, It's all WIRED! and Haunted. Each room gives you 60 minutes to solve the puzzles and escape.
Escape Zone 60
Where: 4400 Bayou Blvd., Suite 38
Escape Zone 60 has several rooms scattered throughout the Gulf Coast. Pensacola has 3 areas: Crime Scene "The Bank," Pirate's Cave and Asylum.
Escape LOL
Where: 1757 N. Tate School Road
Escape LOL (standing for lots of locks, not laugh out loud) is another escape room located toward the north end of the county. It features a haunted mausoleum room and a prison escape room.
Exithis Pensacola
Where: 1207 Creighton Road
Exithis Pensacola is a larger escape room with three rooms to pick from. There’s the assassin’s lair, the temple ruins and the oval office.
Grizzly Axes
Where: 6300 N. Davis Highway
Looking for something new to try? How about axe throwing? Grizzly Axes is the area’s first axe throwing range and rage room. Yes, you read that right. It conjunction with being able to throw axes at a target, guests can also suit up and pick from a suite of rage packages that will let them destroy small, medium and large objects.
Lastly, let loose in one of the Messy Murals rooms. Anyone can play in the room and you’ll fling and sling paint to create your own artistic masterpiece.
Prices depend on what you’re looking to do. Axe throwing starts at $25 per person, rage room packages start at $30 and messy murals start at $30 per person.
Art classes/activities
Art runs pretty deep in Pensacola. One of the area’s best festivals is the Great Gulfcoast Arts Festival. So, it should be no surprise that there is ample opportunity to let your creativity flow. The best part is that you don’t actually need any observable talent to create something cool.
Trust me, you can do this.
First City Art Center
Where: 1060 N. Guillemard St.
First City Art Center is a nonprofit art center that offers a huge range of workshops, classes, studio space, gallery exhibits, youth camps and a ton of other opportunities. On tap now are drawing classes, yoga and art classes, glass blowing, clay sculpting, kilnforming glass, art labs and more.
Painting with a Twist
Where: 4771 Bayou Blvd., Suite 11
Step 1: Browse the selection of paintings available on the Painting with a Twist website.
Step 2: Secure your preferred beverage (alcoholic or non).
Step 3: Blow your mind with your innate artistic abilities.
Most people are probably familiar with the Painting with a Twist concept, but for the uninitiated, it’s a BYOB art class that teaches you how to paint a picture you’re absolutely sure you’re going to massacre. But, through camaraderie, laughs and some liquid courage, you can persevere. Classes start at around $40 and include all the necessary arts supplies.
Makers Loft
Where: 2400 W. Michigan Ave., Suite 19
Maker’s Loft is a workshop-style craft studio open to teaching kids and adults how to make tons of various crafts. You can book classes now to make barn quilts, use acrylic pour paint, create silhouettes, mosaic windows and more. Many of the projects would also make for great decoration for the home.
Color Me Mine
Where: 4771 Bayou Blvd., Suite 15
Color Me Mine Pensacola lets you choose ceramics to paint and bring home. You can choose from hundreds of ceramic shapes to paint and dozens of colors to paint with. Prices start at $8 with the studio fee and pottery items range in price from $12 to $60, with the average cost being around $25.
Galleries
Speaking of art running deep, check out some of Pensacola's many art galleries, most of which can be visited for free.
Quayside Art Gallery
Where: 17 E. Zaragossa St.
The Quayside Art Gallery is the largest co-op gallery in the Southeast, and it's open free to the public. On display, you'll find 3-D works in clay, glass, fiber, precious metals, woods and more; plus oil, watercolors, photography, inks and mixed media formats.
Blue Morning Gallery
Where: 21 S. Palafox Place
Blue Morning Gallery offers a collection featuring over 60 local artists, including many award-winning artists.
Artel Gallery
Where: 505 S. Adams St.
The Artel Gallery is a nonprofit gallery run by volunteers that was founded in 1993. It features several quality experimental and contemporary art exhibitions.
DIY art ideas
Open your web browser, type in “youtube.com” and search for “paint along” or any other artsy project you’ve been thinking about doing. Chances are, there is a fantastic video out there that will teach you, step-by-step, how to bring that idea to life. It’s a great thing to host at your own house and a bit cheaper than going out — all you need is the supplies, which you can grab with the help of a Michael’s coupon.
The Facebook "events" page is usually teeming with various art-based events. A secondary source is following your favorite brewery on social media. Oddly enough, there are fairly frequent workshops hosted at places like Odd Colony.
Waterboyz Skatepark
Where: 380 N. Ninth Ave.
Waterboyz Skatepark is a 5,000-square-foot indoor skate park that has air conditioning. You can get skate lessons or even enroll your kid into a summer skate camp. It doubles as a retail store and you can even grab a bite to eat at Café Single Fin, located inside the park.
Coastal Cat Cafe
Where: 1508 W. Garden St.
The Coastal Cat Cafe is one of the newest additions to this list and it's exactly what you think it is − a cat cafe right here in Pensacola. Come out and enjoy good vibes with great cats. Coastal Cat Cafe features a drink menu including coffee, tea and Big Jerk Soda, plus some quick snacks like hummus and crackers, seasonal sweet bread, muffins and more. You can grab your choice of snacks and hang out with several rescued cats. Coastal Cat Cafe partners with local cat rescues, providing its feline friends with a temporary home until they can find a more permanent one.
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Things to do in Pensacola on a rainy day: Museums, restaurants, more
