Pensacola Double Bridge Run February 5th

By Kristin Destin, ResortQuest Northwest Florida
 
Get ready for a fun run with some of the most amazing views in Northwest Florida.  Pensacola’s Double Bridge Run will take place on February 5th.  There are two events for the run: a 15K beginning at 7:00am and a 5K at 8:00am.  Join over 3,000 participants as you cross over the Pensacola Bay and Santa Rosa Sound.
 
The 15K will start downtown in front of Plaza de Luna (900 S. Palafox St., Pensacola, FL), deep in the historic district of Pensacola, at 7:00am.  The race route takes you north on Palafox Street, east on Garden Street, south on Alcaniz Street through downtown, then east on Bayfront Parkway, across Pensacola Bay Bridge to Gulf Breeze, and a final turn to Bob Sikes Bridge taking you into Pensacola Beach.  The 9.3 mile USATF certified course does have a minimum pace requirement; you are required to keep within a 14-minute mile, which keeps a fierce competition.  A fresh addition to the 2011 run is that the 15K will have a corral start. There is a cap of 2,500 runners for this category.  The 5K run/walk begins in Gulf Breeze at the Gulf Breeze Schools (649 Gulf Breeze Pkwy., Gulf Breeze, FL) onto Bob Sikes Bridge, entering Pensacola Beach.  There is a max of 1,200 runners and 300 walkers in this event.
 
In the 15K division, there are awards for the first three overall finishers for men and women: $1,250 for 1st place, $500 for 2nd place, and $250 for 3rd place.  There will also be awards for the top three masters, grand masters, and senior grand masters.  Prizes for the 5K go five deep to men and women in 0-39 or 40+ age divisions. 

You can register for the Double Bridge Run online at www.active.com until February 1st with a registration fee of $35.  If you miss this deadline, they are holding a Race Expo at the Pensacola Beach Hilton on February 3rd and 4th.  There will be no race-day registration, so be sure to register now!  If you are looking for accommodations for the event, check out our beautiful properties in Perdido Key and Pensacola Beach.           

Emerald Coast Winter Activities, Part II – Pensacola & Perdido Key Area

By Kristin Destin, ResortQuest Northwest Florida

In my last installment of cold weather activities along the Emerald Coast, I talked about the Destin area. This week we’ll be traveling west to Pensacola, which is within easy reach of both our Perdido Key and Pensacola Beach vacation rentals.

A night out at the movies is always good fun, but this year, bring your family to a different kind of theater. Pensacola has two wonderful live theatres to choose from:

· Saenger Theatre, 118 South Palafox Street, Pensacola, FL 32502, (850) 595-3880 – The Saenger is offering some amazing performances during this winter season, including two concerts by the Pensacola Symphony Orchestra, a musical based on The Color Purple, and an operatic adaptation of Little Women.

· Pensacola Little Theatre, 400 South Jefferson Street, Pensacola, FL 32502, (850) 432-2042 – This “Little” theater is featuring two plays, The Lamentable and True Tragedie of M. Arden, and Clarence Darrow. The musical review, Side by Side by Sondheim, will be presented in late January and early February.

Pensacola was the site of one of the first European-inhabited settlements in what would later become the United States of America, so naturally the area is rich in history. As a result, there are many intriguing museums providing fascinating experiences:

· Naval Aviation Museum, 1750 Radford Boulevard, Naval Air Station Pensacola, FL 32508, (850) 452-3604 – This museum is located within the Naval Air Station Pensacola and has a multitude of aircraft on display, many military exhibits, and an IMAX theater with various movies available. Admission to the museum is FREE.

· T.T. Wentworth, Jr. Florida State Museum, 330 South Jefferson Street, Pensacola, FL 32502, (850) 595-5990 – The museum is part of Historic Pensacola Village which brings to life the historic homes and buildings within downtown Pensacola, featuring guided tours and a hands-on children’s exhibit.

· Pensacola Museum of Art, 407 South Jefferson Street, Pensacola, FL 32502, (850) 432-6247 – Enjoy fine art as you browse the museum’s collections and exhibits including artists such as Alex Katz, Andy Warhol, Alexander Calder, Pablo Picasso, and many, many more.

In addition to live theatre and museums, there are many other activities in Perdido Key and Pensacola to keep one entertained during the winter months. Come visit and experience the “cool” side of Northwest Florida!