Pensacola Beach prepares for influx of ‘Spring Breakers’

Fashions by Island Style Area residents should be on the lookout for bulldogs, eagles, elephants, gators, rebels, Seminoles and tigers during the month of March, and we’re not talking about the new Gulf Breeze Zoo.

Students from most major southern colleges and universities will be taking weeks off during March for their spring breaks, and many of them will choose (or wisely have chosen) Pensacola Beach as their destination for sun and fun.

For decades, Pensacola Beach has been a favorite destination for spring breakers who travel to the area from Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee and, of course, Florida. Students with not a care in the world and lots of cash in their pockets will bask in the sun at Pensacola Beach and spend their money in the many hotels, motels, restaurants and night clubs on western Santa Rosa Island.

Pensacola Beach and the Portofino Boardwalk will be crowded with college students seeking loud live music, cold beverages and a suntan.

Managers at businesses like Paddy O’Leary’s, The Sandshaker, Peg Leg Pete’s and Sidelines, to name a few, will enjoy a much-welcomed boost in business as visitors leave their inhibitions at home for several days in the Northwest Florida sun.

One of the highlights of Spring Break sure to interest college students is the annual St. Patrick’s Day Green Bikini Contest at Bamboo Willie’s. The big day is Wednesday, March 17, and some of the most beautiful women in the world will take the stage to be judged by the local experts.

For souvenirs, sunseekers of all ages will pour into the many retail shops along the coast. The beach also offers parasailing, jet-skis, go-karts, miniature golf and fishing.

Pensacola Beach serves as a great hub for other Spring Break destinations in the region, attractions on Okaloosa Island in Fort Walton Beach, and Destin. The National Seashore offers opportunities for exploring the historic forts and secluded beaches.

But the best thing to do is put the car keys away and make a week of it on Pensacola Beach, where most attractions are within easy walking distance of the beach. The Gulf waters still will be brisk (first trip into the water might take your breath away), but the sun promises to shine and bake the fair-skinned collegians who will pack this slice of paradise.

This article was taken from the March ‘10 issue of Splash! Magazine, which can currently be found at over 100 locations along the Northwest Florida Gulf Coast.

SPRING BREAK

Dates for major
southern universities:
March 6-14
Florida • Florida State
Memphis • Georgia
South Carolina
Tennessee •Troy
Vanderbilt
West Florida
March 12-21
Alabama • Auburn
Kentucky • Miss. State
Ole Miss
South Alabama
Southern Miss • UAB
March 22-26
Georgia Tech
April 3-11
LSU