It already feels like spring in Perdido Key and the rest of the Pensacola Bay Area. Temperatures have been steady around 70 degrees, and rays of sunshine are gracing the sugar-white sand and emerald-green water that we all love. Days are filled with paddle boarding, kayaking, biking, surfing or simply watching the waves crash against the shore. I'd say spring fever is definitely settling in! And, after a day at the beach, there’s a plethora of fun things happening on the Key, Pensacola Beach and in downtown Pensacola. Whether celebrating Mardi Gras, socializing over wine and art or reconnecting on a Valentine’s Day getaway, there is something for everyone.

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For the first Gallery Night of the year, we thought it would be fun to give the sequel to a previous blog I wrote on how to plan your perfect Gallery Night. This plan, however, will show you how to plan your perfect Gallery Night in the historic Belmont-DeVilliers neighborhood.

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This Mardi Gras season, visitors and locals are invited to attend the newest parade in the Pensacola Bay Area – the Mardi Gras March Off. On Jan. 21, more than 30,000 people are expected to hit the streets of downtown Pensacola for not only an extremely competitive marching band contest, but also to break the Guinness World Record for largest line dance.

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Planning to visit Pensacola? Be sure to request (or download) a copy of our 2012 Visitor Guide, which is hot off the press!

From our beautiful sugar-white beaches to historical downtown and 100 years of naval aviation, there is lots to love in Pensacola. Learn about all there is to do, see and explore - from the Beach to the Key and everything else in between.

Start off the New Year planning your Pensacola vacation today. Request your complimentary guide by calling 1-800-874-1234 or click here for a digital copy.

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This March, five local chefs will be packing their pots, pans and a sample of local cuisine to show off not only their culinary skills, but the unique tastes of the Pensacola Bay Area as well. They will travel to the famous James Beard House in New York City to prepare a series of dishes that reflect everything the Florida's Gulf Coast has to offer. After astounding a sold-out crowd with exquisite Gulf seafood dishes last March, these chefs have a high standard to live up to. This year, the theme of their menu goes along with the celebration of Florida's 500 years of rich history, titled Viva Florida 500.

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Graceful and serene as they glide on the ice…NOT! The 3 Minute Adventures team hits the ice – in more ways than one – in this month’s episode, as they trade in the sugar-white beaches of Pensacola for the frigid-white ice rink at the Pensacola Civic Center. Join Mike, Shelley and a few friends as they celebrate 2012 and welcome our snowbird visitors with an ice skating and behind-the-scenes hockey adventure.

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Though many believe the season of celebrating is over once the New Year begins, for numerous revelers and krewes in Pensacola, the celebrating has just begun. Join the fun on Jan. 6, the twelfth day of Christmas, at 7 p.m., as Pensacola kicks off the Mardi Gras season with the Wind Creek Twelfth Night Mardi Gras Kick Off Celebration on the streets of downtown.

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As the winter weather reaches full force, many northerners begin to head South in search of warmer temperatures and lots of sunshine. In honor of these visitors we like to call snowbirds, the Pensacola Bay Area is hosting a series of special events throughout the season. Snowbirds are invited to get to know one another and experience Pensacola at social gatherings or "roosts" in Perdido Key, a free IMAX movie and tour at the National Naval Aviation Museum and even a free Mardi Gras themed party in downtown Pensacola.

The Pensacola Bay Area boasts average winter temperatures of 60 degrees, 341 days of sunshine, beautiful powder-sand beaches, delicious local cuisine, the big five in the arts and numerous special events, providing everything snowbirds are looking for in a great winter vacation. We hope you’ll join us for one of these spectacular snowbird events:

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As we enjoy the holiday season on the Gulf Coast, many of our family and friends are traveling to the Pensacola Bay Area to enjoy a holiday meal and celebrations. These gatherings can quickly grow in size and overwhelm the table, not to mention the cook. With the numerous fabulous restaurants in the Pensacola Bay Area, many families opt to dine out for family holiday gatherings.

If you’re still hunting for a restaurant that will be open on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day that can accommodate your gathering, then look no further! With a wide variety of cuisines and many options to choose from, you can enjoy your holiday get together and leave the cooking and cleaning to someone else. Below is a list of restaurants and their hours of operation for the holiday weekend:

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I don't know about you, but after 24 years of underwhelming New Year's Eve celebrations, I've sealed my fate as the world's worst procrastinator for planning an exciting and memorable New Year's Eve.

It's easy to get lost in the rigmarole of the holiday season, and from being knee-deep in turkey during Thanksgiving to frantic holiday shopping, New Year's Eve has always steadily creeped up on me until the day it arrives. Not surprisingly, this procrastination results in a lack of cool plans for New Year's Eve - unless you think watching the Time's Square Ball on TV with your parents is cool. This year, however, I've decided to make a momentous change. This year, I'm going to the downtown Pensacola Pelican Drop!

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