3/27/2025: This was my favorite part of the historical tour downtown. This piece is a guided tour…read more Aiden was very detailed and had a full knowledge of the history of Pensacola. We started in a home built in 1805, then went to the oldest church in Florida built in 1832, then saw 2 additional homes. One was from 1871 and the other from 1890. I don't want to give too much away in my review, so the best thing I can suggest is to not miss this part! When Aiden detailed the past for us, he used words as current descriptions and like he was the one who was performing the daily tasks. It was a nice touch. To see how people lived long ago is amazing. When you walk into the area of the first home, you'll see a woman tending the garden, a man wood working, a woman playing the flute, and another woman playing the violin. It was like a little play. I've been vacationing in Pensacola since 1975 when I was 2 months old. I love the beach but this is the first time I saw the history it holds. Very impressed. The guided tour takes about an hour. You can only see these homes and the church by purchasing a ticket for the tour. It's a bundle ticket that also gets you into the self guided museums. $12 for adults. Highly recommend!

The most adorable street here in The City of 5 Flags, Adams St, sits Pensacola's gorgeous little…read moreHistoric Village. Anchored by the tall white steeple of the old Christ Church, also known as "Christ Church" which was built in 1832. It's one of the oldest surviving church buildings in Florida & has the cutest little cottage on the planet right behind it. Services/events are still held there & you can actually rent the Church & cottage for weddings/events. Historically, in 1822 Pensacola had just recently been acquired by the United States and with this acquisition, came a surge of missionaries. In 1828, Father Ralph Williston arrived in Pensacola & with some of the town's Protestants supporting him, Williston acquired a charter & the property to build Christ Church. It is Gothic revival, absolutely gorgeous, has a long torrid history that is worth a read & is def a must visit. Also the best preserved example of post Civil War Classical Revival architecture in the Pensacola Historic District is the Yellow "Dorr House" built by Clara Barkley Dorr in 1871 for her & her five children. Her sister in law, "Clara Dorr Moreno" was named after her, as she was part of the Moreno family that lived across the street. The Moreno 'shotgun' cottage that stands there today was built by Don Francisco Moreno for his daughter LaPearle, one of the youngest of his 27 chidren by three wives. The house was a gift for LaPearle on the eve of her marriage to Octavius Smith. It contained no kitchen, as the newlyweds took their meals in the main Moreno home which once stood on the very same lot. A great deal of Pensacola's heritage began with the Spanish Moreno men who rebuilt the Spanish population here in Pensacola, following the British departure of 1781. Local Legendary Spaniard "Don Francisco Moreno" is rumored to have been Pensacola's wealthiest man. Some reports suggest that "the Don" became the community's primary banker. True to Spanish Pirate style, strictly dealing in gold, that he hid under his bed, or maybe, somewhere X? That is the "Key" question. There is also the local Legendary Pirate stories of "Billy Bowlegs" who preyed & pillaged booty from the Spanish Conquistadors who shipped through the Gulf of Mexico here, until 1838. Bowlegs is said to have stored hundreds of thousands worth of silver & gold booty on his personal schooner. Eventually rumored, to have hid his vast Pirate treasure of gold & silver on a sandy island off the northern Gulf Coast. and/or on "Perdido Key." AKA The "lost KEY." As I have wrote about this before, Pensacola has recently been discovered, to be the VERY FIRST established city in modern America. The City of 5 flags, historical era, begins with the arrival of the Spanish Conquistadors who sailed into the bay in the 15th century. Six years BEFORE Spanish Conquistadors explorers arrived in St Augustine, Florida, in 1565. In 1559 Tristan de Luna & his mateys established the very first settlement at Pensacola Bay, the first multi-year European settlement, in what is now the continental United States of America. Abandoned for many years, in the late 17th century, the Spanish Conquistadors returned to find a more developed Pensacola, they battened down the hatches to hornswoggling an outpost, from which to defend their claims to Spanish Florida. Pensacola's idyllic, strategic but isolated "KEY" position, combined with the continued European rivalries playing out their "wars" in North America, lead to Pensacola changing hands among the Western powers a number of times. At these different times over the years, it was held by the British, the Spanish, the French, the United States & the Confederate States of America. Hence, the city of 5 flags. The Historic Village of Pensacola, AKA Pirate'cola, is def full of intriguing history. It's nine acres located exactly, in the original Spanish & British forts, in downtown Pensacola. I highly recommend you purchase a "One Ticket, Seven Days to Explore" ticket that enables you to leisurely visit all of the museums, participate in self-guided tours of all the historic homes. And you can even interact with period-dressed living history interpreters at some of the buildings. What I find most fascinating about Historic Pensacola Village is; every door, from the Dorr house to the Moreno Cottage to the 1810 Watson house, the street flags, even the entrance sign, has a giant symbol of a "Key." Perhaps it's just a symbol, a symbol of a "lost key." Or maybe, it's a reminder of a "key" to a Spanish Pirate treasure lost, lost here on the Gulf of Mexico. Lost on "Perdido Key." Highest Recommendations

What a beautiful and amazing place to visit. Being a tropical plant person this was worth the trip…read more I believe it's about a 3 mile walk through the gardens but it's easy. All the paths are beautiful. Didn't tour the house but next time. This is a must visit if you're into gardens and plants. Have to see the lights as well another time in the evening.

We were in the Mobile area and decided to visit this expansive estate. Azaleas and camellia were…read morethe primary bloomers in mid-March, but there were other things to see in the gardens. Bellingrath is not among the gardens giving reciprocal admissions. After we paid, we were given a map and a brief explanation. Many of the garden paths are shady, while others are wide open. There are areas where there are lots of mosquitoes. Sunscreen and bug repellant are recommended for your visit. We enjoyed the water features, bridges, and the beautiful reflections. The so-called Asian-American garden near the end of the tour had some interesting hardscape but wasn't well maintained. The greenhouses were definitely worth a visit. There were lots of plants for sale during our visit. We didn't visit the Bellingrath Home Museum, which had an extra charge. All in all, we got some exercise and saw beautiful scenery during our visit. I'm guessing the gardens will be much nicer beginning in May. Hopefully the roses will be blooming by then.

A family home built in 1882 by a local fisherman on the Bon Secour river. A beautiful estate well…read morekept throughout the years. Offering tours for $5 or come in to look around. Now available as a wedding venue as well. With various rooms being used as a Bridal and Groom suite. A large outdoor backyard with a pavilion in construction. This place is gorgeous, offering a glimpse at old life in the south. Improvements are constantly being made to keep the legacy of the Swift-Cole family living on.

Swift-Coles Historic Home, in Bon Secour, AL, initial construction was in1882, is a 6000 sq ft…read morestunning old home with 3500 sq ft of porches with swings and fans, love it. It's filled with beautiful period antiques, some which are familiar to me from my granny's home, that immediately transported me back my childhood. The grounds are beautiful with large Magnolia trees and 120 yr old Live Oak trees with Spanish moss everywhere and there's Azaleas, Hydrangeas and a variety of other plants and shrubs. The grounds all around are meticulously maintained giving the property vibrant look and appeal. Originally it was the home of Charles and Susan Swift and their 11 children, it was purchased in 1976 by Nik Coles. Before his death in 2007, he bequeathed the home to the Baldwin County Historic Development Commission. In 2009 the home was opened to the public and is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. A debt of gratitude is owed to Mr. Nik Coles for his contributions in saving one of the most colorful and outstanding examples of the turn of the century Gulf Coast architecture in our community. The Swift-Coles Historic Home is now open to the public for summer tours. The guided tours leads visitors through the 16 room historic tidewater mansion and grounds to experience how life along the Bon Secour River would have been nearly 100 years ago. There's lots of legends and lore about this place being haunted, many about the deceased displeasure with the renovations. I have been here several times and the last was recently with #1 son and my neighbor Claudine for a late night paranormal investigation with Panhandle Paranormal Group. It indeed was very cool! For more information about tours and current events call (251) 949-5550 or visit their Facebook page at: https://facebook.com/Swift-Coles-Historic-Home-544364585730248/ Bottom line: A lovely piece of history, it's not Mount Vernon but it's lovely.

We took this tour last night at last minute. Roxanne was very nice and helpful. We were only 2 on…read moretour. Roxanne personalized the tour for us.lots of great history amazing fun facts. I've lived here 10 years and realized I didn't know much about this place. Roxanne even walked us to the restaurant we ate at. I would recommend this tour for any transplants to the area.

From the owner: Walk the streets of Downtown Ft Walton Beach and step into a thousand years of history. Indian…read morevillages,Spanish gold.... Pirate tales saltier than the Emerald Gulf they sailed upon...Pioneer cattlemen, Rebs and Yanks struggle to carve out a better life... Gangsters and Land developers lure Mid Westerners to a sugary- sand paradise. ..USAF bases , Crab Island and how we became the Redneck Riviera. Travel through the years hear the hi-lights and low-lights of each period. With the sounds and sights of Downtown Fort Walton, Florida as your backdrop.

We went here years ago on a family vacation. We enjoyed touring the fort. We did so independently…read moreand found there was a lot to see! It was a very immersive and interesting experience.

There are so many amazing things that happen when we are here…read more We love to bring our dog Gus. It is peaceful and serene with a quiet reverence about it. There is beauty and nature mingled with strategic forts that protected our country. On this particular visit, a bald eagle flew very close to the car and my open window. Seems the Eagle may have been a bit of a scamp and ticked off a seagull that was chasing him as we were slowly cruising by the wall. Super cool day, all the way around!

Ashley -- our ghost tour guide for Halloween was absolutely fantastic! We loved it! This IS a Must…read moredo- to go on a Foley Walking Tour! We can't wait to do the time travel tour next !!!

From the owner: Foley Walking Tours offers immersive, family-friendly walking tours in the heart of downtown Foley,…read moreAlabama. Led by a costumed guide and enhanced with themed music, our tours bring local history, ghost stories, and folklore to life! Choose between our engaging Time Traveler Tour, where you’ll explore Foley’s historic landmarks, or our spine-tingling Haunted History Tour, featuring eerie tales and ghostly legends. We also offer a unique, self-guided PDF Pirate Treasure Hunt, perfect for families and adventurers of all ages. As a woman-owned small business, Foley Walking Tours is passionate about storytelling, community, and creating unforgettable experiences. Whether you're visiting the Gulf Coast, staying in Gulf Shores, or a local looking for something new, our tours are a must-do activity in Foley! Book your adventure today and discover why we’re one of the top-rated things to do in Foley, AL!

Drove past the location and decided to try it out on a whim - so glad we did! This is definitely a…read moremust-do activity, and they are extremely thorough in the safety briefing and explanations that we felt perfectly safe. Joe, our pilot, was super friendly and provided a lot of interesting information about the sites we flew over. Really could not have asked for a better experience, and the price was definitely fair! The views of the beaches were gorgeous and amazing to see from a different perspective. Would absolutely come again to do another tour next time!

Found this place through TripAdvisor and we couldn't have been happier. I was nervous at first…read morebecause i haven't ever been in a helicopter but the Captain made it a truly great experience. He was very personable and easy to talk with. We did the Shark Tour and he didn't disappoint. I will def be recommending this to anyone i know heading to Pensacola!!!

1 hour was the perfect amount for our group. The tour guide, Nic loves Pensacola and it shows in…read morethe stories he tells about the area. We were all beginners and he helped give us clear instructions and time to practice before we head out - We were ages 43-78 and had no problems.

Our family had a great time on the 2 hour segway tour. Lots to see and the segways were so much…read morefun. Nick was great and made it so much fun!