There is actually quite a bit to keep everyone entertained in and around Pensacola!

The year 2009 marks the 450th anniversary of the settlement of Pensacola -- America's first settlement! To learn about Pensacola's history, or about events related to the year-long anniversary celebration, visit www.CelebratePensacola.com.

For great deals, a very good website to consult is www.halfpricepensacola.com, where you can buy gift certificates to Pensacola businesses for up to 75% off!  It's a great way to save on your purchases if you plan ahead of time.

The best site that lists anything and everything you could possibly want to see or do in the Florida Panhandle is http://www.pensacolasgreatest.com/ThingstoDo.html.  It is an exhaustive list of everything from the butterfly house and zoo, to canoeing and boat charters, to the greyhound dog park and equestrian centers, to museums and lighthouses.

To see what's going on aboard Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola that weekend, click on http://www.naspensacola.navy.mil/mwr/ and select the link of your choice.  http://www.naspensacola.navy.mil/mwr/nasmap/nasafla.htm (which features a view of Florida from space!) will take you to a list of links including the base map, the Blue Angels website, and the website for the National Museum of Naval Aviation, which houses an extensive collection of aircraft (check out the Blue Angels Atrium, and the Cubie Bar Cafe (info about the Cubie can be seen at http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2587387180015749622FugVKL)).  The Aviation Museum also includes an IMAX theatre.

For avid shoppers, the Tanger Outlets are located in Foley, Alabama (about 45 minutes west of downtown Pensacola); their website is http://www.tangeroutlet.com/foley.  If you're willing to drive a little longer, an hour and 15 minutes (or so) east are the Silver Sands Outlets in Sandestin, which is the largest outlet shopping center in the USA (and Christine's favorite)!  Their website is www.silversandsoutlet.com.

For anyone who loves to dive, the U.S.S. Oriskany is the world's largest artificial reef; it is located in the Gulf of Mexico, just 24 miles off the coast of Pensacola. Information about the Oriskany and diving opportunities can be found at http://www.ussoriskany.com/index.html.

There are many fantastic restaurants in the Pensacola area; seafood in particular is amazing here. The restaurants we highly recommend are:

The Oarhouse

The Fish House/ Atlas Bar & Grill

Landry's

The Global Grill

McGuire's Irish Pub & Eatery

Dharma Blue

Miller's Pensacola Ale House

Jerry's Cajun Cafe

WILL CALL Sports Grill

The boardwalks and shores at Quietwaters Beach and Pensacola Beach will be unusually crowded, as Memorial Day weekend, while a holiday weekend itself, also happens to be unoficially Gay Pride Weekend, during which thousands of out-of-towners arrive in Pensacola for the party!  The holiday and pride festivities mean traffic on and near Penscola Beach may be a bit more congested than usual (though downtown Pensacola should not be affected by traffic), so please keep that in mind if you're planning a timeline for your visit.  That said, the beaches and boardwalks are THE place to be in the summer, and Memorial Day weekend is definitely the unofficial start of summer!

Our map of Pensacola, which has been customized to include these and many other points of interest, can be found at http://TrostleUniversity2009.weddingmapper.com -- the password is LOCAL.