Fly and Drive: Florida and Alabama Along the Gulf Coast

When you want sun, sand and surf, make your way to the Florida Panhandle and Alabama Gulf Coast for road trip adventures that won’t disappoint. With airports in both Pensacola, Florida, and Mobile, Alabama, you can start and end your trip wherever works best for you. Thanks to a wide range of activities and attractions along the way, you won’t have any trouble filling your itinerary between flights.

Get the ‘Blues’ in Pensacola, Florida

In Pensacola, there’s plenty of entertainment to help you make the most of your time. A not-to-miss event is watching the U.S. Navy Blue Angels practice from the flight line behind the National Naval Aviation Museum on Naval Air Station Pensacola. You won’t find a better view of this aviation team in action. Visitors ages 18 or older need a government-issued ID for entrance to the base, but admission is free. You can rent a chair for the show or climb into the bleachers, but get there early as these go fast. After the practice, head into the museum to learn more about our country’s naval aviation history.

If you love baseball, head to a Pensacola Blue Wahoos game near downtown Pensacola. A Double-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins, the Blue Wahoos take to the diamond every April through September, so catching a game is easy. Before or after the game, you can find tasty Southern cuisine at Five Sisters Blues Cafe (try the fried chicken!) or satisfy every appetite from one of the food trucks at The Garden at Palafox + Main.

Of course, you can’t go to Pensacola and not enjoy the beaches. Find your spot in the sand, where you can soak up some rays or float in the beautiful blue water. For more adventures, take to the skies with Radical Rides for some parasailing, watch for dolphins at sunset with Frisky Mermaid or paddle after dark with Glow Paddle.

Explore Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, Alabama

To reach your next stop, head west for approximately one hour, and you’ll enter the neighboring Alabama cities of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach. From the beaches to the back roads, there’s no shortage of fun adventures to keep you on the go.

If you missed seeing the Blue Angels practice in Pensacola, join Sail Wild Hearts for their Dolphins & Angels tour from Orange Beach. Enjoy a six-hour journey aboard a 53-foot catamaran, complete with breakfast, lunch and snacks as you cruise along the Gulf Coast toward Pensacola. Then, sit back and watch the Blue Angels practice from the water, a unique perspective that is an unforgettable experience. Don’t forget to look for dolphins throughout your journey!

Once back on shore, make your way to Gulf State Park where you can explore nature from the beach to the Backcountry Trail. Grab a bike from the free bike sharing program and start pedaling your way down the 28-plus-mile trail that traverses the park. Along the way, you’ll see nine distinct ecosystems, so keep a close eye out for the changing flora and fauna. The nature center provides a deeper dive into the plants and wildlife in the Gulf region.

For more animal encounters, the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo answers the call. The zoo is home to 118 different species, including favorites like giraffes, macaws and iguanas. You can even sign up for meet-and-greets with select animals, including hanging out with sloths, feeding a giraffe or tortoise or lounging with the lemurs.

Oriental-American Garden, Bellingrath Gardens, Mobile area (Theodore), Alabama — Bellingrath Gardens

Step Back in Time in Mobile, Alabama

For the final leg of your road trip, head northwest to Mobile for a taste of history, mystery and strolls through the gardens.

Your first stop could be the USS Alabama. Tour this historic battleship to see how it and its crew served in World War II. Follow up your tour with a visit to the USS Drum submarine. Next up, the Mobile Carnival Museum documents the rich history and traditions of carnival through elaborate costumes, historical photographs and videos of past parades and balls. You could even climb aboard a float for a commemorative photograph.

For an evening to remember, step aboard the Perdido Queen paddlewheel riverboat for a murder mystery dinner cruise on the Mobile River. Immerse yourself in the action and see if you can figure out who the killer is before dinner is over. The key is to join in the fun and roll with the punches. You could be called upon to solve the crime!

Wrap up your trip with a stroll at Bellingrath Gardens, where 65 acres of lush gardens surround a 10,500-square-foot estate. You can walk the gardens throughout the year, but if you want to see something specific, check the website to see what’s in bloom while you’re in town. It will be a wonderful way to end your journey along the Gulf Coast.

Plan your trip with a AAA travel advisor and rent your car with Hertz. AAA members can save up to 20% on Hertz rentals.