>>2310307>visit Pensacola, FL>expect stereotypical Florida shenanigans>visit the Gulf Island National Seashore>watch as car after car leaves because they don’t want to pay the $15 entrance fee>plenty of parking>well behaved families, kids being kids>decide I’m not a lazy asshole, walk 1/4 mile up the shore>have the place to ourselvesPic was from Memorial Day weekend. The entire town was jam packed. The secret is to not be lazy and not be a cheapskate. The parking lots are very, very spread out. And there’s also plenty of crowded free beaches. You just put in a small amount of effort (carrying your stuff for a bit on extremely soft sand) and you’re rewarded with what’s basically a secluded, pristine beach. But you have to carry everything, including whatever you’re using for shade (there are no trees).
The water is warm, so it’s really nice to swim and wade in. It’s also super mellow, with gentle waves most of the time. The sand is basically the consistent of sugar, and it’s very bright. We swim in the morning, blah ukulele and sing, eat lunch, drink a little, read, and stay late and fish as the suns going down. Last time we went flounder gigging after sunset but didn’t see anything.
