June 30, 2010 1 Jul 2010, 1:58 am
Well, it has certainly been an exciting week. First we had oil wash on our beach, and then the waters were closed to swimming. Next the sand was clean and white again, and the beaches were open. Then we were blessed with high tides from the Tropical Storm which brought oil back to our beaches, as well as rain all week. What we have discovered is that we have the most wonderful guests in the world! Even with all the rain throughout the week, nobody has complained. We have plenty of workers on hand to clean up the beach, but obviously the water has to settle down a little from the rain we have had for the past several days. What we do know is that we have two fabulous weeks coming up There is plenty of fun and activity for the 4th of July week. We will have fireworks and lots of entertainment, along with fly overs from our famous Blue Angels. The next week is the coveted Blue Angels Air Show. We can’t say if the oil will be cleaned up and the ocean open for swimming, but we do know that there are a lot of fun activities going on. We have discounted rates, so take advantage of this opportunity for a fabulous time at a great value. We need and appreciate your support at this difficult time.
June 24, 2010 24 Jun 2010, 6:20 pm
It’s official…. oil washed up on our shores yesterday for the first tme. Currently the gulf waters are closed for swimming from Fort Pickens to west of Portofino. The sound side is clear and open for swimming and boating as usual. Workers are in the process of cleaning our beaches, and the latest report is that the beaches will reopen after two consecutive clear high tides. Our sand is still pristine and beautiful all the way down to the high tide mark. Pensacola Beach really needs your support and hope you will choose to come and support our wonderful area. If you come and the water is not quite right whether it is due to oil, undertow, jellyfish, or whatever, why not take advantage of all the other things Pensacola Beach has to offer. You can still sit on the beach and soak up the sun, eat at one of our fabulous local restaurants, frolick in the sound (or gulf when it reopens), or take advantage of all the other marvelous activities in our area. The Blue Angels will fly soon, and that is always spectacular. All of us here on the Island hope that you won’t travel elsewhere, but come to the beach anyway and together support the area that we all know and love. After all if you are lucky enough to be at the beach…. you are lucky enough!
June 15th on Pensacola Beach 15 Jun 2010, 5:06 pm
Our Coast
Status update as of June 15, 2010
Visit Pensacola is closely monitoring official sources related to the oil spill, and we will share information as it comes in.
Currently, the beaches of Pensacola Beach and Perdido Key are open. On Pensacola Beach, the water is open for swimming. No health advisories have been issued on Pensacola Beach. Due to the volume of tarballs washing ashore on Perdido Key, the health department issued an advisory for the beach from the Florida/Alabama line to the entrance of Johnson Beach and has posted signs at the affected area. Visitors to Perdido Key are advised not to swim or fish in waters where oil is present.
Relatively weak winds are expected to continue through the next three days, which will be favorable for surface oil recovery operations. However, winds are expected to continue out of the south-southwest pushing portions of the oil closer to the Florida coastline. Red, weathered oil was reported approximately two miles south of the Alabama coastline.
An executive order has been issued to temporarily close a portion of coastal state waters offshore of Escambia County to the harvest of saltwater fish, crabs and shrimp. The closure includes state waters from the beaches out nine nautical miles into the Gulf from the Alabama line east to the Pensacola Beach water tower. Interior bays and estuaries remain open to fishing. See map. The Pensacola Beach Fishing Pier and the Pensacola Bay Fishing Bridge are both open for sightseers and fishing, however fishing off the Pensacola Beach Fishing Pier is catch and release only.
For the past several days, tarballs have been detected along the beaches. According to NOAA, tarballs do not pose a health risk to the average person, but visitors are advised not to pick them up. To read NOAA’s information about tarballs, click here. County officials are closely patrolling the beaches from Perdido Key to Park East on Pensacola Beach, and skimmer boats are patrolling the waters offshore and are prepared for immediate clean up if oil comes in.
Perdido Pass and Pensacola Pass will be closed and navigationally restricted during flood (incoming) tide as water enters the bay, and will reopen during ebb (outgoing) tide as water flows out to the gulf.
The Intracoastal Waterway remains open.
We will continue to monitor the situation closely and are here to help answer your vacation questions. Please check with your hotels and rental properties as many of them have relaxed their cancellation policies to better meet your travel needs during this time.
June 9th on Pensacola Beach 10 Jun 2010, 1:15 am
Today continues to be a beautiful day on Pensacola Beach, with no reports of oil or tar. Vacationers and locals continue to enjoy the sugar white sand and green gulf waters, as well as all the other wonderful activities and restaurants here at
“rainbows end”, Pensacola Beach.
June 8th on Pensacola Beach 8 Jun 2010, 12:02 pm
Charter Report From Dr. Dive, June 07, 2010
Captain Jim Meyers of Dr. Dive took media representatives out on a boat trip today and found no oil, no sheen and no tar balls in the water. They travelled more than five miles southwest of Pensacola Pass and circled back to Pensacola Beach. They then cruised west along Pensacola Beach to return to the Pass and saw many beach-goers enjoying the beach, as well as clean-up crews, but no apparent oil on the beach or active clean-up activities. The beaches look “clear” and the water was “spectacular” according to Captain Meyers.
In addition, Captain Meyers took a group of divers out to the Russian Freighter (about 9 miles SSE of Pensacola Pass) yesterday and reported good visibility and plenty of healthy red snapper and amberjack. No oil was spotted. Images have been posted on the oil update page of VisitPensacolaBeach.com.
3 Jun 2010, 6:13 pm
Status update as of Jun 03, 2010
Pensacola Beach and Perdido Key are open! Our area has not been impacted by the oil spill off Louisiana’s coast, nor is there a current forecast for a projected landfall. Our water is open for swimming and fishing, and quality Florida seafood is readily available for you to enjoy. Any sightings of oil will be reported immediately. An oil sheen was spotted about 10 miles off shore yesterday, however, current reports from the Coast Guard indicate much of the sheen has evaporated. This information came from the Visit Pensacola website.
The picture is the Innerlight Surfing School on Pensacola Beach. It was taken this morning.
June 2nd on Pensacola Beach 2 Jun 2010, 7:29 pm
Status update as of Jun 02, 2010 from the Visit Pensacola website.
Pensacola Beach and Perdido Key are open! Our area has not been impacted by the oil spill off Louisiana’s coast, nor is there a current forecast for a projected landfall. Our water is open for swimming and fishing, and quality Florida seafood is readily available for you to enjoy. Any sightings of oil will be reported immediately. However, there are reports oil spotted off of the Florida coastline.
We are closely monitoring official information sources. The Deepwater Horizon Response Team (U.S. Coast Guard, Homeland Security, NOAA, BP, Transocean and the Department of the Interior) is working diligently to contain the oil spill. We will continue to monitor the situation closely and are here to help answer your vacation questions.
Fun Things To Do… 27 May 2010, 2:24 pm
If you are looking for something fun to do, try one of these great events….
May 29th and 30th – Festival in the Breeze
This two day event in the parking lot of Gulf Breeze High School features artists and crafters from around the Southeast. It will also have a children’s area, music and food. It’s a great way to spend the afternoon, and all proceeds will go to benefit the Gulf Breeze High basketball team.
Sounds of Summer Concert series kicks off on June 6th at the Quietwater Shell on the Portofino Boardwalk. Adam Holt will perfom Blues, rock, country and jazz tunes. This is a free concert from 6 to 8pm. Come on out for a great time!
“Happenings on the Beach” 25 May 2010, 12:24 pm
Bands on the Beach – May 25, 2010 at the Gulfside Pavillion on Pensacola Beach. Take your lawn chairs and blankets and listen to the sounds of the Kyle Parker Band. 7-9pm.
Evenings in Olde Seville Square – Thursday May 27, 2010 from 7-9pm
Enjoy this free outdoor concert series with the Pensacola Civic Band. Great fun… great music.
Wine Festival 2010 21 May 2010, 7:11 pm
If you are looking to spend a fabulous evening, visit Downtown Pensacola May 21, 2010 from 6pm – 9pm. Stroll through the charming brick walkways of Downtown Pensacola to experience an eclectic array of music, art and cuisine. Explore galleries and businesses featuring the works of dozens of local artists. Gallery Night is free. Many businesses provide light refreshments and you can also soak up the sounds of local musicians.
This year the Pensacola Wine Festival has combined with Gallery Night. The streets will close and the Pensacola Wine Festival will celebrate the multitude of quality wine offerings available year-round in the Pensacola community. Gallery night is free, and Wine Festival tickets are $30.
