Here we are… and you’ve found us. Thanks! This little corner of the internet is where we’ll be sharing some of our outdoor stories. What, you thought we just sold outdoor stuff? Heck no! We sell outdoor stuff because we love being outside, exploring. Canoeing, kayaking, swimming, hiking, camping… we do that stuff, and we’re gonna tell you about our adventures so you can give ‘em a shot too.Let’s get started with a pretty tame trip. This one’s good for the whole family, regardless of age. Over the weekend, one of us took the family out to Fort Pickens for a little swimming, hiking, and grilling. If you’ve not been to Fort Pickens, you’re missing out. Really.
After paying the park admission, continue down Fort Pickens Road and stop at Battery Worth. There are a handful of picnic areas and a large, lighted pavilion with restrooms. A couple hundred yards from the pavilion, along a sandy trail, is the Pensacola Bay. The water was crystal clear and the sand, warm beneath our feet. Thanks to the park admission, the beaches at Fort Pickens are rarely packed, and the people who are there are enjoying the sunshine in quiet, family friendly comfort. While we were enjoying the beach, we were able to see ghost crabs, hermit crabs and a wide variety of fish. We even saw the US Navy Blue Angels fly by a few times; a real treat for the kids. After swimming, we grilled and relaxed in a shady spot away from the water. A mother osprey and her young nested in a tree nearby.
After paying the park admission, continue down Fort Pickens Road and stop at Battery Worth. There are a handful of picnic areas and a large, lighted pavilion with restrooms. A couple hundred yards from the pavilion, along a sandy trail, is the Pensacola Bay. The water was crystal clear and the sand, warm beneath our feet. Thanks to the park admission, the beaches at Fort Pickens are rarely packed, and the people who are there are enjoying the sunshine in quiet, family friendly comfort. While we were enjoying the beach, we were able to see ghost crabs, hermit crabs and a wide variety of fish. We even saw the US Navy Blue Angels fly by a few times; a real treat for the kids. After swimming, we grilled and relaxed in a shady spot away from the water. A mother osprey and her young nested in a tree nearby.
Battery Worth is an interesting look at history, and a teaser for the fort itself. A short hike from the battery along the road, or if you’re more adventurous, along the beach, is Fort Pickens. There is even a .7 mile trail, the Florida National Scenic Trail, which runs from Battery Worth to the fort. The landscape is made up of small dunes and native plants. It runs near the water and along a few channels where turtles and other wildlife can be seen. Construction of the fort was begun in 1829 and completed in 1834. It was built to defend Pensacola Bay and the Navy yard housed there. Fort Pickens is one of only four forts in the south never occupied by Confederate forces during the Civil War. The day after the Confederate forces captured Fort Sumter in South Carolina, reinforcements were sent to Fort Pickens, thus helping to maintain Union control and defense of the Bay.
Walking around, it’s not hard to imagine what it must have been like during the Fort’s active period. For example, the Battle of Santa Rosa Island, October 1861, which involved over 1800 men and resulted in over 150 casualties. In response to the casualties suffered during the battle, from Fort Pickens, the USS Niagara, and the USS Richmond, almost 5000 shots were fired on Fort Barrancas, Fort McRee, and numerous batteries along the coast; thus resulting in a full Confederate withdrawal from Pensacola Bay by May of 1862.
Additional gun batteries were added to the fort between the 1890s and 1940s in response to specific threats. By the end of World War II, the use and threat of atomic bombs, guided missiles and long-range bombers made the fort obsolete and the Army abandoned use of such facilities. The fort then became part of Florida’s State Park system until the creation of the Gulf Islands National Seashore in 1971. Extensive repairs were made by the National Park Service, and in 1976 the fort was reopened to tourists and visitors. Not to worry, the repairs didn’t remove all of the battle scars suffered by the fort, or the memory of the men who defended it.
There are 200 campsites in the Fort Pickens campground as well as one group tent site. Campers can make reservations by calling Reserve America at 1-877-444-6777, however, between November and February campsites are only available on a first come, first serve basis. All sites are $20 per night including water, electricity, grills and fire rings, as well as picnic tables. Even the group tent site is $20 per night for 10-25 campers. An additional $10 is assessed for groups from 26-40 people. There is no electricity at the group site and it is equipped for tents only. For additional information on camping at Fort Pickens, call the campground office at 850-934-2622.
Fort Pickens and the surrounding grounds should definitely be on your list of fun, exciting activities for the family. It is a treasure of the coast, to be sure.
If you have questions about places to see or what to bring when exploring, contact us on our website or hook up with us on facebook.
