Pensacola's historic downtown area has plenty of opportunities for fun and learning.

Perdido Key boasts plenty of opportunities for fun in the sun. However, if rain clouds come out, there are still plenty of attractions for visitors in nearby Pensacola. With art, history and culture, the museums in this city round out any Gulf Shores area vacation.

Explore the museums of Pensacola

For vacations, most people flock to condos and houses in Perdido Key to bask in the sun and play in the sand, but the nearby city of Pensacola also offers a taste of cultured city life for vacationers. Whether it's raining or you would just like a little break from the beach, head to Pensacola and check out its multiple museums that chronicle the art and history of the area.

T.T. Wentworth Jr. Florida State Museum

Pensacola's historic downtown area has plenty of opportunities for fun and learning. Step into the history of West Florida at this stop, which is located within the Historic Pensacola Village. The museum used to serve as the 1908 City Hall building, and now has countless historic Americana and West Florida artifacts on its three floors of permanent and traveling exhibits. While you're here, stop by the Pensacola Historical Society and the Arcadia Mill Archaeological Site.

Pensacola Children's Museum

While you're in Historic Pensacola Village, bring the kids to the Pensacola Children's Museum. This museum offers hands-on exhibits that teach kids the history of the area in a fun and accessible way. On the first floor, kids under the age of 9 can play in the Panton Trading Post, Lavalle Cottage and the Native American Village. Upstairs, older kids and adults can explore artifacts and enjoy more educational play.

Pensacola Museum of Art

Art enthusiasts are sure to love this museum, which, as a prominent figure in Pensacola's historic downtown area, is a work of art in and of itself. The PMA is the only museum accredited by the American Association of Museums between Mobile, Alabama, and Tallahassee, Florida. You'll see stunning works of art that span the 20th and 21st centuries, including many pieces of modern and contemporary art.

It may be hard to leave the beach, but it's nice to know that Pensacola offers plenty of rainy-day activities to round out any vacation in beautiful Perdido Key, Florida.

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