Pensacola ranks on Conde Nast Traveler's 2023 Best Small Cities list. See where
It’s been a hot minute since the words “best” and “Pensacola” were seen together, but Conde Nast Traveler’s 36th annual Reader’s Choice Awards has come to lift that dry spell.
Pensacola was ranked No. 8 on the publication’s The Best Cities in the U.S. 2023 Readers’ Choice Award for the 10 best small cities, narrowly beaten by St. Augustine (No. 7), who some proclaim to be a historic rival.
“Florida certainly has no shortage of beautiful beaches, but few places have the blindingly white sand and Caribbean-blue waters you’ll find in and around this town,” Conde Nast wrote in a blog announcing the winners.
Pensacola a 'best place to live': Pensacola jumps 16 spots on U.S. News' Best Places to Live 2023-2024 list. Where it ranked:
“Head to the nearby barrier islands for the best (and least crowded) stretches of sand: Pensacola Beach on Santa Rosa Island is often cited as the crown jewel of the Gulf Islands National Seashore, complete with dolphin-rich waters and sand so soft you’d swear you were walking on baby powder. Back on the mainland, spend an afternoon walking through the Chappie James Museum — a must-visit site that honors Daniel “Chappie” James Jr., a Tuskegee Airman who became the first African American to become a four-star general in any branch of the military.”
Want to know why everyone loves Pensacola? Keep reading.
What is Pensacola known for?
Pensacola is best known for Pensacola Beach, but there’s much more to its story than sugar-white sands. Naval Air Station Pensacola is the home base for the U.S. Navy Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron Blue Angels, which holds bi-annual air shows and free practice demonstrations right outside the nationally famous National Naval Aviation Museum throughout the season.
Pensacola is also called “The City of Five Flags” because the city has flown Spanish, French, British, Confederate, and American flags, illustrating its deep historical roots. In 2015, then-Mayor Ashton Hayward directed city staff to replace the Confederate flag used in the Five Flags displays with the flag of the State of Florida.
The University of West Florida Department of Anthropology also announced in 2015 that archaeologists confirmed where Don Tristan de Luna established his Spanish colony in August 1559 – six years before the St. Augustine settlement and nearly 48 years before the English settled in Jamestown, Virginia, making the city the oldest established European multi-year settlement in the United States.
In recent times, Downtown Pensacola has made significant strides in rebounding from its once desolate and near-abandoned state thanks to revitalization efforts that launched at the tail end of the 2000s. The downtown area is now a thriving spot for award-winning restaurants, craft breweries, and more — reminiscent of a smaller New Orleans.
America's best cities: Pensacola chosen as one of 'America's Best Cities.' See where we ranked
Conde Nast Traveler’s Top 10 Best Small Cities
Here’s a look at where Pensacola landed on Conde Nast Traveler’s top 10 Best Small Cities list:
Charleston, South Carolina
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Alexandria, Virginia
Greenville, South Carolina
Savannah, Georgia
Aspen, Colorado
St. Augustine, Florida
Pensacola, Florida
Annapolis, Maryland
Sedona, Arizona
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Pensacola ranks on Conde Nast Traveler's 2023 Best Small Cities list
