Experiences & Recreation · Family Activities
Quietwater Beach & Pensacola Beach Boardwalk
Family friendly
Waterfront
About
Quietwater Beach is the soundside beach on Pensacola Beach, on Santa Rosa Sound rather than the Gulf. The water is calm, clear and shallow, which is why locals call it “moms beach”: it’s the easy choice for families with small kids when the Gulf is rough.
The boardwalk
Behind the beach, the Pensacola Beach Boardwalk (also called the Quietwater Beach Boardwalk or Portofino Boardwalk) holds boutiques, gift and surf shops, restaurants and The Shell, an outdoor stage for summer concerts. Places here include Café NOLA, and Laguna’s Adventure Park and Radical Rides are nearby.
Things to do from here
- Take the Pensacola Bay City Ferry to downtown Pensacola or Fort Pickens.
- Board a Premier Dolphin Cruise right from the boardwalk.
- Catch a free concert at The Shell in summer.
Good to know
- Facilities: restrooms, picnic tables and a playground.
- Parking: public lots nearby fill up fast in peak season. The free island trolley stops close by.
- Gulf side: Casino Beach and the Gulf Pier are a short walk south across Via de Luna.