On the Road in Pensacola: Traveling with the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp

Tyler Higgins wouldn’t call himself a world traveler. But the ball player does consider himself a travel expert—after all, he spent a lot of time living out of a suitcase during the 70 road games each season. One of his frequent destinations was Pensacola, Florida, which Higgins visited many times across his four seasons with the Jumbo Shrimp. Here are his suggestions for what to do in Pensacola while visiting the charming waterfront city—starting with a visit to the local minor league stadium.

Why do you love playing at Blue Wahoos Stadium?

It’s absolutely beautiful. It’s right on the water, with views of the Gulf Coast. If you were to look right over the wall in center field, you’d see the Pensacola Bay right there. It was named the 2012 Ballpark of the Year by baseballparks.com, which includes major league stadiums. So there’s no question that it’s one of the prettiest facilities in the country.

What makes playing in Pensacola different than some of the other cities you travel to with the Jumbo Shrimp?

Besides the awesome setting, one of the coolest things about Pensacola is the people. For example, the Coast Guard, which has a station in the area, has a group of 12 to 15 officers that frequently comes to the games. There are about four or five of them who sit in the first row by the bullpen, and we often get to talk with them. You usually try not to engage the opposing team’s fans, because they’re always rooting against you. But they’re just really cool. In fact, in my experience, all the people of Pensacola are great. From the friendly staff at the stadium to the people I get to chat with at the local diners, they’re all just good people.

What is your favorite thing to do in Pensacola?

One of Florida’s oldest and largest heritage celebrations, the Fiesta of Five Flags honors Pensacola history with parades, music and plenty of seafood.

The Fiesta of Five Flags, which celebrates the founding of Pensacola. It basically feels like a mini Mardi Gras, with people standing on their balconies overlooking the streets. All the roads shut down in the festival area, so you can walk everywhere, and there’s a colorful parade of floats. It’s really cool to see these great crowds gather to celebrate the city.

What are some of the best meals you’ve had in Pensacola?

I love to go to BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse. Their pizza—a play on Southern California pizza and Chicago-style pies—is absolutely amazing. They also have 11 award-winning beers and ciders on tap to choose from. Plus, the location in Pensacola is great. For a more local option, The Fish House is a great bet. It specializes in fresh seafood served Southern-style—the World-Famous Grits a Ya Ya is a favorite—and they have a great spot near Pensacola Bay and Seville Harbor.

Where would you recommend someone go for great live music?

Seville Quarter is a must for live music fans, as it has great bands and dueling pianos. It’s been rated one of the top nightclubs in the country. It has a New Orleans Bourbon Street vibe!

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