As Pensacola has experienced explosive growth in tourism in recent years, the city has been forced to respond to this need. The new Three-Mile Bridge, for instance, was one way the city responded to this uptick in visitors. This rise in tourism has resulted in larger companies’ further interest in developing businesses and infrastructure in the area.
On April 12, people from all over the Gulf Coast excitedly gathered at the Gulfside Pavilion at Pensacola Beach to celebrate the second-annual Gulf Coast Whale Festival. Hosted by Healthy Gulf, a non-profit organization fighting for the conservation and restoration of the Gulf of America’s natural resources, the Gulf Coast Whale Festival brought together local research labs, wildlife refuges, scholarly programs, and environmental organizations to help promote the protection of endangered marine life (e.g. dolphins, manatees, etc.) and provide a “whale of a good time” for the locals.