The history of Pensacola and its proximity to the Alabama border help explain the vibe of this city—and its Southern hospitality. Over the course of its years, Pensacola has been ruled by the British, the Spanish, the French, the Confederacy and the United States—hence, its nickname of “The City of Five Flags.” Founded in 1559, Pensacola has rigorously preserved its historic architecture, ranking #17 for Neighborhoods and Top 25 in our deep Place category. Of its 52 miles of sugar-white beaches stretching alongside one of America’s oldest settlements, Pensacola Beach is in the forefront, with TripAdvisor ranking it as one of the five best in the nation—helping power the city to its #6 ranking for Parks and Outdoors. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, tourism spending was on the rise in the area, with visitors to Escambia County spending more than $800 million in 2018. Obviously, Visit Pensacola’s “Tourism Works” campaign, which launched the previous year to promote the industry’s impact on the economy, is working itself. The campaign focuses on the jobs and tax revenue, but more so on the “quality of place” that tourism creates for residents.