Latest news with #GulfIslands
The Independent
a day ago
- The Independent
Chilled-out Pensacola is the underrated Miami alternative everyone should consider
Florida has long been a favourite with British travellers. Tourists have been lured by Orlando 's state-of-the-art rollercoasters, while Miami dazzles with its glitz and non-stop nightlife. But there's a different kind of Florida behind all the noise. One that's slower-paced, more genuine, and bursting with natural beauty. Unlike Miami's busy beaches and hefty price tags, Pensacola, on Florida's northeast coast, offers wide stretches of sugar-white sand without the crowds. We started our stay at Pensacola Beach, on Santa Rosa Island, which is connected to the mainland via the impressive Bob Sikes Bridge. We were instantly surrounded by sparkling azure seas and spotless beaches – there are 18 miles of beautiful coastline here, ripe for exploration. Some areas are peppered with hotels and restaurants, but our first stop was the Gulf Islands National Seashore, a protected haven that sets the perfect tone for our adventure. Here, visitors can explore the preserved landscape via foot or kayak, and even camp by the ocean. The natural beauty is perhaps the most striking part of a trip to Pensacola, but it has a significant history, too. The city is home to Fort Pickens, a military base completed in 1834 to protect the city's port. It was one of the few in the South that remained in Union hands throughout the Civil War, sheltering soldiers – and the renowned Apache leader Geronimo – during the conflict. It's now a museum and park complex, complete with scenic walking trails that wind towards the shore. On the beach, we watched the Blue Angels flight demonstration team practise their intricate aerial manoeuvres: an awe-inspiring, dramatic spectacle. This is a coastal city, and so it feels right to get out onto the ocean. After exploring the fort, we hopped aboard a 40-foot racing trimaran, designed for smooth, stable journeys. With just five of us on board, gliding into the bay felt intimate and exclusive. We inhaled the salty sea air, watched pods of playful dolphins swim alongside us, and took turns at the helm. It was the perfect activity for a relaxing beachside holiday, far away from the bustle further down the coast. The second part of our stay was spent exploring the heart of downtown Pensacola, where we immersed ourselves in the city's flourishing arts and culture scene. Though situated just across the bridge, the downtown area offers something distinctly different. As the site of America's first European settlement, Pensacola has been shaped by a rotating cast of occupants, from Native American tribes and Spanish explorers to British colonial rulers and American pioneers. It's known as the City of Five Flags for the multiple governing bodies that have ruled since its foundation in 1559 – Spain, France, Britain, the Confederacy and the United States. The area is easily walkable and there's plenty to do. Costumed interpreters bring the colonial era to life at the Historic Pensacola Village, while America's First Settlement Trail, a three-mile route with 20 designated stops and 70 points of interest, allows visitors to experience the city's storied past on foot. We passed pleasurable hours strolling through the charming brick-lined streets and visiting museums, art galleries, and quaint shops. At the heart of it all is Palafox Street, a lively thoroughfare that becomes even more animated on weekends with a bustling market. Aside from the activities, a highlight of Pensacola is its truly notable culinary scene. From food trucks to fine dining establishments, this is a foodie city. Its cuisine is steeped in the Southern tradition – think crawfish bisque, seafood gumbo, cheese grits, crab cakes, blackened shrimp, and Gulf Coast oysters, served every way imaginable. For meat-lovers, the expertly-grilled Midwestern steaks are equally impressive. And no culinary tour of Pensacola is complete without sampling its signature cocktail, the Bushwacker – a decadent milkshake, adulterated with rum and coffee liqueur. But it's not just the restaurants that keep things lively here. Pensacola is known as 'Festival Central' for good reason, with a packed calendar of events such as the Gulf Coast Jazz Festival, the MLK Day parade and a beachside rodeo taking place throughout the year. And if you're the outdoorsy type, there's world-class fishing, diving, and snorkelling in the water, plus hiking trails and golf courses on dry land. Add in two professional sports teams, plus the fact that the city is now home to American Magic, the prestigious America's Cup sailing team, and you quickly realise the city isn't just beautiful: it's brimming with energy. For a Florida-style holiday that's a bit less brash, Pensacola really is the full package. You've got those impossibly white, powder-soft beaches, where the water shimmers under the warmth of the sun. Then just across the bridge, there's a downtown full of character, colour and charm, where you can lose hours dipping in and out of galleries, cafés and boutiques. With its mix of Gulf Coast freshness and Southern soul, this is a place that knows how to serve flavour with flair. Yet somehow, Pensacola seems to have stayed largely under the radar. Without a doubt, I feel like I've discovered one of Florida's most delightful coastal secrets. How to visit Virgin Atlantic has flights from London Heathrow to Pensacola with one stop. Flight time is from 12 hours. It's also easy to get fly to Pensacola via Atlanta or other US cities. Where to stay King rooms with a beach view at Pensacola Beach Resort cost from £209 per night. The hotel is perched on the seafront and offers excursions such as dolphin-spotting cruises and family paddle boarding. A similar-sized room at Lily Hall starts at £215. The boutique hotel was once a Baptist church before it was converted into an underground punk space. It's now a design-led bolthole, perfect as a base for exploring the city.
RNZ News
06-07-2025
- Politics
- RNZ News
Auckland councillor Mike Lee plans further bid to block private helipads
Mike Lee wants to change city ordinances before the upcoming local body elections. Photo: RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly Auckland councillor Mike Lee is leading a new push to ban private helipads in residential areas of the city. The Waitematā and Gulf councillor intends raising two notices of motion at the policy and planning committee meeting on 24 July. "One is for the Hauraki Gulf Islands District Plan, which covers Waiheke and Great Barrier Island, essentially, where helipads have been a major problem with local people. "The other one covers the western bays of Auckland and so that's the Auckland Unitary Plan." "One notice of motion applies to the Auckland situation - the mainland situation - and the other applies to the Gulf Islands," he said. The announcement comes days after billionaire entrepreneur Anna Mowbray and former-All Black husband Ali Williams were given permission to build a helipad at their $24 million waterfront home in Westmere. The commissioners' decision released on Monday 30 June stated flights would be limited to no more than two per day and 10 per month. According to Auckland Council, of 1397 written submissions made on the application, most - 1227, or 87 percent - opposed the helipad on Rawene Avenue, 108 were supportive, and 12 were neutral. "This latest decision, according to the commissioner, Kit Littlejohn, says helipads are enabled in residential areas as a permitted activity and has gone so far, quite extraordinarily, to assert that helicopters are equivalent to cars and they're intrinsic to residential living, which is a pretty extreme argument," Lee said. "I don't think most people would agree with that, but nonetheless, the unitary plan is not as clear on this matter as everyone had assumed until now and, therefore, the need for clarity is quite urgent really. "Why should people be disturbed in their own homes and properties by people who are making an awful racket, and flying aircraft into the neighbourhood." He believed many Aucklanders agreed with him and that helipads in residential areas created a large volume of complaints. "It's not designed to be a ban on helicopters or helipads," Lee said. "It's private residential use that we're concerned about, because that's what causes all the complaints. "When you think about it, landing an aircraft in a built-up area as a routine means of transport is just crazy and it's unacceptable. "We have to tidy it up and give people certainty, that's even the Mowbrays - Ali Williams and Miss Mowbray - who spent three years and I guess a hell of a lot of money on this application. "People like that need some certainty as well, because the way things are now, it's quite a mess and needs to be tidied up." The Auckland councillor has previously attempted to ban private helipads in residential areas, but his motion in March last year lost 10-8. "I have tried in the past, of course, and narrowly failed to get the majority of councillors and the mayor to vote for making helipads in residential areas a prohibited activity," Lee said. "There's an election coming up and we don't have that much time in the current term of this council to do something about it, and I was determined to do something in this term of the council." The Auckland councillor said he'd like the city to follow some Australian cities that have prohibited private helipads in residential areas, unless they have a Fly Neighbourly Agreement with local residents. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Yahoo
01-07-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
B.C. Ferries will no longer allow tow trucks with non-operational EVs on board
B.C. Ferries says it's clarifying its internal policies to no longer allow tow trucks carrying non-operational electric vehicles (EVs) on board its vessels. Transport Canada has had a policy on the books since 2014 that mandates damaged or defective vehicle batteries be removed and transported separately from the vehicles themselves on board ferries. It comes amid growing concerns of the fire risk associated with vehicles' lithium-ion batteries, especially as they see growing adoption across B.C. Now, the province's ferry authority says it's giving staff better guidance when it comes to EVs that aren't fit to be driven. While EVs that are still functional are able to go on board ferries, those that are damaged or not operational aren't being allowed. "EVs can still travel with us," said a B.C. Ferries spokesperson on Monday. "The updates are about safety and clarity, not restrictions on everyday drivers." A tow truck operator on the Gulf Islands — which are particularly reliant on B.C. Ferries, when it comes to accessing major services — says he was caught off guard by the clarified internal policies. Jonathan Vipond, the owner of Salt Spring Island Towing, said that simple repairs to EVs can be done on the island, but more elaborate repairs would need to be done by a dealership that's a ferry ride away. "Currently, at this point, we have one option of possibly putting them on a landing craft and barging them off the island, but we really don't have a major solution at this point," Vipond said. That option would cost upwards of $1,000, an amount that would have to be paid by the vehicle owner, and Vipond said there were two EVs stuck on the island already amid the clarified policies. In its statement, B.C. Ferries says that it's seeking clarification from regulators on whether safe options to transport non-operational EVs can be introduced. In addition to non-functioning EVs, the ferry authority says that charging EVs isn't allowed on terminals or on board, and there aren't charging stations in those locations anyway. Requirement since 2014 Transport Canada says that no safety incidents regarding EVs on commercial marine vehicles have been reported to them. It said that the transport of a damaged battery or a vehicle can be arranged through alternative means, like a commercial cargo or barge operator. "Damaged or malfunctioning lithium batteries may pose a serious fire hazard, which is an even greater risk to safety in the confined vehicle space of a roll-on/roll-off ferry," a Transport Canada spokesperson wrote in a statement. The regulations regarding transporting EV batteries are particularly relevant given increasing EV adoption across the country, with fire chiefs telling CBC News they're having to adapt to the particular risks associated with EV fires.
CBC
01-07-2025
- Automotive
- CBC
B.C. Ferries will no longer allow tow trucks with non-operational EVs on board
B.C. Ferries says it's clarifying its internal policies to no longer allow tow trucks carrying non-operational electric vehicles (EVs) on board its vessels. Transport Canada has had a policy on the books since 2014 that mandates damaged or defective vehicle batteries be removed and transported separately from the vehicles themselves on board ferries. It comes amid growing concerns of the fire risk associated with vehicles' lithium-ion batteries, especially as they see growing adoption across B.C. Now, the province's ferry authority says it's giving staff better guidance when it comes to EVs that aren't fit to be driven. While EVs that are still functional are able to go on board ferries, those that are damaged or not operational aren't being allowed. "EVs can still travel with us," said a B.C. Ferries spokesperson on Monday. "The updates are about safety and clarity, not restrictions on everyday drivers." A tow truck operator on the Gulf Islands — which are particularly reliant on B.C. Ferries, when it comes to accessing major services — says he was caught off guard by the clarified internal policies. Jonathan Vipond, the owner of Salt Spring Island Towing, said that simple repairs to EVs can be done on the island, but more elaborate repairs would need to be done by a dealership that's a ferry ride away. "Currently, at this point, we have one option of possibly putting them on a landing craft and barging them off the island, but we really don't have a major solution at this point," Vipond said. That option would cost upwards of $1,000, an amount that would have to be paid by the vehicle owner, and Vipond said there were two EVs stuck on the island already amid the clarified policies. In its statement, B.C. Ferries says that it's seeking clarification from regulators on whether safe options to transport non-operational EVs can be introduced. In addition to non-functioning EVs, the ferry authority says that charging EVs isn't allowed on terminals or on board, and there aren't charging stations in those locations anyway. Requirement since 2014 Transport Canada says that no safety incidents regarding EVs on commercial marine vehicles have been reported to them. It said that the transport of a damaged battery or a vehicle can be arranged through alternative means, like a commercial cargo or barge operator. "Damaged or malfunctioning lithium batteries may pose a serious fire hazard, which is an even greater risk to safety in the confined vehicle space of a roll-on/roll-off ferry," a Transport Canada spokesperson wrote in a statement. fire chiefs telling CBC News they're having to adapt to the particular risks associated with EV fires.
CTV News
03-06-2025
- General
- CTV News
1 dead after fire on Denman Island, B.C.
One person is dead after an early morning fire on one of B.C.'s northern Gulf Islands. Firefighters were called to a rural property on Thomas Road on Denman Island at around 3 a.m. Denman Island Fire Rescue says 22 firefighters responded to the structure fire, dousing the flames with 19,000 litres of water from two pumper trucks and three tankers. 'Sadly, a single individual perished in the fire,' the department said in a statement posted on social media. 'No firefighters were hurt or injured.' The Comox Valley RCMP, which has jurisdiction over the island, did not immediately answer questions about whether police were investigating the fire or the death. The fire department said it 'extends its sincere condolences to all those touched by this loss.'
