Panama City Beach, Florida! Imagine yourself surrounded by emerald green
and sapphire blue waters and having
sugary white sand scrunch between your
toes. No, this is not the French Riviera or the Caribbean, it is Panama
City Beach, one of Florida's best hidden vacation destinations. Panama
City Beach is one of the world's most beautiful beaches, with over
twenty-seven miles of breathtaking, unrivaled beauty along the Gulf of
Mexico. In 1995, Dr. Stephen Leatherman, coastal geologist at University
of Maryland ranked St. Andrews State Recreation Area in Panama City Beach
#1 Beach in America.
 The cries of
seagulls mix with the happy shouts of children
playing on sparkling-white sand. Emerald green
waters lap at the shore as sandpipers dart in
and out of the waves. High above a colorful
parasail glides dreamily, it tow-rope almost
invisible in the sunlight. A family molds a
castle out of soft, wet sand, while a sun-bather
smoothes on sunscreen to stay out on the beach
another hour. A swimmer concentrates on
perfecting his stroke, enjoying the
extraordinary buoyancy of the Gulf of Mexico. A
retired couple fast-walks along the sand. For private getaways, family vacations or group tours, Panama
City Beach is the perfect destination. For those looking for outdoor
activities, there are plenty to choose from including: relaxing rounds of
golf on one of five 18- hole courses, exhilarating matches of tennis on
one of the numerous courts, sightseeing and much more. Swimming, fishing,
and pleasure boating are just a few of the activities one can enjoy in the
beautiful waters of the Gulf of Mexico. For those looking for a bit more
adventure, the answer might be parasailing, jet skiing, snorkeling,
windsurfing or diving.
An
outstanding vacation value, Panama City Beach boasts a remarkable
diversity of amusements and
 attractions. Visitors stroll day and night
through the vibrant, luminous stretch known as the -Miracle Strip.- Here
ingenious miniature golf courses, arcades, open-air cafes, souvenir
shops, boutiques, restaurants and other pleasures attract and entertain
vacationers. Panama City Beach, which claims to be the "Seafood Capital of the
World", is host to an array of restaurants with a variety of
mouth-watering menus. From casual eateries to award-winning
establishments, you can be certain of having a memorable dining
experience. After a delicious meal one can be sure to find entertainment
to fit every age group and taste. The young at heart can choose from
miniature golf, a zoo excursion, amusement parks, a water park and museums
to list just a few. For those dancing to a different beat, Panama City
Beach features numerous beach clubs offering day or night entertainment.
Musical choices vary from classical hits and golden oldies to heavy metal
and high energy. Some of the annual events one can enjoy while visiting
include: the Gulf Cost Triathlon, the Indian Summer Seafood Festival, the
Bay Point Billfish Invitational Tournament and Nature's Gallery Historical
Arts and Crafts Festival.
With more than 18,000 hotel, motel and condominium units, as well as
campgrounds and RV parks, your are sure to find the perfect vacation to
fit your budget and accommodation needs.
With average water temperature of 72 degrees and average air
temperature around 78 degrees, Panama City Beach is becoming a
year-round vacation destination. Relax and enjoy Florida's hidden
vacation spot: Panama City Beach.
BEACH SAFETY
RIP CURRENTS can be
unpredictable, dangerous and
deadly!
Please use good judgment while
swimming in the Gulf of Mexico.
LOOK FOR:
Unusual Choppiness
Discoloration of Water
Debris & Foam moving seaward
RIP CURRENTS CAN BE DANGEROUS
Learn how to identify and avoid
them:
If you're caught in a Rip
Current, don't panic. Swim
parallel to the shore until the
current weakens, then swim back
to the shore.
Rip currents are strong,
localized rivers of water that
usually flow away from the beach
at a surprisingly high velocity.
Usually they are associated
with large waves and strong
offshore winds, but not always!!
In rare cases, rip currents
occur during calm conditions.
BEACH WARNING FLAGS
WATER CLOSED TO PUBLIC
HIGH HAZARD - High Surf
and/or Strong Currents
MEDIUM HAZARD - Moderate
Surf and/or Strong Currents
LOW HAZARD - Calm Condition,
Exercise Caution
DANGEROUS MARINE LIFE
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MARINE PARK:
One of Florida's top attractions,
Gulf World is a marine showcase
featuring four continuous shows
daily. Step into the exotic Tropical
Garden, filled with chatting
parrots, flamingos and peacocks, or
take a walk through the thrilling
shark tank. Always ready to perform
for visitors are the friendly sea
lions, while the bottle-nosed
dolphins are eager to amaze and
delight with their skillful
acrobatics and intelligence. Take a
seat at the Coral Reef Theatre and
experience captivating views of fish
and natural coral in an amphitheatre
setting or learn the mysteries of
marine life through a scuba diving
demonstration.
WATER PARK:
(Closed during
the Feast) The
largest water park within 300 miles,
Shipwreck Island encompasses six
lushly landscaped acres of rides and
picnic areas, amid tons of rushing
water. This landmark on Panama City
Beach has something for everyone
from Lazy River's 1,600-foot,
meandering course to the
35-miles-per-hour Speed Slide. There
are gentle waters geared especially
for young children - Tadpole Hole,
the Elephant Slide, and the Kid Car
Wash. The adventurous seek out the
Rapid River's cascades or the
370-foot White Water Tube.
Lifeguards supervise your fun. Inner
tubes, lounge chairs and umbrellas
are free.
AMUSEMENT PARK: The
excitement continues both day and
night across the street at Miracle
Strip Amusement Park. Some 30 rides
include one of the world's foremost
roller coasters - 2,000 feet long -
and the 40-foot high -Sea Dragon,-
reminiscent of a Viking ship, which
rocks passengers up to 70 feet in
the air. The park's nine acres
include continuous entertainment,
contests, games and special events
for all ages, as well as a full
range of snacks and fast food
options.
ZOO: More than 350 animals,
including rare and endangered
creatures, are displayed in Zoo
World Zoological and Botanical Park
on Front Beach Road. Big cats,
reptiles, orangutans and other
primates are all part of the
entertaining and educational
experience at this unusual zoo, an
active participant in The Species
Survival Plan -SSP-. SSP was
established in 1980 by international
zoological authorities for the
purpose of protecting the world's
most severely endangered animal
species. Enjoy Zoo World's aviary,
the hands-on petting zoo and stroll
the handsome grounds. Open daily at
9:00am.
OCEAN OPRY SHOW: Ocean Opry
is a 1,000 seat family oriented
theater featuring country western,
old time rock 'n' roll, blue grass
and gospel music. Featuring a cast
of 18 performers and big name
entertainment on occasion, the Opry
provides good entertainment after
the sun sets.
MINIATURE GOLF: Panama City
Beach has responded to the
popularity of miniature golf with
several elaborate and colorful
courses. Themes range from jungle
adventures and pirate ships to
treasure hunts with waterfalls,
mountains, dripping caves and lush
greenery.
MAZE: Challenge yourself or
your friends to conquer the awesome
Gran-Maze. Spanning the length of a
football field, the maze is the
first human-size maze of its kind in
the country. The safari test of
logic is a race against time as
guests validate their tickets at
four checkpoints before clocking out
at the exit.
MUSEUM OF MAN IN THE SEA:
Owned by the Institute of Diving and
managed by the Panama City Marine
Institute, this one-of-a-kind museum
houses relics from the first days of
scuba diving and underwater
exploration as well as treasures
recovered from shipwrecks.
Historical displays trace man's
fascination with the underwater
world dating back to 1500. Divers
are shown involved in marine life
sciences, underwater exploration,
marine salvage and construction,
oceanography and underwater
archaeology. Exhibits include
artifacts from the Atocha as well as
from the fleet that sank off Ft.
Pierce in 1715. Open daily from
9:00am-to 5:00pm.
BAY
COUNTY'S JUNIOR MUSEUM: A
short drive from Panama City Beach
is an unusual museum for young
visitors. Here, they can see, feel,
hear and participate in science, art
and nature through exhibits,
concerts, puppet shows, classes and
traveling displays. Small visitors
can play Indian games and explore a
life-sized teepee in the children's
room. Chickens and ducks wait to be
fed at a pioneer village complete
with homestead and barn. A nature
trail twists through three
environments common to Northwest
Florida - a hardwood swamp, a pine
island and a hardwood hammock. Open
Tuesday-Friday 9:00am-4:30pm,
Saturday 10:00am-4:00pm. |
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