Panama City Beach, Florida

Panama City Beach, Florida is a city with two distinct personalities. For about a month each spring, 500,000 college students invade the area looking for the most fun they can have without getting in too much trouble. Panama City Beach has become the unofficial spring break capital of the U.S. The city embraces this reputation and tries to make the kids feel as welcome as possible. MTV sets up shop, and the whole experience is broadcast to a national audience.

During the rest of the year, however, Panama City Beach is a great place for a family vacation. Forget subtlety. This is an in-your-face homage to wholesome fun! Arcades water parks, and amusement parks line the coastline, and the area is known as the mini-golf capital of the world.

While Panama City Beach has 22 miles of pristine white sand beaches, the jewel of the area resides in St. Andrews State Park, located at the east end of the beach. In 1995 the beach here was rated the best in the U.S. by Stephen Leatherman (Dr. Beach). With over 1000 acres of sparkling sand, majestic dunes, and wispy sea oats, St. Andrews will give the visitor an idea of what the beaches of Florida were like before urban development took over. Visitors can walk the nature trail where they may encounter wading birds, and perhaps an alligator or two. While in the park, drive carefully! Foxes, coyotes, gators, and deer make their home here.

For an even more remote adventure, take a boat across the inlet off of St. Andrews State Park, and visit Shell Island, a 7 ½ mile uninhabited barrier island. Only accessible by boat, Shell Island is a great place to bask in the Gulf sun, hunt for a souvenir, and generally while away the day doing a whole lot of nothing.

Fishermen will enjoy the area's bountiful offering of more than 20 species of fish. Cast in a line at one of the three piers on the beach, or rent a charter boat and head out in to the Gulf.

While the beaches are beautiful, some of the most interesting views can be seen under water in the area. Divers will love the more than 50 artificial reefs that line the coast. Skin Diver Magazine calls Panama City Beach the "wreck capital of the south." One of the most famous, the Empire Mica, is a WW II British tanker that was sunk by a German U-boat.

Golfers will find the five courses in the area full of challenges for any skill level. The Bruce Devlin designed Lagoon Legends, located at the Marriott Bay Point Village, has been called one of the most difficult in the country.

If you want to get away from all the action of the beach, cross over the Hathaway Bridge into neighboring Panama City. Here you will find all the amenities of a small southern town. Shopping, restaurants, theatres, and other activities are available here, just at a much slower pace than out on the beach!

For an interesting day trip, head east on SR 98 to Apalachicola. The long gorgeous beaches on St. George's Island are among the nation's best. Try the famous Apalachicola oysters, and tour one of the area's nature preserves.

Panama City Beach has something for everyone. Beautiful beaches, arcades, amusement parks, water activities, and great diving and fishing make for an enjoyable Florida vacation for the entire family!