Gone is the image of Redneck Riviera, the well-intended nickname for northern Florida’s hottest spring break destination. Today, mom and pop hotels once popular in the area have been replaced with beautiful highrises offering spacious condos with amenities galore. Don’t worry, the sand remains sugary white, beaches are ever inviting, and the local seafood offers a culinary treat for the palate. The ambiance is the difference – there is a feeling that families are now welcome to tread where only teens once dared to go.
Shores of Panama
Shores of Panama is a particularly lovely 23-story highrise with gulf front luxury accommodations. The interior is spacious and welcoming with state-of-the-art amenities. Set among the “World’s Most Beautiful Beaches,” you will love life at this location!
Shores of Panama
Shores of Panama is a particularly lovely 23-story highrise with gulf front luxury accommodations. The interior is spacious and welcoming with state-of-the-art amenities. Set among the “World’s Most Beautiful Beaches,” you will love life at this location!
The Shores of Panama is close to everything you would want to do in PCB, although with its wealth of amenities, pools, and the fabulous luxury of the room itself, you may not want to leave. Rooms offer kitchens any chef would love with full-size appliances and granite surfaces. We enjoyed late night movies on a flat screen TV while we relaxed on super comfy furniture. The bedrooms offer tons of space, stylish linens, and big closets. These rooms are the very definition of luxury. For more information, please visit www.shoresofpanamacitybeach.com.
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Local Attractions
Adventures at Sea offers a large selection of water recreation to guarantee fun for the whole family. Take a pontoon boat ride over to Shell Island or parasail high above PCB’s emerald green waters. Other choices are jet skis and banana boats, but no matter what you fancy, they specialize in fun! Adventures at Sea has several locations to choose from or call them and they will come to you! Find coupons for a nice savings in lobbies of area hotels or at welcome stations.
Adventures at Sea offers a large selection of water recreation to guarantee fun for the whole family. Take a pontoon boat ride over to Shell Island or parasail high above PCB’s emerald green waters. Other choices are jet skis and banana boats, but no matter what you fancy, they specialize in fun! Adventures at Sea has several locations to choose from or call them and they will come to you! Find coupons for a nice savings in lobbies of area hotels or at welcome stations.
Gulf World Marine Park, a captivating and interactive exploration of marine life, is a great experience for both adults and kids. The highlight of this adventure is a dolphin swim, which allows visitors to get up close and personal with some of nature’s most fascinating creatures. The Park recently completed a $6.5 million expansion to include a new, state-of-the-art dolphin stadium. While visiting there, check out the sea lions, tropical birds, penguins, flamigos (Fred & Ethel), and many other interesting animals as well.
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If you desire a slightly different beach experience, visit Shipwreck Island Waterpark. Get set for slides, towers, tubes, a 500,000-gallon Ocean Motion Wave Pool, and a 2,000-foot Lazy River. Relax and float or go for the thrills of Zoom Flume, just remember to bring the sunscreen.
Dining Options
There are many fun and fabulous dining options located in Panama City Beach, and everyone leaves with some new favorites. One restaurant that serves as a vacation tradition for many folks is the Treasure Ship (3605 Thomas Drive, www.thetreasureship.com). With gorgeous views and loads of pirate-style fun, this iconic restaurant is settled in a full-scale 200-foot replica of Sir Francis Drake’s Spanish galleon, The Golden Hind. Culinary delights are straight from the Gulf of Mexico so freshness is the key.
Pier Park, located on Front Beach Road right in the heart of PCB, not only brings a new dimension of shopping and entertainment to the area, but also features some spectacular restaurants like Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville and Back Porch Seafood House. Both venues have great atmosphere and mouth-watering seafood. If you are searching for the perfect family vacation, a romantic couples weekend, or a girlfriends getaway, look no more! Head to the sunny shores of Panama City Beach, Florida where 27 miles of sugar-white sandy beaches juxtapose clear emerald shaded waters.
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Find out more about this area by visiting the web site at www.thebeachloversbeach.com.
TRANSPORTATION NOTE:
Getting there is far more fun in an exciting, luxury vehicle.
FACTS:
2009 Porsche Cayenne S
Class: Midsize Crossover SUV
Fuel Economy: 12/19
Price as Driven: $60,700
Porsche successfully crosses over into the "family" market with an authentically heavy SUV product designed for safety, comfort, and reliability. This vehicle is more than competent to handle the day-to-day operations of carpooling or a family vacation. Powered by a 4.8 liter V8 engine with 385 hp, this Porsche offers far more than Satellite radio and hard-drive navigation.
The dash board is loaded with gizmos and gadgets, including the unique Porsche Communication Management touchscreen system which interfaces with Bluetooth and offers connectivity for iPod. The kids are happy in the back seat thanks to rear seat entertainment and mom is content knowing that they are cruising the highways in one of the safest vehicles available.
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Rain sensor wipers are awesome (no more flipping the wipers back and forth from slow to fast)
Bose stereo system
Panoramic roof
Performance-oriented handling in a comfortable, upscale vehicle
Top photo: Courtesy of Shores of Panama.
Other photos: Courtesy of Becky J. Beall.
Cayenne photos: Courtesy of Porsche.
Comments
If you haven't seen the changes on our Alabama beaches in a while, I think you'll be surprised at the beauty of the Alabama Gulf Coast. With fabulous restaurants, activites that are fun and educational, and 32 miles of pristine beaches, the Gulf Shores/Orange Beach area has just as much to offer without all the traffic and crowds. For specials, go to birminghamlovesgulfshores.com
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