Maps, photos and information about Panama City Beach on the Emerald Coast, Bay County, Florida |
Written by global traveler,
artist,
astrologer and
web designer
Rudolf Megert.
If we start with the 3 maps of Panama City Beach, Bay County, Florida
below we already get a good impression of this up and coming sun seeker
holiday destination within the more moderate north western section
of Florida's Gulf Coast.
| Panama City Beach map within Florida |
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| Panama City Beach map midrange view |
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| Panama City Beach map of central area |
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The section of the Gulf of Mexico Panama City Beach is
located at is called the Emerald Coast, and emerald it is indeed.
Once you had a weekend or so in one of the mostly new absolute beach front
vacation condos of Panama City Beach (such as Treasure
Island or the brand new Calypso
Beach Resort) you find it hard to ever forget the mix of sunny
blue skies, that emeraldish color of the ocean shore and the fine white
sands outside your Panama City Beach vacation condo windows or balconies.
The endless beaches of Panama City Beach are easy going shores.
Unless there is stormy weather the waves can be handled by adults and kids
alike, but of course, flags should not be ignored.
Locals claim there is also no dangerous sea life along the shores,
therefore it is supposed to be a safe paradise for family fun on the
beach.
The Panama City Beach ocean shore line faces south-southwest,
a romantic sunset evening is therefore an almost daily given here.
| Family outing on the Panama City Beach beaches |
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| Space for romance on the beaches of Panama City Beach |
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| Romantic sunsets at Panama City Beach |
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Most locals think all visitors to Panama City Beach want is to
laze around the beach or the pools, but there is plenty of other
interesting things to see and do in this "variable paradise".
Variable paradise i personally call it because PCB (as the locals
call it) really is a place for everyone and anyone at different times.
From weekend events such as motorcycle parades up and down Front Beach
Road, Spring Break's March madness events to the more quiet conventions
of smaller and larger groups held frequently in Panama City Beach
to the most quiet winter months when Panama City Beach becomes a
winter break destination for Canadians to the busiest summer months
with families in large numbers, PCB frequently changes it's looks
and feel.
Since Panama City Beach became independent from the municipality
of Panama City, it's adjoining city, the new local governing body has been
active to promote a large and fast growing tourism infrastructure.
Fantastic decorated Mini Golf courses, Cart race tracks, any sort of
water craft rentals, golf courses, parks, sports complexes, entertainment
parks for all, and of course, all the usual dining, loosely, discos and
other night fever facilities are spread around loosely.
| Mini Golf in Panama City Beach |
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| Go-Cart race tracks in Panama City Beach |
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| Boating in Panama City Beach |
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| Real golf greens in Panama City Beach |
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| Sailing at bayside waters of Panama City Beach |
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| Landmark tourist attraction in Panama City Beach |
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Now, one might think it's all about cruising up and down Front Beach
Road and hustling through crowded spots such as elevators in all those
highrise condos or the few supermarkets, but these scenes occur
only during peak season or sunny weekends, besides of that Panama City
Beach has a very tranquil core and an outrageously beautiful natural
side to it.
It's indeed a paradise for artists with an eye for the beauty
of nature, photographers will get few chances to go out and about
without their cameras because they could miss a great image at any given
moment wandering around.
| Hidden paradises in Panama City Beach |
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| Flowers of Panama City Beach |
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| Scenic bayside impression of Panama City Beach |
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| Big lagoon of Panama City Beach |
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Of course, Panama City Beach in it's current phase could easily
be described with that famous line "take paradise - and put up a parking
lot" (multi-level parking lots it would be here), but this goes mainly
for the coastal strip, bayside has not yet been built over to the extend
that the original beauty of this north western Florida jewel truly
is.
| Beachfront condos skyline seen from inland Panama City Beach |
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| Central section of beachside developments at Panama City Beach |
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| Old and new vacation accommodations at Panama City Beach |
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| Old times charm mixed with the future of Panama City Beach |
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Getting to Panama City Beach differs somewhat from the major
Florida tourism centers.
The nearby city of Panama City, FL, has a small airport into which
only one US air carrier flies, the nearest big air travel hub would be
Orlando (for all those that want to fly to Florida on one of the
many regular or sometimes very cheap charter airlines).
Panama City Beach stretches along it's Emerald Coast Gulf
shore for more then 20 miles, a car will get you around fastest, the
local trolley bus service is a somewhat limited alternative.
During the hot months renting a scooter just to get around may be another
good option.
There are hiking trails into the bushes and hiking around on discovery
tours is still the best wayt for finding those marvelous untouched spots.
During summer and autumn bare in mind that there is a possibility of
hurricanes building in the Gulf of Mexico.
The new concrete highrise condominium buildings along the ocean
shore will withstand a lot of storm beating though.
Daily shopping within Panama City Beach limits is also somewhat
limited if you are used to big city amenities.
There are 4 or 5 of the major store outlets on the semi island of Panama
City Beach itself, for all else Panama City, FL, across the landmark
bridge over the bay has a large major mall and all other stores and amenities.
To find holiday accommodation for your vacation in Panama
City Beach, Florida should be easy, there are plenty of corporate vacation
rentals offices / websites as well as a large number of full service
Real Estate businesses that have Panama City Beach vacation rentals
throughout the year available - and there is also a large number of private
condo owners (like Nellys
Beach Condos) that offer vacation condo rentals on Panama City
Beach beach front locations .
There are also still a number of low budget older style hotels,
motels or holiday apartments in Panama City Beach, but with every new
luxurious highrise condo building some of the older buildings do
vanish.
If you have an interest in buying Panama City Beach FL property
for retirement or investment purposes, a web search will give you endless
choices, but you might as well start with a private
condo owner of Panama City Beach to find out what you can get for
your money.
P.S. This friendly girl lives here too....
