Panama City?

[nkjzmom]

Alright all you late night DISers out there....

I feel like I am always taking from these boards and rarely giving, you guys are so helpful! I asked for advice for a trip to Memphis and got tons of help so now I'm asking again...

My childhood girlfriends and I are planning to meet in Panama City in June. Can't wait...we all feel like kids planning a slumber party!

If you've been there would you share some fun things to do? We are trying to decide if we want this to be purely relaxing by the beach or sight-seeing. I've got a few sights bookmarked with info, but it would be helpful to have opinions of those who've actually been.

Thanks and goodnight!

Amy

 

[kinlaw6450]

I am heading to Panama City next Thursday!! My mom and sisters live there.

If you like beaches go to St. Andrews you can take a boat to the island and have a virtually private beach all day.

Miracle Strip (I think that's what it's called) is neat too. TONS to do down there.

I'll post when I get back if we find some new things to get into!

 

[Pugdog007]

I mostly just hang out lazily on the beach when I'm there, but I would highly recommend a night out to eat at the Boar's Head. I would also recommend staying off the beaten path (the strip) or you will feel your age fast

Not that you're old... but most there are probably an average age of 15, although they're all trying to pass for 21

Try to stay out of trouble!

 

[dandave]

It's an awful, terrible place! Don't go there!

Eat at Schooner's or Pineapple Willy's!

Then you can grab a drink at one of the many drive-thru booze joints. But don't drink and drive.

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

Hey! I'm a Panama Citian! (waves hands above head frantically) LOL

For dining I would reconmend:

Ferrucci's Ristorante(one of my faves)
Hawk's Nest Grille
Uncle Ernie's
Boar's Head
Jimmy's Drive-In

of course we also have the typical TGIFriday's, Applebee's, Outback, O'Charley's, Tony Roma's ect...

I checked the schedule's for the Marina Civic Center and Martin Theatre for shows but came up empty handed for June. Like someone already mentioned there are tons of things to do at the beach, great sun and fun grills like Schooner's and Spinnaker which is family friendly during the day. You have Shipwreck Island waterpark and Mircale Strip Amusement Park to keep you entertained. You can take in a dinner cruise on the Lady Anderson or enjoy a dinner and show(think comedic) at the Treasure Ship. Also about 30-45 minutes West of PCB is San Destin which simply beautiful and has a huge factory outlet center called Silver Sands. Lots of shopping oppertunities and also great restaurants and some of the most beautiful emerald green water you have ever seen. You can visit Seaside, where the Truman Show was filmed. AMAZING little town, very Disney IMO!

There is tons more to do but I'll have to sit down and think. All this is off the top of my head. If you have any questions please ask!

 

[kinlaw6450]

Ok all you Panama City people...lean out at say hi Next week as I drive past...

 

[dandave]

I'll start waving now, kinlaw!!! Have a fun, safe trip!

 

[CourtasanSatine]

my mom's best friend lives there and is seeing her in Nov. Let me pick her brain today

 

[DNSDisney]

Been to PC Beach many times in my lifetime. You will want to stay on Thomas Drive. It has several nice resorts there many on the beach. Try the Summerhouse, their condos usually run around $200 a night for a 2 bdrm that sleeps 6.
While there try the human maze . It is really neat to do.
There are tons of things to do. Angelos steakhouse has great steaks and if you eat all there 22 ozer they give you a T shirt LOL
The Treasure Ship is also a very nice place to eat. It is a rest. made from an old ship that still sets in the water. They have 3 levels of rest. areas. The formal, the causal and a bar/ dance area. Hope you have a good time.

 

[nkjzmom]

See.....I knew you guys would come through!!!

Spaceman and dandave...thanks for the ideas and help!

kinlaw and Satine....I'll wait to hear your ideas too!

Have a great trip kinlaw!!!!! Be safe!

Is there a difference between PC and PC Beach? Some of the maps differentiate between them....

Amy

 

[nkjzmom]

Which street/s is/are considered the strip?

There are 3 of us and we've known each other since 1st grade. I don't drink but they may have some wine with dinner I guess.

We're all turning 30 this year
YIKES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So this is a big hurrah for that.

 

[DNSDisney]

Yes there is a difference between PC and PC Beach. There is an actual town then the outskirts of that town on the gulf is PC beach.
There are two main strips in PCB, one is Miricle strip (can't recall the true name of this road), this is where the theme park is and water park. Then there is Thomas drive and it is refered to as the condo strip. It is where most of the condo's are. There are some beachhouses on thomas dr as well as a few rest. and clubs.

 

[nkjzmom]

Okay...we definitely want a beachfront hotel at PCB. I've got it narrowed down to 8-9 to choose from. It's hard to know what's nice and what's not.....

 

[katerkat]

Wow, PC sounds a lot better than I thought! It's DH's top choice for the next place we move, and for some reason, I thought it was a seedy little town that gets inundated with Spring-breakers. (But then, considering our other choices to move to, PC is still the best choice!)

 

[Boots]

I will be there in three weeks. We usually stay somewhere way down on the west end of the beach. We don't stay in a condo and switch back and forth between motels. We usually stay at either the Silver Sands or the Sea Witch. We like to eat at Hamiltons, Captain Anderson's, and at Montego Bay. Their coconut shrimp is wonderful!!! DH doesn't like dinner at the Treasure Ship but loves their lunch. Go figure. I liked the dinner there too. We also buy shrimp one night from one of the big grocery stores there and get them to steam it for us one night for supper! But Boots loves shrimp anyway you fix it!!!!!

 

[nkjzmom]

Hey Boots....the Sea Witch is on my list....what's it like...why do you like it?? Is it right on the beach and relatively close to everything?

Have a great trip!

 

[dandave]

Amy, The only motel that I have stayed at here is Pier 99. We stayed there 3 times while house hunting and waiting on the movers to bring our stuff.
IMHO, there are a lot of very seedy motels here. Pier 99 isn't luxurious, but it's clean and the people who run it are very nice. I like the 3rd floor, oceanfront rooms with a full kitchen. Even if you don't use the kitchen, it gives you more space to spread out. Pineapple Willy's restaurant is right next door. Here's a link with a map, if you want to check it out:
http://www.pier99.com/

Also, if you want to see some really cool fish close up, you should head to the jetty at St. Andrews State Park. They call it the "kiddie pool". The water is only about knee deep, till you get out to the rocks that make up the jetty. There, you can still stand with your head above water in places. With just a pair of goggles and a snorkle, you can see the most beautiful clown fish and sea life around the rocks.

If I can be of any help answering questions, please feel free to PM.

 

[nkjzmom]

Thanks dandave. What do they mean when they say beachfront/beachside? I want something where we can walk right out to the beach from the hotel. I searched the PCB site under hotels and beachside and Pier 99 didn't come up...but it sounds really nice and their site says they are at the beach so I'm confused.

Kinlaw suggested St. Andrews too, so it sounds like something we'll have to do.

I'm thinking my girlfriend's will want to stay at the beach ALL day but I don't know if my oh so lovely fair skin will appreciate that!

 

[dandave]

Amy, that link I gave you is part of panamacity.com. The link back there is on the bottom of the Pier 99 page. It is right on the beach. It is only separated by sea oats and the pool area. You can actually walk over to Pineapple Willy's via the beach.

I'm not sure what the difference is between beachside and beachfront.

Yes, St. Andrews is lovely. We go there all the time. On the map at the bottom of the Pier 99 page, you will see Thomas Drive. St. Andrews would be on the far right, but the map runs out.

 

[Boots]

Well we like the Sea Witch because it isn't close to anything. It takes us a good 10 to 15 minutes to drive to the places we like to eat. But we go on what is called Middle Beach Road which cuts off a lot of time. The motel is on what is called Front Beach Road which is where all the motels are. It is way on the west end. Thus there are not a lot of cruisers, etc. It has a small snack bar type place to eat too. A another reason we stay there is DS's fiancee usually goes to and we can get accomatdations with an extra room for her to stay in. It is super clean and directly on the beach. It has private balconies and I understand a hot tub has now been added. We have stayed there about 5 times now. If you do stay there make sure you tell them you want to stay in the new part, as it is nicer to me. I don't think the older rooms have private balconies. We used to stay all the time in the Port of Call. We have also stayed in the Casa Loma, Fiesta, and like I said we still stay a lot in the Sugar Sands. We stay in the Sugar Sands when it is just DH and me. Tell we know where you decide to stay.