By Timothy Sexton
Panama City is located roughly in the middle of the Florida panhandle, between Tallahassee and Pensacola. The city is abuzz with activity during the spring break weeks, but offers
beach activities year round. In addition, a number of standing attractions are open during the year. The most important element to this town is the sugary white sands of the
beaches and the warm waters of the Gulf of
Mexico.
Swimming and Sunbathing
The number one activity in Panama City, Florida, is the beach. If you have never seen sugary white sand before, you will have your breath--or at least your sight--taken away from you temporarily by the blinding white dunes. This sand leads directly to a long stretch of water so warm that swimming may even be possible for the daring on Christmas Day some years. Swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving and sunbathing are all to be enjoyed.
Gulf World Marine Park
If you have ever wanted to experience the thrill of swimming with dolphins, you should put Gulf World Marine Park at the top of your list of things to do in Panama City. Interact with sea lions, seals, alligators, penguins and sharks, and even take the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to pet a stingray. Kids will especially love Gulf World.
15412 Front Beach Rd. (850) 234-5271
Helicopter Tour
Panhandle Helicopter offers a helicopter tour of the Panama City area that is second to none. The sheer physical beauty of this ares of the country cannot be fully appreciated except from above the ground and high in the air. The price of the tours range from $30 per person for three people to $100 per person. The $70 Shark Run tour is particularly popular as it offers an aerial view of the hammerheads and bull sharks that populate the Gulf of Mexico farther away from the coastline.
15726 Front Beach Rd. (850) 230-2080
Shipwreck Island Water Park
When the gentle waves of the Gulf become a little too tame, head over to this enormous water park. Shipwreck Island was built in the theme of a shipwreck and as the castaways, you can find a lazy river to float down, ridiculously high slides to speed down, and raging rapids to enjoy on a single-person raft or a wild spinning white-knuckle raft ride that seats four or five.
12201 Middle Beach Rd. (850) 234-3333
About the Author:
Timothy Sexton is an award-winning author who started writing in 1994. He has written on topics ranging from politics and golf to nutrition and travel, and his work appears online for Zappos.com, Disaboom and MOJO, among others. He has also done work for "Sherlock Holmes and Philosophy." He holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of West Florida.
