Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
( 800-822-6877;
www.beachesofsouthwalton.com
;
cnr Hwys 331 & 98; 8am-4:30pm)
The tourist center is inland, between SR 283 and SR 83. There's also a bulletin board with
tourist brochures on the eastern end of Seaside Town Sq.
Panama City Beach
While much of the Panhandle's charms spring from its mellow Old Florida roots, don't ex-
pect to find any of those vibes in Panama City Beach, an overdeveloped gulf-front pocket
about 10 miles west of unremarkable Panama City. PCB (as the locals call it) has em-
braced a transformation from 1970s resort town to overcommercialized condo hot spot.
Families come here for cheap vacays, retirees move here to live out their days, and young-
sters flock to get smashed in the sunshine.
Architecturally dire high-rises spring up from the beachfront and block both sunlight
and vistas for those on the streets below, which are lined with more strip malls, chain ho-
tels, amusement arcades, uninspiring restaurants and dive bars than good taste allows.
From March to May the place goes bonkers as a spring-break destination, when students
from 150 colleges east of the Mississippi roar into town to drink and party till they puke.
That said, PCB's beaches remain dazzling for swimming, fishing and diving, with
dozens of natural, historic and artificial reefs attracting spectacular marine life. The city's
tourism boom means cheap rooms close to the more inspiring stretch of Hwy 30A between
here and Destin, where affordable beds are in short supply. In the low season, beachfront
bargains can be found.
Panama City Beach is one for wannabe spring-breakers, and families on a budget with
hard-to-entertain kids - outside spring-break season, of course!
Sights & Activities
There's plenty to do in PCB, especially for the young and young at heart. Cinemas, mini-
golf, shopping and amusement arcades are in plentiful supply, and there is a handful of fun
attractions.
Something of a scuba-diver's paradise, the area has more than a dozen boats offshore,
including a 441ft WWII Liberty ship and numerous tugs, earning the place its nickname
'Wreck Capital of the South.' There are more than 50 artificial reefs made from bridge
