Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
spans, barges and a host of other sunken structures, as well as natural coral reefs. Visibility
varies from 10ft to 80ft, averaging around 40ft. In winter, the average water temperature is
60˚F (16˚C), rising to 87˚F (31˚C) in summer.
Shell Island
PARK
( 850-233-0504;
www.shellislandshuttle.com
;
4607 State Park Lane, Panama City; round-trip adult/
child $17/9; 9am-5pm Mar-Sep)
Offshore from
St Andrews State Park
, this sandy 'desert' island is fantastic for sunbathing,
swimming and snorkelling. There are neither facilities nor shade: wear a hat and plenty of
sunscreen. To get here, buy tickets for the Shell Island Shuttle at Pier Marketplace in the
park; there's a trolley service to the boat. Snorkelling and kayak rentals are available.
Check the website for details and schedules.
St Andrews State Park
PARK
Panama City; vehicle/pedestrian $8/2; 8am-sunset)
This peaceful 1260-acre park is graced with nature trails, swimming beaches and wildlife,
including foxes, coyotes, snakes, seabirds and alligators (fear not: gators live in freshwater,
and the swimming areas - including the kiddie pool's 4ft-deep water, near the jetties - are
in the ocean). Excellent waterfront campsites are available year-round for $28. You can
still see the circular cannon platforms from when this area was used as a military reserva-
tion during WWII; look for them on the beach near the jetties.
WonderWorks
MUSEUM
( 850-249-7000;
www.wonderworkspcb.com
; 9910 Front Beach Rd, Panama City Beach; adult/child
$24/19, laser tag extra $8; 9am-10pm; )
Designed to look like an upside-down building (complete with an upside-down lawn and
palm trees), this wacky interactive museum and fun center is impossible to miss - even if
you want to! While hands-on exhibits like a spinning g-force bike, an obstacle climbing
course and virtual-reality soccer may give some grown-ups a migraine, kids will have a
blast: literally, in the case of the laser-tag maze!
Bear Creek Feline Center
ANIMAL RESCUE
