Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
( 850-722-9927; www.bearcreekfelinecenter.org ; 8822 Tracy Way, Panama City; suggested donation
$50; tours by appointment)
Outside Panama City, this unique facility with an emphasis on conservation, preservation
and education provides 'forever homes' for a total of 24 exotic felines from around the
world. Each cat is assigned to an individual handler, and if getting up close and personal
with majestic panthers, bobcats and lynxes gets you purring, a visit to the center is a must.
Tours are by appointment only. The center is about 14 miles north of Panama City, and 24
miles inland.
Museum of Man in the Sea MUSEUM
( GOOGLE MAP ; 850-235-4101; www.maninthesea.org ; 17314 Panama City Beach Pkwy, Panama
City Beach; adult/child $5/free; 10am-5pm Wed-Sat)
Owned by the Institute of Diving, this museum takes a close look at the sport. Interactive
exhibits let you crank up a Siebe pump, climb into a Beaver Mark IV submersible, check
out models of underwater laboratory Sealab III and find out how diving bells really work.
There's also a cool collection of old diving suits and a sea-life-filled aquarium.
Ripley's Believe It or Not! MUSEUM
( 850-230-6113; www.ripleyspanamacitybeach.com ; 9907 Front Beach Rd, Panama City Beach;
adult/child $16/11; 9am-9pm; )
Love it or hate it, the ubiquitous Ripley's is very Panama City Beach - loud, crowded,
tacky-but-fun. In a building designed to look like a ship, the 'Odditorium' features bizarro
exhibits like a replica of the world's tallest man and an Amazonian shrunken head (believe
it? Or not?). There's also laser tag (locals love it!) and an IMAX with seats that shake.
Gulf World Marine Park AQUARIUM
( GOOGLE MAP ; 850-234-5271; www.gulfworldmarinepark.com ; 15412 Front Beach Rd, Panama
City Beach; adult/child $20/12; 9:30am-5pm, later in summer & holidays)
Open since 1969, this aquarium is a good place to get up close and personal with our mar-
ine friends: swim with dolphins programs, including classroom sessions, start at $175.
(Animal-welfare groups believe that interacting with captive sea creatures is harmful to the
Search WWH ::




Custom Search