|
PANAMA CITY VACATION RENTALS, FLORIDA |
 |
 |
Sights and Attractions in Panama City |
| |
| The stunning Panama City boasts 37 parks, 2 marinas and a bustling downtown district. The nature lover in you will not be bereft of choices for parks or unspoiled beaches; while the history enthusiast in you will also be satisfied to see the historical Downtown Panama City with its reminiscent buildings of the past and the one-of-its-kind Visual Arts Center of Northwest Florida will further reward an art aficionado in you! |
| |
|
Marinas
St. Andrews State Park
Visual Arts Center of Northwest Florida
Junior Museum of Bay County
Gulf World Marine Park
Zoo World Zoological and Botanical Park
Museum of Man in the Sea |
|
 |
| |
| Marinas |
Water water all around is that what you are looking for? The City boasts two full services marinas, one of these being recently renovated Panama City Marina, and the other being St. Andrews Marina. St. Andrews Bay surrounds much of the City, thereby building a natural, sheltered harbor around it.
The historic seaport, St. Andrews Marina is the one to have provided the boating conveniences and facilities for both recreational and commercial purposes since 1959. The harbor is flocked by vacationers and visitors, who come here to catch the glimpse of commercial fishermen and sea harvesters, offloading their booty on the shores. Numerous shrimp boats destined for St. Andrews Marina even sells fresh shrimps at a luring price, which is quite a craze among the locals. The marina is at a walkable distance to several coffeehouses, restaurants, eateries, grocery shops and even marine services. What’s more, even city trolley service comes as your aide, taking you around town and the unspoiled beach areas.
Situated on the Intracoastal Waterway, a few blocks away from the City’s bustling historic Downtown, Panama City Marina is a 240-slip marina facility, which can accommodate diverse fleets of vessels right from 30 feet to 120 feet ones. The Marina is close to several restaurants, shops and even The Panama City Marina Civic Center. It features a fully stocked Marina Store with clean showers and laundry facilities, and fax and copier services too. Bicycles too are available for daily usage, free of any charge. There is a nighttime security guard, 7 days a week from 9 PM to 7 AM. |
| |
| St. Andrews State Park |
Sitting pretty on 1260 acres of a picturesque peninsula, St. Andrews State Park prides itself in being one of the most popular outdoor recreational spot in Florida. Flanked by the Gulf of Mexico on one side, you’ll be surrounded by sugar white beaches, undulating sand dunes, meandering nature trails, unexplored marshlands and lush pinewoods. Pricked by wild rosemary and sea oats, the white powdery sands offer perfect base to build your castles or simply enjoy your solitude.
The calm, azure-green waters lapping the unspoiled shoreline at the Park offer unprecedented opportunities for swimming, canoeing, snorkeling, diving, surfing, fishing from its jetties and piers, and even boating. The trails in the Park are just perfect for hiking, walking or jogging, while camping and picnicking too can be enjoyed at the Park. If you wish to camp at the Park, you need to book well in advance. The entry fee to the Park is $2 per person or $4 per car, while rest of the rates varies as per activities. |
| |
| Visual Arts Center of Northwest Florida |
If you are a history n culture buff and nature parks or beaches fail to capture your interest, do not despair! Downtown Panama City boasts a one-of-its-kind museum and a supreme exhibition space within its 100-miles radius. There since 1988, the Visual Arts Center has hosted several visual arts programs, some of the world's most distinguished art exhibitions, complimented by the works of local, state and regionally acclaimed artists.
The Center has even presented national Watercolor Competition, displays by Russian Icons and international Photography Competition. The Center hosts at least 12 events and festivals on an average annually. Some of the indoor galleries out here include Lobby Gallery, Walkway Gallery, The Higby Gallery, Main Gallery and Impressions - a Hands-on Children's Gallery, where several exhibits by Florida artists and even Bay County School students have been displayed. Classes, workshops and lectures on art and culture are conducted here for the welfare of and awareness among the community. The indoor gallery opening hours include Tuesday and Thursday 10 AM to 8PM, Wednesday and Friday 10 AM to 4 PM; Saturday and Sunday 1 PM to 5 PM, while it remains closed on Mondays. |
| |
| Junior Museum of Bay County |
| A special treat awaits children in Panama City, where your little ones will have a blast - Junior Museum of Bay County. Junior Museum is a fun way for the whole family to spend a few hours together. In the indoors, it has exhibits relating to science, imagination and nature, while the outdoor offers a 1500-feett nature walk to a real-size replica of a pioneer homestead. Events like the Spring Heritage Festival, Haunted Trail and Pumpkin Patch, Powder Puff Parties among others, are popular with kids. The Museum is open from 9 AM to 4:30 PM from Monday to Friday. Saturday timings are from 10 AM to 4 PM and it is closed on Sundays. Entry to the Museum is free. |
| |
| Gulf World Marine Park |
Find a seat with the perfect view, take out your cameras and wait impatiently while the stars of the show get dressed to entertain you. After few minutes of anticipation, you will hear lots of clapping and an excited crowd cheering as the stars of the day – the bottle-nosed dolphins put up an Oscar winning performance with their mind-blowing acrobatics and stunts. Dolphins are not the only ones to show off their talents, you can also catch live performances by sea lions and parrots and watch fascinating exhibits on alligators, flamingos, otters, sea turtles, penguins and other marine creatures.
The general admission fee to the park is $24 plus tax for adults, $15 plus tax for kids between the age of 5 and 11 and free for children under the age of 4. For a swim with a dolphin the cost is $125 plus tax, which includes the general admission also and this is during the spring, fall and winter seasons. The cost goes up to $150 plus tax during the summer season from Memorial Day Weekend to Labor Day Weekend. |
| |
| Zoo World Zoological and Botanical Park |
| Whether it’s a grownup or a kid, most of us are fascinated by the creatures of the wild especially if we are given the opportunity of coming face to face with the ‘King of the Jungle’. If you too have a keen interest in the animal kingdom then a visit to the Zoo World Zoological and Botanical Park is a must. With over 350 species of exotic animals and over 250 species of trees and plants inhabiting the park, the zoo is definitely a treat for the young and the old. Lions, tigers, snow leopards, bears, giraffes and kangaroos are just some of the animals you’ll come across from the wide spectrum of species. There is even a petting zoo where kids can enjoy feeding Sidney, the friendly giraffe. The zoo is open daily from 9 AM to 5:30 PM and until 4:30 PM during winters. The admission fee for adults is $12 and for children between the age of 3 and 11 it is $8. |
| |
| Museum of Man in the Sea |
| If you are one of those who enjoys the sport of diving but never got to know how this sport came about, here’s your chance to do so by paying a visit to the Museum of Man in the Sea. This unique museum tells you the history of diving and has carefully preserved relics from the earliest underwater exploration to recovered shipwrecked treasures. Their extensive collection on underwater equipment ranges from the initial animal-skin bladder to the latest deep-dive gear. Besides browsing through the various displays you can also try on a diving helmet and climb through a submarine. The museum is open daily from 9 AM to 5 PM. It is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. The admission fee is $5 for adults, $2.50 for children between the age of 6 and 16 and free for children age 5 and under. |
| |
| Previous |
|
|
| |
|
