PANAMA CITY BEACH VACATION RENTALS, FLORIDA

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 at the Gulf World Marine Park. 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 Gulf World Marine 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 the Memorial Day Weekend to the Labor Day Weekend.

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 during your vacation in a Panama City Beach condo is a must. With over 350 species of exotic animals and over 250 species of trees and plants inhabiting the park, the Zoo World Zoological and Botanical Park 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 World Zoological and Botanical Park 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.

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 of Man in the Sea 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.

Think water parks and immediately an image pops up of feeling the adrenaline rush as one zooms through the water slides and hits the pool with a splash or enjoying one of those water tube rides that whirls and swerves till you feel giddy with excitement and joy. Here’s your chance to relive that joy and excitement and etch out some unforgettable moments at the Shipwreck Island Water Park, which is just a short drive away from the majority of the Panama City Beach beach houses. Tree Top Drop, Raging Pirates, Pirates Plunge, White Knuckle River and The Great Shipwreck are just some of the rides that will transport you to a world of excitement and adventure. Pelican, Frog and Silly Sub rides will keep your little ones amused and entertained all day long.

For visitors 50 inches and above, the entry fee to the Shipwreck Island Water Park is $28 per person, for those between 35 to 50 inches; the fee is $23 and is free for guests under 35 inches.