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Events and 2Do's:
Could you
ever get tired of lying on the beach every day with half
amillion other beautiful boys and babes? Or maybe you're
just looking for something to make your Spring Break
EXTRA special. Here are some other possibilities for
enhancing your Spring Break experience.
Emerald
Coast Divers
5121 Thomas Dr., Panama City Beach, FL 32408,
904-871-2876
One of a number of dive shops located in or
around Panama City Beach, Emerald Coast Divers
offers rentals, diving instruction, and dive
excursions. Information about diving conditions
in the area is available on their web site.
Lucky
Day Charters
3625 Oak Brook Lane, Panama City Beach, FL
32408, 904-233-6851
If you are looking for a great fish tale (or is
it tail?) to go with your gorgeous tan, Lucky Day
can help. They book charter fishing excursions
ranging from 4 hour to 3 days long.
Tropical
Air Lines
12386D Front Beach Rd, Panama City Beach, FL
(across from the county pier)
One if by land, two if by sea...but imagine how
many points you might score taking your friend on
a hot air balloon ride over the area!
Clubs
and Eats:
Clubs: While it may be hard to tear
yourself away from the beach by day, visitors to Panama
City need never be bored once the sun goes down. There
are plenty of nightclubs, bars, and other evening
establishment to keep the party going until the wee hours
of the morn. While space prohibits us listing all the
Panama City Beach hot spots, you could spend your entire
Spring Break just exploring these sample sites below.
- Club La Vela
8813 Thomas Dr., Panama City Beach, FL,
904-234-3866
This has to be one of the ULTIMATE party palaces
in the world! This "superclub complex"
has no fewer than 48 bars on 7 different themed
levels with 14 separate dance floors. Site for
both the MTV official "Spring Break"
taping and the SPIN BREAK College Music Festival,
this is one club that you have to see to believe.
(You don't believe us? Just peruse their concert
schedule in the Rock Pavilion alone.)
- Sharky's
Beach Club
15201 Front Beach Rd., Panama City Beach, FL,
904-235-2420
Sharky's is home to their "World Famous
Beach Bash," which they bill as "the
largest daytime Spring Break event
anywhere!" Wild contests, such as the
"Suck 'em Dry" and "Sex on the
Beach," and a full nighttime concert
schedule makes this place not just a club, but an
experience.
- Spinnaker
Beach Club
8795 Thomas Dr., Panama City Beach, FL,
904-234-7882
Located directly on the Gulf of Mexico, this
50,000 sq. ft. facility hosts continuous live
entertainment, daily poolside contests (such as
the famous "Homemade Bikini" contest),
a Rock Arena, DV*Deck, main dance floor, and a
gulfside amphitheater featuring top national
acts.
Eats: Fine dining, fun times, and
affordable prices--those are the trademarks of the many
establishments in Panama City Beach eager to provide fuel
to Spring Break partiers. With a full array of cuisines,
restaurant types, and price ranges, there is something to
serve every appetite that comes ashore during the Spring
Break festivities. The following are examples of some of
the most popular places for Spring Breakers to eat and
greet:
- Breakers
12627 Front Beach Rd., Panama City Beach, FL,
904-234-6060
In addition to serving a full selection of pasta,
seafood, chicken, and beef dishes (want to see
their menu?), Breakers has a live, often Las
Vegas-style, show each night at 10:00 PM (Tues -
Sun).
- Dakota Gill
and Grill
The Shoppes at Edgewater, Panama City Beach,
FL, 904-230-8000
This restaurant with a southwestern flair is best
known for its fajita-wood grilled steaks,
chicken, and seafood.
- Frontstreet
Ale House & Grill
17118 Front Beach Rd., Panama City Beach, FL,
904-233-2900
This new hot spot not only offers food, it has
pool tables, dart boards, and over 200 micro and
imported beers available. Bet 'ya can't have just
one!
- Harpoon Harry's
12677 Front Beach Rd., Panama City Beach, FL,
904-234-6060
Next door to and associated with Breakers, HH is
a tropical waterfront cafe on 250 ft. of
breathtaking beach. You can get parasail rides,
play beach volleyball, or rent wave runners or
Hobie cats to go along with your food.
- Mescalitos
Bar
The Shoppes at Edgewater, Panama City Beach,
FL, 904-233-8000
The saloon associated with Dakota, this bar
offers late-night fare, great nachos, and
unbeatable Margaritas.
- Pineapple
Willy's
9900 Beach Blvd., Panama City Beach, FL,
904-235-0928
The caribean food is accompanied by the live
Sunsplash Reggae festival during the period of
Spring Break. Famished but budget-conscious
fun-lovers can't beat their 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Eatin' - Drinkin' - Reggae in' Special of $10 as
the sun goes down.
- Pompano's
Lakeside Restaurant & Lounge
10292 Front Beach Rd, Panama City Beach, FL,
904/233-9080
A fine (but casual) establishment that
specializes in local Florida seafood (hence the
name!), as well as grilled steaks, chicken, and
specialty drinks, served with or without a
souveneir glass. Check out their tee-shirts on
their web page.
The
Treasure Ship
3605 Thomas Dr., Panama City Beach, FL 32408,
904-234-8008
A one-of-a-kind experience, this restaurant
occupies the main deck of a 200 ft. long replica
of a Spanish galleon that used to sail the local
waters. Known for its seafood and Sunday brunch,
it also has a gift shop, bar, and open deck with
live nightly entertainment. Watch out for
pirates!
Freebies:
Hotels:
Panama City claims to have
over 27,000 rooms available to accomodate Spring Break
visitors, and even springbreak.com can't handle THAT much
action. However, here is the low-down on some of the most
popular hotels for Spring Breakers, along with a link to
their home page so that you can get a picture of the
place for yourself.
Boardwalk
Beach Resort
9450
S. Thomas Dr., Panama City Beach, FL 32408,
1-800-224-GULF
This is actually four hotels in one--Howard
Johnson Resort Hotel, Comfort Inn and Suites, The
Gulfwalk, and The Beachwalk--all located in the
center of action next to Club LaVela and
Spinnakers.
The
Commodore
4715
Thomas Dr., Panama City Beach, FL 32408,
1-888-84-BEACH
Located near St. Andrew State Park, this hotel
offers a quieter retreat with all the amenities,
including a spa, gulf-front pool, and
shuffleboard on the premises.
Edgewater
Beach Resort
11212
West Highway 98, Panama City Beach, FL 32407,
1-800-874-8686
A perfect place for sport enthusiasts, these
rentals and condos have tennis courts, an
Executive Par 3 golf course, and an 11,500 sq.
ft. lagoon pool on the property.
Emerald
Beach Motel
14701
Front Beach Rd., Panama City Beach, FL 32413,
904-234-2147, 1-800-633-3131
A beautifully-landscaped facility with a tropical
feel, it features a beachside pool, large tanning
deck, and on-line room rates.
Endless
Summer Retreat
203
Shalimar, Panama City Beach, FL 32513,
904-233-1264
This is a great place for groups, because it
includes such things as basketball and volleyball
courts, a soccer/football field, and meeting
rooms among its accommodations.
Georgian Terrace
Motel
14415 Front Beach Rd., Panama City, FL 32403,
904-234-2144
A special asset of this motel are the private
enclosed sunrooms and kitchens with the rooms.
Park
Inn International
11004
Front Beach Rd., Panama City, FL 32407,
904-234-7334
This spot has location, location, location, with
Salty's By the Sea club across the street, an
all-night Waffle House two doors down, and
Edgewater Shopping Center (complete with stores,
movie theaters, and restaurants) only two block
away.
Red
Carpet Inn
10811
Front Beach Rd., Panama City, FL 32407,
1-800-220-2811
With three pools, a seafood restaurant, and
sandwich shops on-site, you may never leave!
Sandpiper
Beacon Beach Resort
17403
Front Beach Rd, Panama City, FL 32413,
904-234-2154, 1-800-488-8828
Between the availability of parasail rides,
waverunners, and excursions with the dolphins in
the water, and a large hot tub and Tiki Beach Bar
with entertainment and karaoke on land, you
certainly shouldn't be bored here.
Sun
Glo Motel
5401
Thomas Drive, Panama City, FL 32408,
904-234-2748, 1-800-247-3695
Featuring family accommodations at affordable
prices, this motel makes it convenient to
"get where the action is" when you want
to, but also provides a private retreat when you
need to "get away from it all."
Radio
Stations:
Tips for
the Trip:
One asset of Spring Break
in Panama City is its easy accessibility. Many major
highways, including I-10, I-65, I-95, US 231, US 331, ST
HWY 77, and ST HWY 79, all serve to bring visitors from
many different directions. Here are some approximate
milages to help you plan your Spring Break Road Trip.
Do
Not Pass Go....
Spring Break is a time of fun, relaxation, and good
times...but there are a few precautions you need to
remember to make sure that your vacation is not marred by
something unpleasant. So keep in mind the following:
- Panama City
Beach Flag Warning Systems
A RED flag indicates "Stay OUT of
the water. Strong undertow and riptide."
A YELLOW flag indicates "Use CAUTION in
water. Some undertow and riptide."
A BLUE flag indicates "Calm
Seas."
And remember: Absence
of flags does not necessarily mean the seas are
safe.
USE
common sense.
- Panama City
Beach Liquor Laws
Florida State Law requires that you must be 21 to
purchase, consume, or possess alcoholic
beverages. Open alcoholic containers on public
property, including streets, sidewalks, or inside
a vehicle, is prohibited. Do
Not Drink and Drive. It is against the law to take ANY
glass container on the beach
- Panama City
Beach Accommodations Laws
Tampering with any fire safety device is a FELONY
under Florida laws and will result in eviction
from your accommodations, arrest, and
prosecution. Occupancy of guest rooms is stricly
limited to the number of persons designated by
the Management in accordance with local fire
laws. Violators are subject to possible
forfeiture of paid monies and eviction.
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