Panama City for the weekend

[kd2777]

I need someone to tell me the names of a few nice hotels on the Ocean in Panama City. If anyone lives around there, or maybe just stayed there.

Thanks

kd

 

[MBony]

Do you have the option to stay at some other place down the beach? PC is a trash dump.

 

[kd2777]

yes, I can drive a little more for a good place.

kd

 

[MBony]

Originally posted by: kd2777
yes, I can drive a little more for a good place.

kd

How much further? Destin is about 1 hour away which is better, but if you want a nice place, keep going to Seaside which is about 30 minutes further.

Seaside Florida

Nice places:
Seaside > Watercolor > Santa Rosa Beach > Destin > Panama City

 

[Parrotheader]

Seaside is actually located halfway between Destin and PCB. It's very nice. Not many true hotels there though. Maybe a few small inns, but it's mostly private homes and rental homes. We've stayed in the Rosemary Beach area a couple years ago (about 15 minutes from PCB.) VERY nice. Like a newer version of Seaside.

If you stay anywhere in the Rosemary/Seagrove/Seaside area you need to eat at Cafe 30A. EXCELLENT food and great drinks.

PCB is trying to shed some of its 'Redneck Riviera' image. It'll take some time, but at the rate they're throwing up more upscale condos it'll probably look just like Destin in about 10 years.

 

[MBony]

Originally posted by: Parrotheader
Seaside is actually located halfway between Destin and PCB. It's very nice. Not many true hotels there though. Maybe a few small inns, but it's mostly private homes and rental homes. We've stayed in the Rosemary Beach area a couple years ago (about 15 minutes from PCB.) VERY nice. Like a newer version of Seaside.

If you stay anywhere in the Rosemary/Seagrove/Seaside area you need to eat at Cafe 30A. EXCELLENT food and great drinks.

PCB is trying to shed some of its 'Redneck Riviera' image. It'll take some time, but at the rate they're throwing up more upscale condos it'll probably look just like Destin in about 10 years.

Yes! Cafe 30A is a must. I stay right across the street in Seagrove. But bring your checkbook, it can be pricey, but worth it.

 

[shimsham]

ocean? theres no ocean. gulf of mexico. not being an ass, but you dont want to run around calling it the ocean. the locals will eat you.

if your looking for small and quiet, try some places in navarre or mexico beach. perdido key is nice, but theres not much left over there. the further west you go, the less luck youll have. the western panhandle took a lot of damage from Ivan, and many places are still closed.

 

[kd2777]

Originally posted by: shimsham
ocean? theres no ocean. gulf of mexico. not being an ass, but you dont want to run around calling it the ocean. the locals will eat you.

I would hate to be eaten. I am from KY so I don't think much about it being a gulf and an Ocean. I however I did no it was the gulf of Mexico, just was using the term Ocean in a generic sense.

Thanks

kd

 

[MBony]

Originally posted by: shimsham
ocean? theres no ocean. gulf of mexico. not being an ass, but you dont want to run around calling it the ocean. the locals will eat you.

Beware of the canabalistic locals! 😕

 

[SethK28]

Originally posted by: MBony
Do you have the option to stay at some other place down the beach? PC is a trash dump.

Guess you have not been there in awhile, there are currently 5-6 mulitmillion dollar high rises under constuction not to mention the ones that were built in the last couple years.

 

[farmercal]

Here in the Fort Walton Beach/Destin area there plenty of nice places to stay right on the beach. Fort Walton is probably less expensive is cost is a factor. Traffic on Hwy 98 is a problem at certain times of the day but easily manageable.

Try Here

 

[MBony]

Originally posted by: SethK28

Originally posted by: MBony
Do you have the option to stay at some other place down the beach? PC is a trash dump.

Guess you have not been there in awhile, there are currently 5-6 mulitmillion dollar high rises under constuction not to mention the ones that were built in the last couple years.

No, I haven't. It has probably been ~ 4 years. Haven't had a reason to go back. The only reason I went that time was because I was invited by friends. I guess I'm bias though. I went there for spring break all during high school and remember what kind of atmosphere it is. If the OP has a family or even a wife I would choose somewhere else if I had the option.

On a side note, I see you're from ATH. I lived there from 2000-2002 on the east side @ Barrington and near Qdoba's on Fortson. I worked on Milledge @ The Butler Building and for Charter as well. I miss that place soooooo much! I'm gonna try to make it back on Feb. 3 for the Kings of Convenience show @ the 40 Watt.

 

[Mill]

I really like Destin and/or Seaside. We stayed in some of the homes that actually make up Seaside and it was great, but Destin has more stuff to "do" so you don't have to drive as far.

 

[EagleKeeper]

Contact FreeWolf.

 

[Slickone]

Originally posted by: MBony

Originally posted by: SethK28

Originally posted by: MBony
Do you have the option to stay at some other place down the beach? PC is a trash dump.

Guess you have not been there in awhile, there are currently 5-6 mulitmillion dollar high rises under constuction not to mention the ones that were built in the last couple years.

No, I haven't. It has probably been ~ 4 years. Haven't had a reason to go back. The only reason I went that time was because I was invited by friends. I guess I'm bias though. I went there for spring break all during high school and remember what kind of atmosphere it is. If the OP has a family or even a wife I would choose somewhere else if I had the option.

Yeah I was about to say, you probably haven't been in awhile. People always used to say this, but I always loved PCB, and have always stayed on the beach. I used to go every year when I was younger. I've been to Destin several times, but always liked PCB better because of the things to do. I've you're old and don't care, anywhere is fine. PCB used to have more/better restaurants than Destin, but it's probably going more to Destin now. I've only been to PCB once in the past 6 years, which was Sept 4th or 5th '04, the very last day of Miracle Strip Amusement Park, since it's being torn down for condo's. It was very sad for me since I have a lot of nostalgia for MSAP, PCB, and since I'm a big amusement park and roller coaster fan. Loosing MSAP was sort of the 'last draw' if you will. It crossed the line and is truely a much different place now. BTW, Shipwreck Island water park will remain. FYI, at one time, there was another amusement park there too (until '84) - Petticoat Junction. But it has changed drastically since back when I used to go every year with my parents (about '77 to '91). They've been tearing down the old motels and stores, in place of giant new condo's. When I went in Sept., I noticed a giant hotel or condo, plus another condo they were building next door, right across the street from MSAP, blocking the nice view of the beach there used to be from the park. That was where the space needle thing was at one time.

My parents still go every year and have been telling me this for quite awhile. BTW, they always stay at the Holiday Inn Sunspree Resort. After '91, I've only been 3 times, but have noticed a lot of changes each time, with the most drastic this past Sept. (since I hadn't been since '98). I have different reason's for not going much anymore, but not because it's a 'trash dump'. Heck, I liked it more back when all the old stuff was there. I just hope they don't ever remove Goofy Golf.

OP: If you're looking for a place to stay, the Holiday Inn I mentioned above must be nice since they stay there (I stayed there in '91), I don't know anything about all the new condos, but I always liked the condo's on Thomas Drive. The further down Thomas you drive, the newer they get.

Oh, and if you stay in PCB, you just might see the new F-22's fly over, from Tyndall.

It's sad for me, but yes PCB has changed a lot, and will continue to do so. I think one problem was so many high school kids going there, creating bad atmosphere. Also as far as MSAP, I hear one excuse they had was the school years have grown, so the park would only really get enough business for 4 months out of the year.

Also, MBony, whether now or anytime, if you go when it's not spring break, you'll have a much better time (unless that's what you're going for of course). It's just too crazy and there's just too many people (creating too much traffic) duing spring break. They can't keep it cleaned up as fast as the kids are trashing it. We always went August.

Seaside, isn't that a little community where the Truman Show was filmed? Oddly, as many times as I've been to PCB, and driven between PCB and Destin, I haven't heard of it until this past year.

BTW, looking up the defination of ocean, I'd say the gulf is part of the ocean.