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| Photo credit: SeeMidTN.com (aka Brent) via Visual Hunt / CC BY-NC |
Two years ago, Justin and I went to explore Panama City Beach and Port St. Joe/Port San Blas with his family. We had just gotten back from our first ever vacation in Europe, and this trip was the perfect excuse to help fill the travel planning void I was experiencing upon our return.
That Friday afternoon, a week after Memorial Day, Justin and I packed up two days worth of belongings and set out for the five-hour drive from Atlanta. Before making it to our destination we had to pass through the CST time zone and back into the EST, throwing our mental clocks off balance, as well as stop for a quick dinner at a weary-looking hole in the wall barbecue joint that called itself "the best". (It was meh.) Finally, at 10pm that night we arrived to our destination.
Panama City Beach
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| view from our room at the Holiday Inn Resort |
Where We Stayed:
We stayed at the Holiday Inn Resort, which was actually a lot more fun than I expected. Our room had a view of the ocean and pool. The hotel was very upscale providing lots of little "extras". One of my favorite extras was the strawberry and pineapple infused water you could get out near the pool. :) They also provided water infused with lime and lemon, sweet tea, coffee, and gave us a coupon for 2 free drinks from the hotel bar. Every day there were a ton of activities near the pool including nightly movies, Polynesian flame throwers, a DJ during the day, a kids water park, and poolside pizza and Hawaiian ice you could order. Honestly the things you could pay for and the entertainment options were endless with this particular hotel. Even if you decided to provide everything yourself, the hotel rooms all offered balconies with a view, huge rooms, and home size fridges for your convenience. While the rooms were pretty expensive, it was definitely fun having access to any amenities we could want.
Where We Shopped:
The Florida House offers feminine Free People style clothing – jewelry, dresses, flip flops, skirts, and tops made with crocheted material, lace, tulle, and using pastel colors perfect for keeping you comfortable, cool, and stylish at the beach. Don't expect cheap tourist prices though; dresses began at $50.
The Shadow Box provided some unique coastal shabby chic pieces and antiques, mostly in the turquoise and white colors you expect to see at the beach with a few seashells and fun beach sayings thrown into the mix. Prices, as you would expect from this kind of store, are not thrift store friendly.
A non-profit created by and for local artists, Floriopolis is an art gallery with every type of art you could ever imagine for sale including paintings, photographs, homemade cards, and the owner mentioned they are considering adding an outdoor area soon as well. If you have children, be sure to look into the art classes they offer. I imagine there can't be a better way to take an art class than at the beach!
Where We Ate:
Andy's Flour Power was packed from the moment we pulled into the parking lot, ten minutes before it opened. The bakery and cafe provided delicious breakfast options just a bit different from what was provided at the numerous local Waffle Houses. I can only recommend what I tried, but what I tried was good. :) We had a dish of potatoes and peppers topped with cheese, ham and eggs along with a croissant and some strawberries.
The Farmer's Market at Grand Lagoon and Captain Anderson's, open on Saturdays until 1PM, is certainly a great place to shop for locally made goods and foods, but Justin and I found it to be the perfect place to grab a bite to eat as well. One particular vendor was selling homemade barbecue, cole slaw, and fresh ice cream. This lunch made by locals was far better than anything we could have (or did) get at any other restaurants we ate at while we were on vacation. I highly recommend checking this out if you are in the area and can be convinced to leave the hotel! :)
Port St. Joe/Port San Blas
Port St. Joe at sunset near the marina
Port Saint Joe and Port San Blas are where you go if you want the more scenic views of the gulf, and if you don't mind bugs. Panama City Beach has strong waves that just keep coming and thick sand that you sink down into, but it also has an enormous amount of tourists. The ports on the other hand are more protected with less "true" beach access.
If you are going to this area for vacation, you'll need to find a vacation home for your stay; the areas are so small that there isn't a whole lot of room for hotels. Restaurants and stores are few and far between. You can expect to find your choice of Winn Dixie, Piggly Wiggly, CVS, and Goodwill. When you do find local restaurants, the food isn't quite as good as what you might find in a more touristy location, and the prices for that food are astronomically high. A better option would be to bring your own food or go fishing if you have access to a pier or a boat. Also, be sure to get gas before venturing onto the island of Port San Blas. If you forget, you may have trouble returning home. :)
Where We Ate:
Ronnie B's Steakhouse and Seafood was one of the few restaurants in Port St. Joe, and you could tell by how crowded the restaurant was. Yet, still, they had room for our large group. (It probably helped that Justin and I arrived a little late, so that I could photograph the sunset at the marina.) The food was expensive, but it was good for what we got. I had no complaints about the steak, salad, or potato that we ordered.
The Sand Bucket Smokehouse & Grill is a cute little restaurant on the island of Port San Blas. The barbecue is good and the experience going is fun. There wasn't a crowd when we had lunch there, and service was good. The restaurant was exactly what you would expect to find on a small island without many people. Here you will find barbecue and the traditional sides. While I wouldn't go out of my way to visit, if you are in the area, it's definitely a fun little lunch spot to visit.
What is your favorite beach in Florida? Do you prefer crowded, touristy beaches or do you like to go to beaches less visited? If you've been before, do you think there is anywhere in Panama City Beach or Port St. Joe/Port San Blas that I should have visited?
** This post was written in advance. I am out of town and working full time most of this month. I appreciate your understanding if I am slow to respond to comments and questions. :)
