With a population of around 40,000, Panama City Beach is a small city in northwest Florida. It is a popular tourist destination right on St. Andrews Bay and the Gulf of Mexico.
The city’s official website boasts that Panama City Beach is attractive for raising a family, which is true about eleven months out of the year. The website also boasts that the city is an exciting tourist destination year-round, which is also true.
But the city is best known for one thing: spring break.
College students from across Canada and the US head to Panama City Beach each spring to have fun with other like-minded people. It is a good place to have fun and forget about the scrutiny of school and exams. Namely, for the past two years, Panama City Beach has hosted MTV’s Spring Break. And students will have another chance to party there again in 2010.
Hotels and motels line up to entice these partygoers to stay at their place. Because of this, you should reserve your rooms in advance, even a year in advance is recommended. Everywhere will fill up quickly.
During the day, there is plenty to do at Panama City Beach Spring Break. Of course, there are the endless beaches. Beautiful sandy beaches for swimming, sunbathing, playing frisbee or beach soccer and watching all the other partiers having fun. While the public beaches are the most popular, they get very crowded during this time. Don’t worry though, there’s always St. Andrews State Park, which also has nice beaches. There is a small fee to enter the park, but it might be worth avoiding the crowds.
Near the strip is a popular water park called Shipwreck Island. A ticket to get in is around $30 or so. However, you will need more dough if you want to eat or drink inside because refrigerators and outside food are prohibited. However, regardless of age, there are all kinds of attractions for everyone to enjoy.
For those who want to party at night, luck is on your side. There are many bars, restaurants and nightclubs available, perhaps the best known nightclub is Club La Vela, reputedly the biggest nightclub in America. The club is multi-story and home to multiple themed rooms where the parties never slow down. Other well-known party spots include Fred’s Spinnaker and Hammerhead. Then there’s the Boardwalk Beach Resort, located right on the beach. It hosts Spring Break concerts and themed contests all day every day and could be the place for you to be seen and seen.
There are also plenty of shops if that’s your thing. There are malls galore, as well as more souvenir shops than you can count. A popular local attraction is Alvin’s Magic Mountain Mall. Resembling a cave, you can find everything from beachwear to cheap souvenirs. Since it’s Florida, an alligator exhibit is also a big draw.
Spring break 2010 in Panama City Beach begins for some in mid-February. Most students will enjoy their vacation during March with the busiest two weeks starting on March 6th.
The locals will take back their small town around April 10 of next year, when MTV’s Spring Break officially ends.