TREASURE CITY
6/3/2008 12:43:23 PM by Archilles Stone
There may not be gold at Panama City on Florida’s Panhandle, but there are definitely treasures to discover in and out of the water.
Photos courtesy of Visit Florida
Panama City is a cruiser’s treasure. Almost completely surrounded by water, this unique city in Florida’s Panhandle is close to top destinations and sightseeing spots and serves as the perfect place to put down anchor and hang for a while. The 20-mile stretch of pristine white-sand beach and calm, azure waters are usually filled with sun-tanning tourists and locals alike. Further offshore are plenty of cruising, diving, snorkeling and fishing opportunities that have come to define this watersports paradise.
Marinas, docks and ramps are plentiful in and around Panama City, so getting a space shouldn’t be a problem. However, though the year-round good weather allows for 365 days of boating, the city most definitely has a high season during the summer months when the roads, beaches and waterways fill up. It is always a good idea to book in advance during the high season or for first-time visitors. There’s also a healthy choice of fuel docks, provisioning sources and even boat repair facilities to make life even more convenient if one chooses to remain aboard.
There’s plenty to choose from when it comes to waterplay. Most find cruising on the gentle Gulf waters to be even more soul-soothing than a vacation to the Mediterranean. In addition to the Gulf, there are plenty of bays, lakes and inlets to explore, as well as windsurfers and small sailboats available for rent. Deep-sea fishing comes in the form of a wide selection of charter fishing boat operators, or as we opted, sage advice from a weather-beaten but very savvy tackle store owner.
On my last trip there, I landed (and released) some healthy Spanish mackerel which migrate through in mid-March. Had we visited a little later in the year we could have taken advantage of April and May when cobia and jack crevale run. April through early June is highlighted by King Mackerels ranging up to 60 lbs. Just follow the baitfish.
After getting sunburned noses despite using sunblock when fishing, we opted to go below the water the next day. In addition to the natural reefs of the Gulf, starting back in the mid-1970s, ships, airplanes, bridges and towers have been sunk as artificial reefs in Panama City and nearby Port St. Joe waters. We were able to explore Black Bart, a 185-foot oil rig supply ship starting at the bow in 40 feet of water going down to 66 feet at the main deck. The ship rests in 75 feet of water at the bottom. The cargo holds are permanently open for safe investigating. There’s even a toilet left in the head that is a popular photo spot. The following day we dove on the Navy mine sweeper USS Strength. This underwater monstrosity is 184 feet long with a 33-foot beam and is still used as a Navy salvage diving training site.
Back on land, there’s the St. Andrews Historic District. In addition to the revitalization currently in progress, the St. Andrews neighborhood stands out with its truly exceptional history. In fact, it might be one of the oldest inhabited areas in the Southeast. It seems that at some point during the last Ice Age, the oceans were 350 feet lower than they are today, thus Pleistocene animals including mammoth, mastodon, saber-toothed cat and camel were able to travel directly across land from what is now Asia and over to St. Andrews Bay. Fossilized remains of these creatures have been found in the area.
In 1989, the then-somewhat rundown sector was deemed the St. Andrews Community Redevelopment Area. “Our vision statement for the area reads: ‘Historic St. Andrews, a village by the bay where cultural attractions, entertainment and commerce thrive,’” says Nancy Wengel, St. Andrews Waterfront project director.
“One can’t forget the significance of the marina,” says Debbie Carlin, St. Andrews Waterfront Partnership president. “The marina has always been an anchor to the economy and life of this area and Carlin expects it to do the same in the future.” According to Carlin, approximately $2.3 million is being spent on a complete rejuvenation of the St. Andrews Marina and its potential for 106 slips.
Also engendering considerable excitement is the new Pier Park, a 900,000-square-foot retail and entertainment complex found from Front Beach Road to Panama City Beach Parkway. The Park just celebrated the grand opening of Phase 1 this past Valentine’s Day, singing and dancing on the tables. After the initial 20 stores, others soon followed and buildouts continue into what is expected to become a hot weekend and nightlife spot on the Panhandle.
Of course, there’s also the beach area which literally brims with sidewalk cafes, mini golf, video arcades, souvenirs and more practical shops. In addition to beach frontage along the Gulf, the park is home to the Grand Lagoon, as well and snorkeling, kayaking and canoeing opportunities. Two fishing piers, a jetty and a boat ramp allow further access to the water. Campsites are available for those who want to get off the boat for a while, as are the Shell Island Boat Tours during the spring and summer for those who want to let someone else do the driving for a while.
Panama City has long been popular with those living on Florida’s Gulf Coast, as well as Alabama and Georgia visitors and seasonal residents. And let’s not forget the outrageous college students during Spring Break. So if you haven’t explored its bounty, it is time to navigate a course in your GPS. Golfers should toss their clubs aboard, they won’t be disappointed. And neither will anyone else aboard.