Memories of Panama City Beach
When I was a kid, we lived in Georgia and took a week long vacation every summer to a beach location on the Atlantic or Gulf coast. We visited the Keys, Jacksonville, Tampa, Myrtle Beach and more. But our family favorite was Panama City Beach.
We first visited Panama City Beach when I was 4 or 5 and I remember that my uncle and cousin joined us that year. I recall sitting on patio chairs right outside our sliding glass doors with the white sand under our feet, the soft waves a few yards away (which seemed much farther to a 4 year old) This was just a plain, no frills motel. Not like the luxury buildings that line the beach today.
Later in my preteen and early teen years we started to make Panama City Beach our regular destination. My memories of these trips meld together as one. There was always a day of deep sea fishing for the guys, while mom and I hung out on the beach. Every year we had at least one dinner at Captain Anderson’s – which is still in business today. I always had fried shrimp! We took day trips to shell island and chartered a sailboat for a day. On these later trips we stayed in one bedroom condos with a pull out sofabed for my brother and me. This way we could bring our own cooler full of sodas and beer (for Dad), lunch meat and sandwich makings, plus cereal or something for breakfast. I remember this being a new concept to us in the late 70′s/early 80′s but this is still the way I prefer to vacation today.
Having a kitchen enables a family, a couple or an individual traveler to have coffee and breakfast in their pajamas. It allows you to take sandwiches to the beach or on your hike or boat ride and enjoy your activity nearly uninterrupted. It is healthier for you and your family as well as your bank account!
