I'm a visitor and I would like information. I'm going to have some free time here in Panama City…read morewhen I'm not working, so what's to do and what's to see and where to hang out? Conveniently, I walked past the Panama City Downtown Improvement Board and popped in. A very nice lady was quite chatty and suggested that I grab a few of the brochures that were on display as well as a large folded map with the sites. I also picked up the "Visitor Magazine" which apparently contains "money saving coupons." I found this quite helpful!

The quiet beauty of the forgotten coast The condo was…read morebeautiful and clean. The beds super comfortable you don't get that in most rental properties. I will say it was very windy and cool in march for spring break it was advertised that the pool was heated but it was not turned on and the pool was like ice. If you need the wheelchair or handicap assistance find out how to use it before going if not you have about 13 steps not bad but that just depends on if you can do steps or not. I asked for my mom the 1st day and got a txt back from vacsa we will get back to you - that was tuesday morning it is now saturday night and i have yet to get a msg back about it. If the pool had been heated like it said i would have pushed and called but it was cold so she just stayed in the condo and hung out on the balcony with the beautiful gulf view front and center. The city of mexico beach are working on beach nourishment (replenishing sand) and dune restoration so to get to the beach can be a little hard as the dune is huge. You have to climb up and over and to come back from the beach it's easier if you go down just a little bit and come up at an angle but as we head home the workers are planting vegetation to help the dunes so you will not be able to do that for long. The view of mexico beach was beautiful! I love that it is a mom and pop kind of town with not a crazy about of college spring breakers. It was crazy it's in the central time zone and 4 minutes down the road you are in eastern. So keep that in mind when you are looking for a place to eat. The forgotten coast brewery was a fun little place to try different local beers. Mago marley's was very yummy we just did appetizers and had a bucket ( it truly is huge) it is like 5 drinks in 1 for $40. It would be great to share. If you head over to port st. Joe you should hit up krazyfish food was very good and a cute little ice cream shop down the street within walking distance. As you drive around go dow 30a and hit up hunt's on st.Joe bay staff was friendly, food was yummy but the best part was eating on the water. We stayed at the Vue condo complex and rented via Vacasa. We originally for the condo on VRBO and tried to rent from them but had to pay an extra 121$ for fees from VRBO. So look at Vacasa and compare before you book it could possibly save a little money.

Love this small local beach. Great contrast to the hustle and bustle of big, crowded, and over…read moredeveloped beaches like Panama City nearby. They have a pier, cottages to rent, and mainly small and local businesses. Nothing corporate yet and the prices are low. You won't find museums or activities beyond renting bikes, canoes , and golf carts. Mostly families that love relaxation and the small town feel where everyone calls you honey and says good mornin.

City employee Dawn Hollis in the underground utilities department is definitely an asset to the…read moreCity of Panama City. She fields all the complaints from angry, upset citizens with their water problems, yet when she answers the next caller, she is calm and respectful. She collects the needed information then dispatches the correct team to fix the problem. If I still had my business I would steal her from the city. she rates a 10. Fred W.

Thank to all the city employees for the service they did Wednesday the 10th in preparation of the…read moreVeterans Parade on Thursday. I saw them all day cleaning the streets from litter and edging the walkways. Thanks for the employees for placing flags around on every corner. 11th st. looked Beautiful. They all did a great job if I didn't mention others. Today it showed and had another great Veterans Parade. Thanks for all the Police Department for their service at the parade. THANK YOU ALL. GOD BLESS AND HAPPY VETERANS DAY

Because the South will rise again, this marker denotes an important military encounter from the…read moreCivil War... uh, the War of Northern Aggression. This is the South and they love their Confederate War history here. The marker is in great shape and from here, there is a great view of the water. Near this site on March 20, 1863, Confederate soldiers commanded by Captain Walter J. Robinson repelled a landing by Union sailors led by Acting Master James Folger of the blockading vessel U.S.S. Roebuck. The 11-man scouting party of Union sailors was seeking to locate a southern civilian vessel near the "Old Town" spring, when they were reportedly ordered to surrender by Captain Robinson. During the ensuing skirmish, several Union sailors were killed and wounded as they fled to their launch boat. Quarter, or safe passage, was requested by the remaining Union sailors to retrieve their dead and wounded. Total Union casualties were six dead and three wounded. Union sailors buried four of the deceased on nearby Hurricane Island, and a fifth sailor was interred by the Confederate soldiers. No casualties were recorded by the Confederate unit, which later became Company A of the 11th Florida Infantry Regiment. After the conclusion of the Civil War, the remains of the Union sailors were removed to the national cemetery at Fort Barrancas.

We love to go here at 6 in the morning with our chairs. It's a quiet spot and we can't resist the…read moreword skirmish. Shallow water for fishing, hardley any shells. parking for about 8 cars, people on roadtrips park overnight and crawl out of their cars in the morning. Start here and end up a t Big Mamas for Breakfast.

Lots of history and beautiful grounds. There are quite a bit of stairs for anyone who might be…read morechallenged with that. Beautiful views from the top. Small gift shop but you can get your passport stamped since it's apart of a national park.

Incredible historical hilltop fort. Plan on walking and…read moreclimbing a bunch of old stairs, hills and hallways! This place is a hidden historic hideout. Per site: Fort Barrancas sits on a bluff overlooking the entrance to Pensacola Bay. The natural advantages of this location have inspired engineers of three nations to build forts. The British built the Royal Navy Redoubt here in 1763 of earth and logs. The Spanish built two forts here around 1797. Bateria de San Antonio was a masonry water battery at the foot of the bluff. Above it was earth and log Fort San Carlos de Barrancas. American engineers remodeled the Water Battery in 1840 and built a masonry fort on the bluff between 1839 and 1844, connected by a tunnel to the Water Battery. This is the current Fort Barrancas. A $1.2 million, eighteen-month restoration project led to its reopening in 1980. My son and I had a great time and were amazed by all the hidden caves and scenery. A must see for the historians in the family. (not a good place for wheel chairs)

Very cool historical landmark! Unfortunately we weren't able to see the inside because it was…read moredamaged due to Hurricane Michael, and they're in the process of repairing the house. The information plaque in front of the house was helpful. Would recommend if you're in the area!

This is a very nice marker with way too much text in it to copy here. The marker stands in front a…read morebeautiful two story structure in front of the eponymous park here in Panama City. The complete content of both sides of the small print marker is at at the link. Here's a piece: The McKenzie House is a large two-story clapboard frame dwelling built in the Dutch Colonial style typical of the turn of the century houses still standing in Northern Michigan. It was built in 1909 by Belle Booth who married R.L. McKenzie in 1912; after which time the house came to be known as the McKenzie House. It stands today as it was enlarged in 1925. This house is significant because it was one of the first houses in a virtually unsettled area of Northwest Florida and because it was the home and office of Robert Lee McKenzie. McKenzie was born in Macon County, Georgia in 1870. He moved to the Florida Panhandle in 1902 where he became joint owner of a large naval stores business. After acquiring some waterfront property here he organized the Gulf Coast Development Company.

Along Beach Road leaving Panama City, this marker is in front of a beautiful home that is noted for…read moreits architectural worthiness and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Unfortunately, there is nowhere good to stop a car to take a decent picture of it nearby though there is a sidewalk that parallels the waterfront. Keep in mind that this is a private residence now, so no wandering on the lawn. The marker is on both sides. Here's the first part and the rest is on the website. Built in 1927 by A. A. Payne, a banker, and bought by John Christo, Sr., the house is significant in architecture, a mixture of styles typical of the late 19th and early 20th centuries which includes Neo-Colonial Revival and Italianate Villa influences and the accomplishments of John Christo, Sr., 1885 - 1973.

For such an old structure, this marker is in excellent shape. It marks the history of the first…read moreschool in this community being built in 1850. And in Florida, 1850 is a VERY long time ago. The marker reads: The first school in St. Andrews, a community established ca.1827, was built in 1850. That building burned down. The second school was a two-story wooden structure with two large rooms on each floor. The school had four teachers and 100 students. In 1925, that school burned, six weeks before the summer recess. On July 7, 1926, voters overwhelmingly approved the issuance of bonds totaling $60,000 to build the present school. E.D. Fitchner, a Tallahassee architect, drew the plans for the 12 classrooms and an auditorium. J.R. Asbell of Panama City was the contractor. St. Andrew(s) School has a Mediterranean Revival Style with classical motifs, and is most noted for its arched windows, red tile roof, and impressive auditorium. During World War II (1941-1945), due to the Wainwright Shipyard and Tyndall Air Force Base, the area grew so rapidly that the school had to go to double sessions. Through the years the building has been used for community events, such as plays, public service forums and educational films. St. Andrew(s) School was completely renovated in 1999-2002, and is the oldest continuously functioning school in Bay County.

This is/was a wonderful school, I have many wonderful memories here. I went to school here in the…read more70's kindergarten through the 5th grade, would love to go back sometime and take a tour !