Panama City Beach, '07

Welcome to the beautiful Gulf!

After losing my grandfather in May, my grandmother spontaneously wanted to return to a favorite vacation spot that held a lot of sentimental value for us. So, without question my mother and I packed and headed down to sunny Florida.

I'm in my early twenties and I know how great PCB is for Spring Break, but I was pleased that it still held a family atmosphere and I was able to enjoy it with my my mother and grandmother without worrying that the change of time would send dear Granny into a frenzy. Just kidding. :)

We're from the South so we understand heat, but the breeze from the water kept the weather at a comfortable temperature. The salty air was incredibly refreshing and even the horrible storm we experienced could not shake the incredible view.

I do want to point out that The Palmetto is absolutely the best hotel I have ever stayed in during a visit to Florida, but it is also one of the best places I have ever stayed period. The room was extremely spacious, the private balcony was nice for sitting in the breeze, the pool and hot tub were and added bonus, but above all being right on the beach was fantastic especially since it only gave my grandmother a short walk to access it.

We didn't do much more than swim in the Gulf or stretch out in the sand, but it served for a very relaxing time. The water was pretty clear and we were visited by several tropical "friends" while swimming. We did go to Gulf World, which is a pretty small park but it was a lot of fun. There are many enjoyable shows that come with the price of admission and as a person who loves dolphins, I couldn't pass up the photo op to shake hands with one.

Also, we didn't have a lot of good experience with the restaurants, but there is a little diner (Louie's?) that was extremely delicious and very inexpensive. Overall, it was a great getaway and more importantly, my grandmother enjoyed herself.