It was first time the kids missed Halloween at home. We were worried they wouldn’t have anything to do and miss out on trick or treating. The fact that pier park had ALL the stores give out candy and dress up was so nice!! They got just as much candy if not more than they would have gotten at home!

Lots of free parking. Many choices for lunch and dinner plus two outstanding ice cream shops. Cinnabon too! We went on the Sky Wheel (senior discount came to $38 for two) which gives you 4 revolutions. The photo package was $24 but makes for a cool souvenir. The only negative was hitting your head when entering the cars. We were not the only ones. We also wanted to try the fun looking mini golf course but we ran out of time. This is a really good stop along your travels. We hope to come back one day.

Hubby, teen son, and I spent a few days in Panama City Beach for spring break this month. Pier Park is easy to find right off the busy Front Beach Street. Safe, clean, pleasant area to shop, eat, and walk around. There are many touristy shops and other specialty stores. We got our t-shirts and magnets here as well as ate ice cream at Kilwin’s. We also ate dinner two different evenings at one of the many restaurants, Margaritaville. Our first evening in PCB, we drove there and checked out the big pier as hubby wanted to see how fishermen did their thing. He caught 3 22” Bluefish from the pier the next AM! We ate dinner outside at Hook’d Pier Bar & Grill right there at the pier entrance. It was great! Pier Park is right across the street. The large and lit up at night Skywheel is in the back section of Pier Park. You can look for a parallel parking space along Front Beach there, or definitely find a spot across the street behind the west side of Pier Park shops. Free and easy parking here! Or you can get some exercise and from your lodging! We did, on the beach.

Interesting place. Get there before noon to see the fishing boats come in. Lots of different fish. Plenty of restaurants, with lots of different cuisine. Lots of shops. Only complaint is $20 to park, even if for a short time. They do warn you, but only with a small sign as you drive in.

My son and I went to Lake Placid in FL last year to see family and then drove to spend 3 days in Panama City Beach. It was AWESOME! It felt like a 4 out of 5 star to me because of poor planning on my part. I had not been to PBC since spring break in 1999! So 25 years later, I brought my 19-year-old. We loved it and wish we would have planned better. We wanted to make it a road trip theme, but where I messed up, was that I did not get one hotel for the entire stay. So most of our time was spent packing and unpacking for a different hotel every night...just trying to look for the best rate through Priceline, booking, and hotels.com. I wanted my son to see it how I saw it when I was his age. We didn't even get to do much at the beach, which was all we wanted to do! This year, I booked a hotel reservation 4 months ago and added 3 extra days to the road trip. I spent a lot of time looking for the best hotel rates that I could find within my budget and also considered an Airbnb. I took advantage of a lot of different 3rd party rates and I picked 5 different hotels and made reservations at all of them. After we all agreed on one hotel, I canceled the other 4 reservations and then paid for the one we plan to stay at in advance. We are less than a month away from our second annual road trip to see family and vacation on the beach and my son has a friend this time, (I guess your mom isn't who your adult son looks at as the first option to take to the beach with you (Sigh))! But I understand! And going solo is just fine with me! This is more for my son that it is for me. Long review short, just plan well in advance, and there is plenty to do without having to make an actual itenerary. Pier Park was fun just to walk around in. I'd love to go swimming with the dolphins though...I think this time I will!