Panama City Beach - New Tourist Information Center

One of the Greater Panama City Beaches Chamber of Commerce’s top prioritys for 2008 has been to relocate its offices to a larger facility which would double as a tourist and relocation information center. That goal was met on April 7, 2008, when the Chamber’s new Tourist Information Center opened at the Beckrich Centre located in the heart of the Beckrich corridor. The spacious, state-of-the-art lobby is informative and historical, educational, entertaining and fun, and is the perfect resource for visitors coming to the area looking for accommodations, things to do, demographics, economic stats and community information. “Our new lobby combines a variety of communications and information mediums in a cutting edge, first-of-its-kind environment,” says Marta Rose, Senior Vice President of Marketing and PR for the Chamber. “The colors, style and décor of the space, not to mention the technology that went into this lobby, give it a uniqueness in the community. This is an attraction people will not want to miss.” The interactive touch-screen kiosks will promote shopping, accommodations, eateries and fun activities. A Virtual Floor, powered by a built-in motion detection engine, will interactively intermingle Flash animated nature effects. The boldly colorful history wall features artwork and facts on Hernando DeSoto’s trek into Northwest Florida in 1539, nearly 500 years ago. The lobby’s Coastal Chic-style sitting area faces a large flat screen featuring “The Best of PCB,” a Travel Channel-style hosted program showcasing resorts, restaurants, attractions, community events, and relocation information. The Tourist Information Center is planning a reservations and concierge service, selling tickets for tours, area attractions, sporting events, cultural events, restaurants and ecotourism/nature-related activities. The Community Board Room, with built-in A/V capabilities, will host Board meetings, monthly focus forums and quarterly New Member Welcome Days. The building is Wi-Fi enabled for complimentary Internet access. “The Chamber has tripled in size over the last twenty years,” says Debi Knight, President and CEO of the Chamber. “It is critical to the tourism industry that we promote our community and region to the best of our ability. Our number one goal as a non-profit membership organization is to help our business members grow.” Knight says the Chamber has been working for over two years to relocate to a larger facility on the ground level that has ample parking, highly-visible signage, a community board room, and a large lobby to take care of visitors, residents and businesses.

The Chamber’s extended hours are Sunday - Thursday, 9:00 am to 5 pm; Friday and Saturday, 9 am to 9 pm. For more information call the Chamber at (850) 234-3193.

Jerry
Panama City Beach Condos for Rent

Panama City Beach - Pier Park- Summer Kid Movies

The Grand Theatre Pier Park 16 announces Summer Kids Flicks just in time for the summer season...

Enjoy ten weeks of exciting movie selections such as Everyone’s Hero, Open Season, Ice Age, Charlotte’s Web, Alvin and the Chipmunks, Bee Movie, Flushed Away, Madagascar, Jimmy Neutron, and Over the Hedge every Tuesday and Wednesday beginning June 3. The box-office will open at 9:30 am and the film will begin at 10:00 am sharp. Tickets may be purchased on the morning of the film at the box-office for only $3.00 and include a Summer Kids Flicks Combo – a small box of popcorn and a child size soda. Attendance is expected to be brisk, so early arrival is recommended. “We are pleased to offer our Summer Kids Flicks program to our guests in Panama City Beach. This family friendly film series underscores our commitment to provide quality entertainment at a great value,” said Timothy Spain, C.O.O. of Southern Theatres, L.L.C. The complex is the largest theatre in the Panama City Beach, Panama City, Destin and Ft. Walton area in Northwest Florida. All Grand Theatres are state-of-the-art, featuring stadium seating, digital sound, high-back rocker seats on 18-inch risers, three concession areas, a specialty café and a game room. For more information, please visit www.thegrandtheatre.com.

Jerry

Panama City Beach Condos for Rent

Panama City Beach Fishing

Complements of the Panama City News Herald

They’re everywhere.
Red snapper season in Florida waters in the Gulf of Mexico opened on Tuesday and there doesn’t seem to be a shortage. If anything, there's an overabundance. “They’re a nuisance,” said Capt. Eric Thrasher on the Daybreak. “There’s too many of them.” He explained while they were fishing in federal waters Thursday for grouper and other species, the snapper kept taking their bait. “We threw back about 30 or 40 snapper,” Thrasher said. “Snapper fishing is as good as I’ve seen in a long time,” he added. “They are there ... in every direction you want to go.” The Daybreak kept 16 red snapper. They also came in with grouper, black snapper and a couple of triggerfish.
Recent regulations have cut the bag limit on red snapper from four fish daily per person to two fish per person, and the captain and crew of the charters are not allowed to be counted in the bag limit. In addition, the recreational red snapper fishing season in Gulf federal waters has changed and will now open on June 1 and close on Aug. 5. Gulf federal waters extend well offshore beyond state waters, which only extend nine nautical miles from the shore.
Capt. Steve Hauesler on the First Light had no problems finding the red snapper. “There’s plenty of them out there,” Hauesler said. “And we caught all the law would allow.” His group of anglers from Louisiana limited out on red snapper. They also pulled in a grouper and a huge 10-pound triggerfish.
The group on the charter boat No Alibi didn’t have a problem catching red snapper either. “They’re everywhere,” said Capt. Chuck Turbanic of the No Alibi. “You can’t get away from them ... You can’t fish for other species because of the red snapper.” He said hungry dolphins were even stalking the boat and waiting for anglers to return the reds to the sea. His group, however, did catch their red snapper limit, a couple of grouper and a pair of cobia. Turbanic said they found a pair of cobia and caught one, then later saw a single and hooked it. Both cobia weighed about 40 pounds each.
Anglers on the Top Gun with Capt. Jeff Culbreth brought in a nice catch of red snapper, lane snapper and amberjack. Some of their snapper weighed in the 12- to 15-pound range. First mate Jay Singletary said they didn’t have any problem catching snapper. As a matter of fact, “we had a problem catching grouper because of all the snapper,” he said.
Captain Art Smith on the Nautica and his anglers from Ohio and Delaware filled the racks with red snapper and grouper. The Destin Princess with Capt. Judah Barbee at the helm came in with a big catch of red snapper, mingo, white snapper and triggerfish.
Capt. Bruce Marler on the Gulf Breeze had several baskets full of mingo, lane snapper, red grouper, amberine and amberjack.

Lets go fishing!!

Panama City Beach Condos for Rent

Panama City Beach - Pier Park

Now that Pier Park has been open for a few weeks have any of you been to the restaurants? I have received several comments on Margaretville (not too flattering I must say). What about the Back Porch or the new restaurant featuring German food and beer.

Lots of our condo guests ask for suggestions about where to eat in Panama City Beach. Help me give them some ideas about the best places to go in Pier Park as well as other places on The Beach.

Thanks Jerry
Panama City Beach Condos for Rent

Panama City Beach – Emerald Coast Triathlon

The April 19, 2008 event will feature a triathlon, duathlon and the Aqua Bike Series. Spinnaker Beach Club is the location of the race site swim area, transition area, finish line and the awards ceremony. Come to The Beach for a fun weekend. We should have great beach weather. For more information call 850-234-7892.

Good Luck
Panama City Beach Condos for Rent

Panama City Beach - US Air

US Airways begins service to Panama City Beach from Charlotte North Carolina on Sunday April 6, 2008 with three flights daily. The flights will leave PCB at 6:37 AM, 11:37 AM and 4:27AM. The flights will arrive from Charlotte at 10:47 AM, 3:40PM and 8:39 PM.

The current round trip pricing from Nashville reflects a $440 round trip price. Go to US Air’s web site and check out pricing from your city. I do not fly US Air much so I don’t know how often they have sales. Maybe having US Air and Delta both flying into PCB will put some more pressure on prices.

Have lots of frequent flier miles? A trip to Panama City Beach would be a great way to use a few of those miles.
See you at The Beach!

Panama City Beach Condos for Rent

Panama City Beach - Family Spring Break

Last month it was beer funnels, MTV and children. This month, it is playtime and mini-golf with the children. Family Spring Break 2008 is under way in Panama City Beach. On Thursday, young parents with toddlers roamed the area looking for shells, fighting the waves and trying to turn pasty pale into a tan.
While this week has been a little slower than the last four weeks with college kids, April and May are great times for families to get out for Spring Break.
Come to The Beach for your spring beach vacation and get some great deals!

Jerry
Panama City Beach Condos for Rent

Panama City Beach - Skim Boarding

OK skim boarders it’s your time at Panama City Beach! It’s time to put on your surf gear, wax your board and prepare for the most thrilling skim boarding competition of the year. The 10th Annual ZAP Pro Am Skim Jam is open to the public and will take place Friday, April 11 through Sunday, April 13 at the Edgewater Beach & Golf Resort in Panama City Beach, Florida. This nationally recognized sporting competition has truly made its name in the record books and features the best pro and amateur skim board talent in the world! The weekend begins with a chance to meet the pros of skim boarding on Friday, April 11 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Saturday, April 12 will consist of the Annual ZAP Pro Am Skim Jam Contest from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. with a pool deck party following the competition. Contest finals will take place Sunday, April 13 with the awards ceremony to follow.

Need a new board? The folks at Ron Jon Surf Shop in Pier Park will help.
Panama City Beach Condos for Rent