If you haven’t vacationed in Panama City Beach lately, you’re in for a surprise.
This is not the beachfront stretch of mom-and-pop motels baby boomers will remember from their childhood family trips to Florida.
With a new airport opening in May 2010, new golf courses and a skyline filled with highrises and cranes raising even more condominium towers, Panama City has left the “Redneck Riviera” nickname in the sand.
“We have, over the last four to five years, had a 25 percent increase in available units,” Dan Rowe, president of the Panama City Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau, said of the new condo construction. “Currently, there are about 21,000 rentable units along Front Beach Road.”
This isn’t to say that visitors won’t share the road with bikers or spring breakers, but there is a new atmosphere in this panhandle town. Panama City is evolving into a resort destination.
Nowhere is this elevated status more apparent than the addition of Pier Park, a 1 million-square-foot, open-air lifestyle center that incorporates dining, shopping and entertainment for the family.
Pier Park is on Front Beach Road directly across the street from the city pier, from which it draws its name. The openair mall opened in 2008 with a handful of restaurants and storefronts. It now has grown to 120 storefronts, a movie theater, 19 restaurants and a children’s play area.
To put the sheer size of Pier Park in perspective: The property spans 150 acres, according to Felicia Cook, Pier Park marketing director. Panama City Beach officials estimate the new attraction will draw more than 7 million visitors annually.
IT’S 5 O’CLOCK SOMEWHERE
Pier Park is anchored on Front Beach Road by Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville restaurant, Ron Jon surf shop and Reggae J’s Island Grill.
Margaritaville is a must for a family visit, whether or not you’re a Parrot Head. Only in the evening hours when the restaurant becomes a nightclub is it not child-appropriate.
The bright yellow exterior offers gaily colored Adirondack chairs and rockers in the waiting area and a porch dining area with striped umbrellas shading tables, where you can dine overlooking the gulf.
Inside, a large canvas sail is splayed across the dining room wall on which Buffet music videos are projected. Kids will get a kick out of sitting in the boat that’s been turned into a dining booth. The ceiling, painted with a map of the Caribbean, has a plane suspended from it.
Of course, there is a Cheeseburger in Paradise on the menu, as well as Jamaican Jerk chicken and other tropical entrees. All servings are large portions, the food is good and reasonably priced. After the meal, browse the gift shop where T-shirts are emblazoned with Buffett song lyrics and there are even pina coladaand tequila-flavored (worm included) suckers.
FOOD FOR EVERY TASTE
Among other Pier Park restaurants are Back Porch Seafood and Oyster House, Five Guys Famous Hamburgers, Olive Garden, Red Brick Pizza, Starbucks, Bootleg Barbecue Guglielmo’s Italian Grill, Hana Japan, Hofbrau Beer Garden and Marble Slab Creamery.
Diners will find live country music all day in Tootsies Orchid Lounge, nonstop sports in Buffalo Wild Wings and reggae music at Reggae J’s Island Grill.
Fans of Guy Harvey artwork will enjoy Guy Harvey’s Island Grill, where his work decorates the walls. The dining room has sharks hanging from the ceiling.
THE SHOPS
From kitschy boutiques to major department stores such as Dillard’s, Pier Park shopping offers lots of variety. Be prepared to pay regular retail price; this is not an outlet mall.
All the storefronts are brightly colored, with architectural features reminding one of panhandle beach communities such as Seaside or Carillon. Shops are located along a two-lane road running through the center of Pier Park. Large parking areas are located on-site behind the storefronts.
FOR THE KIDS
While mom’s shopping, dad and the kids may want to take in a movie at the on-site multiplex, Grand Theatre. Tuesday’s ticket special is $6. The theater and a children’s play area, which includes a carousel, are located at the center of the Pier Park layout.
TO GET THERE
Pier Park Drive is between Front Beach Road (the main drag along Panama City Beach) and Highway 98. Pier Park store hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday-Saturday, noon to 6 p.m. Sunday.
SUMMER FUN AT PIER PARK
Concerts in the Park:
Each Thursday through Aug. 20, 7 p.m., regional artists perform.
Kids Flicks: Every Tuesday and Wednesday through Aug. 10, Grand Theatre, 10 a.m. children’s movie, $3 ticket includes child’s drink and popcorn.
July Fourth: Three music stages located across Pier Park, Mark Chesnutt headlines amphitheater stage, music starts at noon; family games such as hot dog-eating contest, apple pie-eating contest, watermelon seed-spitting, sack races; fireworks shot from city pier at dark.
City Pier reopens: The new city pier on Front Beach Road will open in late June. The 1,500-foot pier replaces the previous pier damaged by Hurricane Ivan. The $8.3 million project has taken two years to complete.
