» Attractions and Entertainment

Real Adventure Looking for some excitement? Cobra Adventure Park has just what you need. They have a four story go-cart track, a state-of-the-art arcade, miniature golf course, and the Wild Thing and the Vertical Accelerator. The go-carts are what initially sparked my curiosity, and I was not disappointed. I’m sure that pretty much everyone has ridden go-carts at some point in their life, but not quite like this. There are four stories of wood panel track including twists, turns, and the occasional dive down to the bottom. As I climbed the winding road up the four levels my heart raced because once I made it to the top me and my cart zoomed all the way back down. One of the most fun parts however, is trying to out-maneuver friends and family. I know this may sound mean, but it was exhi...

Fun at Gulf World Panama City Beach is known for being a family-friendly destination, but there may not be a family-friendly attraction anywhere on the beach more exciting than Gulf World Marine Park. Located a block east of Pier Park, Gulf World Marine Park is a full-on marine experience complete with dolphin shows, sea lions, all sorts of tropical birds and fascinating exhibits. More than just a show, Gulf Work is fully interactive allowing you to enjoy hands-on interaction with the animals like petting sting rays and even swimming with the dolphins. I spent an afternoon on the grounds going to the shows and had loads of splash-tastic fun. As soon as you walk through the doors you see glowing blue portals, windows to an underwater world, that extend out to a 100,000 gallon tank filled w...

Ever dreamed of exploring the depths of the ocean? How about the chance to climb through a submarine? Or perhaps you have wondered how divers could live underwater for weeks at a time? Man in the Sea Museum takes you on an exciting and educational journey through the history of deep sea voyaging and beyond. Owned by the Institute of Diving, this small non-profit museum is located on Panama City Beach Parkway, west of highway 79 in Panama City Beach and just minutes from Pier Park. After driving past the museum countless times and making a mental note to visit each and every single time I did, I decided it was time to check it out and see what the Man in the Sea Museum was all about! Man in the Sea is actually an extremely family friendly attraction that offers both adults and kids a uniqu...

It’s that time of year where Panama City Beach will roar with thunder. That’s right people, it’s Thunder Beach Week, starting April 30th through May 3rd. Anyone who has experienced previous bike rallies on Panama City Beach you know how exciting they can be. But this year’s event might be the biggest and best yet. “We’re definitely expecting huge turnout this year.” Says Corky McCollum, A Thunder Beach Productions coordinator. “We’ve got bigger events, more venues and the total numbers of vendors have increased considerably.” Regarded by many as the “most biker friendly free rally in the United States”, the Thunder Beach Motorcycle Rally is always a big event. This years schedule for bike week is substantial and the venues cover the entire beach. The...

If you are looking for an “eco-friendly” adventure through the protected waters of West Bay in Panama City Beach, then Captain Rick Ackerman with Airboat Adventures is your man.  You may remember him from our article on the Betsy Ann Riverboat – well, murder mystery cruises aren’t the only trick up his sleeve. 7 minutes up Highway 79, under the new bridge that spans West Bay lies Airboat Adventures – the tag line reads: “Bay County’s #1 Eco Tour Company.”  Guiding you to the boats, a cartoon gator points the way to the parking lot.  As we pull in, Captain Rick directs us to where he wants us to park. I have my brother with me, who was visiting from out of town, and we’re all excited to experience an airboat ride.  I’d never do...