Miracle Stip Carousel in Pier Park

Posted on April 9, 2009 by Jason Koertge

As history comes alive again, the newest addition to Pier Park is a blast from the Miracle Strip past.  The original Herschell carousel that was born and lived its life in the now closed Miracle Strip Amusement Park is open in Pier Park and will be the mother of many more sweet memories in the years to come.

Teddy Meeks, local photographer and dreamer had the idea a year ago when he first walked the magical streets of Pier Park in Panama City Beach.  “I knew there had to be something for the kids to do,” said Meeks.  The idea of a carousel was perfect for the colorful atmosphere.

Meeks searched far and wide for the perfect carousel and was actually led all over the southeast to find the very carousel that rests in the festivities area of Pier Park today.  When he finally located the carousel he had been hearing about from brokers in the region, he was delighted to find that it was the old Miracle Strip Carousel that played host to many memories from his childhood.

The Pier Park Carousel is a 30 horse ride and can be enjoyed for just $2.5 or you can have an all day pass for just $5.  Featuring vintage horses, they carry their passengers up and down and all around in the beautiful warm Panama City Beach weather.

The carousel is located in the grass area next to the volleyball court, across from the promotional area (where Starbucks is) and The Grande Movie Theater.

Price: $2.50 per ride or $5.00 for a day pass.

Location: Pier Park in Panama City Beach

Hours of operation:  Same as mall hours

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The Art of the Mini Vacation Part 1

Posted on April 6, 2009 by Cebo Campbell

Part 1: Choosing the right destination.

You’ve taken big vacations before. You’ve saved up sick days and vacation time all year long, planned a huge two-week trip, bought airline tickets, rented vehicles, bargained a sitter for the dog—the whole nine. The vacation is great but you get back to the job to find your work piled up and you can’t get away again for another year. That’s no fun. But what if you could vacation any time you wanted? This is where the mini-vacation tosses on a cape and saves the day…or the entire weekend.

The mini-vacation is a quick getaway from the daily routine. It isn’t a full-fledged beg-the-boss-for-leave vacation, but an escape for a few days you’ll be talking about at the water cooler on Monday. The mini-vacay can be as simple as a same day scoot to the beach or a weekend adventure for the whole family. Taking the occasional mini-vacay can relax and recharge you and make a stale routine fresh again.

There is no such thing as a failed mini-vacay but there are keys to getting the most out of one. You could just as well enjoy a spontaneous two-night foray and have an absolute ball. But if you want to save money while your toes are in the sand, see, eat and do as much as you can in a just a wee-bit of time, a game plan is paramount.

First things first, you should decide what type of mini-vacation you’re planning. Are you going solo, bringing a friend or taking the whole family. Once you’ve decided on who to bring and who to leave, pick the right destination. Choosing your destination can make or break your trip. It’s always best to pick a destination to which you can drive, preferably on one tank of gas. You’ve got choices. Try finding a destination that provides the most to do. In the southeast, Panama City Beach enjoys near-perfect proximity for the mini-vacay, with easy interstate access from many large cities. So with premeditated bias we’ll use it as our example.

In a weekend on Panama City Beach you could spend the whole time tanning on the beach, which is always better than a cubicle, or dive into loads of other fun. There’s fishing expeditions, shopping, extraordinary restaurants, and an awesome nightlife. You could bring the golf clubs and take a shot at the links or take a trip to the state park and disappear in nature. Picking a destination that gives you the most bang for your buck is what makes the mini-vacation exceptional. So how do you get so much done and not have to eat bologna sandwiches until the next payday? Our next installment of The Art of The Mini-Vacation is all about budget. Read it here.

Click Here to See Part 2

Distances to Panama City Beach, Florida

Alabama

  • Dothan – 93.1 miles – 2hrs
  • Troy – 152 miles – 3hrs 5 mins
  • Montgomery – 181 miles – 3hrs 44 mins
  • Tuscaloosa – 311 miles – 5 hrs 40 mins
  • Mobile – 173.3 miles – 2 hrs 57 mins
  • Ft. Rucker – 117 miles – 2 hrs 40 mins

Florida

  • Blountstown – 58 miles – 1 hr 19 mins
  • Tallahassee – 132 miles – 2 hrs 28mins
  • Marianna – 67.8 miles – 1 hr 28 mins

Georgia

  • Albany – 177 miles – 4 hrs 17 mins
  • Atlanta – 299 miles – 5 hrs 50 mins
  • Bainbridge – 120 miles – 2 hrs 50 mins
  • Thomasville – 161 miles – 2 hrs 59mins
  • Valdosta – 215 miles – 3 hrs 5 mins
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Seabreeze Jazz Festival at Pier Park

Posted on April 6, 2009 by Jason Koertge

A full lineup of award-winning artists are ready to hit the stage in Panama City Beach, Fla., the new home of the Gulf Coast’s annual Seabreeze Jazz Festival. Panama City Beach’s Pier Park sets the stage for a jazzy, all-star weekend, April 16 – 19, expected to draw music lovers near and far. The lineup includes nationally acclaimed smooth jazz artists: Boney James, Wayman Tisdale, Will Downing, Nick Colionne, Warren Hill, Joyce Cooling, and more.

“We’re proud to be the new home of the Seabreeze Jazz Festival,” said Dan Rowe, president and CEO of the Panama City Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau. “Overlooking the Gulf of Mexico, Pier Park provides the perfect setting for this nationally recognized event.”

The weekend kicks off Thurs., April 16, 7:00 p.m., with the three-hour Smooth Jazz Dinner Cruise on beautiful St. Andrew’s Bay presented by the Bay Point Marriott Resort and Spa.  Enjoy the upbeat, funky-style performance of the renowned jazz keyboardist Alex Bugnon aboard the Solaris, a 125-foot yacht known for exceptional cuisine.

Friday begins with a performance by the Urban Jazz Coalition, 6:00 p.m., followed by The Smooth Jazz All-Star Jam Show featuring festival host Nick Colionne, Four80East, Alex Bugnon, Brian Simpson, Shilts, Nils, Matt Marshak, Althea Rene and Jackiem Joyner. The evening concludes with dancing and revelry at the Jazz Under the Stars party at Pier Park’s Reggae J’s.

Great performances continue all day Saturday, starting 10:00 a.m., with high-energy artists and ending with another Jazz Under the Stars party that will send all your blues away.  Saturday’s performers include Wayman Tisdale, Will Downing, Joyce Cooling, Four 80 East, Eric Darius, Althea Rene’ and more. The weekend finale is a day of live entertainment, Sunday, beginning 9:30 a.m., with performances throughout the day and evening by Boney James, Warren Hill, Nick Colionne, Brian Simpson, Nils, Jackeim Joyner, Roman Street, and Jones and Company.

“With expanded on-site parking, great beaches, extensive shopping and dining options at Pier Park, plus an abundance of hotel and condos nearby, the 2009 Seabreeze Jazz Festival will have it all,” says Mark Carter, the event’s organizer. “The weekend brings together a collection of great artists and people who love contemporary smooth jazz.”

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Another Day In Paradise: Paradise Palms Inn

Posted on March 31, 2009 by Jason Koertge

paradise

The Concept:

Paradise emphasizes its tagline, “The place to play, the place to stay, it’s your place,” welcoming all ages at all times of the year with playful but choice accommodations. It’s easy to see where Paradise got its name. An exclusive Front Beach Road property, Paradise Palms sits on a sparkling strip Gulf shoreline and is covered from end to end in big palm trees and colorful flora. Tropical in concept, laid back in vibe, Paradise Palms’ is a nice mixture of vintage PCB and modern décor.

The Rooms:

Paradise has 147 gulf-front rooms; every one of them framing a perfect beach view. And during the 2008 winter season, Paradise Palms upgraded those rooms, moving away from conventional beach décor, to a sleeker more modern look. Adding new pillow top mattresses and wood accents to every room, one can really feel right at home on the beach.

The Amenities:

Paradise Palms is a much, much larger property than first glances might assume. At one time, Paradise Palms housed three swanky bars and a full restaurant. Nowadays, they no longer use those amenities but have added a few unique ones you’d be hard pressed to find anywhere else on the beach. The premier of those new amenities is the “Splash Theater,” an outdoor poolside movie theater. A fully-licensed 8 foot screen overlooks the Gulf and faces the pool where you’re welcomed to splash around while watching the fun flicks. They also have a second grotto-style pool, shared with its sister property, that for many years, was the pool to lounge around. Paradise has a huge lobby with a business center, an arcade, a poolside tiki grill and bar and over 6000 square feet of meeting space. During the summer season they even offer airbrushing services.

The Cost:

For Paradise Palms value is everything, providing quality service and accommodations for an affordable rate. This isn’t an easy task, but Paradise seems to pull it off. During Spring Break the rates are from $129.00 to $179.00. During to summer season you could get a room from $89.00 to $139.00. Winter season rates dip as low as $59.00.

Our Take:

Paradise is a cool place. We really like the classic Panama City Beach feel and the service. The employees exude the laid back vibe and are really helpful. It’s an older hotel but works hard to keep up with the changing market. For the price the value is there for sure. Poolside movies and tiki grill aside; you could pay more for the beach view alone. Just make sure you take it all in. You might spend your entire vacation lounging around the grotto-style pool and before you know it have to get back at work.

Paradise Palms, A Seaside Inn is located at 12907 front beach road, panama city beach florida.
To make reservations call (850) 234-1700

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