Dreaming of a Getaway to Panama City Beach

Let me be clear about one thing, if there’s a beach, I’m in. So it isn’t unusual that after two trips to Florida in 2014, I still haven’t had enough. I’m dreaming about a return.

When I saw that some of my fellow travel bloggers had recently been to Panama City Beach, along the Gulf of Mexico in Northwest Florida, I was intrigued. It’s not a destination I had previously considered. But then I saw these photos…

WHA?!!

That white sand is killer!! Begging me to leave footprints. But why is it so white?

I found out that it’s “attributed to quartz crystals washing down from the Appalachian Mountains centuries ago. Along their journey, the crystals were bleached, ground, smoothed, and polished. The surf and tides of the Gulf of Mexico is responsible for depositing these millions of grains of sugar-white sand onto the pristine shoreline.”

AND — Panama City Beach has an average of 320 days of sunshine PER year!!! That’s a heck of a lot more than NYC and right now I could use some of that sunshine.

So now I am in planning mode!

I have plenty of inspiration with posts like this one about seeing the beach from the air, or this one about yoga while standup paddleboarding. There’s also this video of a breathtaking sunset, and this story about spending a day at Shell Island.

I know I would enjoy all of those things because they include so many different ways of spending time on or around the ocean — and even, a little bit of good-for-your-health relaxation. I’ve been paddleboarding and it’s a super fun workout that really helps you appreciate the power and ability of the water to make you relaxed and at peace, I can’t imagine also adding yoga which always leaves me so zen.

In case I needed any further inspiration, I also found out that it’s the “Wreck Capital of the South due to the large number of historic wrecks for scuba divers to explore.” Since I love snorkeling, I bet I’d have a lot to see if I put on my mask and dove into the waters of Panama City Beach!

PLUS, there’s music to love in Panama City Beach too. I might have to consider a visit timed accordingly so that I could kick back at a Fall Music Festival…I think Danté would like that as well since he’s even more into music than I am.

I don’t really have a formal bucket list and I always tell people I won’t keep one because I want to stay open to all the possibilities, but I’m reconsidering that these days. Why not dream a little!! And Panama City Beach may just have to go on my Bucket List after all I’ve now seen online.

Have you been to Panama City Beach? What would be on your Bucket List?

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All photos courtesy of Travel Mindset and Visit Panama City Beach. To see more visit this Pinterest board. This post was made possible by Visit Panama City Beach.