How
about sitting on the beach, thinking about the excitement
of tomorrow's golf at the “PGA - Q School” Hombre
Golf Course, or the majestic suite you will be enjoying tonight,
or the fun you and the family are going to have along Miracle
Mile as you move from roller coaster rides to water parks,
etc. The emerald Gulf water, the white sand beaches, are often
eclipsed by the beautiful sunsets. Oh yes, Golf Digest named
this the third best golf town in the country! Green fees,
ratings, weather, are among the factors considered by them.
All
of this is moments from the fabulous Edgewater Golf Course
in Panama City Beach, Florida. If you read the column last
week, you know about the “Q School” golf course,
the remarkable Hombre.
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The
Edgewater Resort
photograph © John C. Jones
Click Image to enlarge
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Of
course, you are on the Gulf side of Florida, the West Coast.
Within walking distance in the resort you have access to
a spa with a great massage team that do all the major body
and face treatments, a 1,000 sq. ft. Lagoon Pool with water
cascading down rock formations complete with natural foliage,
12 additional pools, hot tubs, 11 state-of-art Plexicushion
tennis courts, over 1,000 palm trees, 1/2 mile of private
beach, five gigantic towers of luxury suites (520 suites),
the resort’s own 9 hole golf course, three places to
satisfy your hunger needs, as well as a 32,700 sq. ft. conference
center ready for groups of a dozen or 2,000 attendees. This
is housed on 110 gorgeous acres and listed in USA Today’s
Top 5 Beaches, Travel Channel’s Top 10 Beaches, and
Southern Livings Top 5 Beaches. Having had a father who
was a chef, I tend to be a little critical, but their chef
and his team consistently produce food meals that are beautiful
to behold, and even finer to consume.
Within
minutes of the resort are activities to keep any family
busy should they tire of emerald green water, white-top
waves, and Florida sun (240 days of sun per year). All along
Miracle Strip cotton candy, roller coasters, old time amusement
parks and family entertainment abound. There is the Shipwreck
Island Water Park with a 600 foot tube slide (White Knuckle
River) that make three hair-raising 360 degree turns, lazy
river for the less adventurous, and Tree Top Drop for the
very adventurous. Zooworld offers 350 animal verities including
elephants, monkeys, camels, lions, tigers, bears and even
giraffes. There are over 250 species of tropical plants
to be enjoyed while visiting. Gulf World offers 25 shows
of dolphins, sea lions, tropical birds and a beautiful laser
light extravaganza, as well as a 20,000 sq. ft. climate
controlled tropical garden to enjoy. Eating places abound
along the Gulf drive. For the fisherman there is deep sea
fishing, pier fishing at the St. Andrews Park area, and
the usual Gulf area variety of sport fishing.
Some websites you may want to check out: www.miraclestrippark.com†
www.shipwreckisland.com
www.800pcbeach.com
Check out the year's events at the Chamber's website www.pcbeach.org.
You can make your Edgewater reservations at: www.edgewaterbeachresort.com
or call 1-800-874-8686.
I can give Panama City Beach and the Edgewater Beach Resort
my 5 Star recommendation from my personal “been-there
done-that” experience files. Happy Traveling.
“To
The Ends Of The Earth And Then Some.”
E-mail jones@photoandtravel.com
You may e-mail travel questions to me free of charge.
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directions and a map @ 
