Travelers Catch Wave Of New Offerings In Panama City Beach, Fla.

PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. (April 30, 2008) - Swell is the word that sums up Panama City Beach. Visitors here will find a vast selection of accommodations, attractions and events, all new for the 2008 travel season.

This Northwest Florida destination is home to one of TripAdvisor's® 2008 top 10 beaches in America. The town's St. Andrew's State Recreation Area on the Gulf of Mexico was cited for its clear, emerald-green waters and pristine shoreline.

Last fall, the destination broke ground on an international airport. Slated to open in 2010, the state-of-the-art facility will bring better service and more competitive fares to travelers who make Panama City Beach their destination of choice. The airport will have longer runways to accommodate larger jets. "Panama City Beach will become easily accessible from major markets across the United States as well as in Europe and Mexico," says Dan Rowe, president and CEO of the Panama City Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Room inventory is expected to reach an all-time high of 21,200 this year, with the opening of beachfront resorts and condominiums offering stunning Gulf views. Once here, visitors will find much to do, from unique family attractions and activities to sporting events and a world-class circus. Panama City Beach's new Pier Park increases the options still more, providing the largest shopping/dining/ entertainment venue in Northwest Florida.

Top Honors
Last month, St. Andrew's State Recreation Area ranked number two on the 2008 list of top 10 beaches in the United States by Trip Advisor. The giant travel information Web site recognized each of these epic beaches for "world-class sand, breathtaking water and all-round relaxing environment." TripAdvisor's top 10 beach list is determined by the site's editors and the TripAdvisor Popularity Index, reflecting the unbiased opinions of millions of travelers worldwide.

The beach at St. Andrew's State Recreation Area boasts sugar-white sand overlooking the turquoise and emerald-green waters of the Gulf of Mexico. The 1.5-mile-long beach has a child-friendly area, the calm Grand Lagoon.

Spanning 1,260 acres, St. Andrew's State Recreation Area offers swimming and snorkeling in tranquil Gulf waters. Visitors also can take the shuttle to nearby Shell Island for more surf and sun. For hikers and birders, the park has miles of pristine trails with an incredible array of plants and wildlife. At St. Andrew's, anglers enjoy surf fishing, two fishing piers, a jetty and a boat ramp. Concession stands and campsites also are available.

New Airport
The new Panama City - Bay County International Airport will be located on Panama City Beach's expansive West Bay. It is being developed on 1,300 acres of a 4,000-acre site donated to the Airport Authority by The St. Joe Company.

The new airport is expected to be the first one to open in the United States since Sept. 11, 2001. Aiming to marry passenger comfort and security, the eco-friendly terminal will showcase Panama City Beach's natural beauty. Rooftop louvers will admit sunlight. An interior courtyard and floor-to-ceiling windows will bring views of nature into the terminal.

The airport will be developed in conjunction with a nature preserve that will include the largest expanse of undeveloped coastline in all of Florida. The refuge, called the West Bay Preservation Area, will protect 40,000 acres around the West Bay, including 33 miles of undeveloped shoreline and an additional 44 miles of tributaries and creeks. It will provide permanent protection for the area's water quality, biodiversity and natural beauty. Travelers and locals here will enjoy large expanses for hiking, fishing and bird watching.

Big Top Thrills
Circus by the Sea premiers this summer in Panama City Beach, performing Mon. - Sat., June 13 - Aug. 2, in Frank Brown Park. The three-ring production stars performers from the internationally acclaimed Florida State University Flying High Circus, celebrating 60 years of spellbinding entertainment. Their jaw-dropping routines rival those of professional troupes. Aerial and stage performances will take place under a colorful, air-conditioned Big Top seating more than 2,000. Flying High Circus has performed throughout the United States, as well as Europe, Canada, the Bahamas and the West Indies. Their Circus By the Sea promises to dazzle and delight with trapeze artists, jugglers, acrobats and more.

Little ones can get in on the act, when Circus By The Sea opens the area's first Circus Camp. For children ages 7 to 12, Circus Camps will take place 9:00 a.m.- 2:00 p.m.,Mon. - Thurs., June 23 - July 31. During each four-day program, little ones will enjoy one-on-one training with Flying High performers in a variety of circus performance skills, from juggling and balancing acts to the trapeze. Campers can step into the limelight and demonstrate their new talents during Circus by the Sea's Thurs. evening shows.

Pier Park Debut
Pier Park, located in the heart of town across from the City Pier, completed its second phase of construction during the first quarter of 2008. At roughly 1 million square feet, the open-air complex will be the largest shopping/dining/ entertainment venue in Northwest Florida.

Newly opened restaurants and stores are a mix of popular national chains and local favorites. They include: Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville, Dillard's, JCPenney, Ron Jon Surf Shop, Candymaker Candy Stores, Massage Envy, Guglielmo's Italian Restaurant, Southern Waters Outfitters, ULTA Beauty, The Back Porch restaurant and Hofbrau Beer Garden. They join an impressive lineup that includes: Starbucks; Target; Panera Bread; specialty shops; and Grand 16 Theatre, a 16-screen, 3,000-seat movie theater complex. Later in 2008, Pier Park will add to its roster of eateries with the opening of Olive Garden, Baja Grill and Guy Harvey's Island Grill.

Pier Park is being developed by Simon Property Group, the country's largest owner, developer and manager of high quality retail real estate. Visitors here enjoy a park-like setting and spectacular Gulf views. Perfect for family fun and sun, the complex hosts outdoor entertainment and recreation. An on-site lake will be stocked for fishing derbies, while the adjacent Aaron Bessant Amphitheater offers an ideal venue for Pier Park's 2008 summer concert series.

Family Attraction Action
Not far from Pier Park, Gulf World Marine Park makes a splash with the X-Treme High Dive Show. Watch professional, world-class divers perform flips and twirls from dizzying heights in precision. The Olympic-style performance begins Memorial Day and continues through Labor Day. Additionally, magician Noah Wells returns to Gulf World this summer to amaze and delight with his show that combines music, comedy and interactive illusions. The excitement continues with other shows starring dolphins, sea lions, parrots and more. In Dolphin Encounter, visitors learn about preservation before getting into the water for a dolphin swim.

For more action and adventure, visitors cruise the Gulf waters aboard the Sea Dragon Pirate Cruise, an authentic 85-foot pirate ship with cannons blasting, swords swinging and pirates hanging from the rigging. At Shipwreck Island Waterpark, visitors enjoy one of Florida's largest water theme parks. A new online ticketing service gives guests more time on the water slides when they buy and print out their tickets at home. ZooWorld Zoological & Botanical Park is home to more than 250 animals, including rare and endangered species, in a lush tropical landscape. Visitors feed endangered primates and assist in the animal shows. Ripley's Believe It or Not! Odditorium is the place to view fascinating finds from around the world: an authentic shrunken head from Ecuador, a mummy, and an 11-foot Eiffel Tower made entirely of matchsticks, just to name a few. For other above-par recreation, Coconut Creek Family Fun Park welcomes with two 18-hole miniature golf courses. Plus, Coconut Creek's Gran Maze is one of most challenging human mazes in the country.

Home Run for Sporting Events
With its moderate year-round temperatures, state-of-the-art sports facilities and nearby accommodations, Panama City Beach is at the top of its game as a venue for major regional and national sporting events.

Associations -- such as The United States Specialty Sports Association (USSSA), United States Fast Pitch Association (USFA), Florida Youth Soccer Association (FYSA), The World Softball League (WSL), Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) and Independent Softball Association (ISA) -- hold events in this beachside community. Here are some highlights of the 2008 spring/summer season:

- WSL Spring Nationals, April 25 - 27, Frank Brown Park
- Gulf Coast Triathlon, May 10, Boardwalk Beach Resort & Convention Center
- WSL Armed Forces Classic, May 16 - 18, Frank Brown Park
- Emerald Coast Triathlon, May 31, Spinnaker Beach Club
- Grand Slam World Series of Baseball, Frank Brown Park: Session I, June 30 - July 6;
Session II, July 7 - 13; Session III - July 28 - Aug. 3
- Bay Point Invitation Billfish Tournament, July 9 - 13, Bay Point Marina
- USFA "B" Fastpitch World Series, July 14 - 20, Frank Brown Park and other locations
- USFA "A' Fastpitch World Series, July 21 - 27, Frank Brown Park and other locations
- Grand Lagoon National Fishing Tournament, Aug. 20 - 24, major marinas around town
- WSL North American Championships, Sept 5 - 7, Frank Brown Park and other locations

Accommodations - Something for Everyone
Lodging inventory has grown to an all-time high of more than 21,200 rooms. Accommodations are available to fit all budgets, including cozy beach cottages, church retreats, campgrounds and RV parks. Also available in Panama City Beach: luxury beachfront resorts and condominiums with one - three bedrooms, gourmet kitchens and private balconies offering spectacular views of the Gulf of Mexico. Family-friendly resorts offer on-site restaurants, spas, bars, state-of-the-art fitness centers, water parks, "dive-in" movies to watch in the pool, comprehensive children's programs and more.

The following condominium properties have opened in Panama City Beach from the beginning of 2007 - the first quarter of 2008. Units are available for purchase or as rentals.

- Aqua Condominiums
- Cabana Cay
- Emerald Beach
- Grand Panama Beach Resort
- Grand Residence by Marriott at Bay Pointe
- Island Reserve
- Majestic Beach Tower
- Origin at Seahaven
- Reflections Destination Spa & Condos
- Shores of Panama
- Splash Condominium
- Sterling Breeze
- Sunrise Condominium
- Sunset Condominiums
- Tidewater Beach Resort

About Panama City Beach
Panama City Beach boasts 27 miles of sugar-white sand beaches bordering the clear, emerald-green waters of the Gulf of Mexico and St. Andrews Bay. The Northwest Florida
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