Tag: attractions

Visiting Dolphins in Panama City Beach

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There are many reasons people come to Panama City Beach for vacations. From our new and improved family friendly reputation to the wonderful year-round weather, this area of Florida is a great place to spend your time. But one of the specific reasons it’s great to travel here is visiting dolphins. In Panama City Beach, we have the lucky benefit of being able to take visitors out to see wild dolphins playing in their natural habitat.

Many people believe that, in order to see dolphins up close, they need to go to one of the many water parks in the Panama City Beach area which cater to tourists and visitors. At Adventures at Sea, we know the truth: the people who want to visit wild dolphins schedule a tour with a knowledgeable company and see them up close, the way nature intended.

Visiting Wild Dolphins

In Panama City Beach, there are several different species of dolphin that we encounter, but the most common dolphins – and the most well known – are bottlenose dolphins. Usually ranging from six to twelve feet long and living for as much as fifty years, these dolphins are considered to be very intelligent, and have been known to help injured people in the water as well as assisting with fishing operations.

Inshore dolphins tend to live in groups of about 10. They also make different sounds, including clicks, squawks, and whistles, their “signature sound.”

Why Do We Love Visiting Dolphins

Throughout human history, we’ve told stories about dolphins and the way that they tend to partner with human beings. We’ve considered them mystical beings, whether they’re saving drowning sailors or saying goodbye to humanity right before the planet is destroyed (and saying thanks for the fish!).

It’s no wonder that people travel all the way to the Gulf Coast of Florida to see dolphins up close and in person, but it’s our opinion that the real dolphin experience is to be had out on the waters of the Gulf.

Visiting Dolphins in Panama City Beach

Ready To Visit Dolphins?

If you want to make sure to see dolphins in person this summer, you want to schedule a trip with Adventures at Sea. There are many different ways we schedule tours, including:

  • WaveRunner Tours let you get close to the water and feel the spray on your face as we tour out to Shell Island and then go searching for schools of dolphins.
  • Boat Cruises let you relax and put your feet back as we do all the hard work for you. Want to enjoy the sun and let our captains take you to the places we know that the dolphins love to explore? This trip will give you exactly what you want and need.

When you want to visit dolphins in Panama City Beach without any worry that you’re not seeing the real truth of what dolphins are and can be, you need to visit the dolphins in their own habitat. While seeing them at the local attractions can be great for kids, or if you want to be able to swim with dolphins and feed them directly, there’s nothing that compares to seeing them in the expansive waters of the ocean.

Call us today to schedule your trip out to see dolphins where they love to be!

Play Sports in Panama City Beach!

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People come to Florida’s Emerald Coast for so many reasons. To see the gorgeous white sands beaches. To swim near dolphins. To experience the ocean for the first time. Now, more than every, people are choosing to visit to play sports in Panama City Beach.

Frank Brown Park, a local park that focuses on offering softball, swimming, soccer, and baseball events to visitors and residents, has recently announced a number of upgrades that they say will bring the park up to state of the art. Upgrades will include a new operations building, new dugouts, and new fencing. By 2018, they will also add a new sports village to their portfolio.

If you’re visiting Panama City Beach for spring break, or live in the area and wonder what you might want to do on a beach all day, we have a variety of fun suggestions for sports to play on the beach! Here are just a few ideas:

Volleyball!

A beach side classic, volleyball nets dot the beach throughout Panama City Beach. Play a pick up game with whoever is there, or bring your friends and a ball to play. Run, dive into the sand, and then splash into the waves to cool off. It’s a favorite for a reason!

If you’re visiting the area, many of the hotels and condo rental buildings in the area have volleyball courts, just check their amenities.

And if you’re looking for a more formal volleyball experience in the area, check out the Emerald Coast Volleyball Club in nearby Fort Walton.

Ultimate Frisbee

If you still think of Frisbee as the goofy game that people in the 70s played with neon plastic discs, you need to pay attention: the sport has come a long way. From disc golf courses (Joe Moody Harris Park has a nine hole course) to Ultimate Frisbee leagues on the beach, these plastic discs have kept pace with modern sports. You’ll have tons of fun playing with your friends, or making brand new friends through the sport. Plus, if you need a Frisbee while you’re in town, many different restaurants use them as plates and souvenirs! You’ll never have to walk far to find one.

Parasailing

If you want the rush of extreme sports without the danger, you need to schedule a parasailing trip. While this is just one of the many rides we offer through Adventures at Sea, there’s nothing else quite like it. Parasailing is great for everyone, from people who’ve always wanted to fly but aren’t ready to try parachuting to those who just want to see the beach from a bird’s eye view. You can capture amazing photos or videos, or keep the entire experience for yourself. Either way, we’re sure you’ll love it. Go up on your own, or with someone whose hand you want to hold.

Whatever brings you to Panama City Beach, make sure to plan a little bit of time to do the thing that you love most, whether that’s engaging in some extreme, adrenaline inducing sports, luxuriating on the beach, or working up a sweat on the soccer field, Panama City Beach has you covered. We’re the Florida destination for spring break vacationers, but we are also a great space for families all year round.

Get in touch with us today to start planning the exciting adventures you’ll enjoy on your Panama City Beach excursion!

Panama City Beach Coupons and Deals!

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There’s nothing quite like a Florida vacation. From theme parks to water sports, there are tons of different ways to approach the adventure – but one thing we know is that it can start to get pricey. At Adventures at Sea, we’ve compiled a list of Panama City Beach coupons and deals that can help you stretch your vacation budget just a little farther. You can see the full list at the link above, but we wanted to highlight a few special deals that you’ll want to check out!

Local Guests

If you’re staying with at one of the many vacation condo rental spots in Panama City Beach, we offer coupons to many of their guests. If you’re staying with:

  • Sandpiper Beacon
  • Grand Panama
  • Boardwalk
  • Holiday Inn
  • Landmark
  • Sugar Sands
  • Origin at Seahaven
  • Chateau
  • Venture Out
  • Pelican Walk

then you can save 25% off when you book your adventure online. Tour the spots where dolphins play, visit Shell Island, go fishing, or enjoy a sunset cruise out on the water. The options are endless. If there’s something you want to do that you don’t see listed on our bookings, call us and talk; we may be able to find a solution.

Please note that you’ll be asked to show your room key when you claim your reservation.

Students, Law Enforcement, and Military

Whether you’re a local resident or visiting on vacation, we thank members of the military for their service with a special discount. When you book online, you’ll get a 15% discount on your reservation. When you come in for your adventure, we do ask that you show your military ID. Law enforcement officers also receive a 15% discount.

And Panama City Beach isn’t called the #1 Spring Break Resort for nothing! Whether you’re here during Spring Break, or visiting during the rest of  the year, students receive a 15% discount when they book online. Again, we do ask that you show your student ID when you come in for your adventure.

Visitors

Staying with friends? Local resident looking for a parasailing adventure or deep sea fishing trip between now (December) and March, you may be eligible for a 20% discount on your booking.

Other Panama City Beach Coupons

Looking for other sorts of deals in the Panama City Beach area? We know what you’re looking for. Here’s the Groupon page for our area, complete with restaurants, bars, and local night life spots. You can also find deals for spas and beauty salons or health and fitness locations. If you’ll be in PCB for the entire season, you may even want to make use of the home services or automotive services sections.

Many local organizations also offer discounts and deals through the Chamber of Commerce. Check out the different options available, from places to stay to special discount cards.

There used to be a certain school of thought that looking for deals on vacation was somehow less than classy. We all know better now. Whether you’re in Florida for a long weekend or the entire season, it only makes sense to spend your dollar wisely. Many local establishments are happy to reward you for choosing their business; enjoy these Panama City Beach coupons, and enjoy your stay!

(please note that these coupons are active as of December 23,2015. For current information, please look at our coupon page itself. Have a lovely stay!)

Panama City Beach Holidays – Excitement Throughout The Year

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Panama City Beach just celebrated its 35th annual Christmas Parade, put on by the Optimist Club, on December 12. A great reminder that the white sands and deep green waters of PCB aren’t just for summer beach adventures, but exciting vacations all year round. There are tons of opportunities to spend  holidays in Panama City Beach, leading to tons of one-of-a-kind adventures.

Each year, the Christmas Parade is just one of the many events put on by the Optimists Club. Transforming Pier Park into a Winter Wonderland is no easy task, but it’s also a rewarding adventure. Kids and families alike love to see their Florida homes turned into a spectacle of delight, and everyone enjoys the parade and fun.

The Optimists Club hosts a variety of events throughout the year, from golf tournaments in March to Firefighter Appreciation in September, and Christmas events in December. Many of the events are free to the public, and donations are generally specified for local charities.

The Chamber of Commerce also organizes a variety of events throughout the year, often centered on a variety of holidays. In Panama City Beach, there are two ball drops on New Year’s Eve; earlier in the day, a family friendly ball drop centers on tossing beach balls onto the beach, while a traditional lighted ball descends at midnight on the beach itself. From events as big as New Year’s Eve to holidays as quiet and calm as Arbor Day, the Chamber of Commerce works hard to bring a variety of celebrations to Panama City Beach’s holidays.

If you want to find smaller, more local events to celebrate in Panama City beach, there are a variety of events through the winter season, from local markets to concerts and art exhibitions.

Mardi Gras is always a big draw for Panama City Beach holidays, from local residents to visiting friends. Many of February’s events for 2016 are already on the books, meaning that it’s easy for you to start planning ahead on how you want to spend this amazing, cultural holiday. If the answer is “with great friends, on exquisite beaches with some of the most beautiful water in the world,” then you’ll want to plan to spend Mardi Gras in PCB. Along with more adult events, Panama City Beach focuses on making sure that the day is fun for the whole family, kids included.

And of course, even if it isn’t really a holiday for the rest of the world, Panama City Beach isn’t called the Spring Break Capital of the World for nothing. Many venues have started announcing their 2016 events, so we know that visitors will be able to see Brett Eldredge, Kaskade, and many more amazing musicians. Many resorts, bars, and restaurants, cater to students during spring break, making sure that visitors get the best possible bang for their buck.

Whatever holiday you’re looking to spend in Panama City Beach, we want to make it as fun as possible. When your celebration is done, and you’re looking for something fun to do, make an exciting memory out on the water with one of the many events and tours that we offer at Adventures at Sea. Give us a call to see where we’ll fit in your schedule!

There’s Fun To Be Had With A Jet Ski Tour

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If you’re visiting Florida, or looking for a way to entertain visitors from out of town, you might have considered a Jet Ski rental. After all, Jet Skis and WaveRunners are a fantastic way to get close to the water while enjoying the wild rush of the salt spray in your face and the feeling of skipping over the waves. But after you’ve raced around a few times, what else is there really to do on a Jet Ski?

With one of our Jet Ski tours, we can answer that question!

Sunset Cruise

If you’re looking for a romantic tete-a-tete after your water play, a sunset cruise is always an option. Though we often do this tour on a boat, if being a little closer to water is more your style, then we can arrange to take you and your someone out on a Jet Ski tour to see the sunset. The way the setting sun seems to light the water on fire is unbelievable; photographs can’t capture it. If you’re here in the Emerald Coast, we recommend that you see it for yourself.

Dolphin Tours

If you’ve never seen wild dolphins playing in the water, you won’t believe how incredibly beautiful and inspirational the vision is. While you’re exploring Florida’s Gulf Coast, take time to go on a jet ski tour to visit the wild dolphin schools that live in the area. You’ll get to see them play, splashing through the water and waves; if you’re lucky, they might even come up to the Jet Skis to say hello.

Because these are wild dolphins, not the trained in captivity dolphins you see at the different Panama City Beach water attractions, we can’t guarantee that they’ll be where we expect them to be, but our tour leaders have been doing this for a number of years, and know the places they’re likely to find dolphins. We almost never come back to shore without seeing these beautiful sea animals up close.

Gorgeous Snorkeling

If you like to snorkel, Panama City Beach is the best place to be. St. Andrews State Park is considered one of the best places to snorkel in the Gulf Coast. If the goal of your WaveRunner tour or Jet Ski tour is to end up at somewhere where the snorkeling is amazing, let us know; we love to show people the natural beauty of the area. We’ll show you the most amazing snorkeling locations, where you can see the natural wildlife on Florida’s sea floor—and we’ll make sure that getting there is an exciting ride on your Jet Ski rental.

Visit Shell Island

One of the few untouched and undeveloped spaces left in Florida, no visit to the Emerald Coast is complete without a trip to Shell Island. Remember that the island isn’t equipped with restaurants, bathrooms, or trash cans, so you need to take out what you bring in, but that helps to support the beautiful natural environment, and keep it beautiful for generations to come. Pack a picnic lunch in the waterproof compartment of our WaveRunner, and then enjoy it on the beach of Shell Island.

There’s a lot more fun to a WaveRunner or Jet Ski tour than just splashing through the waves and racing your friends—although that’s definitely fun too! Schedule your trip today and make sure that you tell us all the awesome things you want to achieve; we’ll help you fit them all in!

See dolphins play on your sunset boat tour

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Have you ever seen the sunset while dolphins play in the surf? Toured the natural beauty of Shell Island, one of the few Florida landscapes that remains undeveloped and untouched? Put your head back and relaxed as the waves splash around you, and someone else worries about the steering?

When you visit Adventures At Sea, all of these are on the table.

Many visitors to Panama City Beach book their boat tour hoping to see dolphins at play in their natural environment. Although most of us know dolphins from their TV appearances and starring roles at aquatic attractions, few have had the luck and privilege of seeing dolphins in their natural environment. Dolphins splashing through a sunset surf is something you absolutely have to see in your life, if you can.

Sunset cruises are a romantic way to get out on the water on Florida’s Emerald Coast. Whether you’re thinking about a pontoon boat or a sailboat, we can help you create the perfect trip.

Two dolphins swim side by side over bright blue waves

Four reasons to schedule a boat tour to see dolphins, the sunset, and so much more:

Someone else does all the work

When you book a boat tour with us, we take care of all the irritating parts of a boat trip. We navigate, steer, watch out for other boaters and water hazards, and make sure that everything goes smoothly.

You sit back and relax

Whatever that looks like for you. You can put your feet up and watch the water flow by, read a book, take video, or visit with the friends and family here with you. This is your trip; enjoy it in the best possible way for you!

We take you where you want to go

From Shell Island to dolphin locations, from fishing spots to gorgeous views on the sunset, we make sure that you get where you want to go without any worry about how to read a chart, or which areas you might need to avoid. We’re the experts on water around the Gulf Coast of Florida; we’ll take care of it.

You focus on your vacation, not navigation

If what you want to do is rent a boat and take the wheel yourself, we’re happy to make that happen for you. But if you want the chance to kick back and focus on relaxation, on taking great photographs that will make everyone at home jealous, and on reconnecting with the friends and family who’ve made your trip with you, then what you should do is schedule a boat tour for your visit. We can take you fishing, find you a secluded, private, and safe space to do some snorkeling, or help you find where dolphins are playing.

If you have a romantic plan in mind, we can take you somewhere where you can ask an important question as the setting sun sets the water on fire. If you’re traveling with your kids, we can find a quiet place where they can watch the beauty of the sunset without disturbing other boaters or beachgoers.

Our goal at Adventures At Sea is to make your boat tour as enjoyable and exciting as possible. Whatever you want to see or do on the water, we’re here to make it happen. If you’ve never seen dolphins playing in sunset waters, or enjoyed the bird’s eye view of wildlife that snorkeling gives you, or cut through the waves with just the wind at your back, it’s something you should experience.

Let us make your vacation one to remember.

Visiting Panama City Beach for Labor Day? Plan Ahead!

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If making time for a visit to Panama City Beach on Labor Day is part of your weekend plans, but you’re worried about running into crowds, Visit Panama City Beach’s website has a perfect solution.

This exciting new feature has two great applications in real life for your weekend. First, you can look over the different beaches to see how busy things are, and how long it might be before you find a good spot on the beach.

If you have some concerns about how this could affect the privacy of beach goers, know that local news channel WJHG spoke to David Demarest, who is the public relations manager at Visit Panama City Beach, to verify that they had considered this complication.

Basically, according to Demarest, there is a queue of people who can choose where the camera focuses, to give them an idea of which areas of the beach are busy, and which are not. When it’s your turn, you can choose which view to use, but you don’t have the ability to change the focus or the angle of the camera.

If you wish you could visit Panama City Beach this Labor Day, but it doesn’t seem to be in the cards, you can also use the webcams to get a flavor of the bright white beaches, the emerald green water, and to even watch the sunset, if that helps you feel more connected with the Florida scene.

Now, if you’re planning to visit the beach this Labor Day, don’t forget about our awesome lounge chair rental service. You’re lugging enough gear to the beach with you, don’t work up a sweat dragging a chair along with you as well. For a reasonable rental fee, you get a comfortable chair with adjustable headrest that you don’t have to drag onto or off of the beach. It’s the ultimate in vacation luxury.

We’ll bring you drinks, and adjust your umbrella so that you always have just as much shade as you want. Going into the water to cool off? We’ll keep all your belongings safe while you enjoy the waves. You can book online from home, and then head down to the beach to find your chair waiting for you. How’s that for luxury?

If you’re also on the lookout for other fun and exciting events for your Panama City Beach visit over Labor Day weekend, there are some great local websites to check out as you make your plans. Specifically, Visit Panama City Beach maintains a great list of upcoming events, from markets to concerts and festivals. Whatever you have in mind for your trip, you’ll find it here.

Labor Day is a great excuse to celebrate the long weekend, the end of summer, and the beginning of the cooler weather. The weather is supposed to be great this weekend, so make sure to get out onto the beach and have some fun. Take a spin out on the water, or relax on the beach. Whatever you have in mind when you visit Panama City Beach this Labor Day, Adventures At Sea will help make it happen.

Where’s the best place for snorkeling in Panama City Beach?

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There are all sorts of amazingly fun activities to occupy your time when you visit PCB. Boat tours, dolphin watching, fishing—and of course, checking out the best place to snorkel in Panama City Beach, Florida, which many experts say is St. Andrews State Park.

Of course, the snorkeling is great at many of Florida’s state parks. Whether you’re on the Gulf Coast or the Keys, the gorgeous clear water and exciting marine life makes for a fascinating view. Snorkeling lets you float along the water, a quiet visitor to the world of the sea life, and gives you a bird’s eye view (as it were) of what’s happening below you. There’s nothing calmer.

But St. Andrews State Park in particular is well known for its sugar-white sand beaches and emerald green water, its variety of available activities and amenities, and its proximity to Shell Island, another gorgeous place to visit.

If you’re planning a snorkeling trip, here are some things to keep in mind:

  • The snorkeling is always going to be best when the water’s clear, because you’ll have maximum visibility.
  • If you’re planning to snorkel in an inlet, you need to be aware of tides. Check with a local dive shop to make sure you’re going in the water at a safe time.
  • Snorkeling close to a jetty or pier can mean that you get hooked by a fisher. Be careful!
  • Stay away from boating traffic and Jet Skis. Getting hit by one of those would be incredibly dangerous for someone snorkeling, and might even be fatal.
  • If you’re snorkeling any distance off the beach, use a dive flag. This will make it easier for others in the water to see you. If you don’t already have one in your gear, talk to a local dive shop to buy or rent one.
  • Keep an eye out for jellyfish in the water, and know that if you see one on the beach, there are probably many more out on the surf.

In general, St. Andrews State Park is one of the best places to snorkel in warmer weather months; north of Tampa, the water on the Gulf Coast can still get a bit on the chilly side. Although the sea isn’t a swimming pool, and conditions can change every day, snorkelers often report seeing blue and yellow tangs, sergeant majors, and bluehead wrasses.

If you’re looking for a coral reef environment for snorkeling, of course you won’t find that at St. Andrews State Park, but snorkelers report visibility of up to 20 feet, lots of fish, and lots of smaller hermit crabs and other wildlife close to the shore that kids can enjoy. And once you’re done snorkeling, you can explore the nature trails, a cookout, or bird-watch.

If you think you might want a more private snorkeling experience, consider one of our tours out to Shell Island. Just let our captains know what you’re looking for, and we’ll help you locate more secluded spots among the grass sea beds. We can also look for wild dolphins in their natural habitat, or just let you enjoy the feeling of the sea breeze on your skin and the sun on your face.

It’s up to you. Enjoy the best snorkeling in Panama City Beach, the relaxing journey of a boat tour, or a little bit of both. It’s your vacation; make it memorable.

Parasailing with kids: local STEM camp intrigues teens

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Kids at the STEM camp at Florida State University had an attention grabbing moment in mid-June, when two helicopters and a powered parasail arrived at the camp to show them some of the intriguing things that are happening in aviation.

At Adventures At Sea, we strongly believe that parasailing for kids is safe, fun, educational, and can provide valuable perspective to kids who are interested.

If you’ve never parasailed before, It’s an unbelievable experience. You’ll enjoy the gorgeous, lovely views of the gorgeous blue waters and pale beaches of Florida’s exquisite Gulf Coast. But if you or your child are interested in the sciences, parasailing can be even more.

Love marine biology?  

If your kid loves ocean life, taking them parasailing allows kids to see the grand vistas of the ocean from a perspective they’ll never achieve on the ground. From above, they can identify:

  • Stingrays
  • Schools of dolphins
  • Sea Turtles

And watch the way these animals interact with each other and the water from 300 feet in the air, seeing a grander picture than you could on the beach, or even on a boat tour.

Fascinated by aviation and aerodynamics?

If your child is a budding engineer or physicist, the chance to feel the forces at play in flight first hand is like no other. When you parasail, you’re strapped into a harness which is attached to a parachute. A line connects you to the back of a boat. While the boat coasts over the waves, air catches in the parachute and lits you up into the sky. You get to experience the unique beauty of flight without the roar of a jet engine or the training necessary with a parachuting trip.

A couple sails on a rainbow parachute against pale blue sky

If you’re coming to Panama City Beach, Florida, on a family vacation, and are planning to go parasailing with your kids, have them ask their science or biology teacher if they can get extra credit for writing a report about what they see and feel while parasailing.

Concerned that your child will be afraid once they get in the air?  

You know your child best. If you’re concerned that your kid will be nervous up in the air, remember that our parasailing harnesses can hold up to 500 pounds and up to three people. We can strap in an adult and a kid, so that you’ll be there if your child is afraid.

How to prepare a kid for parasailing 

If you’re planning to bring your child with you to parasail at Adventures at Sea in Panama City Beach, Florida, there are a number of ways you may be able to help your kid know what to expect. If your child is the nervous type, but is excited about the possibilities, there are some great ways to help them mentally prepare for what they might see while parasailing. You could:

  • Watch videos together that have been taken during parasailing
  • Show them aerial view photos of the area
  • Talk to them about what sort of safety precautions we take at Adventures At Sea, such as making sure that we strap you into your harness and verify that it’s secure, and only “dipping” you in the water if you request it.

If you want a safe and exciting adventure with parasailing for kids, book your trip at Adventures at Sea in Panama City Beach, Florida. Give us a call, book your adventure online–or if you’re already near Lagoon Drive, swing by and say hello!

Book your parasailing adventure today to reserve the date and time you most want! We’ll make sure both you and your kids have an amazing parasailing trip, where you see the gorgeous vistas of both Panama City Beach, and the Gulf Coast of Florida.

A sandy, pale Gulf Coast beach with a single palm tree, and warm blue waters with small waves.

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