PANAMA CITY BEACH
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The sun shines 320 days a year on Panama City Beach's 27 miles (43 km) of snow white sand. Emerald green waters lap at the tanned toes of visitors bronzing themselves on sugary shores. The subtropical climate, an easygoing Southern mentality and variety of exciting activities are a sparkling backdrop to leisure-filled days, making Panama City Beach a year-round vacation paradise. One of Northern Florida's most popular vacation spots, this slice of paradise boasts family fun with an affordable price tag. Families find an abundance of activities for kids of all ages. The bustling Miracle Strip offers amusement parks and gaming centers. Gulf World houses an exciting marine showcase; Zoo World Zoological and Botanical Park is home to a colorful variety of animals, including rare and endangered species; and Shipwreck Island is the largest water park within 300 miles (483 km). If you're in the mood for wet and wild fun, you'll find it here in the beautiful waterways of the Gulf of Mexico and St. Andrew's Bay. Boating, jet skiing, parasailing, snorkeling, scuba diving and water-skiing are only some of the watersports available here. Like most of the Panhandle, the fishing in this area is exceptional. So get aboard one of the country's largest sportfishing fleets or cast a line off the state's longest pier. Landlubbers will revel in Panama City Beach's award-winning golf courses. Panama City Beach's powder white shores are considered among the most beautiful beaches in America. The unusual whiteness of the sand is a result of quartz crystals washing down from the Appalachian Mountains centuries ago. Rated by the University of Maryland's Laboratory of Coastal Research, St. Andrews State Recreation Area was named the best beach in the country out of 600 considered. Encompassing 1,063 acres of beaches, windswept dunes, pine flatwoods and marshes, the park has all the necessities, from camping facilities and a store to showers, restrooms, picnic areas and a playground. Another great beach getaway is secluded Shell Island. Accessible only by boat, it is one of those rare places where things are preserved just as they were eons ago. The self-styled "Seafood Capital of the World," offers a mind-boggling array of restaurants, specializing in, of course, seafood. Dine on the sumptuous catch of the day while you watch fishermen hauling fish off boats, or feast on all-American dishes served with a heavy dose of Southern charm. Shoppers will be kept busy in the many fun beach boutiques and specialty shops. No matter how you like to spend your time in paradise, Panama City Beach has something to offer.