Panama City Beach - Part 1 Resort on the Gulf Coast
Written by: Janet Pope
Swimming with dolphins, a relaxing Florida beachfront, tours with the chef and a massage. Who could ask for anything more?
I know I shouldn't complain about my job of writing about different travel destinations—but on this trip to Panama City Beach Florida, I realized the downside to this profession. My husband and I see so many places where we just don't want to leave, and this was one of them. Most of the time, we get a wonderful tour of the area or the facility, and we are lucky to stay a few days. After our tour of the Edgewater Beach Resort in Panama City Beach, I knew right away that staying here two nights would be like a tease. I looked at this beach wonderland with its deep blue ocean and pristine white sands, and I already dreaded my departure in two days back to New York and 9" of snow. Now don't get me wrong, I truly love New York. Everywhere I go, I sermonize about its fantastic people and the abundance of sights and sounds. While in Panama City Beach, I felt like I was in another world. My only other Florida experience had been in or around the hubbub of activity in Orlando. This experience proved to be Florida at its best: warm and casual with a rewarding panoramic view of the gulf.
Our first morning at the Edgewater Beach Resort, we met the marketing manager Gary Griggs at the Palapa Beach Club for breakfast. Over coffee and a huge powerhouse omelette that even my husband, Donald, couldn't finish, Gary told us why the Edgewater is a cut above the others. This gated community nestled on 110 acres of "God's land" houses 5 towers of condos, and a village of villas. The 1,200 units are filled to capacity during the summer and 60% average use the rest of the year. A cornerstone of this ever-growing complex is a new 32,000 square foot convention center, attracting the corporate marketplace.
When asked what makes this condo community different from others, Gary informed us that it is run as a full-service resort—even featuring room service. The Edgewater seems to have it all! During the summer, they have the traditional beach sports, as well as Jet Ski, para sailing and deep-sea fishing. All year round, the resort features two pools, six heated Jacuzzis, a full-service health spa, tennis complex, golfing, shuffleboard, a fitness center, and organized activities. Besides the on-premises bar and restaurant, the Edgewater has a shopping service that will even stock the weary traveler’s refrigerator before they arrive.
The resort, built in 1989, is fairly new and maintained beautifully. Our suite consisted of a large-sized kitchen, dining area, living room, bedroom, two baths, and a balcony overlooking a private beach.
There are also two, three and four bedroom suites available for both purchase and rental. Many guests are at the Edgewater for three winter months – "the snowbirds" – and some are there for shorter vacation stays. March is traditionally "Spring Break Season" for Panama City Beach, and the college students literally invade the area. Though the Edgewater will not rent to anyone under 25, I still would avoid the vicinity that month if you are looking for a family or honeymoon destination.
We learned the ideal time to come here, besides the summer, is September and October when the perfect weather ranges between 75 to 80 degrees.
After our tour, we picked up a boxed lunch, and though the weather was a brisk 60 degrees, we couldn't resist the allure of the beach. We sat on the cool sand and just soaked up the view. Wearing jogging suits, we were amazed at the hearty souls who romped on the beach in bathing suits catching frisbees—and the even braver souls who actually forged the chilly water. The ocean here is so blue, and the sand so white and silky.
After lunch and a walk I managed to steer Donald towards the gift shop to get my obligatory souvenirs.
Mid afternoon, we attended a program called "Cooking with the Chef" held in the Conference Center. This is one of the many free programs run for the guests. Chef Chris Moseley, a banquet chef and one of the three head chefs for the facility, gave us a cooking demonstration. In a half-hour, he whipped up a lobster risotto, veal medallions with a demi glaze sauce, and a Caesar salad. As he guided his audience through the steps, Chef Chris made a great dinner meal seem so effortless. He even revealed a chef's best secret— "prepare, prepare, and prepare." Although he cooked for a 1/2 hour in front of us, he had prepared for two hours behind the scenes. As he spoke, he answered questions about the cooking in general and the recipes in particular. Though the aroma of the veal sautéing in onions and the risotto simmering in bits of lobster were irresistible, the best was yet to come. Now we got to actually taste the results.
Usually Donald is at the front of any buffet line, but this time even I beat him out. Everything was delicious and with recipes in hand, I felt confident I could attempt this meal at home.
Next we decided to take advantage of the Health Spa where Donald and I were scheduled for hot stone massages. Unsure of exactly what a hot stone massage is, we decided to be brave and hope that in the end it would be relaxing. This unique massage style is based on a Native American tradition. Smooth basalt stones are heated and placed on pressure points on the body sending warm vibrations deep into the muscles. In between the hot stones, the body is massaged one area at a time.
I found this experience very soothing and relaxing. At times, I was afraid I would drift off to sleep oblivious to the stones. Donald, on the other hand, was more interested in the historical significance of its origins.
We got on the resort tram for a short ride to the Palapa Beach Club for dinner. The meal was as satisfying as the music. A guitar-playing singer, Rick Martinez, entertained us as we ate. We both had a house salad as a starter. Donald had the bacon-wrapped shrimp, and I tried the marinated top sirloin. Even though Don and I made a New Year’s resolution to lose weight, we finished off our dishes and had the nerve to share a dessert (in order to cut down our caloric intake.)
Though Panama City Beach boasts many diverse restaurants, we felt no desire to explore other eateries. During the winter, the Palapa Beach Club has a quiet laid-back atmosphere, and since the food proved delicious, we decided that relaxing was just what we needed after the busy holidays. Kudos to the chef David Rushing!
We pushed ourselves to finish off the hot apple compote topped with vanilla ice cream and chocolate syrup, and headed off to Gulf World to catch a show. Todd Herendeen and his band were performing a tribute to Elvis. Todd is not an Elvis impersonator and does not try to transform himself, but rather uses his voice to pay homage to a great singer and song stylist. Todd captured Elvis beautifully, particularly on his slow-moving ballads. His backup band was exciting to watch—especially the keyboard player, Cindy Wood. She was a perfect foil for Todd: singing backup, vocally bantering with him, and in general lighting up the stage with her presence. Many times I find backup musicians seem to be uninterested in what is going on. You wonder, "If they are bored, why shouldn't you be?" Todd's keyboard player was the happiest musician I’ve ever seen. If Cindy was the heart of the band in the background, Todd certainly held the audience in the palm of his hand center stage.
The rest of the musicians rounded out the group. We were surprised to learn that the drummer, Rick Ackerman, had only been with them for three days—and this was his second show! He did a great job blending with the group, and the audience clapped and swayed all night to his beat. Being from New York City, we've seen a lot of shows, but Todd's passion for his work is impressively apparent.
Gulf World is used predominantly during the day in the winter months, so utilizing the stage at night is a great idea. However, before we left Florida, we headed back to Gulf World to swim with the dolphins, so there will be more on that later.
As we walked back to our room past the moonlit beach, I thought, "Okay, so I really can't complain about this job... no matter how short the stay." Maybe someday I will grow up to be a "snowbird" and stay longer.
