Panama City Beach has long held a reputation as being the “Spring Break Capital of the World”.
For many years, it has been the very embodiment of what a Spring Break experience is all about. Freedom, beaches, blue skies, palm trees, and an incredible nightlife.
Being located on a seemingly endless 27 mile stretch of pristine white sandy beaches (which are coincidentally branded as the “World’s Most Beautiful Beaches”) made it the perfect fit.
The views are the things of desktop wallpapers. It’s idyllic.
Spring Break Changes
After a series of unfortunate incidents in 2016 and 2017, Panama City Beach passed an ordinance that prohibited the consumption of alcoholic beverages on the white sandy beaches.
The ordinance had the desired effect. It drove the disruptive Spring Break element; those seeking to binge drink and ‘party” until they passed out, to seek alternative destinations.
The Spring Break experience Panama City Beach has since been enjoying, is a far more harmonious one.
A New Spring Break Era
The Spring Breakers who visit Panama City Beach today are a more discerning group. Responsible and respectful, and even more able to have an amazing spring break experience.
Meanwhile, there has been a seemingly endless flood of news stories of illegal drug and alcohol consumption in public places. Those stories are not coming out of Panama City Beach, Florida though. Those things are going on in the new destinations rowdy Spring Breakers now visit instead.
One such example, is Miami, Florida. According to an NBC story, dozens of additional officers were needed in an attempt to wrestle control back from the “out of control” spring breakers. (Source.)
“This is not a kind of tourism that I think that we need,” Miami Commissioner John Elizabeth Alemán said. “I think the conversation might have been more difficult for Fort Lauderdale back in the day because their economy was very dependent on spring break. I think we’re much more resilient than that, I think we can do without this.”
Swiss Army Knife Destination
Panama City Beach has so many events happening all year round. Spring Break tourism makes up a single (but amazing) slice of a much larger pie.
Motorcycle Rallies, Classic Car Shows, Lobster Festivals, Music Concerts and Weekend-long Music Events, Sporting Competitions are just some of the things going on in Panama City Beach each year.
These different events throughout the year appeal to a wide ranging demographic. From families with children to young couples without kids, and retired-age families. There truly is something for everybody.
While Panama City Beach, Florida is a destination that appeals to a wide ranging demographic, it will always be Spring Break-friendly. It’s in our DNA.
The only thing that is different, is that the tiny percentage of disruptive people looking to misbehave will now need to make plans elsewhere.
The Spring Break Capital of the World is here to stay.
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