Families visiting Panama City Beach will already be familiar with the area lovingly known as Dysfunction Junction. The corner where a marooned ship and an upside down house face each other. Many of Panama City Beach’s better-known things to do can be found here. Ripley’s Believe It Or Not, Wonderworks, Race City, Pirates Island Mini Golf and more.
What may not be as well known to as many people, is the charming, and more laid back and relaxed West End. It’s a place where joggers get in their steps up and down winding streets. Where people walk their cute puppies as they ride skateboards. It’s here that golf carts with colorful floaties tied to their roofs, cruise slowly by.
Everybody on the West End has their favorite beach spot. That special, secret place that nobody else realizes is “the best spot”. Although the coastline itself shares the exact same white sand and lapping waves. Nearby are majestic houses and quaint cottages, some with more character than others.
Old-Florida Charm
You wont see many high-rise buildings are here, which explains the incredible views and slower pace. Which, by Panama City Beach’s relaxed standards, is saying something. This really is a slice of old-Florida charm, which is all still within reach of the energetic business of dysfunction junction.
It’s here on the West End, where some of Panama City Beach’s greatest treasures can be found. Close to the stretch from the “Y” (where Highway 79 flows in a Y shape into Highway 98, aka Front Beach Road) is the Sandpiper Beacon Beach Resort.
This area is peaceful and tranquil. It’s occupied by people who enjoy a slower vacation pace and don’t need to be surrounded by the hustle and bustle. No loud amusement parks. No sprawling shopping complexes. Just peace and quiet, with plenty of interesting places and family fun.
The “FUN Place!”
The family-owned and operated Sandpiper Beacon is one of the few remaining boutique style Resorts in Panama City Beach. It’s grown tremendously over the decades, after starting out as a typical Florida-stye Motor-Hotel, or Motel.
After years and years of constant upgrades and improvements, this acres-large property gives families over 1,000ft of private beach to enjoy.
For those with kids and teenagers, there is no shortage of entertainment all included in the price of the stay.
Planned family games and contests, scavenger hunts and live Polynesian fire dancing shows are just a few examples. So it’s not hard to see why guests return year after year for more.
Great Groceries
A short drive towards the West, is the Carousel Supermarket. This is especially helpful, as many of the rooms & suites at the Sandpiper Beacon have kitchens.
This friendly neighborhood market has survived and thrived as larger chain grocery stores have popped up.
They offer fresh produce and meats, a huge selection of wines, and a wide range of grocery items.
Delicious Donuts
Another West-end treasure, is Thomas’ Donuts.
During the busier times of year, expect to find locals and tourists standing side by side in line, to order.
Things have changed since those early donut-only days, and the menu has grown to include pizzas, subs, bagels and breakfast biscuits (opening is at 6 a.m.), hamburgers, hot dogs, and french fries.
Surrounded by forests, wetlands, dune systems, pristine lakes, native oak trees and abundant wildlife, the area, like all of West End, is quiet.
Sun Bear Gallery
This is a great place to pick up a unique Panama City Beach Souvenir to take home with you. Wood carvings, Native American silver jewelry, buckskins, ceremonial drums and unique leather items perfect for bikers who may be visiting during Thunder Beach.
Coconuts Restaurant
Don’t drive past this bright yellow building on back beach road without stopping by to try it out. Locals say they have a reputations for serving the best breakfast on the beach.
Pick up a reasonably priced breakfast that will bring back childhood memories.
However, if you’re counting calories, you may want to pass, as they don’t seem to mind too much about things like cholesterol or portion control here.
Panama City Beach Conservation Park
With 908 uplands acres and 2,004 wetlands acres, this is Bay County’s largest public park.
It’s filled with more than two dozen miles of trails and 1.2 miles of boardwalks.
Also, it’s completely free to get in, which is great for families not looking to break the bank while looking for fun ways to keep the kid’s entertained.
So Where Should You Stay?
There’s no denying to popularity and “hidden-gem” mindset behind people discovering the West-End of Panama City Beach.
If you’ve vacationed here in the past, and already have a pretty good idea of what a fun family vacation in Panama City Beach looks like, you’re in for a treat!
Rediscover attractions, restaurants, shopping experiences and fun. See the destination with a fresh perspective, and don’t wish you’d learned about it sooner, just be happy you discovered it now!
Whether you stay with us here at the Sandpiper Beacon, with on-site dining options, and so many amenities and planned entertainment included in the price of the stay, many guests never leave the Resort… Or you decide to stay somewhere else, the West-end of Panama City Beach is the place to be!
See why families have been returning to stay at the Resort known as the “FUN Place!” for generations, and call 24/7 for your free, personalized rate quote today. 1-800-488-8828
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