Mexico Beach - Florida

Mexico Beach, Florida is a very private beach just east of Panama City Beach and just west of Port St. Joe. There is plenty of free parking. We usually park near Toucan's restaurant. We always eat there and they have a playground on the beach in front of their restaurant.

We went out to Mexico beach for the last time in May 2010 when Paul's parents came out to visit. We spent our afternoon out there collecting shells and swimming. There's an abundance of shells all along the beach. I think Mexico Beach is one of the best beaches for collecting seashells in Florida.

Noah, Eden and I bogey boarded. The waves at Mexico beach are not over powering like some beaches. It's a safe area for kids to play. Eden was only 5 and she was able to easily bogey board.

You can see how uncrowded this beach is in this picture.

Panama City Beach Summer Camps

Panama City Beach has much to offer families, including loads of kids camps.

Gallagher's gymnastics hosts all day camps during some weeks during the summer.
These camps cost $125 per week and are for ages 6 - 12.
Kids will do gymnastics and other activities. Campers must provide their own lunches.
For more info call 850-233-5501.  My kids LOVE going to camp here!

Julie's School of Dance hosts two week long camps each summer for $150 each. I found that the demand is high for these camps, so don't delay.

Science and Discovery Museum of Northwest Florida has half day and full day programs for children PreK and up. The average price is 70 per week.

Volley For Christ camps - Volley for Christ is a camp where each participant will learn the skills necessary to compete in the game of volleyball and the game of life. The camp is designed to use volleyball skills to teach girls how to live a life that honors Christ.

Visual Arts Center of Northwest Florida offer camps each summer for ages 3-14.
Dates and times: 8:30 am - 12:30 p.m. Monday-Friday, Classes range from four days to nine days; deadline for registration is one week before start of each session.. Site: VAC, 19 E. Fourth St., Panama City. Costs range from $50-$150 per session for members, $95 to $195 per session for nonmembers. Activities: Clay, drawing, mixed media and sculpture for ages 7-14; themes for ages 3 to 6 include animals, cowboys and Indians, rainbows, everything that flies, under the sea and robots and aliens. 850-769.4451

Bay BASE sponsered by Bay District Schools for Kindergarten through fifth grade.
Dates and times: 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday,
Sites: Tommy Smith, Tyndall and Waller elementary schools still had openings as of May 11.
Costs: $45 to $65 a week for first child in a family; $45 to $57 for each additional child; $17 per child per day for preregistered drop-ins (registration limited); registration fee $20 (nonrefundable); first week’s fees due at registration.
Activities: Arts and crafts, music, games, field trips, home-work assistance, sports and story telling.
More information: Frances Carey at 872-4292 or Joan Edwards at 873-7149.

Boys and Girls Clubs of Bay County offers camps each summer for ages: 6-18.
Dates and times: 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. Costs: $250 per child for entire program, includes breakfast and lunch. Families with more than three children pay only for the first three.
Activities include swimming, recreation, weekly field trips, skating, movies, educational programs by police and fire departments.

These camps are available at multiple locations:
C.C. Moore Unit (swimming pool location)
L. Charlie Hilton Activity Center, 3404 W. 19th Street, St. Andrews/Panama City (763-3546, Terry Sasser)
Chapman Unit, 3030 E. Third Street, Millville/Panama City (785-2747, Wanda Jones)
Frank Brown Park Unit, 1620 Back Beach Road, Panama City Beach (236-3030, J.C. Schwab).

Dogwood Acres sponsored Presbytery of Florida, Presbyterian Church (USA).
Ages: Completing grades 2-12.
Dates and times: June -Aug, day/night half- and full-week sessions Sunday-Tuesday, Wednesday-Friday or Sunday-Friday.
Site: 3320 Harmony Road, off County 279 between Vernon and Chipley.
Costs: $142.50 to $295.
Activities/themes: Arts and crafts, recreation, nature exploration, challenge course, drama and improv, Bible study, fellowship. (850) 535-2695;

Drama camp: Sponsored by Imagination Factory Children’s Theater.
Ages: Elementary through high school.  Morning camp 9 a.m.-noon, afternoon 1-4 p.m usually in late May or early June at Arnold High School Fine Arts Center. Average Cost: $375.
Activities: Acting, voice and dance; accelerated program in which students work toward a production.

Gulf World day camp
Well $65 for just one day is a lot. But if your kids really want to interact with dolphins then this is probably worth it. Your kids have to be at least 8 years old to participate and the camp is just one day from 8:30 - 3.  The photos real sold me on this camp!

Panama City Cheer Camp: These cheer camps run all summer long and are for squads elementary age on up through high school.

Zoo World is the area's zoo. It is a very small zoo, but they have lots of animals. They have summer camps for children ages 6 and up. These camps run $185 a week and includes lunch.

Reading classes - offered by University of West Florida here in Panama City.  Weekly June 12th - July 19th for kids 4 years old through adults.  800-979-9151

Woodlawn United Methodist church is hosting Quest Summer camp. There will be a different theme every week Mon - Fri from 7:30 AM - 5:30 PM for ages 5-12 June 11th - Aug 21st. The cost is $90 a week. 

April, May, & June events in Panama City Beach

April


Kids Fishing Rodeo
Frank Brown Park
Ages 16 and under
Free hot dogs, kid's fishing rods, tackle boxes
Sat, April, 10:00 am to 1:00 pm

Earth Day at the Beach
Sat, April
10:00 am to 3:00 pm
La Quinta Inn (Thomas Drive at the Navy Base entrance)
Admission is free.
Informational booths, interactive displays, free food, earth-friendly vendors, and music.

Earth Day Panama City
Sat, April
10:00 am to 5:00 pm
Carl Grey Park (by GCCC)
Live music, food, art, crafts, children's activities, info on green products and local environmental research.

Kidfest
Sat, April
10:00 am to 4:00 pm
GCCC
Admission is $1 for kids, $2 for adults (proceeds to Early Education and Care)
More than 100 organizations and businesses will offer food, entertainment, kid-friendly activities, and info on early education.


May

St Andrews Waterfront MarketSaturday’s in May & June –  8:30am-noon, also in Sept and Oct. Arts, crafts, produce & seafood

Groovin’ on the Green
Last Sunday in May until early August – every Sunday & Monday night until . Free concert series in Carillion Beach

June
Annual Billy Bowlegs Festival
(Pirate festival) Fort Walton Beach

First Friday Downtown –  1st Friday on Harrison Ave in downtown Panama City, FL.
Summer Concert Series,
May- August
Lynn Haven, FL
6:30-7:30pm
Annual Panhandle Watermelon Festival - Chipley

Fall events for Panama City Beach area

 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Oct 9- “Curtain Call for the Cure”!- Kaleidoscope Theatre- 6:30pm- $15- call 265-3226 for more information.

Oct 9- Disney Playhouse Live! - Marina Civic Center- 6:00pm- visit www.marinaciviccenter.com for more info.

Oct 16, 17- 9th Annual Jazz by the Bay- Oaks by the Bay Park (St. Andrews)- 6pm Oct 16, 12pm Oct 17- FREE

Oct 17- 11th Annual Mexico Beach Art & Wine Festival

Oct 23-25- Seacrest Wolf Preserve’s “Howl-O-Ween”- 10am-9pm Sat, 10am-3pm Sun- Free Admission- Call 277-0489 or visit www.seacrestwolfpreserve.org for info

Oct 24- Boo at the Beach- Pier Park (promo/green grass area) - 11am-2pm- Hay bale maze, pumpkin carving, spooky stories, arts & crafts, pet costume contest.

Oct 24- St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge 21st Annual Monarch Butterfly Festival- 10am-4pm- Exhibits, demonstrations, and tours. Visit:http://www.fws.gov/saintmarks/media/pdf/CalendarofEvents.pdf for more information.

Oct 31- Malloween- Pier Park- 6pm-8pm- Trick or Treating throughout property- hay bale maze, costume contest.

Oct 31- Halloween Bash 2009- Spinnaker Beach Club- “The Night They Came Home”- to benefit the Toys for Kids Foundation- visit info@toysforkidsfoundation.org for info.

Nov 6- Taste of the Beach- Pier Park- 5:30-8:30pm- Over 300 wines to taste and allproceeds go to various local charities dedicated to helping underprivileged children.

Nov 6-7- 46th Annual Florida Seafood Festival- Battery Park, Apalachicola- www.floridaseafoodfestival.com

Nov 7- Ironman Triathlon Florida- Boardwalk Beach Resort

Nov 9-15- Emerald Coast Cruizin Car Show- Frank Brown Park- Nov 11th- parade at 4pm at Pier Park

Nov 12-15 Holly Fair-Boardwalk Beach Resort (only local holiday
fairwww.jslpanamacity.org

Nov 21- St. Jude 5K Run- Pier Park

Related articles

• Panama City Beach, FL: 5 Free Family Friendly Activities
• Mexico Beach - Florida

Upcoming events around and near Panama City Beach

25-27 32nd Annual Pensacola Seafood Festival-www.fiestaoffiveflags.org/SeafoodFestival/ for more info.

2-4 OktoberFest in Panama City – Downtown

9-11 Panama City Beach Seafood, Wine & Music Festival – Frank Brown Park -
http://panamacitybeachfest.com/

9 Playhouse Disney LIVE – Marina Civic Ctr – 1800 – 793-4696 for info

12 Columbus Day – No School

16-17 9th Annual Jazz by the Bay- Oaks by the Bay Park (St. Andrews)- FREE

24 Boo at the Beach- Pier Park (promo/green grass area) - 11am-2pm- Hay bale maze, pumpkin carving, spooky stories, arts & crafts, pet costume contest.

31 Malloween- Pier Park- 6pm-8pm- Trick or Treating throughout property- hay bale maze, costume contest.

Halloween Bash 2009- Spinnaker Beach Club- “The Night They Came Home”- to benefit the Toys for Kids Foundation- visit info@toysforkidsfoundation.org for more info.

4 activities in and around Panama City Beach

Panama City Beach, Florida (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Take a tour of the Bear Creek Feline Center: home to six species of lessor felines including Jaguarundis, Florida Panthers, Bobcats, African Servals, African Caracals and Siberian Lynx.

Take the kids to Pump it Up to burn off some energy. This is an indoor inflatable play place. Mon - Wed they have a toddler time for 2 - 6 year old from 10-11:30 for $6. Every Mon - Wed they also have elementary time from 3:30 - 5 for kids 6 and up.

Drive over to St. Andrews state park where there is an area enclosed by rocks where the kids can swim and play and not worry about big waves. It is shallow and calm! There is an entry fee of $5 a car to go in the park.  St. Andrews state park is also a wonderful place to have family beach pictures taken.

Go canoeing/camping/hiking at Econfina Creek. Click here for more info. And while you are up that way be sure to check out Pitt Spring. Its a great way to see the beautiful fresh water springs without having to buy or rent a canoe. There is a shallow end of the spring for the kids to play and wade around in. There is also a beautiful nature walk that leads to another very shallow place where even babies can play. Some people even snorkel there. There is not a lot of parking. For another good website with good pictures of this area click here.

Panama City Beach restaurants