For one week every year thousands of young adults, as if by instinct, begin their migration south toward warmer climates and sandy beaches. Like moths to a flame, they are attracted to the glow of hot, tan bodies baking in the sun and have no choice but to surrender to the phenomenon known as Spring Break.
Okay, I am no scientist and this is not a National Geographic special, but it's true. It seems like there's nowhere else in the world for students to be during Spring Break than somewhere sunny, wet, and full of bronzed lads and ladies. (Believe me, I spent one Spring Break in Missouri with my best friend and her parents, and let's just say the MTV cameras were nowhere in sight!)
During this time, cities all around the globe transform their shorelines into spectacular Spring Break getaways, but only a handful of these hot spots have proven to be superior to the rest. Among these, Panama City Beach, Florida has emerged from the crowd and continues to gain popularity and interest. Some even refer to it as "The new Cancun." In fact, About.com ranked Panama City number four on their list of "Top 10 Spring Break 2007 Hot Spots." Number four ain't bad considering the first three choices were all in Mexcio - Cancun, Baja, and Acapulco. Not too shabby for a US destination, huh?
So, what about this particular dot on the map makes spring breakers go wild?
I'd like nothing rather than to say here that students choose Panama City over all other Spring Break destinations because it offers students various educational and philosophical activities that allow them to expand their intellectual capabilities and horizons, but come on! The truth is Spring Breakers pick Panama City because it knows how to PARTY! And party it does.
Along its 27 miles of beaches, Spring Breakers can find just about any and every activity to satisfy even the wildest partygoer. From karaoke contests and hard body contests, to inflated water slides and crazy product promotions, Panama City Beach leaves nothing to be desired. MTV has even caught on to the Panama spring fever and sets up shop at the Boardwalk Beach Resort. You can bet that during the day this is the hottest place to be. Why you ask? Well, live concerts from musicians such as Chamillionaire and the Ying Yang Twins draw most of the crowd in, but I suspect that the chance to participate in a number of degrading and humiliating activities in order to get on TV is probably the biggest reason.
Not interested in licking whip cream off of your friend's stomach or joining a mud-wrestling contest in front of thousands of strangers? Well, how about a sand volleyball game or a match of Frisbee. These beach sports are ultra popular to Spring Break beach crowds and are a great way to meet people. Looking for something even more low-key? Grab your buddies and a cooler full of cocktails, and relax underneath the beaming Florida sun. It's a great way to transform your pasty, white bod into a golden brown love machine! Need to get up and stretch your legs but don't want to risk your tan? Grab a cold one and take a stroll along the beach. This way you can scan for hotties and hotspots and look pretty cool while doing so. Believe it or not, more Spring Breakers partake in these activities then wet t-shirt and big booty contests.
During the day the beach is no doubt where it's at, but at night, Panama City pulls out the red carpet at some of the most exclusive clubs. Clubs like La Vela, Spinnaker, and Sharky's are some of the most popular hot spots for partygoers after dark, and are all within walking distance from each other, as well as most of the major hotels and condos. These multi-room, multi-story party palaces are enough to make anyone feel like a celebrity livin' it up in a hot Hollywood club. Even you teeny boppers out there can party like Paris Hilton without pulling out your fake I.D. Most of Panama City's hottest clubs have "Under 21" rooms where teens can dance the night away on Red Bull induced highs!
Speaking of celebrities, appearances and live concerts by some of today's hottest stars are a staple to Panama City's clubs. For instance, during Spring Break 2007 Sharky's featured the entire cast of MTV's "The Real World." Getting down with reality TV stars? What could be better than that?
Before you strap on your padded bra and douse yourself with cologne, hold on. Lines outside of these clubs can take hours to move through and admission prices can be pretty costly, especially if there is a concert going on that night. Instead of wasting valuable party time and money, take a little time out of your day and do some research. A lot of clubs sell admission wrist bands early in the day and charge a lot less than what you would pay at the door after dark. It's a smart way to save your cash flow for pimping and partying. Oh, and of course a t-shirt for mom! All you have to do is drag your inebriated butt from the beach to the club before 6 or 7 pm, buy an admission wrist band, and go back to the beach for some pre-party-party-partying!
Right up until now it might seem like all there is to do on Spring Break in Panama City is party, but that's far from the truth. Yes, students do flock to this city more than any other in the U.S. because of its amazing and unique party scene, but more valuable to Panama City than MTV dance contests and drunken volleyball games is its diversity. Name an activity and Panama's got it. We're talking water parks, state parks, walking trails, zoos, greyhound racetracks, glass-bottom boat tours, arcades, mini gulf courses, tropical animal shows, and day cruises. Panama City also offers water sports lovers practically every activity from fishing to scuba diving. You can even rent jet skis right from the beach adjacent to your hotel!
As if all of this wasn't enough, the brilliant white sand beaches, dazzling blues and greens of the Gulf of Mexico, and almost perfect day and night time temperatures make Panama City a virtual heaven on earth. It's no surprise that Spring Breakers come back year after year begging for more.
This bit of hot spring break travel advice was provided by cold weather dweller, Michelle Whalen.
Spring Break 2008 in Panama City, Florida is already shaping up to be more wild
and popular than ever, so make your reservations early this year. If you're not planning on spending the entire week in a drunken comma, book a condo in Panama City Beach for your and your friends, and avoid the cramped rooms at the cheapest hotel you can find.