Sunshine star


Panama City Beach is an up-and-coming alternative to Florida’s better-known coastal spots, discovers Cathy Toogood


DESTINATIONS FLORIDA | THE US


“


l Shell Island,


Panama City Beach PICTURE: Visit Panama City Beach


travelweekly.co.uk


ook to my right, not too far from shore,” says pilot Mike Schaeffer as he loops the helicopter around to take a closer look at two black-tipped sharks he’s spotted in the sea below.


Even though we’re 150 metres above the coastline, the turquoise water is so clear that we also see a fever of cownose rays and a pair of


dolphins. The latter are putting on a playful show for boat-trippers: they dip below the vessel and emerge on the other side, their fins slicing through the water and their flicking tails providing a splashy finale. On our way back to base, Mike casually points out ‘Gary the gator’ lounging in the sun next to a pond. I’m in Panama City Beach, a


resort on the Florida Panhandle, ² 3 JULY 2025 39


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