Thursday, May 22, 2008

Panama City Beach Changing?




Panama city beach is undergoing a tremendous change. Having been going there since my high school and college days, it has been interesting to watch these changes as a property owner. It is returning more and more to the family vacation place it once was. The restaurant selection has just exploded. If you are looking for great seafood, The Saltwater Grille has "become the “in” place to dine on Panama City Beach." A 25,000 gallon aquarium sits right in the middle of the room, and the seafood/steak selection fantastic! In looking for an after dinner cocktail, there is no better place than Margaritaville PCB down on front beach road. Lots of lively music and cold drinks.


I am an avid saltwater fisherman, so I usually try to take 3 or 4 trips when in town. Lots of good captains to choose from, but my friend Bubba Lang is who I go with. His boat is right over in the lagoon and he catches plenty of fish. After a hard day on the water, nothing tastes better than a cold beer and a dozen oysters. The Captains Table in St. Andrews is the only place to go for that. Mitch, the owner, is a great guy and he has great food. With the way Panama City Beach is growing, the choices for food and entertainment will grow as well. Still, there is no substitute after a great day at the beach, for a cold cocktail and watching the sunset from the beach. Shoes are optional.


While we are in Panama City we are close to everything! Our Summit vacation rental is located on the 7th floor, above the swimming pools. The condo balcony is a perfect place to relax and watch the sunset.

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Fun Summers at Breckenridge Winter Resort?



Get out of the heat and into Alpine Retreat, and cool mountain breezes. Rent a bike in Frisco and ride around Lake Dillon. Across from the Lake Dillon marina is a "trailhead to miles of paved bike paths offering spectacular scenic tours. The surrounding National Forest also provides mountain-biking, rafting, fishing, hiking, horseback riding and camping. Jeep tours on old mountain roads will take you to nearby historical mining towns. Be challenged at one of Summit County's four championship golf courses".

Enjoy a meal on the patio at the Arapaho Cafe, "from 1972 to 1987 many people knew the building as the Tappan House but in early 1988 under new ownership and management it was returned to its original name and reputation as a great mountain cafe, the “Arapahoe Cafe.” Today the Arapahoe Cafe is one of the historic landmark site buildings in Dillon".

It could be the Dillon Farmer's Market will be open alongside the lake. Wonderful local produce and baked items are sold there, or take a look at the event calendar for Summit County and see all the wonderful activities available during your summer visit.


Return to Frisco on the same bike path, or for the more adventurous types, ride over Swan Mountain but beware, there is no bicycle lane on the two-lane road. For the more relaxed types, put your bikes on a ferry and cruise back to the marina at Frisco.
Of course, there is a beautiful bike path that runs through Breckenridge and will take you all the way to Vail, if you have the strength to do Vail Pass1

Another idea is to vist the Visitor's Information Center in downtown Breckenridge and purchase a book of hiking trails. They are excellent guides that give great descriptions and rate the difficulty level of numerous hikes in the area. Try our favorite hike at Mohawk lakes south of Breckenridge. It is of moderate difficulty with lovely scenery along the way.
For restaurants, our favorite for fine dining in Breckenridge is Alpine Cafe. South Ridge Grill is a favorite of the locals for a varied American menu. Mi Casa is excellent for fine Mexican food and Empire Burgers serve excellent hamburgers. These are just a few of many excellent places to eat in Breckenridge.