Rick Seltzer Park on an absolute PERFECT September day

So, since I am very pregnant (truth be told, due in just 14 days + hours) I took the opportunity with my 3 1/2 year old to make a last beach trip before baby comes and craziness reins. Panama City Beach has a ton of public beach access points, 96 to be exact, we decided to go to Rick Seltzer Park. Did I mention that September is the PERFECT beach month here? I contend that it is. Less crowd, less humidity, a bearable temperature, perfect water temperature, and did I say less crowds?

Here is a link to the park: http://www.visitpanamacitybeach.com/listings/attractions/rick-seltzer-park/ and one to Public Access on Panama City Beach http://www.visitpanamacitybeach.com/see/beach-access-map/

 

My happy beach bum on our beautiful emerald coast.

 

A view of the park entrance.

Richard Seltzer Park

 

Showers!

 

For those looking for public beach access, this worked for our family. They have a wooden walkway to the beach, more parking than most access points, SHOWERS AND BATHROOMS. For those of us with smaller children, a shower and bathroom is a biggie at the beach. Who wants to be sticky and get in a hot car? And my little paticular one does not want to be wet in the car (can I blame him?) and a change after the fun at the beach is a must for the is family. Most of the access points that we have driven by do NOT have these simple ammenities and, well, I don't want the hassle.

 

The down side: it is public. Meaning PUBLIC bathrooms. They are not ideal- yes they are on the beach- but frankly, I'm afraid to use them except to use the bench area to change my son. Public also implies interesting people watching, but thankfully mostly families were there and kids playing in the shallowed out water areas.

 

It looks like we have more beach spots to explore in the area....

 

     Jessica

 

Rock'It Lanes on a rainy Saturday

Our family decided to try a bowling alley in the area that our son (and I) have never visited before- Rock'It Lanes. We have heard of plenty of parties, gatherings, and events advertized there so we thought we would try it out on a rainy Saturday.

Well, there was hardly anyone there it seemed in the very dimly lit (I thought for children and day time) large mass of a building. I say large because it includes skating, bowling, an arcade, a bar, and a Cici's Pizza connected to it. A good sign was that someone was vaccuming the carpet when we came in- a good sign that they are clean(er).

 

Rock'It Lanes

513 Richard Jackson Blvd, Panama City, Florida

http://www.rockitlanes.com/

 

A quick view of the inside. From this picture it is hard to tell how dim it was. I was suprised! The good news is that the games were mostly clean and up to date.

 

 

 

Of course my 3 1/2 year old enjoyed the arcade part until the family arrived. The bowling experience for this area was great for a  younger child. The bowling alley AUTOMATICALLY raised the  gutter guards when  the screen came to our son's name. He loved that and so did we- convenient for parents of young children who want to enjoy hitting the bowling pins.

 

AND, the all important facilities. The bathroom was clean (I enjoyed that stainless walls) and there WAS a changing table in the large stall. This is SO important for our growing family. Can you believe some places do not have them?

 

 

 

 

The family pros:

-So, considering the area, this is probabley the best place to bowl and to take kids of all ages.

- the facilities were kept well

- automatic gutter guards for the smallest bowler

-an option for a rainy day to keep the kids active

 

Cons:

- if you choose to bring kids of several age groups (and they choose different activities), I would reccomend they have a cell phone

- not many kids around (maybe it was the day?) my child was disappopinted that there were a handful of kids to run around with

- not many healthy food options (but what was I expecting?)

 

 

 Jessica