Vacation Restaurant Guide for Panama City Beach, Florida!

When you plan your vacation to Panama City Beach you must treat yourself to the wonderful seafood dinners that await your visit. You will love our warm Southern Hospitality, hot she-crab soup, fresh fish and shellfish, and homemade desserts.

Save a couple of nights to enjoy a nice dinner before you crash into one of the local beach parties. And if you are bringing the little ones for vacation, you'll need to know which restaurants are 'kid friendly' and which ones cater to more adult tastes.

There are literally hundreds of restaurants in the area making it possible even for locals to try a new menu every week. For many families, going to the beach for summer vacation has become a way of life. We see church groups, civic clubs, business organizations, sororities and fraternities, as well as out-of-state families and international tourists returning year after year.

 

Here are some restaurants for you to enjoy!

 

Captain Anderson's Restaurant is #1 in my opinion when you want some fine seafood, excellent service, and pristine waterfront dining. Read my "local expert" feature article about this Panama City Beach tradition. Florida Classic and Open Hearth Seafood, Steaks, Desserts, Beer, Wine, Cocktails. Extremely family friendly dining. 5551 N Lagoon Dr, Panama City, FL 32408, (850) 234-2225.

 

 

 

Kingfish Floribbean Cuisine & Sushi Bar

Florida and Carribbean Cusine, Sushi, Steaks, Fish, Seafood, Desserts, Expresso Beverages, Beer, Wine, Cocktails. Family oriented restaurant style with excellent wait staff. 4200 Marriott Dr. 850-236-6075

30 Degree Blue

This upscale bar gets its name because it is located at 30 degrees north latitude overlooking the blue waters of the Bay Point marina and the Grand Lagoon on Panama City Beach, Florida. Beautiful views for adult tastes. Steaks, Seafood, Desserts, Beer, Wine, Cocktails. 3900 Marriott Dr. 850-236-1115.

The Kingfish and 30 Degree Blue are both located at the Bay Point Marriott Resort and Golf Club.

 

Angelo's Steak Pit

Angelo's is also a tradition with families who vacation on Panama City Beach year after year. This western-style family restaurant is worth the wait if you like a big ole steak with all the trimmings. Bring the entire family. Steaks, Ribs, Seafood 9527 Front Beach Rd., Panama City Beach, FL 32417, 850-234-2531

 

 

Bay Street Deli & Bagel Bakery

This little deli and bakery is a favorite with locals and winter visitors. The bakery part is really important because they do their own baking... breads, bagels, cream cheese danish, muffins, and desserts. They make home made soups, quiche, chicken and tuna salads daily. The "mile high" New York style Ziggy Reuben that is fabulous! They open very early for breakfast and only serve breakfast and lunch. 7806 Front Beach Rd., Panama City Beach, FL 32407, 850-233-1755

 

Bayou Bill's Crab House

Located on the West End of Panama City Beach behind the new Winn Dixie shopping center, this is one of the most family friendly casual dining restaurants on the beach. Wear your beach clothes, bring the kids, and prepare yourself to eat too much fresh steamed seafood. Buckets of crab legs, corn on the cobb, and boiled potatoes are waiting to be served. Hickory Smoked Ribs, Steaks, Fish & Seafood, Cajun Cusine, Desserts. Beer, Wine, Cocktails. Located at 23100 Front Beach Rd., 850-235-1010

Boar's Head Restaurant

The Boar's Head Restaurant is a casual fine dining dinner house featuring fresh Gulf seafood and the finest Steaks and Prime Rib on the west end of Panama City Beach. Now in their 30th year, and still serving Fried Lobster, a signature item here for years, available as an appetizer or entrée. The Venison and Quail dinner is equally popular year round. Live music is available in the tavern Wed - Sat at 6:00 pm. Families are welcome. Steaks, Fish & Seafood, BBQ, Desserts, Expresso Beverages, Beer, Wine, Cocktails 17290 Front Beach Rd., Panama City Beach, FL 32413, 850-234-6628

 

The Boatyard

This is a local's favorite inspired by the casual nature of coastal and island living with the rustic, open-air feel of the docks of Grand Lagoon,offering cuisine with the flavor of the islands. Great for large groups or families. The Boatyard is located on the docks of Grand Lagoon behind Capt. Anderson's restaurant. Dress is casual, prices are reasonable. Open for lunch and dinner, seven days a week all year ‘round. Reservations are not necessary and plenty of boat slips are available if you are coming by boat. Steaks, Fish, Seafood, Carribbean Cusine, Desserts, Beer, Wine, Cocktails 5323 N Lagoon Dr., Panama City Beach, FL 850-249-9273

 

 

Breaker's Restaurant

This is one of the best GULF FRONT restaurants with an incredible view of the Gulf of Mexico from every table in the house. Their menu features local fresh seafood, angus steaks, and mouthwatering desserts. The new 40' bar features Martinis plus and endless supply of liquor, beer and wine. They say they are the only gulf front restaurant that takes reservations. Call 850-234-6060. 12527 Front Beach Road, Panama City Beach, FL 32407.

 

Calypso Beach Cafe

Located across the street from the new Calypso Condo Resort, Recipes from New Orleans and the Caribbean are featured on the delightful menu at this restaurant that is open daily for lunch and dinner and offers something for everyone such as outstanding appetizers, delicious steaks, made-from-scratch soups and salads, fresh from the Gulf seafood, and award-winning desserts. A daily happy hour is also available, as well as an entertainment schedule. Located at 15812 Front Beach Rd, Panama City Beach, FL 32413. 

 

Captain Jack's Family Buffet

Panama City Beach's best seafood buffet is housed in an unusual building on Thomas Drive (next door to my office at Century 21 Ryan Realty!!). This buffet styled restaurant is hosted by renown local restauranteur, Jack Bishop, serving Panama City Beach since 1971. They serve three great buffets daily: breakfast, lunch and dinner. The finest #1 crab legs are included with every dinner. Adults Dinner Buffet is $23.95, Kids 3 & under EAT FREE! The breakfast buffet for Adults is $8.95, Kids 3 & under EAT FREE! 8208 Thomas Dr, Panama City Beach, Florida (850) 236-8555

 

Dusty's Oyster Bar and Dining

They're cheap and good! They have one of the best Grouper Baskets on the beach. Here's a quote from their website: "Home of warm beer, lousy food, ugly waitresses and Scotty'o, two time U. S. National Oyster Shucking Champion 1999-2000 & 2001-2002. Competing in Ireland for the world title as seen on Discovery Channel, Food Network and the Today Show. Try our world famous Fried Green Tomatoes. Happy Hour every day 2-6 $2.99 doz. raw oysters, $.75 draft. Come party with the crew and have an adventure on your vacation." Directions: HWY 79 to Front Beach, head East on Front Beach Rd located 1mile on you're left Rates: $8 daily Lunch $12 daily Dinner

 

The Treasure Ship Restaurant

Three restaurants and a gift shop in one big ship. This tourist event is located at 3605 Thomas Drive, Panama City Beach, FL 32408, 850-234-8881 on Grand Lagoon.

Main Dining Room offers a panoramic view of Grand Lagoon. They serve a traditional Angus beef steak and fresh local seafood harvested from the Gulf of Mexico. Hook's Grille & Grog is a colorful dockside restaurant on the lower level of The Treasure Ship. They serve a "Bountiful Caribbean" cuisine with live entertainment, refreshing cocktails, and a menu with a wide variety of appetizers, sandwiches, entrées and desserts. Captain Crabby's Bar is the more casual of the three Treasure Ship restaurants which offers a choice of either indoor or spacious open deck dining with a beautiful panoramic view of Grand Lagoon. 

 

Montego Bay Restaurant

Two locations on the beach, the same great menu. One is located at 4920 Thomas Dr. (Near St Andrews State Park), 850-234-8686; the other is located at 473 Bechrich Rd. (In Shoppes at Edgewater), 850-233-6033. Both serve a great menu of Steaks, Fish, Seafood, Carribbean & Cajun Cusine, Salads, Beer, Wine, and Cocktails.

 

Pineapple Willy's

This is a fun place to be when you are serious about being ON the beach. There is an inside restaurant, a pier bar, and a sports bar with a whole lot of TVs. Pineapple Willy's claims to be the original home of the famous Jack Daniel's BBQ Ribs. They are located directly on the beach at the original Panama City beach pier "Pier 99" built in 1935. Willy's also features sports inside on a combination of big TVs, Plasmas and projector screens. Willy's bar features the famous Pineapple Willy Drink and Fat Tuesdays Frozen Daiquiris in big souvenir cups. They have something for everyone including seafood, prime rib, salads, sandwiches, and a kids menu. 9875 Thomas Dr., Panama City Beach, FL 32417, 850-235-1225

 

Saltwater Grill

This "dinner only" restaurant is truly unique in that it offers a panoramic view of a seven foot high, 25,000-gallon tropical saltwater aquarium. Both the Café Dining Room and Mermaid Room Piano Bar offer dazzling views of this tropical reef and its nonstop parade of exotic sea creatures. It's located on Middle Beach Road, also known as Hutchison Blvd, Panama City Beach, FL.

 

Schooner's Last Local Beach Club

Schooners, the Last Local Beach Club, is open 7 days a week from 11 in the morning till the wee, wee hours of the night. Check out these links to their website featuring Lunch on the beach - awesome; Dinner accompanied by some terrific bands on stage in front of a great dance floor, and pics of the beach and a few sunsets, all of which are awesome. At Sunset every day, they fire off the cannon... right on the beach on the Gulf of Mexico! 5121 Gulf Dr., Panama City Beach, FL 32408, 850-235-3555

The Spicy Noodle Restaurant

Spicy Noodle serves Italian "Comfort Food with Attitude" and they are renowned for homemade bread, made from scratch daily and served with a signature olive oil dipping sauce. They are a "Kid Friendly" restaurant, with a separate menu for children 10 and under. Open daily 11 AM-9:30 PM. Located on the West End of the Beach on Hwy. 98, just west of Carillon Beach and the Phillips Inlet Bridge. 13667 Back Beach Rd. 850-231-0955

 

Spinnaker

Spinnaker has a great casual menu including their giant burger, but the party is what it's all about. It's an all day ... all night party! SPINNAKER is known as the club to party at on Panama City Beach. There are over twenty bars in this one giant club. Concerts, bikini contests, dancing, drinking, and, of course, it's the Spring Break place on Panama City Beach! 8795 Thomas Dr., 850-234-7892

 

 

Pier Park

The newest mega attraction on Panama City Beach is Pier Park, a retail shopping extravaganza with some great places to eat!  Beginning with a steaming cup of coffee at Starbucks for breakfast, followed by juicy burgers and fries at 5 Guys Famous Burgers and Fries followed by ice cream at The Marble Slab Creamery to a casual dinner at Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville - this place has it all located at the Panama City Beach Pier between Front Beach Road and Panama City Parkway (Hwy 98).  

 

 

 

 

Smokin' Butts BBQ

If you're driving down Hwy 79 South, you'll come right through the little town of Vernon. If you're starving and can't wait til you get to the beach for lunch, stop for a pork BBQ sandwich and a glass of sweet tea!

You can't miss their signs right on Hwy 79!

 

 

 

THIS IS WHY YOU LOVE TO COME TO PANAMA CITY BEACH, FLORIDA!!

JAN EVETT, BROKER ASSOCIATE, CENTURY 21 RYAN REALTY, PANAMA CITY BEACH, FLORIDA

 

FRIDAY AT THE BEACH .... PANAMA CITY BEACH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

The PANAMA CITY BEACH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE sponsors a unique event, FRIDAY AT THE BEACH.  Members of the Chamber as well as welcome guests benefit from this intimate opportunity to meet local community leaders in a casual, fun atmosphere.  It's a great way to get the weekend started early on Panama City Beach, Florida!

FRIDAY AT THE BEACH focuses on local projects of interest to the residents and businesses on the beach as well as the "in town" communities of Bay County.  You can read more about the Panama City Beach Chamber and contact them for membership information.  This event is free to the public, however an RSVP to attend is required. You can contact the Chamber at (850) 235-1159 for additional details or to sponsor an event.

 

 

PORT PANAMA CITY will be the feature of this week's event (July 11, 2008) with speaker, Wayne Stubbs, bringing the most current information about the Port's new $13.5 million dollar project.  In May, the Port introduced new facilities which will begin shipping and receive up to 35,000 tons of wood pellets to Northern Europe (per information provided by the Port).  Click this link to learn more about the amazing growth of Port Panama City USA.  The Port is located directly on St. Andrews Bay at the historic Hathaway Bridge that connects Panama City to Panam City Beach.

 

 

 

JULY 11, 2008 FRIDAY AT THE BEACH kicks off with NETWORKING (coffee and pastries served) at 7:30 am.  The one-hour program begins at 8:00 am.  The location site is The BAY POINT MARRIOTT GOLF RESORT AND SPA.  Remember to  RSVP to Bertie@PCBeach.org or Joyce@PCBeach.org to attend this beneficial event.

 

 

 

Celebrating America's Freedom on July 4th!

Wishing you all a fun-filled "Fourth of July" weekend! Keep it safe enjoying friends and family, and don't forget to think about the freedom we share in the United States ... freedom to celebrate who we are, what we do, when we work and play, where we worship, why we are a nation of free people, and how we protect the gift of freedom.

This is a beautiful, moving music video of a song about a son who became an American Soldier. It tells the story from his mother's view point of her son's service to his country. It is a tribute to all Americans who have served in the military and to their families who prayed for them while waiting for their safe return home.

This music video is so worth watching! Surprise happy ending! Celebrating America's Freedom. Enjoy!

"Letters from War by Mark Schultz"

Do you want to know the secrets to success on Active Rain?

I've never really been good at keeping secrets!  I confess.  Maybe it's a character flaw ... maybe it's just my kind of personality!  I've always been a "tell all" sort of person. 

 

If something is so good, so much fun, so successful, so worth talking about ... I say why keep it a secret? Maybe some people say if the secret is so good they don't want to share it with everyone else.

They may want to keep it all for themselves and let everyone else figure it out the hard way.  I'm just not like that ... It's so much fun to tell good secrets!  Look at those cute little girls giggling and whispering about their happy secrets!  Friendships are formed and lifelong bonds are made when we share our good secrets.

I'm not talking about gossip or telling something someone shared in confidence.  It's not good when we share other people's secrets.  I'm talking about sharing something you and I have learned that has made our journey easier, better, more fun, and we naturally want to share it with our friends!

 

 

 

 

I've discovered the SECRETS TO SUCCESS ON ACTIVE RAIN and I want to share them with you ... all 90,000+ of you or at least the 4,000+ of you who are online now! 

 

NEWBIES sign up for Active Rain every day ... and some of them never get any farther than entering in the required information .... some never even post a profile photo of themselves or at least their business logo. 

I don't get it! Why don't you want to post your image on your profile?

The first day I discovered Active Rain I spent a couple of hours setting up my profile, loading up a photo, and filling in the blanks.  It seemed pretty clear to me that I needed to take some of the content from my current real estate website, copy and paste it into my new Active Rain PROFILE PAGE.

 

 

 

 

YOUR ACTIVE RAIN PROFILE PAGE IS THE NUMBER ONE SECRET TO SUCCESS ON ACTIVE RAIN!!

If you don't know what to say about YOU ... then I promise you that no one else does either.  If you aren't interested enough in YOU to talk about you... guess what ... no one else is either.  If you don't have an image to share ... create one.  Better yet, use your business card photo or the most recent picture that was taken of you when you were having fun!

When you begin filling in the blanks on your profile page, please tell us where you are ... where do you live?  Where do you work?  Where is your area of expertise?  Name that city where you are a Local Expert! And then tell us what you know about your area of expertise.  Tell us about your recent successes, your motivation to do what you do, what makes you unique in your market, and what makes you a specialist in your field.

The second best person to talk about you is a satisfied customer or client.  Testimonials are very important and they can help you see yourself the way others really see you.  They also help your future prospective customers see you through the eyes of someone who believes in you and cared enough to write a few words about you.

Most of us felt the same way about getting those first Testimonials ... unsure of how to ask for them.  One of the best things I've ever done in my career was learning to ask for a testimonial.  You have the perfect opportunity to ask for them now. 

"Mr. Customer, I have to post a brief testimonial on my new business profile.  Could you help me by writing a few words about our recent transaction that would help other people get to know me, so that I can help them like I was fortunate enough to help you?  I really appeciate it! Thank you."

Post those testimonials!  You will be humbled and amazed by the nice things people are willing to say about you when you give them the chance by asking for a brief testimonial. 

 

THE SECOND SECRET TO SUCCESS IS JOINING SEVERAL GROUPS ON ACTIVE RAIN!

On the menu  bar at the top of the AR page, you see GROUPS, and when you click on it you see a very intimidating list of groups in the drop-down box.  If you begin to read about all these groups... well, it can be overwhelming!  So, start with those featured groups in the right column.  Those have the most members and posts.  All that activity is good and all those members in those groups are the ones who will read your blog when you post to these groups.  When you find blogs that "speak" to you, look at the groups they are posted to and join those groups.  Chances are you will find "like minded professionals" in these groups.

One of my favorites is the IT'S ALL ABOUT THEM (THEMTHEM) GROUP. I recently became one of the moderators for this group, and I have to say the posts to this group are some of the best on AR.  That's because they are about others ... bloggers have written these posts to shine the light on some one else's success or to thank someone special.  We always gain the most when we give credit to someone else's efforts.  Feel the love when you join this group and write your own ThemThem about someone today!

 

 

MAKING POSITIVE COMMENTS IS SUCCESS TIP #3 ON ACTIVE RAIN!

When you give more than you receive you can't go wrong!  If you read, read, read lots of posts on Active Rain some really great things will begin to happen for you.

1. You will learn a lot of great new stuff ... real estate and technology stuff ... interesting information about people and places all over the world ... and you might even learn something about yourself.
2. You will begin to make new friendships when you read about the experiences of other AR members, and when you comment in a positive way on their posts, you will create new relationships.
   
3. You will find that your new RAIN-FRIENDS will begin to read and comment on the posts you write!
   

 

 

When you read a lot of posts, you learn what to write about.  Posts that get lots of comments usually are written about the things that are happening to other people in our industry or in a local market.  You'll find that you have lots of things in common with other real estate professionals.  You will learn more about SEO, technology, marketing, staging, mortgages, taxes, contracts, real estate law, and The Code here on AR than anywhere else on the web.  It's all in one place, but it's not just one person's opinion ... it's 90,000+ opinions!

 

Now that you know the TOP 3 SECRETS to ACTIVE RAIN SUCCES ... tell everyone!  Don't be a secret agent, tell everyone about your success, and reach out to encourage others in the ACTIVE RAIN NETWORK!

 

 

 

JAN EVETT, BROKER ASSOCIATE, CENTURY 21 RYAN REALTY, PANAMA CITY BEACH, FLORIDA

 

 

Who's #1 Who's #1 Panama City Beach, FL Is #1

We all love a winner!  Whether it's AMERICAN IDOL's TOP 5, or David Letterman's TOP 10 REASONS WHY, we all want to see, hear, and be aligned with the winner! 

Panama City Beach, FL has been named as the #1 "place" to own a summer home, according to an article called TOP FIVE PLACES TO OWN A SUMMER HOME on AOL's Money and Finance.  Kelli B. Grant, a reporter for SmartMoney.com, named the "Top 5" and offered the reasoning behind the poll.

 

 

 

 

 

1.  PANAMA CITY BEACH, FL

2. POCONO MOUNTAINS, PA

3. THE CRYSTAL COAST, NC

4. LAKE TAHOE, CA

5. GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS, TN

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you've read many of my posts on this Active Rain blog, you already know that my 2 most favorite places on this earth are the Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee and Panama City Beach, FL.  It's pretty cool to have 2 faves in the TOP 5!

(My son, Lee, and daughter, Candi, in the Great Smoky Mountains, TN)

 

 

 

According to the article, PANAMA CITY BEACH, FL has "something for everyone" on the Gulf of Mexico.  The 6 Championship Golf Course that I blogged about in AWARD WINNING GOLF COURSES IN BAY COUNTY FL,

and the fantastic restaurants and nightlife that I blogged about in WONDERING WHERE TO GET A GREAT SEAFOOD DINNER? were mentioned in the article as 2 of the main reasons to choose Panama City Beach for your summer home destination. 

 

 

 

Did you realize that you can buy a gulf front condo for under $100,000 on PC Beach?  Prices have adjusted back to normal from the inflated prices of just a couple of years ago.

 

 

 

 

Touted as the main reason to buy NOW is the NEW INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT currently under construction that I blogged about in QUIETING THE NAYSAYERS-BAY COUNTY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT RELOCATION PROJECT. I don't want to say "I told you so...." however, do you see a pattern developing here? With the opening of this monumental airport, weekend travel in and out of Panama City Beach should be a snap!

 

 

I am certain there are many Active Rain members who live in PA, NC, or CA who are planning to brag on these Top 5 winners!  And I know my East Tennessee friends on Active Rain will be writing lots of Localism posts about The Great Smoky Mountains!  Congratulations to everyone in all of the TOP 5 PLACES TO OWN A SUMMER HOME!

 

JAN EVETT, BROKER ASSOCIATE, CENTURY 21 RYAN REALTY, PANAMA CITY BEACH, FLORIDA

 

 

 

 

The American Flag Through the Eyes of a Veteran - In Honor of Memorial Day

Memorial Day 2008 gives us an opportunity to pause to remember those brave American men and women who have served this country under the banner of The American Flag.  Today, in honor of Memorial Day, I am re-posting a story I wrote called "The American Flag Through the Eyes of a Veteran." ##

THE FLAG THROUGH THE EYES OF A VETERAN

The phone call had surprised me. Jerry's brother, Claude, Jr, was saying that he was passing through town on the way to his weekend Guard duty. Could he come by and visit with us? "Sure, that would be fine, but Jerry is out of town, gone to training for his new job," I answered. He said he would still like to come by to see the kids. I answered the knock at the door and thought how much more he looked like his dad. Usually he looked so much more like Jerry, but age was favoring his dad now that he was over 40.

Claude Jr was the oldest of seven brothers and sisters. Jerry was in the middle somewhere. The kids were clinging to his pants legs and he carried Gloria riding on his foot as he made his way to the sofa. He hadn't been able to get here for Jerry's retirement from the base. No one in the family had made it. It had just been the guys in the squadron and me. We wisely chose not to bring the girls and baby, Lee.

Jerry's commander and I had tried to talk him out of retirement and back into another tour of duty. A recent promotion had come with orders for another tour of duty overseas. Jerry was the most committed family man I had ever known, and he was not going to leave his family. I knew that I was not going to the island of Guam with a newborn and two little girls. Retirement was Jerry's only option in his way of thinking. The only thing I remember from the ceremony was fighting back tears of regret for the shortened military career of a man who never planned to retire less than a Chief Master Sergeant.

I vaguely remember seeing him receive the American Flag that had flown over the Capitol in Washington, D.C., which had been provided by our state representative. We sort of knew him because his "right-hand-man" was an active member of our church orchestra.

"Oh, I want to show you Jerry's flag," I exclaimed as I rushed down the hall to get it from the bedroom where it was mounted in a triangular display case. I took it out and said, "It flew over the Capitol, you know."

As I turned to face Claude Jr, he stood to his full height and reached his arms forward to receive the American Flag. As I walked across the room to him, there was a hollow ringing sound in my ears. I heard my voice as if it was very far away. I didn't have time to think about what I was saying. My eyes locked with those of my brother-in-law and the world blurred into slow motion. I watched his face as the flag slowly passed from my hands into his. I saw his eyes drop from my face to the stripes of red and white, and I knew that I would never see this man again.

He was beaming with pride and his eyes glistened as he looked at this precious symbol of the freedom he had fought for in Viet Nam.

I swallowed hard as I forced the dark, bitter-strong thought from my mind. I felt faint and nausea was rising in my throat as the brown carpet swirled at my feet.

Jerry came home that night. I made my voice sound light and unconcerned as I told him how Claude Jr had played with the children, and that I hoped he didn't mind that I had taken the flag out of the case to show it to his brother. When the phone call came from their sister three days later, I wasn't even surprised. I drove out to the base, and wept as I told Jerry that his big brother had died. He didn't seem to understand what I had said at first and then he put his hand on his forehead and sank back in the chair at his desk. I never told him of the slow-motion premonition. I don't recall ever telling anyone at all.

We drove to the family's hometown in North Alabama. It didn't occur to us to drive over to the base where Claude Jr had been serving his weekend Guard duty, although it was only a couple of hours from our house. When we arrived with children-in-tow, Grandpa's house was already full of family. We sat in the kitchen with the rest of the family trying to comfort their daddy. He was a man of very few words and there were no words at all for this day. Someone finally said that he wanted his oldest boy brought home and that it just wasn't fair to have to wait a week for the funeral service.

I didn't fully understand but I knew that something wasn't happening the way it should be. Why would they wait a week to have the service? The sisters put together an explanation about the confusion that was delaying the body from being shipped home. "See, Claude Jr was in the Army Guard, but they sent his troop to work at the Air Force Base in Florida," the sisters explained. "The Army has no control over when the Air Force will release the body," they continued, "and Daddy is upset about it." I walked to the phone and said, "I need to make a few calls, okay?" Our church office had the phone number for our state representative's "right-hand-man." After thanking him for sending Jerry's flag, I told him about the circumstances we were facing. I explained that Jerry's brother's body was being held at Eglin and the Air Force wouldn't release it.

"Do you know where I am?" this friend of our family asked. "And do you know who is right here with me?" he continued. I had no idea that he and our state representative were at that very moment at Eglin Air Force Base. The number given to me by the church secretary had been forwarded to a meeting room directly across the street from the office where the decision would be made to release the body of my husband's brother that same afternoon. How marvelous are His ways! We all acknowledged that God had intervened to unravel the red tape on our behalf.

 

This is an excerpt from the manuscript of a future book called The Widows Walk. This book will be about people who have survived grief experiences written to encourage those who are struggling with grief issues.

Written by Jan Evett, Broker Associate, Century 21 Ryan Realty, Panama City Beach, FL

 

UPDATED:  A friend sent this link to me today for Memorial Day:

A TRIBUTE TO THE VETERANS OF THE KOREAN WAR AND WORLD WAR II

 

Bay County Florida Parade of Homes Week- Panama City Beach

It's PARADE OF HOMES WEEK sponsored by The National Home Builders Association in Bay County, Florida! The area includes Panama City, Panama City Beach, Lynn Haven, Southport, and surrounding communities. This year there are 47 new homes in The Parade.

 

Right now I am hostessing OPEN HOUSE at one of the Parade Homes in the beautiful waterfront community of Martinique on Panama City Beach, FL.

My brokerage, Century 21 Ryan Realty, has the exclusive listing on the Martinique Model Home, where I am right now.  We also have a brand new construction home just completed in time for the annual Parade, which we also have open to show today.  And, we have an owner occupied home listed for resale next door to the new one.  I had the pleasure of hostessing an Open House there on Sunday. 

3405 MARTINIQUE LANE  $599,000

This Parade home features 3 bedrooms, with a downstairs Master suite and full bath, plus 2 full baths upstairs with each bedroom, and a half bath downstairs off the main living area.  The approximate 2700 square feet have a bright open feel with oak hardwood floors. The family room has a built-in entertainment center surrounding the gas fireplace, and the open inviting kitchen has a gas stove, lots of cabinets, and open natural wood shelving.  One of my favorite features is a built-in reading nook.  The Master suite has a high ceiling and a luxurious Master bath with walk-in separate shower, claw-foot tub, and double sinks.  There is a huge walk-in closet, plus a side patio that opens from the Master and living area.

 

 

Martinique is a charming gated waterfront community designed with distinctive "Old Florida" coastal charm.  The community offers nature trails for walking, a community pool and other desirable amenities with an emphasis on protecting and preserving nature.  

This is the Gazebo in the Common area which is the center of the community.  On Sunday, there was a cookout in this area sponsored by one of our great lenders in Panama City Beach, Regions Bank.

The Builder is John Spillars Construction, Inc., a well-known area builder who specializes in custom homes with disctinctive architectural detail. 

John focuses on a stress-free experience for the home buyer, and builds in both Bay and Walton Counties in Northwest Florida.

 

 

JAN EVETT, BROKER ASSOCIATE, CENTURY 21 RYAN REALTY, PANAMA CITY BEACH, FLORIDA

Armed Forces Day Celebration in Panama City Florida

Show your love, respect, admiration, dedication, and pride in the United States Armed Forces!

 

 

 

Saturday, May 17, 2008

 

10:00 am - Meet the Main Street Striders at the Visual Arts Center, corner of 4th St and Harrison Avenue

11:00 am - Enjoy Patriotic Music by Margo Anderson at the Panama City Marina

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ARMED FORCES DAY is May 17, 2008.

This is a nation-wide celebration to honor the US military men and women who have served or are now serving our country. President Harry Truman led the way to establish a holiday honoring the military to commemorate the unification of the brances of the armed forces under the Department of Defense. In 1949, Secretary of Defense, Louis Johnson, announced the creation of Armed Forces Day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Join the Main Street Striders on a walk through

Downtown Panama City, Florida and

music by Margo Anderson at the

Downtown Marina as Panama City celebrates

The United States Armed Forces!

 

Sponsored by Tyndall Federal Credit Union and

The Downtown Improvement Board.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Active Rain-ferral Just Listed!

"Active Rain-ferral"(noun): ACTIVE RAIN + REFERRAL = JUST LISTED!!!

Look at this great new home I "Just Listed" on Panama City Beach, Florida! This is an above average home located on the West End of Panama City Beach at 124 South Wells Street. List price: $369,900

 

It really is so nice, so neat - absolutely immaculate actually - with a beautifully landscaped lawn. There is a sprinkler system on a shallow well that helps to keep the plush lawn green and the magnolia tree blooming.

 

This home has a new standing seam metal roof and the high-grade stucco exterior is protected by "Rhino Shield" coating making it virtually maintenance free and in great condition.

 

 

 

Inside the home is a great open floor plan with a vaulted ceiling throughout the living area. The kitchen has lots of cabinets and new solid surface quartz counter tops that sparkle! The island workstation has a smooth surface cook top stove and oven. The lighting is more than efficient ... it's also beautiful.

The laundry room is off the kitchen "eat-in" area and so is the garage, which has peg board walls for easy organizing of your tools and lawn equipment.

 

 

 

 

This is a view from the great room facing the kitchen. There is a built in desk on the left and breakfast bar on the right. The high ceiling and large windows provide a light, open atmosphere for the main living area.

The home has a transferable termite bond with Orkin, and the seller is offering an American Home Shield Warranty for the buyer at closing.

The home has ceramic tile throughout the main living areas and bedrooms, which is great for Florida living ... helps to keep all that sand under control.

 

 

This home has a split bedroom floor plan with the Master Suite on one side and the other two bedrooms and full bath on the opposite side. Every bedroom has at least one window looking out on the beautiful landscaping.

View of the great room from the kitchen

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bedrooms have chair railing and crown molding.

 

The Florida Room was built under roof during the construction of the 2300 square foot home in 1995.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There are french doors opening to the Florida room from the Master bedroom and from the great room.

The great room overlooks the back yard and opens to the screened enclosed patio room.

This is a view of the back of the home showing all those Florida room windows. Every window has roll down hurricane shutters (electric) and the back yard is beautifully landscaped.

 

 

 

 

The screened enclosed patio room is bright, breezy, and very comfortable! Outdoor living at its best any time of the year ... no bugs in here! Just plenty of cool breezes making for a great place for a short nap!

 

 

 

 

 

 

The private fenced back yard includes a wooden deck. The landscaping is designed to provide minimal maintenance while offering a pleasant view.

 

 

 

 

And... the sellers of this home were referred to me by one of my favorite ACTIVE RAIN real estate agents in the Central Florida area! The owners are considering relocating to be closer to family members, who purchased their home from this agent. She called me after searching through the Active Rain Network! I am so grateful to her for giving me the opportunity to meet the owners, present a marketing analysis for their home, and list their home!

ENJOY THIS MUSICAL VIDEO TOUR OF THIS LOVELY ACTIVE RAIN-FERRAL!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Meet one of my new best friends, Nicole Stolberger! Check out Nicole's Active Rain Profile!

 

Jan Evett
Broker Associate

Century 21 Ryan Realty, Inc.
8212 Thomas Drive
Panama City Beach, FL 32408

Mobile: 850-625-9073

Email: RealEstate@JanEvett.com

Search Homes for Sale: www.JanEvett.com

 

 

 

The Pledge of Allegiance from the heart of a P. O. W.

Someone sent the story below to me in an email today (I added the photos).  Then Steve Dalton - Northwest Indiana of the ActiveRain group: Real Estate Professionals for John McCain also sent an email today asking for members to post more to the group.

 

 

So........... here we go: