Florida city offers more than beach

By Lisa Lowe Stauffer

For the AJC

Travelers flock to Panama City, Fla., for white sand beaches, clear gulf waters and endless sunshine. But if rain or a sunburn keeps you off the beach, grab an umbrella and go exploring. From east to west, here are five places to play near Panama City:

Junior Museum

Before you even enter the building, there's lots to see at the Junior Museum. Pioneer homestead buildings from Northwest Florida line the grounds, showing off the use of native materials and construction methods that kept the heat at bay. There's also a terrific nature trail. Pick up a scavenger hunt guide before setting out on this 1,500-foot boardwalk that winds over swampland.

Indoors, children can conduct science experiments, make creative projects and enjoy free play. The miniature grocery store is a big hit with kids from 2 to 20. Another popular stop is a replica of shark tank diving. Kids put on scuba gear, then step into the "cage" to view realistic sharks.

Zoo World

Pet a timber wolf. Feed peanuts to monkeys. Go eye to eye with a giraffe. Zoo World is compact, perfect for small children. Its cozy animal encounter shows bring reptiles, mammals (including wolves) and birds into close contact with visitors.

The giraffe viewing platform is my favorite. It's complete with hay to bring the giraffe up close. Other animals not to be missed are three types of tamarins, lemurs, monkeys, lions, a black jaguar, strutting peacocks and more. Rainy, cool days are often the best, as the animals tend to sleep when it's hot.

Gulf World Marine Park

Ever wanted to touch a stingray? Gulf World Marine Park, popular with visitors for decades, adds more to see and do every year. Dolphin, sea lion and reptile shows run throughout the day. Between shows see alligators, flamingos, sea turtles, sharks, and, yes, pet the stingrays.

By reservation you can swim with a dolphin (children must be at least 5 and 48 inches tall) for $150. Or children 12 and up can be "Trainers for a day" from

9 a.m. to 3 p.m., $199. Themed day camps (8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., $65) are also available. Children ages 8 to 12 spend the day learning about reptiles or dolphins, or they can shadow a veterinarian.

Museum of Man in the Sea

Stepping into this attraction is like stepping into Jules Verne's attic. Dioramas, antique diving suits, hands-on experiments, seashells and sunken treasure beckon. There's a metal diving helmet to try on and a submarine for kids to climb into. More than 170 DVDs on diving are available for viewing — the staff is happy to recommend which would suit your interests. One souvenir to interest kids is a $3.95 map of Florida, showing all the known sunken "treasure" ships.

Exhibits continue outside the museum, with the Institute of Diving's collection of equipment, mainly donated by the U.S. Navy. The jewel is Sealab I, constructed at the Navy base near Panama City in the 1960s, and used in 190 feet of water off Bermuda. Owned by the Institute of Diving, the Museum of Man in the Sea lovingly preserves mankind's underwater adventures.

Eden Gardens State Park

In 1897, William Henry Wesley, who made a fortune in lumber, built this white-columned mansion on Tucker Bayou. Set among huge live oaks dripping Spanish moss, the house is furnished with antiques, including many late 18th-century French pieces. For horror film fans, the 1972 classic "The Frogs" was filmed here.

Eden Gardens span 163 acres, with ornamental and butterfly gardens, a nature trail, and mature camellias and azaleas. Stroll the gardens, watch koi dart under water lilies in the reflection pool, relax on the huge veranda. Savor this quiet place. After all, soon your crew will be clamoring to get back to the beach.

More information

Junior Museum

1731 Jenks Ave.

Panama City, FL 32405

(850) 769-6128

www.jrmuseum.org

Hours: 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Mon.–Fri., 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Sat., closed Sundays and holidays

Admission: $5 per person; infants under 1, free. Teachers free with ID.

Zoo World

9008 Front Beach Road

Panama City Beach, FL 32407

(850) 230-1243

www.zooworldpcb.net

Hours: 9:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m. Mon.–Sat., 11 a.m.–5:30 p.m. Sun.

Admission: Adults $15, Children ages 4–11, $12, Children 3 and under, free.

Gulf World Marine Park

15412 Front Beach Road

Panama City Beach, FL 32413

(850) 234-5271

www.gulfworldmarinepark.com

Hours: 9 a.m.–7:30 p.m. daily in summer, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Labor Day to Memorial Day

Admission: Adults $24, Children ages 5–11, $15, Children under 4, free.

Museum of Man in the Sea

17314 Panama City Beach Parkway/U.S. 98

Panama City Beach, FL 32413

(850) 235-4101

Maninthesea.org

Hours: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Tues.–Sun.

Admission: Ages 7–64, $5; seniors over 65, $4.50; children under 7, free.

Eden Gardens State Park

181 Eden Garden Road

Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459

(850) 231-4214

www.floridastateparks.org/edengardens/

Hours: 10 a.m.–3 p.m., Thurs.–Mon., house tours on the hour. The gardens are open daily.

Admission: $3 per vehicle entry fee, $1 for bikes and pedestrians.

House tour: Adults, $3; children, $1.50

Eden Gardens State Park is about 15 miles west of Panama City Beach. Follow U.S. 98 to County Road 395.

Lisa Lowe Stauffer is the author of an online guide to Southeastern travel, Sweet Tea Travels.