What make PCB so special to you? For me it was the memories of spring break at Club La Vela and the smell of the ocean as you get close to the beach after 10+ hours of driving. It is also the memories of the wind blowing on my face as I sit and listen to the waves and all the lights of the strip and the hundreds of novelty tee-shirt shops. I have been to several other beaches, but PCB always has me coming back year after year. In one year, I made the 10+ hour drive 5 times! I love the fishing from the beach, going out on the charter boats, sitting at schooners and eating by the gulf, and walking on the piers late at night. Blame the memories, the great fishing, or just the PCB atmosphere and experience, but all of these things and much more is what makes me come back year after year. I just wish the quarter deck oyster bar was still open......That was the one place in PCB that they actually remembered ME from year to year, and that makes a guy feel special.

The smell of the ocean after my 9+ hour drive revives me.I have been going to PCB for many years,usually twice a year but I wish I could go 5 times. I tell everyone that PCB is my home away from home.I love sitting on the beach and watching the waves roll in or closing my eyes and listening to the waves as they crash on the beach and the seagulls as they talk their talk to each other.My GF and I love walking on the beach 2 or 3 in the morning and seeing the moons reflection on the water.We also love eating at the many outdoor resturants.

I love sitting on the deck early in the morning watching people walk the beach and on occasion I will spot some dolphins out in the gulf. They are so peaceful and calming. We love sitting on the deck after dark drinking a glass of wine and listening to the surf. It makes the long 8 to 9 hour drive worth it. I am still like a kid when I first start seeing signs of sand. One of my favorite things to do is to hit all the Alvin's Island souvenir stores, and the Shipwreck Ltd. souvenir stores, etc. It is the fun of getting to enjoy the beach, hearing the sound of the waves, and collecting shells that I love.

Hey Beachnut. You comin down this year? If I remember correctly you didnt make it last year



Anyway, what makes PCB special to me are the memories BEFORE Club Crud-Vela. Before the high-rise condo crap. You could cruise down Front Beach road and actualy see WATER. The best RV park was RIGHT ON the beach! AND you could stay for only a couple bucks a day!! THose days are over... Wont forget those days though. Sure wont forget Miracle Strip... **sniff**

Hey Bubba Bob. Yes, my hubby and I are coming down the end of August. We didn't come last year because of not wanting to have to board our elderly dog for 9 days at the vet. We went to Chickasaw State Park last summer and then again in December and stayed for 3 days and took him with us. Our dog has since passed away. He died back in early April from cancer of the small intestine and peritonitis.

walking on the beach at sunset with my family

I vacationed as a little girl in Panama City. Every year my family took us to Camp Helen (Avondale Mills owned area)where i learned to ski, saliboat, and had the best times of my life at that camp. They have since sold it and now its a State Park. Good times i had there as a child. But i never missed a summer there and when i grew up, i took my children to PC to make the memories i love so much also. They are in their teens now and still to this day find PC as a place to relax and have fun. Not much for the kids to do now, but thank goodness they have outgrown that keep me ocupied phase. LOL! The peace we find when we are there. The looks on my girls faces is priceless. Long walks on the beach, catching hermit crabs at St Andrews Park, walking the pier our last day and taking those final pics as a family. You just cant find that kind of inner peace anywhere.

Sorry to hear about your dog, Beachnut. It's always hard to leave behind a "member of the family" but especially when they're not well.
As for me, what makes PCB special is that we spent our honeymoon there 14years ago. We went there on advice of a friend, sight unseen, and fell in love with it. Even in just 14 years, it's changed alot. Almost all of the little funky 50's vintage motels are gone (although in some cases that's not necessarily a bad thing) and you can't hardly see the beach anymore as you drive Front Beach Road. But as soon as you get in your condo & look out at the gulf & sand, it doesn't matter anymore. Early morning is my favorite time.

Thanks Mrs. Peel, it has been a sad time these past two months without our dog being here. As for what makes PCB, we enjoy going out on the Dan Russell Pier taking in the nice view both directions as far as you can see. We enjoy seeing the pelicans sitting atop the light poles also hoping we have food for them. But early morning is my favorite time to go out on the beach also. I sit out early every morning on the deck off of one of the bedrooms enjoying the ocean view and then I go and take my early morning walk down the beach looking for shells.

Hi Beachnut. I thought I remembered you from last year. My condolences about your dog. We recently lost my son's horse and it's still very emotional for us.
We've only been going down now for about 15 years. My husband and I are both like kids-as soon as we get to our condo we head out to the beach to sink our toes in the sand. Like several previous posters said-as soon as we smell the ocean we perk right up! I love to sit out on our balcony
first thing in the morning and look for dolphins,rays,ect and then end the
day with a nice glass of wine and take in the sunset! Can't wait to visit again this year...

It's really interesting reading over different people's memories about this place. Being a lifelong local here, I'd have to say my favorite memories would be going out to St. Andrews State Park as a child and having to actually swerve around the sand dunes that would start to migrate across the little asphalt strip that was once Thomas Drive. Eventually, they'd have to bring out a bulldozer and push the sand off the road.

Things are definitely different here now, but I'm glad to know that this place is still making memories for others who visit.

As for the Miracle Strip Amusement Park...*sniff* is right. Along with the old Petticoat Junction and Ghost Town.

OH, how I miss Miracle Strip and Petticoat Junction! The thing that sticks in my 44 year old mind is a roller coaster at Petticoat Junction. Am I imagining it? It was on 98 where the WalMart supercenter is now, right? Headed down tomorrow, and my girls are still missing Miracle Strip, as are there parents. Our favorite family thing to do was ride the train through the woods after dark. Lots of memories there. I did read that the coaster found a home at Cypress Gardens now, which is a good thing.

Nope, you're remembering that roller coaster correctly. The one at Petticoat Junction was the Roadrunner and the one at Miracle Strip was the Starliner. The Roadrunner was the first roller coaster I ever got on in my life. Halfway through the ride I was threatening to kill my buddy who talked me into getting on it, but I ended up spending the rest of the night riding it over and over again.

And you're also right about the location of Petticoat Junction. WallyWorld now sits squarely on top of where all the rides used to be.

I also loved riding the train out to Ghost Town at night. I can remember getting halfway scared to death when the "outlaws" would have their train robberies on the way there.

Good times and good memories, for sure.

The Starliner is now at Cypress Gardens. Got a flyer in the mail yesterday from Cypress Gardens that said the Starliner was now opened and running.

I'm fairly sure that senility isn't supposed to be setting in when you're only 42, but now I'm beginning to wonder. The roller coaster at Petticoat Junction was not the Roadrunner, it was the Tornado. Sheesh, I'm slippin'.