Spring Break is Bustin Loose

By William E. Males

Well, me, my two boys and (of course) a friend of theirs just spent four days out on the beach catching some of that incredible sunshine that has made Panama City Beach one of the favorite Spring Break spots for thousands seeking refuge from the normal college grind. I would dare to say that Panama City Beach is the Spring Break Capital of the whole south east.

This time walking the crystal white shoreline was not spent with the usual casual watching the waves and listening to its gentle breaking at my feet. This time the whole beach was full of thousands of ecstatic escapees from college campuses all across the country. They filled up the entire beach all the way from the various colored beachfront condos and hotels to the crystal clear emerald waters of the gulf. And I mean the water was sparkling crystal clear!

As I walked along watching the festivities I noticed there was always a football in the air going back and forth as excited spring breakers appeared to be determined to maximize every minute of their short emancipation.  There were shouts and screams filling the air everywhere in celebration of spring break. There were Frisbees flying, volley ball games going on, and a steady stream of people going both directions up and down the beach.

It was amazing to see so many people in one place with everyone acting as if it was the annual family reunion with long lost friends invited as well. Jets skis, sea doo's, people kite surfing and parasailing, a frequent yellow helicopter giving rides to vacationers zooming over head - all of Panama City Beach was transformed into miles of festive activity of endless varieties. Of course there was the partaking of much celebratory drink as many groups had dug out their groups meeting areas with a table of sand for the frequent competitive sport of beer ponging.

Other festive games included the filling of the good old plastic wiffle-ball bats with a can of beer and shooting it down quickly and then bending over with one's forehead to the bat on the ground as they turn around quickly ten times and then stand upright and endeavor to swing at the empty can pitched to them. The losers were obligated to run or be tossed into the gulf by the spectators. All up and down the beach there were groups marking their area with the school or group flags so they could easily be found.

Countless entrepreneurs were along the beach with various wares of amusement from inflatable slides to huge inflated clear balls. Participants could climb inside these and race their clear spheres back and forth along the sand. At one spot there was an inflated boxing ring where gluttons for punishment could climb in and put on huge boxing gloves bigger than beach balls and settle any doubt of who could deliver or take the most blows. Soon combatants’ arms were hanging from the battle fatigue even as the spectators demanded more from their preferred champion.

Yes, spring break in Panama City Beach is busting loose at the seams with literally thousands of people   cutting loose and partying everywhere. Yet despite the crowds, the whole city was still flowing everywhere. Restaurants staffed to meet the demand and no matter the time of day or night any dietary wish was able to be fulfilled somewhere. As I watched the countless pizza delivery cars making their way throughout the town I couldn't help but muse how many pizza's were going to be consumed, or if we laid them end to end how far they would stretch? One thing is certain; the people in Panama City Beach know how to meet the demands of the Spring Breakers. Whether it’s plenty of sand, sun and water, endless food and drink, places to stay or things to do, the whole town was like one big bed and breakfast on the gulf.

As we headed home our trip was filled with hours of laughter as my boys recanted their stories about who they met and what they did and saw. They wasted no time as plans were already being made to return as soon as possible . . . and that's the magic of Panama City Beach. Before long, the Spring Breakers will be gone and the whole place will be filled with families who will take their turn at enjoying the good ole' hospitality of the locals.

Yepper . . . we'll be back soon. Maybe we'll see ya on the beach . . .