Everyone’s heard of Panama City Beach as one of the hot spots for spring breakers, but who knew there was the AAA Four Diamond Sheraton Bay Point Resort with nary a spring breaker in sight? In fact, you have to be 25 years old to check in to this Sheraton along the beautiful and historic St. Andrews Bay. It also boasts $30 million in recent renovations. From the modern design of the lobby with its warm wood floors, comfy chairs and interesting lighting to the 320 rooms—all has been refreshed.
The view from my room was the St. Andrews Bay, where I got to see some amazing sunsets each night. But to give us all a fantastic bird’s-eye view of the whole area, the hotel treated us to a morning helicopter ride over the bay—after some liquid courage in the form of a bloody Mary/mimosa bar, that is.
The view from above was spectacular as we soared over the Panama City beaches with spring breakers now specks from above. After landing we were whisked off by shuttle to the only Nicklaus-designed course in northwest Florida for a round of golf. The Nicklaus Course is set against the backdrop of St. Andrews Bay and a marshland wildlife sanctuary. Panoramic vistas of the bay, marsh and scenic wetlands abound throughout the golf course. There is also the 6,900-yard Meadows Course. For beginners who would like to take a lesson, the Golf Academy features Tony Ruggiero, a Golf Magazine Top 100 Teacher, and innovative new Golfboards, kind of like a Segway, which transport golfers from hole to hole.
After our hard day on the links, we retired to the Serenity Spa for our complimentary glass of champagne and a massage. The 12,000-square-foot space, which has also been newly renovated, boasts a steam room, sauna, whirlpool and serenity spa lounge. After the massage, we sat out at the pool right outside the spa for additional relaxation.
One evening we were treated to a chef’s dinner with Executive Chef Shane Miller at Tide’s restaurant. Miller, once on the Food Network’s Cutthroat Kitchen and Guy’s Grocery
Games, served us his signature gumbo ya-ya, shrimp and grits and the best pimiento cheese spread I’ve ever tasted. Miller was also wildly funny and entertaining!
Right on-property guests can rent pontoon boats, and the nearby marina offers fishing charters and scuba and snorkeling adventures.
We did some stand-up paddleboarding with the help of the owner of YOLO Board, who gave us a brief lesson on how to stand up and stay up as we made our way around the bay. Afterwards, we rewarded ourselves with a margarita at Pelican’s, an open-air beach bar at the end of the resort’s pier. There’s also Hammocks Beach Bar and Flip Flops
Pool Bar with its “no shirt, no shoes, no problem” vibe. Arielle, our mixologist at Flip Flops, turned out some really fun cocktails like the Chili Berry Infused Cucumber Lemonade and the Pineapple Strawberry Tropical Mojito.
The next day it was on to Shell Island, a private beach that only has access by boat. The property’s exclusive Bay Point Lady offers multiple scheduled boat trips daily through St. Andrews Bay to the island. Often escorted by dolphins, guests arrive to the seven-mile stretch of pristine beaches with rolling sand dunes, untouched by modern development, and enjoy a beautiful beach getaway without the crowds. The Bay Point Lady provides beach umbrellas, chairs and snorkel gear for rent as well as snacks and drinks for purchase, offering first-class service on the island.
For meeting groups there’s more than 60,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor flexible meeting and exhibit space accommodating groups from 10 to 750 people. With 22 total breakout rooms, a 12,000-square-foot St. Andrews Ballroom and 8,000-square-foot Grand Lagoon Ballroom, the St. Andrews Pavilion and beautiful lawn spaces provide views of the bay for beach barbeques and bonfires along the sandy shores.
Sheraton Bay Point Resort
850.236.6000
