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Conservation Park
Conservation Park quickly became our favorite park in Panama City Beach. It's located inland about 15 minutes from the beach. It has parking, restrooms, large park map display (pocket paper maps available). The trails themselves are well signed. We found the park relaxingly serene, very enjoyable for walking, the elevated walkways are our favorite. https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...624cba6094.jpg Conservation Park https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...3a47c47ad.jpeg Park restrooms and also map display and pocket maps available https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...f544eaf6a.jpeg Park map display https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...ae217326e.jpeg Start of wide trail https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...cf5709f1d.jpeg Gravel pathway with tall pines https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...2f73e0669b.jpg Trail signs https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...cbf13c058b.jpg Start of elevated walkway https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...0f5eea2797.jpg Elevated walkway with tall pines https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...1e49b2a2f.jpeg Elevated walkway https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...5406618d9.jpeg In some areas the green algae on top of water looks like smooth green carpet https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...01d41e5c0.jpeg Elevated walkway with Cypress trees https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...3a9ece3af.jpeg Elevated walkway viewing platform bench https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...9684bd94d.jpeg Cypress knees - protrusions from the Cypress tree roots , possibly to help stabilize the tree or for more oxygen https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...c4696f774.jpeg The park has a number of ponds with beautiful reflections https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...162d9c434.jpeg Pond reflection https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...86d19a130.jpeg Pond reflection https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...775d8f32da.jpg Spanish Moss on tree https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...1f8245bb3.jpeg The park trees are mostly Pine and Cypress that grow straight and tall but there some that differ from the uniformity https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...e1fac029a.jpeg Differently shaped tree, perhaps an oak https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...219c30554.jpeg Very tall and straight Pine https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...7f9943a761.jpg The bark of a Pine tree that protects it from fire, the sap from pines is very flammable ( turpentine used to be made from pine sap) https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...4d7532c8d.jpeg Pine tree bark after a fire, the tree survives https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...0a327c32a.jpeg Odd shaped tree offshoot https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...3c7212bd6.jpeg Dead tree with termite damage https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...11c825b20.jpeg Fungi on dead tree https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...51eb543cd.jpeg Fungi on dead tree https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...4c61f007a.jpeg Metal rebar mosquito in front of mosquito control building on the road to the park, we haven't noticed any mosquitos while in the park or in the city |
Air Force Armament Museum
Day trip to Elgin to visit the Armament Museum located outside Elgin air base. The museum has free parking and is free to visit. The museum has exterior and interior exhibits with a mixture of guided and unguided bombs, missiles, small arms and airplanes. https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...26c4d1889.jpeg Air Force Armament Museum https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...3edbde5a3.jpeg Two inert bombs that can be sat on - Dr. Strangelove immediately came to mind https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...d64034b23a.jpg MOAB - Mother Of All Bombs is actually Massive Ordinance Air Blast Bomb https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...8bdb897be.jpeg Museum building view from upper walkway https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...ca7f26d528.jpg Small arms display https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...e81d51066.jpeg General purpose bomb https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...ae4cc7043.jpeg Various missiles are exhibited https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...1a74ae8b75.jpg Fat Man - exhibit of the nuclear bomb dropped on Nagasaki Japan during WWII. https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...9c976e215.jpeg B-52 https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...9173e1dbe.jpeg F4 Phantom https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...ccb49d27a.jpeg MH 53 helicopter https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...fe5531c26.jpeg SR 71 unusual shape https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...2445f5f2e.jpeg SR 71 under view https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...c5966798c5.jpg We took a different road on the way back and drove through an actual town named Niceville https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...d5d8abf610.jpg Niceville Turkey Creek |
Duplin Winery
The Duplin Winery in PCB is housed in a beautiful wood building with a lake and a large patio area. They have a dedicated tasting room to try their wines made from Muscadine grapes. Along with the wines they also have cheese / cold cut trays and cakes to snack on while having a drink ($). The whole experience was very enjoyable in a beautiful relaxing setting. https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...97b27d568.jpeg Duplin Winery building https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...2fe38324c.jpeg Wine barrel truck in front of winery building https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...72583f4fc.jpeg Inside the building, market style https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...8880b0835.jpeg Wine displays https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...28027f389.jpeg "Sunshine" in a bottle https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...fa9c9a95c.jpeg Dedicated tasting room https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...25bf451fce.jpg Patio area https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...1d2dcda603.jpg Patio and building https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...c934638822.jpg Relaxing spot on the wood pier on the lake https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...d357bd5bf.jpeg View of building covered porch |
Rainy days
The weather has been mostly sunny but there's also been some cold windy rainy days. On those days we try to find indoor activities or at least partially indoors. Here's the ones we tried so far. Rainforest black light golf & arcade. Once our eyes adjusted to the black glow lights we enjoyed it more than we expected. https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...ed4ad6ce41.jpg Indoor glow in the dark mini golf with arcade games and a snack bar https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...691f0a5c5.jpeg Arcade games at the entrance https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...5ccf9a940.jpeg Arcade games at entrance https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...08a072443.jpeg Glow in the dark mini golf rainforest theme https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...7ca680720.jpeg Glow animal statues https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...34fd91aaf.jpeg Glow dinosaur https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...0971517b3.jpeg Glow portal https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...e312dd802.jpeg Glow pterodactyl https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...9576636cd.jpeg Glow plant https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...e80667630.jpeg Glow plant https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...82177fbb3.jpeg Glow dinosaur head |
Rainy day continuation
Ripley's Believe It Or Not has a collection of oddities along with some art work and some odd / bizarre items. This location also has a maze and a theatre. We have seen it at other locations so we weren't as impressed as someone seeing it for the first time but was ok on a rainy day. https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...3e1ab2baa4.jpg Ripley's building in the shape of a boat https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...b961bcd46.jpeg Ripley's building https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...24343557cb.png Intricately carved Jade stone boat https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...5e6ddcaa40.jpg Except for the wood base this sculpture it's carved from bone https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...8e19016c60.jpg Bone carving detail https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...3de35194c.jpeg Bone carving detail https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...1063f5e16.jpeg Temple door https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...96ca39f4c.jpeg Megalodon shark jaw over 5 feet https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...2c6b5cffd.jpeg Genuine tribal mask https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...78c7c3767.jpeg Tribal mask https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...cb980717e.jpeg Tribal mask https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...2982bb1ec.jpeg Jimmy Hendrix image made with guitar picks https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...43e64db2b.jpeg Across the street from Ripley's is Wonderworks, the "upside" down building design is very eye catching but we haven't visited it so we can't comment on the interior |
Rainy day continuation
Center for the Arts is a small art museum in Panama City (not Panama City Beach), entrance is free / donations accepted. Despite it's small size and small number of exhibits we enjoyed viewing some of the quirky art pieces from local artists. We made it a day by visiting the rest of the City's waterfront. https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...b03f53890.jpeg Center for the Arts in Panama City https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...882e501972.jpg The collection includes both paintings and photos https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...0a8bb2fbd.jpeg Shoehorn bill bird painting https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...90765a012.jpeg Raven painting https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...ad79cb346.jpeg "Melted Clocks" mural detail, reminiscent of Salvador Dali https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...563f0fe709.jpg Monochromatic photo, one of the best pieces IMO https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...d7f7d028dc.jpg Glass artwork https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...1ff58abc8.jpeg Mixed media https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...addf23784d.jpg Traditional sculpture, life sized and very detailed https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...ea6cd22ec.jpeg Quirky piece https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...8659bc5fe.jpeg Quirky piece |
Man in the Sea Museum
This a small museum with some interesting diving items, on the exterior there are some submersibles ( including Sealab) and some historical and more contemporaneous pieces on the inside. A weight belt and shoes are available to try taking 12 steps to replicate the scene from the movie Man of Honor. Surprisingly there is a saturation breathing apparatus used on a spy mission on the Soviet Union. https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...deb2b94e7.jpeg Man in the Sea submersibles https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...99c547389.jpeg Exterior display https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...46a066ac98.jpg Visitors can try taking 12 steps with the diving shoes and weight belt https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...68bcccac3.jpeg Old diving helmet https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...5efe50c4b1.jpg Old diving suit and helmet https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...6c9c42003c.jpg Self contained diving apparatus https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...25772aee1.jpeg Saturation breathing apparatus used in spy mission https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...02de9f27f.jpeg https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...247998d10.jpeg Explanation of the importance of the diving spy mission https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...8723c49cd.jpeg Photo of diver parachuting, the amount of gear on him is surprising |
Panama City Beach, Falling Waters and Caverns.
After several weeks in Panama City Beach we are finally departing and travelling to Myrtle Beach. On our way to Myrtle Beach we are visiting Falling Waters State Park and Caverns State Park in Florida. https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...f287d969c.jpeg Last day in PCB https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...5ae54fa26.jpeg Last night in PCB https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...57264d02e.jpeg Falling Waters State Park https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...02ccf178a.jpeg Woodpecker carving inside the park https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...79639b65b4.jpg The park has accessible pathways to the falls https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...5fb2124af.jpeg The falls were very disappointing, more of a trickle perhaps due to the lack of rain. Next we went to the Forida Caverns State Park. The Caverns can only be viewed as part of a tour. Due to a medical emergency - a person in our tour group had claustrophobia / panic - we had to evacuate the Caverns, after that the tour resumed but we didn't have enough time to continue so we only saw a portion of the Caverns. The Caverns are hot, humid and fog up eye glasses and camera lenses. https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...65700101a.jpeg Florida Caverns State Park https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...9ab340e17.jpeg Beautiful coloration due to the different color lighting used in the Caverns https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...e0647d0b8.jpeg The blue lights reflected intensely from a pond in the Caverns https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...7a3b1444b.jpeg Caverns https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...897b673ca3.jpg Caverns https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...6d5fb26cce.jpg Caverns https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...cc5774e09.jpeg This is the narrowest "tunnel" in the Caverns - less than 4 feet high - shortly after the tunnel the medical emergency happened |
Hobcaw Barony and Atalya Castle were our next stops on our trip ( thanks for the travel tips Gretchen).
Hobcaw Barony is 16000 acres of mostly natural wildlife habitat. The only way to visit is with a guided tour on a mini bus. Our guide was very knowledgeable, explaining both the historical importance of the property, it's residents and guests along with the environmental research and habitat rehabilitation. We visited one of the slave villages ( the slaves originally worked on the rice plantation) on the property as well the main house. https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...2b5051a74.jpeg Hobcaw Barony welcome center https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...9ffbf43bd.jpeg Mini bus for the guided tour https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...b3f8586a3.jpeg Hobcaw house no photography inside https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...6a17c1d8e.jpeg House front porch https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...fc484b48e.jpeg The house is made of cement and brick in order to avoid fire that destroid a previous structure https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...6add7e184.jpeg Slave village house https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...b851bad904.jpg Interior of slave house https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...38448a8f3.jpeg Slave village church https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...42ab762a2.jpeg Inside of the church https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...dbf1de03f.jpeg Church altar https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...25bdaec49.jpeg Inside the church is the list of slaves that lived at Hobcaw Barony Atalya Castle design has a Moroccon style design and is entirely made of brick . The brick was painted white on the interior and left natural on the exterior, volunteers are trying to preserve it and stop any further deteoration. All the furnishings were removed by the family. https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...76d3be040.jpeg Atalya Castle entrance https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...cb4c80568.jpeg The castle's covered exterior walkway https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...652cb0914.jpeg Interior rooms, all that remains are the brick walls, no furnishings https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...889ad1ca5.jpeg Interior walkway https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...463106631.jpeg Castle's tower https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...3737dab9f.jpeg Beautifuly restored iron window grates https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...a4a5938a6.jpeg Window iron grate |
For anyone that was reading my trip report and was wondering why it suddenly stop - we had an emergency that required us to stop our trip and return home.
All is fine now but unfortunately we didn't have the opportunity to explore Myrtle Beach and the surrounding area. Perhaps a future trip. Travel adds to life, happy travels. |
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