Two Great Beach Vacations: Myrtle Beach, SC & Panama City Beach

When you're a child, going to the beach means sand, sun, and fun. As an adult, there's more to planning a vacation. The beach offers serenity, beautiful sunrises/sunsets, relaxation, and a place for fun in the sun. Choosing a beach vacation is a matter of preferences. Two big considerations are the atmosphere and amenities. Head south to work on your tan, and visit Myrtle Beach, South Carolina or Panama City Beach, Florida. To help you plan the best trip for you and your family here is a comparison of two popular southeastern beaches.

Scenic View
When it comes to the view, both Panama City Beach and Myrtle Beach are beautiful. Myrtle Beach, a 60 mile stretch of beach, offers a view of the powerful, dark waters of the Atlantic. Dune preservation areas are fenced off in quaint, rustic style. The sand is dark, with a grayish hue, but it is clean. The water is deep blue, with strong currents, and small cresting waves. You can sit on your balcony and watch an amazing sunrise on the water's horizon.

Panama City beach offers a breath-taking view of crystal blue-green waters, divided from the darker, deeper gulf by a sandbar that stretches for miles along the Florida panhandle. The Gulf waves never crest more than about three feet, unless there's a storm, and in the morning the water can be placid. The white sand enhances the brilliant water and makes a beautiful seascape. The drawback, is that the sand is often dirty and littered with trash and debris from the ocean.

For beauty, I prefer the Gulf of Mexico at Panama City Beach. I also love the tranquil sunset over the Gulf.

Swimming
For swimming, the Gulf is, again, my choice. The waters of the Atlantic in the Myrtle Beach area average the high seventy degree range, all summer long. That's too cold for my blood. The water in Panama City is in the upper 80 to 90 degree range. It is sometimes just cool enough to wash away the burn of the blistering sun. The shallow water and sandbars offer safe places to play. You can play football, swim, or float in the water for hours. The disadvantage is the seaweed and erratic thunderstorms that pop up in the late afternoon.