Spanning a two-hundred-foot stretch of pristine white-sand beach in Panama City, Sterling Resorts - Twin Palms provides excellent vistas of the Gulf horizon. Views get even better at sunset, so plan accordingly. Join the kids for a swim in the outdoor pool, sink into the soothing hot tub until your fingers look like raisins or lounge on the pool deck. The resort is just steps away from the beach. Spend the day floating in the gentle swells past the shore break or set up camp on a beach lounger and catch up on your latest read while the kids build sandcastles. During the prime season there’s plenty of action at the beach volleyball courts, so brush up on your overhand serve. Back at the resort, get in a workout at the fitness center, it has its own sauna.

Two-bedroom condos sleep six guests and are air-conditioned. Take a family field trip to nearby Publix; it has everything you need to stock your full kitchen. Whip up a batch of double chocolate brownies and let the kids assist with the mixing and the tasting. Freezers have plenty of space for Hot Pockets, Ben & Jerry’s and DiGiorno pizza. Cable TVs ensure that you won’t miss the latest episode of your favorite show and DVD players are perfect for family movie night. Have the kids pack their favorite movies and ask for a show of hands to decide what to watch first. Show off your multitasking skills and throw a load of laundry into the in-suite washer/dryer while the movie is playing.

Shipwreck Island Waterpark offers hours of underwater fun. The sixty-foot-tall Pirates Plunge allows grownups and big kids to challenge each other to a race on dual slides. Little ones won't be able to get enough of the Tadpole Hole and activity pools. Ride with your kids on the Zoom Flume Mat Slide. Gulf World Marine Mark will be a hit with the animal lovers in your party. Meet, interact with and swim with dolphins, go snorkeling alongside stingrays or interact with harbor seals and penguins. Pier Park offers shopping, dining, and amusement. Grab a latte or coffee-free frappuccino at Starbucks. Little ones will love Toy Kingdom. Bargain hunters will have a blast at Target and Marshalls. Del Sol features apparel and accessories that change colors when exposed to sunlight. Department stores include Dillard’s and JCPenney. Pick up a new pair of shoes at the Nike Factory Store or a new pair of sunglasses at Sunglass Hut. When it’s time for lunch, there’s Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville, Red Robin, or New York Pizza & Grill. Be sure to stop by Marble Slab Creamery for dessert. Pier Park also features twelve rides for all ages.