Gran Maze of Coconut Creek, Panama City Beach, Florida

Before getting into the details, I'd like to say that I have mixed feelings about the Gran Maze of Coconut Creek. This was the first maze adventure for me and my family, and I must say that my expectations were exceptionally low. Walking through a maze did not seem like a fun way to spend the evening. Especially when nature's very own waterpark (the beach) is so close.

As it turns out, I was wrong. My family and I had a lot of fun winding through the maze. That said, the entertainment value was on par with my original expectations. I know that it may sound like an oxymoron to say that something is fun but not entertaining, but this is the case with the Gran Maze. I think this could be improved a little by adding some themed décor throughout the maze. If nothing else, it would be an opportunity to stop for a selfie or a family photo.

 

The object of the maze is to find your way to four points located in the center. You can see the raised areas in the photo above. All four points are connected to form one football-field-sized maze. Once at each point, you punch your card to show that you have completed the maze. My family of three, who depend deeply on Google maps for navigation, finished in around 30 minutes. The leader board that is located just outside the maze, displayed times as low as 15 minutes. Honestly, it is hard to believe that the course could be completed in 15 minutes without being extremely lucky or by cheating.

The maze at coconut creek provided a fun way to stretch our legs and to log a few steps in our Fitbits. A maze may not be our first choice for entertainment, but going forward, I am sure we will seek out this type of adventure more often. With a little practice, we may even shave a few minutes off our time.

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Bizarre, Bike Hanging on a Tree, Andalusia, AL

The Celadon, Panama City Beach Florida Condo 

Bike on a Tree, Andalusia, AL

My family loves to stop at antique stores, consignment shops, and flea markets. Many times, we stumble onto things that are specific to the area that we are visiting. For example, a coastal town may have a large supply of vintage fishing gear and antique bobbers. While towns near a railroad may have a large selection of antique railroad signs. Each town is very different, so each stop provides something new, or maybe I should say “old”, and interesting. We have come across some cool stuff over the years, some we purchased, and some we left for the next traveler to enjoy. 

On our way back from Panama City Beach, we stopped in the small town of Andalusia, AL. Andalusia is the home of the Picket Fence, Antiques and Flea as well as the Blue Goose garden center. The garden center is located on the same property and just in front of the antique store. On our way back to the car, we walked up on this old bike hanging on a tree. In that moment, the bizarre page was inspired. If you are ever in Andalusia, stop and take a photo with the bike hanging on a tree.

The Celadon, Panama City Beach Florida

Vacasa’s Celadon is a beautiful high-rise beach resort located on the white sands of Panama City Beach Florida. The location is outstanding; it is conveniently located just west of Pier Park. Being situated near the end of the main strip offers all the usual conveniences of a tourist town while avoiding the major crowds. This high rise stands an impressive twenty-two stories tall and offers amazing views. On our getaway, we were situated on the 16th floor of this massive building. The balcony was spacious and comfortable, it was beautifully decorated, and it was the perfect spot to enjoy my morning coffee. However, the 16th floor was on the cusp of being too high to fully enjoy the view. It is my experience that a beach-front balcony offers the best view when staying on the 7th-10th floor. 

The Celadon offers several amenities, heated indoor/outdoor pools, hot tubs, workout facility, and event space. During our visit, one of the two heated pools was closed for maintenance. This was unfortunate for us since it happened to be the indoor pool. We visited during the off-season and the indoor pool was a large part of our decision to stay at the Celadon. On the plus side, the larger of the two pools and the two hot tubs were still operational and we had perfect weather for most of our trip. 

The Celadon hosts a large number of privately owned beach-front condominiums. For this reason, making reservations can be done through Vacasa’s website or a third-party site such as Vrbo. We found this property on Vrbo and drawn to it due to the high number of outstanding reviews. Any property with over 100 positive reviews is a no-brainer. After staying here for the week, I can honestly say that the positive reviews are well deserved. The owner gave us a call during booking, she was friendly, knowledgeable, and stayed in touch throughout the trip. The condo was well stocked with the usual amenities and even had beach items such as chairs, umbrellas, beach towels, and sand buckets. This amazing vacation getaway is clean, comfortable, and nicely decorated with many inspirational items. It is noticeable that the owner has gone above and beyond to ensure you have an enjoyable stay. 

You can book Cynthia’s Condo through Vrbo by clicking here or searching for listing number 1011228.