PANAMA CITY BEACH

Follow Hwy-98 fifty miles west from Apalachicola and you'll hit the orgy of motels, go-kart tracks, mini-golf courses and amusement parks that is PANAMA CITY BEACH . This beach is entirely without pretension, but it capitalizes blatantly on the appeal of its 27-mile stretch of white sand. The whole place is as commercial as can be, but with the shops, bars and restaurants all trying to undercut one another, there are some great bargains to be found. That said, throughout the lively summer (the so-called 100 Magic Days), accommodation costs are high and bookings essential. In winter, prices drop and visitors are fewer; most are Canadians and - increasingly - Europeans, many of whom have no problems sunbathing and swimming in the cool temperatures.

Getting a tan, running yourself ragged at beach sports and going hammer-and-tongs at the nightlife are the main concerns in Panama City Beach. If you get restless, try go-karting, jet-skiing or parasailing; otherwise, visit one of the amusement parks (usually $18 for a go-on-everything day ticket) or go on a fishing trip (from around $30 a day). For scuba-divers, several explorable shipwrecks litter the area; get details from any of the numerous dive shops