EXPLORING BEYOND OKLAHOMA WITH CHILDREN
PHOTOS BY VERA HOGENSON PHOTOGRAPHY
Family fun in the sun: Panama City Beach As the idea of giving experiences in lieu of holiday gifts gains traction across the country, consider gifting your kids a vacation this year. Whether it’s a weekend getaway, spring break fling or summer soiree, spending the holiday budget, entirely or partially, on a trip can alleviate the addition of more stuff (hallelujah!) and give the whole family something to look forward to after the magic of the holidays passes. BY ERIN PAGE
16 METROFAMILYMAGAZINE.COM / DECEMBER 2019
For our family of five, nothing says vacation like the sugar white beaches and turquoise waters of Florida’s Emerald Coast. We try to visit annually, fitting our travel plans around whatever budget we can afford that year. We’ve traveled by plane and car, stayed in condos and beach houses, visited on our own and with other family members. December is prime time to book summertime beach fun in Florida, making this an ideal time to wrap up reservation confirmations and package as a holiday gift. Making plans in December also feels especially appropriate since my kids start yearning for the sunshine as dreary January turns to frigid February. They ask at least once a week how many more days it will be until we can hit the beach (my pained answer: a lot). With so many choices of popular beach towns, it’s hard to know where to start your search. I’ve stayed everywhere from Gulf Shores, Alabama to Clearwater, Destin and Pensacola, Florida, and while every beach town has perks, the friendly, eclectic town of Panama City Beach has my family’s heart.
