Pelican Walk

Pelican Walk is a ten-story Gulf-front condominium at 6205 Thomas Drive, on the east end of Panama City Beach between Mariner West and Watercrest. Built in 1983, it has about 100 units, and every one of them faces the Gulf, which gives the building an intimate, casual beach atmosphere.

Units come in one-, two- and three-bedroom plans. One-bedroom condos run about 620 to 880 square feet and two-bedroom units about 790 to 1,080 square feet, with larger three-bedroom plans in the mix. All units are fully furnished with full kitchens and balconies overlooking the Gulf.

Amenities are simple and beach-focused: a heated in-ground pool set in a landscaped pool area, community barbecue grills, a picnic area and a gated beach access. The beach is directly behind the building, and the east end sand is usually calmer than the central strip. The pool area is landscaped, and the building’s small scale means short elevator trips to the beach. Units are described as among the larger one-, two- and three-bedroom condos on this part of the coast, and every balcony looks straight at the water.

Capt. Anderson’s restaurant and marina and Schooners are nearby for seafood and sunsets, and shopping stops such as Alvin’s Island and Beach Scene are along Thomas Drive. St. Andrews State Park is a short drive east for camping, hiking, snorkeling and surfing, and the Grand Lagoon area has boat rentals and fishing charters. Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport is about 35 minutes away.

Units at Pelican Walk are individually owned and rented through their owners and several rental companies, so furnishings, bed layouts, parking rules and extras such as seasonal beach chair service vary from one unit to the next. Its all-Gulf-front layout and modest size suit couples and families looking for a simple, quieter stay near St. Andrews.