Watercrest

Watercrest is an 18-story Gulf-front condominium tower at 6201 Thomas Drive, on the east end of Panama City Beach a few minutes from St. Andrews State Park. Built in 1987, it has about 80 units, so floor plans are generous and the pool deck rarely feels crowded.

Units range from one-bedroom condos of about 990 square feet to two- and three-bedroom plans that often exceed 1,400 square feet, and a few very large units are also on record. Condos have full kitchens, washer and dryer and private balconies overlooking the Gulf. Parking is covered.

Amenities include a heated beachfront pool and hot tub, a kiddie pool, a sun deck, lighted tennis and pickleball courts, an indoor racquetball court, a fitness center and separate men’s and women’s saunas. A clubhouse with a full kitchen, a game room and a poolside bar and grill round things out, and a private boardwalk leads to the beach. Seasonal chair and umbrella rentals operate on the sand. The building also has 24-hour security and meeting space, and association fees cover utilities and building upkeep. The Gulf-front pool deck and clubhouse are the social hub on summer evenings.

St. Andrews State Park and Rick Seltzer Park are each about four minutes away, and Captain Anderson’s Marina is close for fishing charters and dinner cruises. ZooWorld, Ripley’s Believe It or Not! and WonderWorks are 10 to 15 minutes west, and Pier Park is about 20 to 25 minutes away.

Units at Watercrest 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. The courts, saunas and roomy plans make it a good fit for active families and longer stays on the quiet end of the beach.