Panama City Beach, Florida is known for its white sandy beaches, turquoise waters and recent transformation from spring break partyland to a value family-friendly beach getaway. Fun attractions such as Gulf World Marine Park and ZooWorld add an element of "theme park" to what's already considered one of "America's Most Beautiful Beaches" by Conde Nast Traveler.

Why such accolades for the beach? According to the C&VB website, "Panama City Beach's legendary pure white sand resulted from quartz crystals washing down from the Appalachian Mountains centuries ago. Along their journey, the crystals were bleached, ground, smoothed and polished until the surf of the Gulf of Mexico deposited these millions of grains of sand on the shoreline." Sounds great to us.

Now, this recession-bit summer, families can drive down and take advantage of free night stays, lodging specials and kids-eat-free deals along those 27 miles of famous, pristine shoreline.  These fun-in-the-sun deals include:

Pinnacle Port Vacation Rentals (800/874-8823) welcomes travelers with a stay 6N; get the 7th night free deal this summer, for a 16% savings. Also available is a movie night and crafts on the pool deck. Spanning 26 acres, Pinnacle Port guests can use canoes or kayaks by day and take advantage of free Wi-Fi and DVD rentals at night.

The Towne of Seahaven is another rental community with three different lodging options: Origin at Seahaven, Seahaven Beach Hotel, and America’s Best Value Inn. It's well located near Pier Park, the premier shopping/dining/entertainment destination in the area. Their summer special is "Kids Eat and Ride Free," quite a savings with hungry and active little ones. By way of explanation, children 12 and under eat for free with a paid adult at nearby Sharky’s Beachfront Restaurant and Tikki Bar and Hammerhead Fred’s Restaurant and Oyster Bar. In addition, children 12 and under enjoy free Banana Boat rides, Jet Ski Rentals, and parasailing with each paid adult.

Blowin-N-The Wind Management (800/874-8600) -- don't  you love this name? -- is offering a stay 5N and get 2 nights free special through Labor Day -- a 40% savings if you want to stay that long.  The rental property management company has seven different properties with accommodations ranging from multi-bedroom condominiums to three-bedroom cottages and more. Each property is said to include family-friendly amenities, such as boat docking areas, tennis and basketball courts, fitness centers, swimming pools, a putting green and more. Note that this offer is not valid on summer holiday weekends.

By The Sea Resorts (888/627-0625) has a variety of offers, with a stay 5N and get 1 free  July 5 – 31, 2009 for guests of the Legacy or Beachcomber Resorts. Gulf-front suites start at $189/N before the discount and include daily breakfast. Other than this period, families can enjoy a "Pizza in Paradise" package for a stay of 3N or more, when you'll get a free, large two-topping Domino's pizza, a two-liter bottle of soda, and keycard with savings of up to 20% off on admission prices to popular area attractions such as Gulf World Marine Park, Zoo World and Holiday Golf Club. The card or pass also earns guests free kids meals for every adult meal they purchase at the Barefoot Beach Club or nearby Calypso Beach Café.

The Sandpiper Beacon says that guests paying for 5N will receive 2 nights free, making their 7N vacation about 40% cheaper than expected. An added perk is their tropical entertainment, as every Sunday and Wednesday night throughout the summer, the Sandpiper proudly presents the South Pacific style Lanakilas Polynesian Revue. The sound of the drum beats while the conch shell is blowing begins the journey of song and dance with hula dancers and the exciting Samoan Fire Knife Dance.

So what's up outside the beachfront condo scene?  At Gulf World Marine Park, professional divers flip and twirl in mid-air, finishing with an 80-foot high-dive while a magician amazes audiences with his interactive magic show. The park's Trainer for a Day program lets guests study dolphin behavior before stepping on stage to perform during the Dolphin Show.

Kids 7-years-old and up can continue to interact with animals at ZooWorld Zoological & Botanical Park as a part of the Keeper for a Day program. Home to more than 250 animals and set in a lush tropical landscape, ZooWorld promotes wildlife preservation through hands-on activities and personalized animal encounters. Children will enjoy the Going Wild! show where they can discover unique animal facts and pose for pictures with rare mammals, reptiles and exotic birds.

For active children, Shipwreck Island Waterpark, is a perfect place for them to run around. Families no longer have to endure long lines with the water park's new online ticketing service. Full of slides, tubes and swings, the Tadpole Hole is popular with little ones. Older visitors prefer the White Knuckle River, a 660-foot family tube ride, the Great Ship Wreck and the Zoom Flume.

Another family park is the Coconut Creek Family Fun Park, home of two unique attractions. Miniature golf courses that resemble tropical jungle offer golfers a unique playing environment. Young explorers will love Coconut Creek's Gran Maze. Larger than a football field and modeled after South Pacific Islands, kids will pass through Fiji, Tahiti, Samoa and Bali before completing their journey.

After a long day of activity, families can visit Ripley's Moving Theater to watch a 4-D movie. With motion, special effects and action-packed images, kids will really feel as if they were in the movie themselves. Also in the same complex is the Ripley's Believe It or Not! Odditorium, which showcases fascinating finds from around the world. With exhibits such as an authentic shrunken head from Ecuador and an 11-foot Eiffel Tower made entirely of matchsticks, there is no doubt kids will be interested.

For more information, call 800-PCBEACH (850/233-6503) or check out the official Web site of the Panama City Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau.