Legacy By The Sea

From the exterior, the 14-story Legacy by the Sea looks more like an apartment building than a hotel, with its balconies dotted with guests’ colorful beach towels drying in the sun. Inside, the spacious lobby feels welcoming as sunlight streams through the large windows, reflecting off the light marble floors. The lobby is also where the free breakfast buffet is served.

Unlike its sister property, Beachcomber by the Sea, this hotel sits adjacent to its affiliated restaurant, Barefoot Hideaway Grill. Although the fitness center is tiny, with only three cardio machines and a TV, its large window offers a gulf view. There’s also a coin-operated laundry room. Although there's no business center, there's a computer for guests' use in the lobby, but most guests are vacationing families.

The resort is located on busy Front Beach Road, which runs parallel to the the Gulf of Mexico shore. The property is one block south of Gulf World Marine Park, a family-friendly attraction that features dolphin shows, alligators, and other sea life. It’s also within walking distance of Pier Park, a shopping, dining, and entertainment complex. Restaurants within a 15-minute walk include Sharky’s Beachfront, the All-American Diner, Diego’s Burrito Factory & Margarita Bar, and Shuckums Oyster Pub & Seafood Grill. The resort is about a 10-minute drive from downtown Panama City Beach.

Rooms, with king and double beds, are suite-style and each of which comes with a private gulf-view balcony. Inside, the dated, tropical-inspired decor features light wood furniture with light green, tan, and red bedding, and flat-screen TVs. Each suite also includes an efficiency kitchen equipped with a mini-fridge or full-size refrigerator, small oven, stove with four burners, microwave, toaster, dishes, utensils, and cookware. Each living room area has a dining table for two, a simple earth-toned sofa, basic side chairs, and almost no artwork on the walls. Large soaking tubs are an option in king rooms, for a price.

The adjacent Barefoot Hideaway Grill is beach-casual, with open-air seating, a covered bar, and fans whirring to offer relief from the heat. Other beachfront amenities include dining tables that allow guests to eat with their toes in the sand, plus a nearby jungle gym where kids can burn off energy. Although the pool offers gorgeous beachfront views, the pool itself is basic -- just a watering hole surrounded by a concrete pool deck and white plastic lounge chairs. There's a tiny fitness center and laundry facilities, and breakfast comes free.