How is the recovery going at Panama City Beach and surrounding areas? We are thinking about going there in the late fall and were interested in an update before booking anything.
I was there in late July for a week. Most of Panama City Beach is in good condition, and I did not see anything out of the ordinary in the Pier Park Area where we stayed. The most damage still affecting the area is toward Bay Point. There is one golf corse closed and unattended, many homes with tarp on their roofs, I think I counted 3 hotels/resorts closed, one of then being the HICV Bay Point. The was major damage to a building, and the convention center is totally closed while being repaired.. I drove from Orlando, and on the farm roads there are areas that you could se the path of the Hurricane.
But definitely do go to Panama City Beach if you are in the Pier Park area. We had a blast and it is much more family friendly now. I can also recommend you visit
Morrison Springs, it is a bout a 40 minute drive, but it is a beauty!
Good luck!
https://goo.gl/maps/sf3bes8vt5DyiggS6