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Obamas' whirlwind trip ends with boat ride, ice cream // PHOTOS, VIDEOS
First lady, daughter squeeze in trip to WonderWorks
PANAMA CITY BEACH — A playful swim, a round of miniature golf, a boat ride and a trip out for ice cream are just some of the things any vacationing family might do when they visit Panama City Beach.
And if you discount the swarm of Secret Service agents, the speeding motor pool, the meetings with local leaders and the rides on Marine One and Air Force One, then this weekend was no different for the first family.
On Sunday, President Barack Obama, first lady Michelle Obama and youngest daughter Sasha squeezed in a few more stops before leaving Bay County. In the morning, they took a cruise on the Bay Point Lady, a 50-foot Navy Launch that the Bay Point Marriott converted into a ferry to take guests back and forth to Shell Island.
Although stormy weather kept the first family indoors for a spell Sunday, by about 9:30 a.m. they were cruising under overcast skies in their vessel, which featured a white body with white and red top and the words Bay Point Lady highlighted in green.
After only a few minutes on the water, a porpoise showed off for the first family. Also during the trip, 9-year-old Sasha got a chance to drive the boat — under the close, watchful eye of her father. When Sasha returned to another section of the vessel, Obama drove alone.
Flanked by Florida Fish and Wildlife and U.S. Coast Guard vessels, the Obamas’ boat circled St. Andrew Bay and returned to shore about 10 a.m.
A few hours after disembarking, the trio made another stop, at Bruster’s Real Ice Cream on Thomas Drive across from Naval Support Activity Panama City.
Employees of the neighboring Hooters restaurant crowded outside the tiny ice cream parlor as the first family chowed on ice cream.
The president joked with the reporters and others nearby, asking whether they wanted any of the sweet treats.
“You don’t know what you’re missing,” joked the president.
The quick outing lasted less than 10 minutes.
The first family then headed across the street to the Navy base to board Marine One for Tyndall Air Force Base, and they departed Bay County shortly thereafter, an hour earlier than originally scheduled.
Also during the morning Sunday, Michelle Obama and Sasha slipped past pool reporters and spent an hour at WonderWorks on Front Beach Road, a White House spokeswoman said.
Michelle Obama spotted the attraction during her first visit to Panama City Beach last month.
"... And just driving around I saw golf courses; I saw an upside-down house," she said then. "It's a whole building that's upside down. I don't know what's going on there, but if I'm a kid, I want to go to that house."
This was the second day of a two-day trip to Panama City Beach for the first family, which traveled absent their older daughter Malia, who is at summer camp. The first family was visiting the region in an effort to reverse negative publicity the region received in the wake of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
The Florida Panhandle’s tourism industry, a crucial component of the economy and dependent on summer revenues, was damaged by the perception that Florida beaches were covered with oil and the gulf waters tainted, despite minimal oil impact in most parts of the state.
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Below are earlier versions of this story:
1:30 p.m.: PANAMA CITY BEACH — Michelle Obama made her way to an ice cream parlor at The Shoppes of Edgewater during her recent visit to Bay County.
Returning with the whole family, the Obamas headed to Bruster’s Real Ice Cream on Thomas Drive, across the street from Naval Support Activity Panama City and not far from the first family’s hotel.
Employees of the neighboring Hooters restaurant crowded outside the tiny ice cream parlor as the first family chowed on giant cups of ice cream. Sasha donned in a red and pink outfit, and mother Michelle in a blue dress, the first family paused to take photos with onlookers.
The president joked with the reporters and others nearby, asking whether they wanted any of the sweet treats. “You don’t know what you’re missing,” joked the president, sporting a black shirt and gray trousers.
The quick outing lasted less than 10 minutes.
The first family then headed across the street to the Navy base to board Marine One for Tyndall Air Force Base, and they departed Bay County shortly thereafter.
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11:15 a.m.: PANAMA CITY BEACH — A St. Andrew Bay porpoise showed off for the first family Sunday morning as they stood on the bow pulpit of a 50-foot vessel.
President Barack Obama, first lady Michelle Obama and their 9-year-old daughter, Sasha, held on to one another and pointed as the creature swam back into the depths. The first family circled St. Andrew Bay on Sunday morning on the Bay Point Lady, a white 50-foot Navy launch that the Bay Point Marriott converted to ferry guests guests back and forth to Shell Island.
During the trip 9-year-old Sasha got a chance to drive the boat — under the close, watchful eye of her father. When Sasha returned to another section of the vessel, Obama drove alone.
Although stormy weather kept the first family indoors for a spell Sunday, by about 9:30 a.m. they were cruising under overcast skies in their vessel, which features a white body with white and
red top and the words Bay Point Lady highlighted in green.
Despite a dog-friendly beach at Shell Island, Bo, the first family’s dog, was nowhere to be seen. Flanked by Florida Fish and Wildlife and U.S. Coast Guard vessels, the Obamas' boat circled St. Andrew Bay and
returned to shore about 10 a.m.
This is the second day of a two day trip to Panama City Beach for the first family, which traveled absent their older daughter Malia, who is at summer camp. The first family is visiting the region in an effort to reverse negative publicity the region received in the wake of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
The Florida Panhandle’s tourism industry, a crucial component of the economy and dependent on summer revenues, was damaged by the perception that Florida beaches were covered with oil and the Gulf waters tainted, despite minimal oil impact in most parts of Florida.
They are scheduled to leave Bay County from Tyndall Air Force Base shortly after lunch.
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9:40 a.m.: PANAMA CITY BEACH — The first family set sail Sunday morning aboard the Bay Point Lady.
The Bay Point Marriott's vessel served as the Obamas’ water taxi, carrying them from Bay Point toward Shell Island.
Although stormy weather kept the first family indoors for a spell Sunday, by about 9:30 a.m. they were cruising under cloudy skies in the converted 50-foot Navy launch, which features a white body with white and red top and the words Bay Point Lady highlighted in green.
The Obamas watched some porpoises frolick in the Gulf of Mexico, and later 9-year-old Sasha got a chance to drive the boat — under the close, watchful eye of President Obama.
Despite a dog-friendly beach at Shell Island, Bo, the first family’s dog, was nowhere to be seen. Flanked by Florida Fish and Wildlife and U.S. Coast Guard vessels, the Obamas' boat circled St. Andrew Bay and returned to shore about 10 a.m.
The Obamas' next activity has not been announced. They are scheduled to leave Bay County from Tyndall Air Force Base shortly after lunch.
If you met the Obamas on their vacation this weekend and would like to share a photo or two, e-mail them to news@pcnh.com. Please include information such as when and where you took the photo, and who is in the photo.
