Personally, I can remember as a child in north central Alabama, aka Birmingham, that Panama City was the summer reward for managing to get through another year of school, without having to attend summer school.  Not being the brightest candle in the chandelier, I didn't always make it, but I can say that for the years I did make grades high enough to keep me out of summer school, Panama City was the reward that permanently embedded the most  beautiful memories in my head.  Like the Panama City pier, and the fishing.  As a youngster, one is entitled to snag bait, because one doesn't own a rod heavy enough to challenge the big fish such as King Mackerel, Cobia (Ling), Amberjack, or even a good sized Bonita, and even if one did, little fellows would have a most difficult time bringing in a good size fish on a pier, with only the experience of a tourist.  But those experiences were vital, and one (that's me) made it through to the next year just on those memories...