Panama City Beach Insider (2024)

Located in the heart of the Florida Panhandle, Panama City Beach, or PCB, is a bustling vacation destination on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico. PCB is a wildly popular vacation destination, and it’s easy to see why. With warm weather nearly year-round, it’s easy to see why hundreds of people visit Panama City Beach. It’s a perfect spot to enjoy the heat of the summer sun or escape the snowy winters of more northern states.

Packed with exciting attractions, delicious food options, a vibrant nightlife scene, a fun shopping district, and tons of outdoor activities, Panama City Beach offers something for the whole family. But what really sets the city apart from other vacation destinations? The beaches. With more than 27 miles of coastline, PCB is known for its sprawling Gulf beaches, with their silky white sand and unbeatable ocean views. It’s no wonder the city’s beaches are consistently ranked among the most beautiful in the world.

Panama City Beach offers close to 100 beach access points, which means there is a perfect beach to be found for every kind of beachgoer. Beachfront parks like St. Andrews State Park and Camp Helen State Park are great for families. With plenty of open space and amazing ocean views, your family can sunbathe, hike, bike, canoe, and even camp.

For those looking to explore more remote shores, we highly recommend Shell Island. This island oasis is a seven-mile stretch of beach that can only be accessed via boat. Once you arrive, relax on the beach, or watch the waves for sightings of the many dolphins that populate the area.

From calm sunset cruises, to wild, high-speed rides, there’s a boating experience for everyone at PCB. For those looking for a calm, romantic cruise, consider taking a sunset sail on one of the various catamaran tours offered by a handful of local companies. There are also several dolphin sighting tours, fishing charters, and dining cruises worth looking into.

For kids and pirate lovers of all ages, check out the Sea Dragon Pirate Cruise. This playful adventure will have the whole family sword fighting, playing games, and even firing a cannon!

Home to four championship golf courses, Panama City Beach was recently named one of the country’s best golf towns. Seasoned golfers should visit Bay Point Golf Club, located at the Sheraton Bay Point Resort. The club offers two courses, one of which is a challenging Nicklaus Design course.

Holiday Golf Club features nineteen holes, and its open fairways are well suited to beginning golfers. It also features a par three course, which, uniquely, is fully lit, meaning it can be played at night after the sun has set on the beaches.

There’s no shortage of dining options in Panama City Beach. Start your day with a hearty and tasty meal at one of the many local breakfast joints. To class it up, head to the Sheraton Panama City Beach Golf & Spa Resort to catch a Sunday morning brunch cruise.

For upscale dining with a seafood-themed menu, visit the Grand Marlin Restaurant & Oyster Bar, located right on the water. If you’d prefer to cook your own seafood, visit one of the many local seafood markets like Anderson’s, located at Captain Anderson’s Marina.

Panama City Beach is chock full of memorable bars and nightlife venues, ranging from relaxing beachfront bars to bumping nightclubs.

Live music lovers should rest assured that there are tons of music options to choose from after sunset. For a chilled-out party vibe, check out Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville. For a taste of the tropics, grab a refreshing frozen drink at Sharky’s Beach Front Restaurant & Tiki Bar. Night owls can celebrate until the wee hours of the morning at Schooner’s Last Local Beach Club. For unbeatable sunset views, post up at Pineapple Willy’s. Grab a drink, park yourself in their pier seating, and take in the beauty of the Gulf of Mexico.

Panama City Beach boasts a huge range of lodging options, from oceanfront resorts, to single-family rentals, to RV campsites.

If you long to wake up to the sound of the ocean, you must consider a beachfront hotel. Options range from the amenity-rich Sheraton Panama City Beach Golf & Spa Resort, to the whimsical Sandpiper Beacon Beach Resort, to offerings from well-known brands like Holiday Inn, Days Inn, and Springhill Suites.

PCB is a wonderful place for families to experience together. For those traveling with children, there are tons of fun family activities to take in.

Coconut Creek Family Fun Park caters to kids with two impressive 18-hole mini-golf courses. They lean hard into the jungle safari theme, complete with waterfalls and canals between the holes. This is also where you can find the Giant Gran Maze. This maze, made up of a labyrinth of white fences, is the size of a regulation football field. Families can work together to find their way out in record time.

Panama City is a popular spot for weddings and vow renewals. Have the wedding of your dreams, whether that means an intimate beach ceremony at sunset, a casual vows ceremony aboard a chartered boat, or a lavish wedding at a luxury resort.

There are nearly a dozen wedding planning companies based in Panama City Beach that specialize in crafting the perfect wedding experience for visitors and locals alike. When it comes to choosing the food for your special day, there are many excellent local caterers and bakeries. However, many of the restaurants in town also offer catering packages, so if there’s a particular restaurant you love, it’s worth checking in with them to see if they might be able to help.