Panama City & Panama City Beach
From city to beach to historic district Panama City has much to offer you for a coastal vacation
On Saturdays, there is an open-air farmer’s market and craft show in St. Andrews on the waterfront boardwalk.
Various exhibits reveal the history of the Panama City Bay News company
One of the more interesting exhibits is this linotype machine which was used to mechanically set type for the newspaper
The Tarpon steamed with cargo and passengers from Mobile to Apalachicola. It sank off the St. Andrews coast on Aug. 30, 1937 with 31 passengers and cargo aboard
Various exhibits reveal the history of the Panama City Bay News company
The Panama City, Florida, area, including its adjacent beach community, Panama City Beach, and its historic district, St. Andrews, offers one of the more extensive vacation environments on the U.S. Gulf Coast.
Historic District of St. Andrews
Panama City's history begins at St. Andrews in the city’s southeastern area. Beautiful homes overlook the coast and its marina sits within an area of cafes, coffee shops, and parks. Its bay is a 69,000-acre estuary within the Panhandle’s coast. It is relatively deep with high salinity, offering great fishing and other recreations. It is known for its sugar-white beaches, emerald-green waters, and tree-lined shores. The town of St. Andrews was established in 1827.
The Governor Stone, a National Historic Landmark ship, sits in St. Andrews Bay. It is a floating maritime museum that has preserved the memory of how life was aboard a wooden cargo freighter. Built by Charles Greiner in 1877 at Pascagoula, Mississippi, the ship is 63 feet long with a beam of 13 feet. Its hull and deck are composed of yellow cypress and juniper, and heart pine forms the spars, boom, and gaffs. It is the last remaining class of vessels once numbering in the thousands that worked the coastline, delivering and picking up supplies, equipment, and merchandise from larger ships offshore, or hauled general merchandise to towns along the Gulf Coast. The Governor Stone operated as an oyster buy boat, visiting oyster tongers and carrying their catch to markets on shore.
The Governor Stone has been sunk twice, once by the 1906 hurricane that slammed the Gulf Coast at St. Andrews. The second time was more recent, sinking in the winds and waves brought on by Hurricane Michael, a category-five hurricane that struct the Gulf Coast, doing most damage around Panama City and Mexico Beach, Florida, in October 2018. As of June 2019, the ship was under reconstruction and not available to be boarded by visitors.
During the 19th Century, St. Andrews Bay was important as a producer of salt. Massive salt works, wood-fired caldrons that evaporated the sea water for its salt lined the shores. During the Civil War, it was the most important source of salt (used for preserving meat) for the Confederate Army. This, of course, made it a target of repeated raids by Union forces. Today, you’ll see tee-shirts and other items for sale that sport the tagline: Keep St. Andrews Salty.
An historic walking tour starts at the Panama City Publishing Company Museum and takes you past Mattie’s Tavern, the Shrimp Boat Restaurant, The Villa Gateway Park, Uncle Ernies, the Boardwalk Pelican Tree, the Tant House, the site where the S.S. Tarpon sank, the Wares Wharf and Harbour, Oaks by the Bay Park, the St. Andrews Bank, St. Andrews Church, and back to the Panama City Publishing Museum.
The Panama City Publishing Company Museum collects decades of history about the publishing company founded by George Mortimer West, considered the founder of Panama City. The museum has old printing presses and type, as well as a type-setting machine, called a Linotype machine. The Panama City Publishing Company published the St. Andrews Bouy, the Panama City Pilot, the St. Andrews Bay News and teh Lynn Haven Free Press. The Bay News was later merged to create the Panama City News Herald, the main daily in Panama City.
The Tant House is noteworthy in the history of recreational diving. In the late 1950s and early 1960s recreational diving was becoming popular among some adventurous spirits. Bill Tant, who operated one of the country’s first diving shops in Birmingham, Alabama, brought groups to dive the wreck of the S.S. Tarpon in the Gulf Coast off the St. Andrews coast. The divers found overnight accommodations at the Tant House. The Tarpon, a steamer that carried cargo and passengers from Mobile, Alabama, to St. Andrews, sank in 1939 during a trip from Mobile after it picked up a load of steel at Pensacola, Florida.
St. Andrews was annexed into Panama City in 1929.
On Saturdays, there is an open-air farmer’s market and craft show in St. Andrews on the waterfront boardwalk. In the commercial district of St. Andrews, there are a few shops, including the Native Spirit Museum and Gallery at 1101 Beck Avenue, which specializes in Native American crafts. Stop by for a cup of java or pick up a sandwich at the Amavida Coffee Shop, 2997 West 10th Street. And don’t miss the pelican statue that overlooks the marina. It is carved out of the remains of a large tree.
Describe your image
The wheel is a distinctive part of the Panama City landscape
Describe your image
Panama City Beach now has Cobra Adventure Park with extreme go carts, a Ripley’s Believe It of Not! commercial museum of weirdness, Gulf World where you can swim with dolphins, excursions to Shell Island for the day for swimming and snorkeling,
Panama City and Panama City Beach
Panama City, the site of paper mills and other industries, is the second-largest city on the Florida Panhandle (Pensacola is the largest). Panama City was incorporated in 1901. By 1930, Panama City had 10,000 residents, and some promoters hoped to attract tourists to the white-sand beaches at the unincorporated area that would become Panama City Beach. The Panhandle city couldn’t attract Floridians, who were flush with beaches and resort towns further south. But it soon became a popular vacation spot for Alabamians. Hundreds from Panama City and several Alabama cities came to Panama City Beach for sunbathing and fishing. They stayed at cottages and hotels and partied at the local casino dance hall.
After World War II, though, the area’s tourism became a boom industry. Condos were built and roadside attractions such as miniature golf, go carts, and small roller coasters sprang up to keep the tourists busy. Panama City Beach, incorporated in 1969, became the epicenter of the Redneck Riviera, its success driven by an explosion of construction and an aggressive national marketing campaign. It became the Spring Break capital.
Tourist development hit the big time in 1963, when the Miracle Strip Amusement Park opened, touting the world’s longest roller coast, a Ferris wheel and other rides. Year after year during the 1960s and 1970s, resort owners built bigger and flashier amusements parks, and today, while construction of condos and amusement parks continues, Panama City Beach is a busy hive of activity, offering rowdy activities for rowdy vacationers. In recent years, Panama City Beach has tried to dampen the rowdiness of Spring Breakers, in 2019 banning the use of alcohol on the beaches. But it hasn’t tried to stop the tourists from coming.
Panama City Beach now has Cobra Adventure Park with extreme go carts, a Ripley’s Believe It of Not! commercial museum of weirdness, Gulf World where you can swim with dolphins, excursions to Shell Island for the day for swimming and snorkeling, Hidden Lagoon Super Golf & Racetrack, Zoo World where you can pet a sloth, jet boat rides, airboats, deep sea fishing, helicopter rides, and a WonderWorks with its characteristic upside down building on the city’s main drag.
Panama City does have its place in Civil Rights history. Its Bay County Courthouse was the beginning of the 1963 landmark Supreme Court case, Gideon vs. Wainwright, which resulted in indigent defendants having the right to appointed legal representation. It changed the nation’s court system forever.
Moreover, its downtown contains the area’s art and theater district, anchored by the Martin Theatre, a 1936 art deco building; the City Marina, and the Marina Civic Center; the Visual Arts Center; and the CityArts Cooperative of local artists. There are art galleries and restaurants. Downtown North on Massalina Bayou is the cultural hub of Panama City’s African American community with its Martin Luther King Boulevard retail, dining and entertainment corridor. Also downtown is the Science & Discovery Center of Northwest Florida. Shopping and entertainment are enhanced by Pier Park, 600 Pier Park Drive, slightly north of the beach in Panama City Beach. It’s where the city’s distinctive Ferris wheel, the Sky Wheel, is located, surrounded by 124 stores as well as restaurants and other entertainment, including the Grand Imax Theater. It is a happening place when the sun goes down.
Temperature: The average high is 78 degrees F, with the hottest month being July with an average temperature of 90.1 degrees F. The lowest temperature is found in January, with an average high of 63 degrees F and an average low of 42 degrees F.
Precipitation: Average precipitation is 61 inches; the wettest month is July with average rainfall of 7.39 inches.
Population: In 2016, the city had 37,484 people
How to Get There: Air service is provided by Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport, which is served by Southwest Airlines, Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, and United Airlines. It is located in Panama City. By car, Panama City and Panama City Beach are located on Interstate 10.
The first lodging for recreational divers on the Gulf Coast
At the Man in the Sea Museum in Panama City
exhibit at Man in the Sea Museum
The first lodging for recreational divers on the Gulf Coast
Museums
Museum of Man in the Sea, 17314 Panama City Beach Parkway. (850) 238-8760. The is an intriguing museum of man’s exploration of the sea. Its exhibits include: commercial diving, U.S. Navy Sea Lab, underwater submersibles, coast systems station, U.S. Navy Deep Dive System Mark I, underwater masks and helmets, and submarines. I believe it is the only such museum in the United States. There are some fascinating artifacts and ships, as well as artifacts recovered from sunken ships. The museum was founded in 1982. The grounds of the museum are not kept up, though, and some of the vehicles need maintenance. When I was there, it was closed even though posted information indicated it should be open. So call before you go. However, even when its closed, the outdoor exhibits are well-worth seeing.
Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily except for Wednesday, when it is closed.
Admission: Adults, $7; military and seniors, $5.50; children 6 to 17, $5; children 5 and under, free.
Art Galleries/Museums and Artistic Entertainment
Panama City Center for the Arts/Visual Arts Center, 19 East Fourth Street, Panama City. (850) 640-3670. They don’t have permanent exhibits but offer various special exhibits and events. Visit the website for the latest schedule of exhibits. It is managed by the Bay Arts Alliance. They have art exhibits, writers forums, films, and concerts. They have three art galleries. No posted hours. Call for information.
Paul Brent Gallery, 413 West Fifth Street, Panama City. Paul Brent is a professional artist, and this gallery displays much of his work in watercolors and oil. He specializes in local landscapes and wildlife. The gallery also displays the work of other artists from around the state and country. Brent’s work also can be seen and purchased on www.greatbigcanvas.com.
Hours: The gallery is closed until further notice because of its receiving substantial damage from the winds and waters of Hurricane Michael in 2018.
Floriopolis, 1125 Beck Avenue, Panama City (in St. Andrews neighborhood). (850) 249- 9295. Work by local artists and craftsmen and women. Great place to purchase local art and crafts.
Hours: Tuesday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Wednesday through Friday, noon to 6 p.m.; closed Sunday and Monday.
Places to Have Fun
Gulf World Marine Park, 15412 Front Beach Road, Panama City Beach. (850) 234-5271. All about dolphins and other sea animals. They have regularly scheduled dolphin shows and exhibits, and they offer various interactive encounters and swims with dolphins. They also have programs involving California sea lions, harbor seals, African penguins, stingrays, sharks, and turtles. Opened in 1969. Affiliated with the Gulf World Marines Institute.
Hours: Daily, opens 9:30 a.m. No posted closing time, though the last educational show is at 4:30 p.m.
Admission: Adults, $29.99; seniors discount, $21.99; children 5 to 11, $19.99; children 4 and younger, free. Additional charge for encounters and swims.
Bear Creek Feline Center, 8822 Tracy Way, Panama City. (850) 722-9927. The center is for research of and education about exotic wild cats, particularly about endangered species. They have Florida panthers, North American bobcats, African servals, South American Geoffroy’s cats, jaguars, and Siberian lynx. Tours give close-up views of these amazing felines. Tours by appointment only.
Hours: Sunday and Monday, Thursday, Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; closed Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday.
Admission: Adults, $50; Children, $25. All proceeds go for care and feeding of the cats.
Oaks by the Bay Park, 2510 West 10th Street, Panama City (St. Andrews neighborhood). (850) 872-3199. A beautiful park with giant live oaks. An original stagecoach house has been reconstructed for the park. Great Christmas lights display.
Marina Civic Center, 8 Harrison Avenue, Panama City. (850) 763-4696. Associated with the Panama City Center for the Performing Arts. Various scheduled performances. Visit website for schedule of current shows.
Admission: Varies by events; often free.
Hours: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
ZooWorld Zoological Conservatory, 9008 Front Beach Road, Panama City Beach. (850) 230-1243. Get up close to wild animals: sloths, giraffes, lemurs, alligators, porcupine and exotic birds.
Admission: Adults, $19.95; children under 12, $13.95; seniors, $18.95; children under 2, free. Encounters with animals available at additional costs. See website for details.
Hours: Daily, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Dolphin Tours
Wild Dolphin and Snorkel Tours, 312 Bay Shore Drive, Panama City Beach. (850) 238-5998. Two- and three-hour tours and an evening tour available.
Hours & Prices: 12:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. for two-hour tours, $49 per person; 9 a.m. for three-hour tours, $69 per person; 6:15 p.m. for sunset tour, private tours only, $199 for boat up to 6 passengers.
Dolphin Discovery, 15412 Front Beach Road, Panama City Beach. Gulf World Marine Park. Swim with dolphins. Various experiences available. Cost is from $74 to $203 depending on length of encounter.
Panama City Dolphin Seafari, 312 Bayshore Drive, Panama City Beach. (850) 358-1013. They offer a variety of tours from two hours to eight hours in length. They take you to Shell Island to swim and snorkel in the Gulf of Mexico and then take you to a bay on the other side of Shell Island to swim and snorkel. Reservations required. Their boats hold up to six and they have three.
Hours & Prices. Tours start at 8 a.m. each day and run every two hours. Their last tour starts at 6 p.m. They offer three options: a two-hour non-private tour, $50 per person; a two-hour private tour for up to six, $300; a three-hour private with the option of an additional hour to walk Shell Island, $400 for up to six people.
Flippers Dolphin Tours, 5201 North Lagoon Drive, Suite 2, Panama City Beach. (850) 238-2484. They offer a Shell Island adventure tour, a personalized boat dolphin tour, a jet ski dolphin tour, Shell Island snorkel and sail trip, a sunset sail on a catamaran, and pontoon, kayak, paddleboard, and jet ski rentals. Dolphin tours last about two hours. Call for tour times.
Shell Island Blue Dolphin Tours, 3605 Thomas Drive, Panama City Treasure Island Marina. (850) 236-3467. The Blue Dolphin boats holds six. Snorkel gear provided. Swim with dolphins and snorkel the grass flats. There is time to explore Shell Island. Bring your own small cooler with water and drinks.
Hours & Prices: Daily starting at 8:30 a.m., 11 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. Two-hour tours cost $49 per person. Private two-hour cruises, $249 per boat; three-hour private tours, $349 per boat; four-hour private tour, $449 per boat. They have five boats. Make reservations a week in advance or take your chance of getting a spot for later reservations.
Panama City Beach Dolphin Tours, 1213 Beck Avenue, Panama City, Smith-Yacht Basin Marina. (850) 571-5455 or (850) 974-3433. Private tours can hold up to 16 passengers. Up to 6 passengers on private or non-private trips on the smaller boat. They offer dolphin encounters, snorkeling, diving, trolling, bottom fishing, and spearfishing. Snorkel to see sunken boats. Reservations required.
Hours & Prices: Open daily. $49 per person for two-hour snorkeling and swimming tours. $150 for fishing or scuba diving trips. Plan five hours for fishing and diving trips.
Saltydogs Dolphin Tours, 312 Bayshore Drive, Panama City Beach. (850) 319-9284.
Jet Ski Dolphin Tours, 5711 North Lagoon Drive, Panama City Beach. (850) 215-7046. They take you to Shell Island on jet skis to see dolphins and snorkel. It’s a two-hour trip. They also offer boat tours to Shell Island. Reservations required.
Hours & Prices: Boat and jet ski cruises are at 8 a.m., 10:15 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 3 p.m. and 5:15 p.m. You have to call them for pricing.
Shell Island Snorkeling and Dolphin Tours, 3901 Thomas Drive and 5709 North Lagoon Drive, Panama City Beach. (850) 866-8815. Trip for both snorkeling and seeing dolphins is three hours.
Hours & Prices: $68 per person or $349 for private group charter. $49 each for dolphin only tour; $249 for private boat. Sunset dolphin tour is by private charter only, $195.
Other Cruises and Sailing Trips
Sea Dragon Pirate Cruise, 5325 North Lagoon Drive, Panama City Beach. (850) 234-7400. Taking this replica pirate ship, you and your family can have various activities such as sword fighting and firing a kid’s cannon and reading a treasure map. The trip takes two hours. The ship was put to sea in 1993. It is 65 feet long. Snacks and drinks available for purchase on board. The ship operates from March through October. Make reservations several days in advance on the website.
Hours & Prices: Trips are at various times, depending on the date. They run from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Check the calendar on the website. Adults 15 and up, $27; seniors 60 and up, $23; children 14 and under, $19; children 1 or 2, $13; children under 1, free. Sunset cruises are $2 more for each ticket.
Osprey Charters at Bay Point Marina, 3824 Hatteras Lane, Panama City. (850) 814-8016. Private personalized tours either on the bay and coastal waters or around Shell Island. Can accommodate up to 12 guests.
Hours & Prices: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Vary based on planned personalized trips.
Sea Screamer, at Treasure Island Marina, 3605 Thomas Drive, Panama City. (850) 233-9107. They offer one of two large motorboats for dolphin trips, snorkel trips, and sunset cruises.
Hours & Prices: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Adults, $23; Seniors, $22; Children 3 to 11, $18; children 2 and younger, $13. For sunset cruise, add $3. Snorkel trips are $40 for adults, $30 for children, $13 for children 2 and younger.
Paradise Adventures Catamaran, Pirates Cove Marina, 3901 Thomas Drive, Panama City Beach. (850) 769-3866. They offer dolphin sightseeing, snorkeling trips on Grand Lagoon, three-and-a-half-hour adventure tours on Grand Lagoon and around Shell Island, or a sunset cruise for two hours on the Gulf of Mexico. The largest catamaran holds up to 78 passengers. Another holds 38 passengers.
Hours & Prices: Sunset sails, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. adults, $35, children $25, children 2 and younger, $15. Snorkeling and dolphin trips scheduled for 8:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. (afternoon only on Sundays). They are $40 for adults in spring and fall or $50 in summer; children 12 and younger, $25 in spring and fall and $30 in summer; children 2 and younger, $15 year-round.
Adventures at Sea, 5711 North Lagoon Drive, Panama City Beach. (850) 235-0009. They offer pontoon rentals, boat tours, wave runners, banana boat rides, jet skis, parasailing, dolphin tours, and trips to Shell Island.
Hours & Prices: Dolphin tours start at 8 a.m., 10:15 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 5:15 p.m. for two-hour tours, cost is $45. Shell island snorkel tours are two hours long and cost $45; trips are approximately two hours apart and start at 8 a.m. Waverunner jet skis rentals are $129; check website for availability.
Airboat and Gator Charters, 6523 Highway 79, Panama City Beach. (850) 230-3822. Rides are one hour through marsh, creeks, and backwaters of West Bay. Claims to be the only full-contact gator experience in Panama City. Reservations required.
Hours & Prices: Daily rides at 9 and 10:30 a.m., noon, 1:30, 3 and 4:30 p.m. Adults, $33; children 4 to 12, $22; children 2 and 3 are free. Times vary for the sunset tour but usually start at 7 p.m. Adults, $42; children 2 to 12, $25. The sunset tour takes one and a half hours.
Wild Thang Airboat Tours, 14856 Bayview Circle, Panama City Beach. (850) 234-1532. Offers half-hour rides, one-hour rides, and sunset night rides 90 minutes into the swamps around Panama City.
Hours & Prices: ½ hour, $20 adults, $15 children; 1 hour, $34 adults, $22 children; sunset rides, $42 adults, $25 children. Reservations recommended.
Boggy Bayou Airboat Tours, 4401 Collegiate Drive, Panama City. (850) 527-5123. They offer two-hour rides through the bayou and you get to drive the boat. These are private or semi-private for up to six passengers. Your guide will be a former state wildlife officer for a ecotour or a sunset ride. Reservations are required.
Ashley Gorman Shell Island Cruise, 5701 West Highway 98, Panama City. (850) 785-4878. Ashley Gorman is the name of the double-decker boat, which holds 150 passengers. The boat is air conditioned. Snacks and drinks available for purchase on board. They offer Shell Island cruises and a sunset cruise to watch dolphins. Reservations required. Check the website for a coupon worth $10 off adult tickets.
Hours & Prices: Shell Island cruises run from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1 to 4:30 p.m. They cost $34 for adults, $12 for children 12 and under; children 1 and 2 years old, free. The sunset cruise runs from 5 to 7 p.m. $34 for adults, $10 for children 12 and under; children 1 and 2 years old, free. The sunset cruise does not go to Shell Island. The prices include a hot dog, chips, and a drink on all cruises.
Snorkel Panama City, 4607 State Park Lane in St. Andrews State Park, Panama City Beach. (850) 238-2375. Offers snorkeling trips on the Gulf of Mexico and dolphin watching trips. Children must be 7 or older. No experience needed. Training provided. Trip takes two hours.
Hours & Prices: $29 per person
Island Time Sailing, 3605 Thomas Drive, Panama City. (850) 234-7377. Offers three types of cruises aboard a catamaran sailboat: Shell Island dolphin and snorkel cruise; a three-hour Shell Island snorkeling trip aboard a pontoon boat; and a dolphin sunset cruise aboard the 50-foot long catamaran.
Hours & Prices: Three-hour dolphin and snorkeling trips at 8 a.m. 10 a.m. 11:30 a.m. 2 p.m. and 3 p.m., $40 for adults, $30 for children 3 to 12, $10 for younger children. Two-hour sunset cruise begins at 6:30 p.m. daily, $30 for adults, $20 for children. The Shell Island snorkeling trip about a pontoon boat are available at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., cost is $39 per person for the three-hour trip.
Reef Runner Sailing, 3151 West 10th Street, Panama City. (850) 890-1120. Offers half-day and full-day charters with or without a captain. They have five boats including a 16-foot inland fishing boat and four sailboats from 25-feet long to 36-foot boats.
Hours & Prices: Costs vary depending on the boat, but they run about $150 for half-day without a captain to $700 for a full day with a captain. Sunset cruises with a captain run from $200 to $400, depending on the boat. Prices are for groups up to six passengers.
Diving Panama City
Diver’s Den, 3120 Thomas Drive, Panama City. (850) 234-8717. Offers a variety of dives: Two-tank inshore, 45 to 80 feet deep, $89; three-tank inshore, 45 to 80 feet, $109; two-tank offshore, 80 to 110 feet deep, $109; three-tank offshore, 80 to 110 feet deep, $119; two-tank inshore night dive, 45 to 80 feet deep, $89. All divers must be certified.
Panama City Diving, 106 Thomas Drive, Panama City Beach. (850) 204-4709. Offers “discover scuba” dive for beginners wanting to see what diving is like; dives for certified divers and TEC Diving. Their half-day dives with two tanks are: Inshore wreck dives are 45 to 75 feet deep. Deeper wreck dives to 110 feet deep, and night dives. Their full-day, three-tank dives are: wrecks and reefs more than 20 feet offshore or the Underwater Museum of Art off Walton County; or Lionfish or Spearfishing. Trips start at 8 a.m. or 1 p.m. for half-day dives.
Panama City Dive Center, 4823 Thomas Drive, Panama City. (850) 235-3390. Offers inshore dives (four hours two dives), offshore (six hours and two dives), and inshore (six hours and three dives. They also offer offshore 8-hour trips of two or three dives. Night dives are four to six hours with two or three dives. Pricing varies but runs from $94 for two-dive inshore dive to $131 for night dive with three dives. Rental of equipment costs extra.
Snorkel Panama City, 4607 State Park Lane, Panama City Beach. (850) 238-2375. They offer beginning scuba diving in St. Andrews State Park, and no experience is necessary. All tours are private. Children must be at least 10 years old. Takes one-and-a-half to two hours; $99 per person. Other diving trips are available for certified divers. Cost is $99 for certified divers, one-tank dive; $145 for a two-tank dive. Rental of all gear included in the pricing.
Other Water Sports
St. Andrews State Park, 4607 State Park Lane, Panama City Beach. (850) 708-6100. This park has about one and a half miles of sugar white sand abutting emerald green water perfect for water sports of many kinds. There are five distinct ecological landscapes within the park, including Grand Lagoon. The park is bounded by the Gulf of Mexico and St. Andrews Bay. You also can get a boat ride from here to Shell Island for snorkeling and swimming and exploring the uninhabited barrier island. The park was established on land that was once a military base. There are two boardwalks, which were damaged during Hurricane Michael in 2018 and are closed until further notice. There is a campground, but it will be closed after September 2, 2019, for upgrade construction. After it is re-opened, the campsite will have 75 campsites available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Kayaks (at park’s camp store) and snorkeling equipment (at concession stores) are available for rent at the park’s camp store.
Hours & Costs: 8 a.m. to sundown, daily. $8 per vehicle, $4 single occupant vehicle, $2 pedestrians and bicyclists. Boat launch, $12 to $16. Camping $28 per night. Boat launch fees are $12 to $16.
Camp Helen State Park, 23937 Panama City Beach Parkway, Panama City Beach. (850) 233-5059. One of the largest coastal dune lakes in Florida is in this park, which is bounded by the Gulf of Mexico on three sides. Coastal dune lakes are freshwater lakes created when water is trapped behind sand dunes on the coast. This stretch of the coast has several spread from Panama City to Fort Walton, Florida. Kayak rentals are offered on site from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The park includes an historic site that has a water tower, lodge, rainbow cottages, recreation hall, and duplexes for rent. The district is on the National Register of Historic Places. The visitors center has educational exhibits about wildlife and flora and fauna.
Hours & Costs: Open 8 a.m. until sunset every day. $4 per vehicle, $2 for pedestrians, bicyclists, and extra passengers.
Water Planet, 203 Greenwood Drive, Panama City Beach. (850) 230-6030. Boat dock at 5709 North Lagoon Drive, Panama City Beach. Offers dolphin swims and dolphin tours at Panama City Beach location on a sightseeing boat across the Bay of St. Andrews, or at their Shell Island location that you can reach by boat from its dock. They offer four-hour swims, a Shell Island cruise/swim, and one-day program and a three-day program. Interestingly, they provide dolphin therapy programs for children with special physical or emotional needs or are suffering from the loss of a loved one. See its website for specific information.
Hours & Costs: The one-day swim with the dolphin program is $103 per person; there are two options for the four-hour one-day swim: 8:45 a.m. or 1:15 p.m. Shell Island dolphin swim is at 9:30 a.m. or 2 p.m. The Shell Island sunset cruise lasts two hours and costs $52 per person and leaves from the North Lagoon dock. There is also a three-day dolphin program for $430, not including accommodation, food, or transportation to the facility. The three-day program begins at 9 a.m. each day and ends at 1 p.m. on the third day. It includes a trip to Shell Island. Snorkeling gear is provided.
Funpcb, dock location is 5325 North Lagoon Drive, Panama City Beach. (850) 235-8051. This organization offers a wide range of activities, including pontoon rentals, dolphin excursions, jet ski trips, deep sea fishing, parasailing, banana boats, tournament boat charters, Shell Island tours, sunset dolphin tours, paddle boards, snorkeling tours, and sailboat rides. See website for times and prices.
Panama City Paddle Boards, 5506 Thomas Drive, Panama City. (850) 258-7245. Rents paddleboards and kayaks, and offers an excursion that takes you paddleboarding at Shell Island.
Hours & Costs: Half-day rentals for paddleboards and kayaks are $35; full-day are $45; weekly are $165. The Shell Island excursion is $75 per person and lasts three to four hours.
The Aqua Park, 4114 Jan Cooley Drive, Panama City. (850) 628-6949. This is an inflated water park on the Grand Lagoon at Sheraton Bay Point beach. It has slides, trampolines, and a mini blob. The Grand Lagoon is the largest coastal dune lake in the world. Also offers paddle board rentals.
Paradise Watersports, 5711 Lagoon Drive, Panama City Beach. (850) 249-7245. This is a parasail company, offering parasailing from a boat or from the beach. They also offer a thrill-seeker option that is a three to four miles with 800 feet of rope and two dips into the Gulf of Mexico. Their extreme ride is four miles and 1,200 feet of rope with three dips. The standard is a one-mile ride with 600 feet of rope and one dip. The company also provides banana boat rides and will take you to Shell Island for parasailing.
Hours & Prices: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., cost is from $65 to $100 depending on how long a ride and how many dips you want. There also is a $55 early bird special if you fly at 9 a.m. or 10 a.m. If you want to fly from the beach, $79. If you want thrill-seeker option, $99 per person.
Horseback Riding
Beanblossom Stables, 7229 Pittsburgh Street, Panama City. (850) 527-6574. They offer trail and arena rides.
Hours & Prices: Hours by appointment only. $50 per ride per person.
Places to Eat
There are many places to eat in Panama City. Some of the locally owned and my favorites are below. You can also go to PCB Vacation Map or PanamaCityBeach.com for more options.
Breakfast
First Watch, 11160 Panama City Beach Parkway, Ste. 409, Panama City Beach. (850) 234-5700. This is a fabulous place for breakfast. Wonderful French toast, eggs benedict, omelets, and more. They focus on fresh and good-for-you foods. I had eggs and potatoes with hardwood-smoked bacon and avocado toast. They have a seasonal summer crab omelet, triple berry acai bowl, or cornbread carnitas bowl with two poached eggs. Service is great and the menu is creative. Open for breakfast, brunch, and lunch.
The Pancakery of PCB, 13800 Panama City Parkway, Panama City Beach. (850) 588-5077. Offers gourmet pancakes, eggs benedict, bananas foster French toast, crepes, and an assortment of egg dishes. I had, of course, blueberry pancakes. And they have avocado toast, too. Open for breakfast and lunch.
Big Bad Breakfast, 10711 East County Highway 30A, Inlet Beach. (850) 532-6952. This is chef John Currence’s place. He’s a James Beard award-winning chef. They offer custom-created meats, fresh biscuits and preserves, fresh fruits, with eggs as you like them. Their smoked meats come from the Fatback Pig Project in Eva, Alabama. They serve fresh ground coffee from Royal Cup and grits from McEwen and Sons Grits from Wilsonville, Alabama. They have locations in north Alabama and Oxford, Mississippi. They also serve burgers and sandwiches for lunch. Inlet Beach is just a couple miles west of Panama City Beach.
Andy’s Flour Power Café and Bakery, 2629 Thomas Drive, Panama City Beach. Andy’s serves waffles, biscuits and gravy, a vegetable frittata, flour power French toast, and rolled omelets. They serve sandwiches for lunch. Open for breakfast, brunch on the weekend, and lunch.
Lunch
Chewy’s Kitchen, 9952 Hutchinson Boulevard, 200, Panama City Beach. (850) 234-3248. Has great imaginative sandwiches (such as the Chewban, which is housemade slow cooked pulled pork, Virginia ham, swiss cheese, pickles, salami, and mustard on grilled and pressed Cuban bread), and salads with homemade dressings. Everything is made from scratch. They’re open for lunch and dinner – and for brunch on Saturday and Sunday starting at 9 a.m.
Runaway Island, 14521 Front Beach Road, Panama City Beach. (850) 634-4884. They overlook the beautiful beach and a long boardwalk takes you to the white sand if you want to take a stroll or a swim after lunch. Chef Chris Hein offers some amazing dishes for lunch or dinner. Baha rolls, coconut shrimp, or New Orleans BBQ shrimp for appetizers. Lobster bisque for soup, or try Boudreaux’s Chowder that has shrimp, grouper, crawfish, andouille sausage and red potatoes. Yum. The main courses include a bevy of tacos: blackened mahi, shrimp, baja, Runaway (blackened fish with remoulade), Asian, or north by northwest (honey smoked salmon). Great entrees include creole redfish and the Islamorada platter with catch of the day, bay scallops and shrimp. Desserts include the Dream Pie (pecans, caramel and a hint of coconut).
Hook’d Pier Bar and Grille, 16201 Front Beach Road, Panama City Beach. (850) 233-8232. Great on-the-beach restaurant with fish tacos or burgers, homemade gumbo or wraps, fish sandwiches or fried baskets. Wanna lobster taco? Can’t find that at most other restaurants in Panama City Beach. Their entrees include zesty shrimp and grits, blackened bourbon glazed tuna steak and grouper piccata with shrimp. They also have a white chocolate key lime pie to finish off your lunch. They’re pet friendly but they don’t take reservations.
Dinner
Captain Anderson’s Restaurant and Waterfront Market, 5551 North Lagoon Drive, Panama City Beach. (850) 234-2225. While this appears to be just another tourist trap restaurant, it isn’t. There’s never much of a wait because the dining room is huge. And the food and service is excellent. Owned by Johnny and Jimmy Patronis since 1953, Captain Anderson’s is well established. Appetizers include grilled bay shrimp, seared jumbo sea scallops, fresh crab fingers, and – if you’re in the mood for it – caviar (at $150 for an ounce). Salads include Johnny’s Special Greek Salad and soups are New Orleans Seafood Gumbo and She Crab Soup (which, by the way, is superb). The main courses offered are everything specially prepared fish and seafood. And the fish is fresh from Greg Abrams at Tarpon Dock Seafood. There’s shrimp, crab cakes, whole flounder, tenderloin of grouper, Apalachicola oysters (the best on the coast, bar none), scallops, salmon, Florida lobster and lobster thermidor. They open Monday through Saturday at 4 p.m., and they are closed on Sunday. The restaurant overlooks the Big Lagoon.
Sisters of the Sea and the Dive Bar, 3901 Thomas Drive, Panama City Beach. (850) 233-0334. One of the draws here isn’t the food, it’s the mermaids. Yep. Mermaids swim in the pool and you can swim with them. Their specialties include snow crab legs; lightly breaded fish, sea scallops and shrimp; chicken divine, steaks, creole cream sauce with blackened shrimp, chicken and Conecuh sausage over fettuccine; a signature dish of steamed shrimp, scallops, crab claws and mussels in a white wine garlic broth with a splash of cream and spice; black and blue fettuccine (blackened beef tenderloin, crumbled blue cheese, and garlic cream sauce; and panhandle shrimp and grits in creamy creole sauce. Lunch and dinner only.
Dee’s Hang Out, 529 North Richard Jackson Boulevard, Panama City Beach. (850) 249-4264. Specializes in coastal Southern and Cajun food. Jambalaya, po-boys, mahi mahi tacos, seared ahi tuna tacos, Argentine steak tacos, and fish sandwiches. Open for lunch and dinner.
Runaway Island, 14521 Front Beach Road, Panama City Beach. (850) 634-4884. A beachfront restaurant specializing in seafood and Italian dishes. Coconut shrimp, New Orleans BBQ shrimp, Boudreaux’s Chowder, an amazing Runaway Salad with crumbled goat cheese and sliced almonds, blackened chicken and andouille fettuccine, Key West chicken on a brioche bun, and tacos – fish or baja fish or Asian or north-by-northwest with cold honey smoked salmon. Entrees are mostly fish and seafood but they have a chicken dish and a hand cut NY strip steak. For dessert, try the Dream Pie. Great location, great interior and deck, great food.
Places to Stay
Panama City Beach is your quintessential beach town. One of the first in the Florida Panhandle to go all out to attract tourists, so there are many, many high-rise and semi-high-rise condos. You can find resorts at PanamaCityBeach.com and visitpanamacitybeach.com has a great site for searching out one of the more than 16,000 options. There are only two bed-and-breakfasts in Panama City Beach.
One is The Panama City Beach Bed and Breakfast, which has three bedrooms in a retro chrome camp trailer if you want a unique experience on the beach. It’s at 127 Toledo Place and the number is 1-866-599-6674. The other is the Cape San Blas Inn, which is in Port St. Joe, which is 50 miles east of Panama City, but it’s on a beautiful peninsula that juts into the Gulf of Mexico within the St. Joseph Peninsula State Park. You’ll have a private dock and a hot tub. There are seven rooms.
I should warn you, be careful about taking the least expensive place, which can be less than nice. But it is easy to find condo or an inn & suites for a reasonable rate.