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FLORIDA
Panama City Beach
The getaway you’ve been waiting for all year
By Emma Wright
You wouldn’t be the first person in Panama City Beach (PCB) to spend days blissfully doing nothing except taking a dip in the clear turquoise water, then grabbing fresh Gulf seafood just steps from the sand. But, on the other hand, you could plan some daily fun and not come close to exhausting the possibilities.
Gulf Sunsets and Stellar Golf
PCB has a way of feeling both refreshingly new and warmly familiar. Break out your best dance moves at the iconic Winter Resident Senior Prom. Taste some great wine, craft beer and sample cuisine at UNwineD presented by Publix.
Hit the links while soaking up the sun at one of PCB’s outstanding greens such as the newly opened Topgolf Panama City Beach. Every course in PCB has a different vibe, though most come with spectacular Gulf views.
Shells and Wrecks
If you’re a first time visitor don’t miss the two state parks that flank each end of PCB: St. Andrews State Park and Camp Helen State Park.
Expansive St. Andrews State Park has white sand beaches that stretch along the Gulf and St. Andrews Bay. The water is at its best in fall and winter so it’s a great time to try paddle boarding or snorkelling. To boot, Panama City Beach is known as the “Wreck Diving Capital of the South,” thanks to the number of intact shipwrecks. St. Andrews has multiple camp sites as well as stylish glamping tents.
Into kayaking? Paddle to Shell Island, a 11-kilometre-long long barrier island of unadulterated nature and diverse wildlife. Pack a picnic and soak up the sunshine while you unwind. (You can take a ferry there, too.)
Camp Helen State Park is home to a rare coastal dune lake. Explore the park on two wheels (you can rent a bike on site) or hike the Oak Canopy Trail, an easy 1.7-kilometre hike fringed by wildflowers. Camp Helen is a paradise for birdwatchers.
A Passport to Pleasure-Filled Shopping
If your pleasures are food and shopping, Pier Park is your stop for big name stores and independent boutiques. This open-air mall has the ocean breezes keeping you cool while you shop. When you get hungry, consider beloved restaurants such as Margaritaville and The Back Porch Seafood & Oyster House.
Don’t miss Decor by the Shore, a dedicated shopping trail that takes the work out of discovering the coolest locally owned design boutiques, and don’t forget to ask for the Decor by the Shore passport. Collect stamps at each shop and when you’re done, drop into the visitors centre for some Panama City Beach swag.
Travel Planner
For the latest travel information about Panama City Beach, visit VisitPanamaCityBeach.com
