Panama City Beach Florida is located on the panhandle of Florida, just west of Alabama. If you are going to be in the area you may want to make a trip to this beach town, you should know the best things to do in Panama City Beach because it is a great place for a vacation. The beaches are beautiful and you can find a lot of different shops and restaurants to visit.
Panama City Beach Florida is about a two-hour drive from the gulf coast. There are many things to do here, such as going to the beach, visiting museums, or playing golf. It is a destination with something to do for everyone.
The city’s central location puts it within easy reach of many of Florida’s best cities, making it easy to visit more than just the beach. Whether planning a family vacation, a romantic getaway, or a bachelor party, there is something for everyone in Panama City Beach.
Here are the top 10 things to do in Panama City Beach
1. Explore the Beaches in Panama City Beach Florida
Panama City Beach is one of the most popular beach destinations in the United States, and more than 10 million tourists visit every year. Its famous white sand and emerald waters are breathtaking, but what makes this destination truly special is the unbelievable number of activities and things to do. If you’re looking for an adventure, you can go parasailing, rent a jet ski, or take a helicopter tour.
There are bars and restaurants on the beach, and the nightlife is easily accessible via the party boats that cruise into the Gulf waters. The beach is wide and inviting, and the water is shallow enough for kids to wade out as far as they like. If you’re looking for a quiet place to relax, however, the beach may not be the ideal destination. The beaches are crowded, especially on weekends, and the party people come out in full force by afternoon.
2. Panama City Beach Shell Island Dolphin & Eco Sea-fari Boat Tour
For some of the most breathtaking views of the Gulf of Mexico, take a trip to Shell Island in Panama City Beach, Florida. Located 11 miles off the coast of Panama City, the island is home to a wide range of wildlife, including bottlenose dolphins, sea turtles, and a number of species of birds.
One of the best ways to see these animals is by taking a boat tour, which is offered by the SeaFari company. As you tour the island, you’ll learn about the unique wildlife that calls it home, the island’s history, and what the area is like today, including the condos and resorts that now line the shore.
3. Panama City Beach Shipwreck Island Waterpark
As soon as the summer is officially here and that means that it’s time to head down to Panama City Beach Florida for a vacation. If you are looking for an adventure this summer, why not try out the Shipwreck Island Waterpark, which is one of the most popular attractions in the area. Located right on the shores of the Gulf of Mexico, the Shipwreck Island Waterpark is the perfect way to cool off on a hot summer day.
This tropical-themed waterpark is perfect for those who are looking for sun, surf, and sand! The park is right on the beach and features a giant pirate ship with a wave pool, two huge waterslides, a lazy river, and even a large children’s play area. The entire area is covered in palm trees and tropical flowers, so you’ll feel like you’re on a tropical island even though you’re just a few minutes away from the city!
4. Panama City Beach Conservation Park
Innumerable travelers have visited Panama City Beach Conservation Park in the last five years, and the park has become a favorite for those who want to soak up some natural beauty. Nicknamed the “Pine Forest” for its rich greenery and abundance of pine trees (no kidding, they’re everywhere), the park has become one of the area’s most visited green spaces.
The park offers canoeing, fishing, and trails for hiking. If you are looking for a unique experience in Panama City Beach, Conservation Park is the place for you. Conservation Park also offers a nature center with exhibits and educational programs.
5. Speedboat Ride and Dolphin Watching Tour in Panama City Beach
If you’re looking for a unique and fun way to enjoy the beautiful waters of the Panama City Beach area, look no further than the Beautiful Beach Boat Tours at the Marina. Not only are the vessels state of the art, but the captains driving them are all certified by the United States Coast Guard, and have years of experience on the waters in and around Panama City Beach.
With dozens of tours to choose from, you can take in the sights of the natural beauty that you’ve come to this part of the Florida Panhandle to experience, or you can take in panoramic views of the gorgeous white sand beaches and gorgeous blue ocean. Best of all, many of the tours take you past lone dolphins and manatees.
6. Ripley’s Believe It or Not!
Ripley’s Believe It or Not! is located in Panama City Beach, Florida. It is a great place to visit, but it has a strange history, true-life tales of the weird. such as the myth of the Chupacabra (a creature that supposedly sucks the blood of goats and other farm animals) to the story of Robert the Doll (a haunted ventriloquist doll that was once owned by actor Robert Eugene Otto, who died under mysterious circumstances), each display is guaranteed to amaze and amuse.
Ripley’s Believe It or Not! is the world’s largest chain of museums and the world’s largest publisher of books. Apparently, Ripley’s Believe It or Not! is also home to the world’s largest alligator tooth and the world’s largest collection of the world’s smallest books.
7. Panama City Beach Lagoon Pontoon Boat Rentals
If you’re planning a trip to Panama City Beach, Florida, and want to enjoy the area’s many water-oriented activities, look no further than an awesome option like Lagoon Pontoon Boat Rentals. With access to the Gulf of Mexico and the Gulf County waterways, you can also enjoy a dolphin-watching tour, a nature tour, or just a peaceful cruise around the local lagoons.
Pontoon boat rentals are a great way to relax on the water with friends or family. But, before you take a trip to the coast of Panama City Beach, there are a few things you should know. First of all, you don’t actually rent the boat itself, per se. Instead, you will be renting the pontoon’s deck space – you will be the one who arranges for the boat, the rental agency will just provide you with the deck space. Secondly, the boat is not actually a boat at all, but rather a large floating platform that is normally towed by a boat or jet ski for propulsion.
8. Shop and explore at the Pier Park
Pier Park in Panama City Beach is a big drawing point for the city, and it’s no wonder why. This large park offers a variety of activities that are sure to make your vacation a memorable one. Pier Park is home to many restaurants, hotels, condos, and shops.
This, of course, makes Pier Park a great place to shop. If you are in the Pier Park area and are looking for a great place to grab a bite to eat, there are many local eateries on the Pier Park strip. There are also many sit-down restaurants inside Pier Park that are sure to please.
It has been known to be the biggest and most popular tourist destination in Panama City Beach, and it is set on a five-mile-long pier that stretches into the Gulf of Mexico. Pier Park is home to more than 80 shops and restaurants, and you can rent bikes, boats, jet skis, and other water vehicles to explore the area. In addition, you can fish or swim off the pier, or even use it to fly a kite. If you prefer to take in your surroundings from land, there are plenty of walking and biking paths, and the pier is lined with street performers and musicians.
9. Sea Dragon Pirate Cruise
If you’re looking for an exciting way to explore the Gulf of Mexico, then you’ll love what the Sea Dragon Pirate Cruise has to offer. This 90-minute tour departs three times a day from the city’s port and will set sail towards the southwest. Along the way, you’ll be able to spot various species of wildlife, such as lots of dolphins, manatees, and if you’re lucky, even some whales!
10. Gulf World Marine Park
The Gulf World Marine Park is an excellent place to visit for a day trip if you are in the Panama City area. It is located at the end of Panama City Beach, just off of Highway 79. There is a prominent “Marine Life Park” sign visible from the highway, so it is hard to miss.
The park offers a variety of activities for visitors of all ages. For example, there are multiple exhibits of marine life that are housed in large tanks with lots of windows for viewing. Some of the most common species that live here include bottlenose dolphins, manatees, sea turtles, and stingrays. There is also a tunnel that you can go through to swim with the dolphins if you pay a separate fee.
