Panama City Beach is a gem along the Florida Riviera coast, also known as the Emerald Coast. If you’re craving a dose of sunshine, fun, nature, and relaxation, a trip to the Pines at West Bay is just what the doctor ordered!
We welcome you to our luxurious retreat, which features a 4,000-square-foot pool, pickleball court, fitness center, and ample comfortable lawn chairs for soaking up the sun.
But while you’re here, you’ll want to fill your itinerary with everything PCB offers, from family-friendly fun to the ultimate PCB adventures for couples. As local experts, we’re excited to share what we love most about our beloved city.
1. Enjoy a Fresh Catch at a Panama City Beach Seafood Joint
Photo Credit: BGStock72
The Gulf of Mexico is brimming with diverse fish species, like grouper, mahi mahi, red snapper, and so much more. The best part? You can pick and choose your favorites for dinner at any one of PCB’s endless seaside seafood restaurants. Here are some of our favorites:
Local Steamer Seafood Market
If you like your snow grab gigantic, the Local Steamer Seafood Market is the place to go. There, you’ll also find other fresh seafood options, such as raw oysters and seared tuna, steamed plates of lobster, and more!
Runaway Island
If the seafood market is too busy, you have Runaway Island next door. Feeling ravenous? Try to go on a day when they have All-You-Can-Eat fish fries to gorge on your favorite seafood classics (they’re known for their tacos). Baja fish, shrimp, and blackened whitefish all make for great taco meat (but they have chicken, too).
Schooners
The Schooners “last local beach club” has ample opportunities for fun, with live music and seasonal events, plus gorgeous views of the Gulf. Seafood options range from tuna medallions and crab cakes to blackened grouper and mahi mahi. A nice bonus — Schooners is right next to St. Andrews State Park, where you can go biking, fishing, kayaking, or even catch glimpses of sea turtles!
2. Marvel at Florida’s Alligators
We know; they sound scary. But alligators are majestic, ancient creatures that usually respect us if we respect them back. That’s why we admire them from a respectable distance with support from a few PCB tour operators. Some companies that help you catch sight of gators include:
Wild Thang Airboat Tours
Located along West Bay Creek, Wild Thang Airboat Tours run airboat tours during the daytime and nighttime. The evening is when many alligators come out to play, though you might only see their golden or red eyes peeping from the water.
St. Andrew State Park
Photo Credit: Terry Kelly
We mentioned the sea turtles but might have forgotten the gators. This state park has its very own Gator Lake, brimming with alligators that will bask in the sun on a hot day or glide across the water, minding their business.
ZooWorld Zoological Park
If you’re already looking for alligators, why not add giraffes, capybaras, sloths, and lemurs to the mix as well? You’ll get all those animal sights and more if you plan a trip to ZooWorld!
3. Go Sightseeing at Camp Helen State Park
Ever wondered what a lake sand dune looked like? You can find out with a visit to this state park. Plus, you can traverse 160 acres of forests, trails, and white sand beaches while you’re at it.
Camp Helen State Park offers endless activities to the outdoor enthusiast, from biking and hiking to paddle boarding and shelling. People even have weddings here, and it makes sense with the park’s gorgeous scenery.
4. Shred Up Some Waves with Water Sports
If you’re going to soak up the sun all day, you might as well enjoy a refreshing splash here and there as well!
Here’s what you can do on the water in Panama City Beach:
Rent jet skis
Something about the golden sunshine and wind blowing through your hair makes jet skills so appealing. You can rent one easily at Pontoon Lagoons for 2-8 hours at a time. These guys are right on St. Andrew’s Bay and close to Shell Island, meaning you can jet ski to sights of bottlenoose dolphins, so cute!
Go snorkeling or boating
Photo Credit: Denis Moskvinov
That same company, Pontoon Lagoons, offers dolphin boat rides where you can get into the water and actually snorkel with the dolphins! You can also take larger pontoon boats with a group or privately if you prefer a more laid-back day on the water.
Try paddleboarding
There’s no better spot than St. Andrew’s State Park. Paddleboarding along the lake sand dune or inner creeks is a nature-filled experience that you’ll always remember. Just remember to keep your eyes on your destination so that you don’t lose balance.
Go surfing
The City Pier is a great spot for you to find your groove on your surfboard. It extends 1,500 feet into the water, allowing ample time to experiment from different distances.
5. Get Some Retail Therapy at Pier Park
Pier Park is a shopping complex with over 120 stores, including Aerie, Sunglass Hut, American Eagle, and more. It’s also a great place to catch a movie or attend a seasonal event, such as boat shows or Mardi Gras.
And when you’ve shopped your heart out? You don’t need to go back to the coast for food. The complex has tons of amazing food options, including Back Porch Seafood and Oyster House, which serves a lovely grilled amberjack!
6. Chill Out on PCB’s Sandy Beaches
Photo Credit: Rodney Barnes
After all, you booked a beach vacation, right? Luckily, PCB has no shortage of beautiful beaches where you can get a tan, picnic with friends, sip on margaritas, or build sand castles with the kiddos. Just plug any of these beach names into Google Maps, and you’ll be on your way to a day of relaxation in no time!
- Crooked Island Beach: Great for finding unique seashells!
- St. Andrews State Park: The ultimate spot for sunsets and picnics.
- Public Beach Access 16: in Lower Grand Lagoon, this spot has free parking, but it does get crowded.
- M.B. Miller County Pier: An elevated boardwalk that extends 1,500 feet into the Gulf!
7. Take the Whole Family to WonderWorks
Need to escape the heat? You can spend hours at the indoor, scientific wonderland of WonderWorks. This facility features endless opportunities for the kiddos to learn and enjoy some family fun, including:
- Wonder Art Gallery
- Space Discovery Zone
- Extreme Weather Zone
- Light and Sound Zone
- Laser Tag Arena
- Indoor Ropes Course
If you’re visiting family or friends in the area, keep in mind that WonderWorks also hosts birthday parties, complete with pizza and sodas to accompany busy days at the edutainment center! It’s a great educational substitute for the Shipwreck Island Waterpark, which, while engaging with its many water slides, has since closed.
8. Go on a Skywheel Ride
Photo Credit: Kenyatta Russell
You can’t talk about Panama City Beach attractions without mentioning the infamous SkyWheel! We recommend the VIP gondolas, which get you a seat right up front (skip the line, too!) You’ll also get a longer “flight time,” more photos, and permission to bring a drink aboard.
But the Ferris wheel isn’t the only SkyWheel attraction. The SkyWheel Mini Golf Course is a family-friendly course with colored holes, boulders, and bridges to add to the fun! You can also try the SkyWheel Ropes Course for an added challenge and adrenaline rush!
And when hunger strikes, just head on over to the Snack Shack. We recommend the funnel cakes and corn dogs; they’re absolutely delicious!
9. Take a Boat Tour
If you’re after an interactive experience with marine life, a boat tour is the way to go. Adventures at Sea covers most of your favorite boat types, from large pontoons and fishing charters to smaller jet skis and wave runners. You can enjoy snorkeling in the bay or dolphin cruises to see packs of them in action!
The company also offers fishing charters where you can either captain your own boat (with a license) or hire a captain to take you out onto the water. They cover fishing rods, bait, and everything else you need to catch a big one included in the price.
But the real show-stopping boat tour has to be St. Andrew’s State Park’s Sunset Dolphin Cruise. This two-hour excursion takes you through prime dolphin hotspots within St. Andrew’s Bay, and the sight of them frolicking atop the water as the sun sets is just something out of a movie.
10. Have a Night on the Town
Photo Credit: Master1305
Panama City Beach sizzles in the sun, but when the stars come out, the energy ignites. Here are our top picks for where to grab a cold drink and catch some electrifying live music.
- Salty Goat Saloon: This dive bar has serious biker vibes, along with tons of cold beer on tap and delicious pub food (we love the wings).
- Alibi Beach Lounge and Grill: This spot has it all, from delicious burgers and domestic and imported beers to delectable cocktails and live music all week. If you want to party like a local, this is the place to start!
- The Craft Bar: Don’t sleep on the burger with aged gouda — it’s absolutely mouthwatering! But this gastropub also serves up thoughtfully curated cocktails and a wide variety of craft beers, too!
Experience Panama City Beach at The Pines at West Bay!
Panama City Beach has attractions similar to Fort Lauderdale and Miami, but only a fraction of the crowds. Our take? It’s the best spot for any vacation, whether you travel alone or with family.
We’d be honored to welcome you to our retreat at The Pines at West Bay. Book your next getaway to Panama City Beach with us!