10 Best Things to Do in Panama City Beach, Florida

The beautiful St. Andrews State Park is about 2.5 miles (4 km) east of Panama City Beach. It has miles of hiking trails, scenic picnic spots and a white-sand beach, making it a favoured option among those who want to enjoy the great outdoors.

Water sports equipment rentals such as canoes, kayaks and snorkelling gear are available, as well as a shuttle boat to Shell Island, a 7-mile-long (11-km-long) undeveloped barrier island. This pristine state park is also home to a variety of wildlife, including alligators, herons and white tail deer. 

An outing to at least one of the beaches of Panama City Beach is a must during your trip. Over 27 miles (43 km) of white sand and warm gulf waters make up the shores of Panama City Beach, most of which are lined with restaurants, night entertainment and shops.

Rick Seltzer Beach is a local favourite given the public boardwalk and ample parking. This beach is also great for collecting colourful shells. For those looking for a livelier outing, the M.B. Miller Pier is the place to be.

What better way to see Panama City Beach’s coast than aboard a catamaran cruise? Watch the sun rise against a backdrop of Caribbean music or enjoy a classic Florida sunset while sipping on a margarita.

Paradise Adventures Catamarans & Watersports is a local favourite offering morning and afternoon adventures lasting up to 3 hours. Guests can slide down the inflatable slide off the back of the boat, play on the inflatable water trampolines and try their hand at stand-up paddle boarding or kayaking.

Shipwreck Island Waterpark is a 20-acre (8-hectare) outdoor park where families can enjoy hours of fun in Panama City Beach. This tropical themed destination has several wave pools, winding lazy rivers, huge drop-slides and inner-tube racing competitions.

The Tadpole Hole is suitable for the little ones, as they can splash around in a children’s activity pool and explore an old submarine known as The Silly Sub. This thrilling aquatic park also has a friendly and professionally trained aquatics staff on hand. There are also plenty of food and drink options to keep the fun going all day.

Enjoy some of the world’s most beautiful beaches from above by joining a Panama City Beach helicopter tour. Panhandle Helicopter is a family owned business offering a variety of trips for groups of up to 3 people. If you’ve never flown by helicopter, try the 5-minute 'Intro Ride' tour, which takes you from the Panama City Pier to County Pier with views of the emerald coast.

The 'Miracle Strip' is Panhandle Helicopter’s most popular tour, giving you a bird's eye view of the dolphins, stingrays and sea turtles swimming in the Gulf of Mexico. Reservations are not necessarily needed except for the sunset tour, which usually fills up several days in advance.

Conservation Park is a public park with scenic hiking trails with a total length of 24 miles (38 km) in Panama City Beach’s Conservation Drive. It’s also an attempt by Panama City Beach to reclaim the wetlands and cypress woods that have been threatened by invasive species.

The park has 12 hiking trails, with lengths ranging from 0.6 miles (1 km) to 11 miles (18 km). The Trail Head building is where you can find parking and public toilets, as well as picnic tables and a covered pavilion, which you can hire for a small fee.

Dolphin and whale watching tours are popular among locals and visitors alike. The marine animals are plentiful in the panhandle beaches, and seeing them in the wild is an experience unlike any other.

For a more personal outing, opt for Dolphin & Snorkeling Tours, a boat tour company that limits the number of guests on their boats to 6 people and enjoys a prime location at the marina. An affordable option is Sea Screamer, which offers 2-hour dolphin-watching tours with a sunset option.

Pier Park is one of the largest shopping and entertainment venues in Panama City Beach. Welcoming over 1 million visitors each year, this mega outdoor shopping centre consists of 40 restaurants and over 80 stores, ranging from speciality boutiques to renowned retail chains.

Pier Park is also home to The Grand Pier Park, a state-of-the-art cinema showcasing the latest films. Pier Park is a popular spot for both locals and tourists throughout the year. For the best experience, visit early in the morning or after sunset to enjoy a more relaxed atmosphere.

Panama City Beach Winery is a family-owned winery selling all-natural fruit wines. This unique establishment lets you sample wines that are made from local produce; they’re strictly made from fruits, citrus and berries, and have won many national and international awards over the years.

You can drop in for a tasting session throughout the day, and include samples of some of their most popular drinks: Chocolate Raspberry Port, Orange Coffee and Strawberry Cream Sherry. The winery is located in St. Thomas Square, about 1 mile (1.6 km) southeast of the central Panama City Beach.

History Class Brewing Company is a unique brewpub offering handcrafted beers and Southern-style snacks. This cosy spot allows you to sample nearly 20 different beers on tap, many of which are brewed with locally sourced ingredients. Their small but delightful menu features crowd-pleasers such as a giant pretzel served with beer cheese, fresh pork rinds and the highly praised banana pudding.

Located just a few blocks from the marina, History Class Brewing Company is within easy walking distance of most downtown attractions. Don't miss their popular trivia night every Thursday; it’s a fantastic opportunity to learn more about local history while enjoying some excellent beer.