Panama City Beach is both a small city and the beach surrounding it. Besides the exceptional opportunities for activities on the sand and water, the community has plenty of amusement parks, green spaces, shopping and dining to fill a long vacation. Bring the family to enjoy one of the best locations on the Florida Panhandle.
The beach stretches for 27 miles (43 kilometers). Pick a spot almost anywhere to spread out a blanket for sunbathing. Look for shells at low tide, build sandcastles, play Frisbee or splash in the blue-green waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Fish or watch a sunset from the Russell-Fields City Pier or M.B. Miller County Pier, each stretching 1,500 feet (460 meters) over the ocean.
Enjoy more outdoor activities at area parks. Camp Helen State Park in the northwest near Laguna Beach is a great spot to watch for wildlife. Kayak or paddleboard on Lake Powell, a coastal dune lake with interesting fishing opportunities. Ride bikes past pine trees and wetlands on miles of trails in Conservation Park and use the sports fields and aquatic center of Frank Brown Park. Explore the waters of Saint Andrew Bay at St. Andrews State Park in the southeast.
Find shopping, dining and family fun all along the coast. Pier Park is a large venue with over 100 stores, a range of restaurants and the SkyWheel entertainment zone. Visit Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, WonderWorks, Coconut Creek Family Fun Park and ZooWorld to complement days at the beach. Other mini-golf, go-kart and amusement park attractions are popular with kids.
The community is about 10 miles (16 kilometers) west of the larger town of Panama City. Fly into Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport and drive about 20 miles to get to the attractions of Panama City Beach.