Panama City Beach’s sugar white sand is what primarily attracts families, couples and spring breakers year after year. But this vacation haven isn’t just for beach bums. Outdoor adventurers will have plenty of land to explore at Conservation Park and the undeveloped Shell Island, while animal lovers can hop aboard dolphin sightseeing cruises or learn more about the area’s various sea creatures at the Gulf World Marine Park. Those traveling with kids in tow will have plenty to do, too. When little ones aren’t busy building sandcastles on the beach, they can marvel at the oddities at Ripley’s Believe It or Not! or swoosh down water slides at Shipwreck Island Waterpark.
To start off this new series of must-dos while in Panama City Beach, take a look at what we’ve compiled below:
The Beach
With 27 miles of beaches and nearly 100 access points, PCB is a beach bum’s paradise. You won’t have a difficult time finding a stretch of sand to park your towel; in fact, you may have a harder time deciding on what shoreline to relax.
If you want to stay close to the downtown area, head to Front Beach Road. From here, you’ll find a bevy of convenient Panama City Beach access points and street parking.
St. Andrews State Park
St. Andrews State Park has enough attractions and activities to keep every member of your family happy. Along with a nearly 2-mile-long white sand beach, the park also boasts paved bike trails, marked hiking trails, water sports equipment rentals (including canoes, kayaks and snorkeling gear) and shuttle boat tours to Shell Island, a 7-mile long undeveloped barrier island. Additionally, the park provides a concession stand with snacks, souvenirs and fishing supplies.
Dolphin and Snorkel Tours
Though you can see and interact with dolphins at the Gulf World Marine Park, locals and visitors will tell you: there’s nothing like observing them in the wild. Dolphin tours are a popular to-do in Panama City Beach, and often described by travelers as their favorite experience in PCB.
Similar to the area’s fishing charters, there are a variety of dolphin tours to choose from. If you want a more intimate wildlife-viewing experience, consider Dolphin and Snorkel Tours, which limits the number of guests on its boats to six people. The company also guarantees dolphin sightings because of its location at the Bay Point Marina (the closest marina to Shell Island, which is where dolphins are usually spotted). These tours, which typically last three hours, also include snorkel gear in case you’d like to get in the water to explore more.
Shell Island
If you need a break from the crowds in Panama City Beach, consider making the short trip to Shell Island. This 7-mile-long barrier island runs east to west between the Gulf of Mexico and the St. Andrew Bay. Because it’s undeveloped, you’ll find plenty of coastal creatures and untouched vegetation, plus miles of pearly white sand to sink your toes into. While recent visitors said the natural setting was a relaxing reprieve from the busy, commercialized feel of the mainland, it isn’t without a few drawbacks. Shell Island has no restrooms, concession stands, trash receptacles, picnic tables or shade pavilions, meaning you’ll need to come with everything you need (and take it back with you when you head back across the bay).
Camping at the Conservation Park
When you’re ready to explore more of PCB’s nature, head to Conservation Park. As a safeguard for wetlands, wildlife and pine forest, the park is a natural filter, balancing treated water before it travels to the St. Andrews Bay. This nearly 3,000-acre park features 12 different trails of varying difficultly and eight boardwalks totaling more than a mile in length. Bring binoculars – you’ll likely spot plenty of birds and wildlife in the wetlands area.
Shipwreck Island Water Park
Consistently described by visitors as a great place for families, Shipwreck Island Waterpark is a 20-acre facility that features a wave pool, a lazy river, several water slides and flumes, and two shallow pools perfect for novice swimmers. True to its name, it’s also home to a replica of a 17th-century sailing ship that allows swimmers to zip line off the ship before dropping into a large lagoon pool. Along with the rides, the park also boasts concessions (though reviewers were not as impressed with the food as they were the attractions).
