Panama City Beach Vacation Guide

• • Firefly: fine dining and a romantic atmosphere.
• • Margaritaville: fun, casual atmosphere with gorgeous beach views.
• • Grand Marlin: daily menu specials from the award-winning chef - on the beach!
• • Pineapple Willy's: waterfront dining on the pier offering world-famous BBQ Ribs.
• • Capt. Anderson’s Restaurant & Waterfront Market: fresh, local seafood you can watch coming into the docks daily.

• • Ms Newby’s Liquors: laid back local favorite offering darts, pool tables, DJs, bands and karaoke. Order the hunch punch!
• • Neons Beach Shack: beachy vibe with a full menu and entertainment ranging from cover bands to line dancing.
• • The Liq: An energetic nightclub and sports bar with DJs, dancing, and lively vibes into the night.

• • St. Andrews State Park: Picnic, fish, hike and check out the wildlife.
• • Camp Helen State Park: Tranquil spots with one of the most beautiful and untouched beaches in the area.
• • Most beach accesses offer beach chair rentals, jet ski rentals, banana boat rides and more!

• • Man in the Sea Museum: Military diving museum recognized as the oldest diving museum in the world.
• • The Science and Discovery Center of Northwest Florida: Children's museum with interactive science and natural history displays.
• • The Panama City Publishing Company Museum: The business location of Panama City's Founding Father, George Mortimer West, and houses a collection of early 20th Century letter presses and type used in printing local daily newspapers from 1906-1937. Admission is free!
• • Dolly Parton's Pirate Voyage: An action-packed pirate-themed dinner show that's fun for all ages!
• • WonderWorks: The "upside down house" is an amusement park for the mind and body with activities for everyone.
• • Shipwreck Island: A seasonal attraction with slides both big and small, a lazy river, wave pool and delicious food.
• • SkyWheel: See the coast from a high-flying observation wheel!

• • Gulf Coast Jam: Annual country music festival on the coast, frequently in early summer.
• • Thunder Beach Motorcycle Rally: enjoy food, drinks, shopping vendors, bike shows and live entertainment, this event occurs twice each year, typically in late April/early May and again in October.
• • Emerald Coast Cruizin: twice a year, PCB becomes a giant show of thousands of hot rods and classic cars! Enthusiasts won't want to miss the event every March and November.

• • The airports in the area are generally solid, but travel into or out of Northwest Florida Beaches (code "ECP") Airport if you can since it's closer.
• • Bayway Public Transit is easy to navigate and lets you pay with cash when you board a bus, or using a pass purchased in the dedicated Transit app.
• • If you're driving to PCB, avoid traveling near Atlanta - recently named the worst U.S. city for driving.

4-Night Stay

• Day 1: Arrive, beach day, sunset dinner at Pineapple Willy’s, drinks at Neons Beach Shack.
• Day 2: Explore St. Andrews State Park, lunch at Capt. Anderson’s, night ride on the SkyWheel.
• Day 3: Family fun at Shipwreck Island and WonderWorks, dinner at Firefly.
• Day 4: Morning visit to the Man in the Sea Museum, beach picnic at Camp Helen, drinks at Ms. Newby’s.

5-Night Stay

• Add Day 5: Attend Dolly Parton’s Pirate Voyage then visit The Science and Discovery Center. Nightcap at The Liq.

6-Night Stay

• Add Day 6: Time your trip around Gulf Coast Jam or Thunder Beach Rally, wrap it up with oysters and a sunset at The Grand Marlin.

Whether you're diving into local history, dancing the night away, or simply relaxing on the beach with a frozen drink in hand, Panama City Beach offers a perfect blend of sunshine and coastal adventure.

Read more travel tips from our blog for even more in-depth recommendations.