The Florida Panhandle is well-known for its quaint beach towns as well as its interesting attractions, many of which are money-saving & family-friendly. Make your trip more relaxed by enjoying the facilities of Florida panhandle vacation rentals and relaxing on glorious beaches, shop to your heart’s content, and dance the night away. For kids, Santa Rosa Island is a great place to visit and it offers a wide array of both beach-based as well as water-based activities. For sure families and groups of friends will enjoy a day away to tour the 150-year-old Pensacola Lighthouse. The Florida Panhandle offers exciting nightlife. Panama City, Destin, and Pensacola all have plenty of bars and nightclubs to suit all tastes. Panama City is home to Club La Vela, the largest nightclub in the United State. The Florida Panhandle is a shopaholic’s dream. It offers antique stores, specialty stores, and shopping malls. For those renting a home, Florida panhandle vacation rentals, or condos, you must visit Rent By Host. A trip to Joe Patti’s seafood market in Pensacola is a must, especially if you love seafood. The market specializes in fine wine & cheese, and beautifully presented handmade chocolates to take home to friends and relatives as gifts.
Located in the heart of the Florida Panhandle, PCB, or Panama City Beach is a bustling vacation destination on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico. Panama City Beach is a wildly popular vacation destination, and it’s easy to see why. With warm weather, it’s a perfect spot to enjoy the heat of the summer sun or escape the snowy winters of more northern states.
Packed with exciting attractions, a vibrant nightlife scene, delicious food options, a fun shopping district, & tons of outdoor activities, Panama City Beach offers something for the whole family. But what sets the PCB apart from other vacation destinations? The beaches. With more than twenty-seven miles of coastline, Panama City Beach is known for its sprawling Gulf beaches, with their silky white sand and unbeatable ocean views. There is no wonder that the beaches of cities are consistently ranked among the most beautiful in the world.
Whether you’re traveling alone, with the whole family, with friends, here are multiple reasons why Panama City Beach should be your next vacation destination:
Breathtaking Beaches
PCB offers Florida panhandle vacation rentals as it is close to a hundred beach access points, which means there is a perfect beach to be found for every kind of beachgoer. Beachfront parks like Camp Helen State Park and St. Andrews State Park are great for families. With plenty of open space & amazing ocean views, your family can bike, canoe, sunbathe, hike, & even camp.
For those travelers who are looking to explore more remote shores, we highly recommend Shell Island. This island oasis is a 7-mile stretch of beach that can just be accessed via boat. When you arrive, relax on the beach, or watch the waves for sightings of the multiple dolphins that populate the area.
In PCB, even your family pet can get in on the action. Located near the Russell-Fields Pier sits a dog-friendly beach. Put a leash on your furry best friend forever, & head out to enjoy the sand & surf together.
Exhilarating Boat Rides
From calm sunset cruises to wild, high-speed rides, there’s a boating experience for everyone at Panama City Beach. For those looking for a calm, and romantic cruise, consider taking a sunset sail on one of the various catamaran tours offered by a handful of local industries. There are also multiple dolphin sighting tours, fishing charters, & dining cruises worth looking into.
For kids as well as pirate lovers of all ages, check out the Sea Dragon Pirate Cruise. This playful and enjoyable adventure will have the whole family sword fighting, playing games, and even firing a cannon!
Looking for something a little more invigorating? Don’t forget to have a ride on the Scream Machine Thrill, which is basically an oceanic roller coaster masquerading as a boat. This neon green vessel is expertly piloted by a captain who will have you screaming through power slides, high-speed turns, nose dives, & even a 360-degree spin. Yes, the boat does donuts. Believe us when we say this is not for the faint of heart.
Beautiful Golf Courses
Home to 4 championship golf courses, PCB was recently named one of the country’s best golf towns. Seasoned golfers must-visit Bay Point Golf Club, located at the Sheraton Bay Point Resort. The club offers 2 courses, one of which is a challenging Nicklaus Design course.
The Holiday Golf Club features 19 holes, and its open fairways are well suited to beginning golfers. It also features a par 3 course, which, uniquely, is fully lit, meaning it can be played at night after the sun has set on the beaches.
Finally, for those travelers who are seeking a traditional golfing experience, we recommend the city’s oldest golf course, Signal Hill Golf Course. Operating since 1962, its eighteen holes stretch out over more than 5,000 yards.
Thriving Arts Community
The arts may not be the first thing PCB brings to mind, but the city does have a vibrant arts community. We certainly recommend visiting a gallery, taking in a show, or enjoying a concert if time permits.
Visual art lovers can visit the Panama City Center for the Arts, an impressive complex featuring free exhibits, special events, and a variety of classes. Audiophiles can select from a robust calendar of live music events put on by the Panama City Symphony Orchestra or catch a show at the Todd Herendeen Theatre. At the Kaleidoscope Theatre, you can see a live performance, for more details you can connect to the team of Florida panhandle vacation rentals.
For a more casual experience, to explore the Grand Lagoon Waterfront Farmer’s Market, take a Saturday or Sunday morning. This popular, as well as expensive market, showcases handcrafted pieces, produce, & baked goods created and grown by local artisans.
Delicious Food
There’s no shortage of dining options in PCB. Welcome your day with a hearty as well as a tasty meal at one of the many local breakfast joints. To class it up, head to the Sheraton PCB Golf and Spa Resort to catch a Sunday morning brunch cruise.
For luxurious dining with a seafood-themed menu, visit the Grand Marlin Restaurant & Oyster Bar, located right on the water. If you would prefer to cook your own seafood, visit one of the many local seafood markets such as Anderson’s, located at Captain Anderson’s Marina.
No meal is complete without dessert. Try a few delectable donuts at Thomas Donuts, a local favorite. For the area’s best fudge, visit Kilwin’s, located in Pier Park. Or, if you are an ice cream lover then try the Thai ice cream rolls at Pokee & Ice Rolls.
Vibrant Nightlife
PCB is chock-full of memorable bars and nightlife venues, ranging from relaxing beachfront bars to bumping nightclubs.
And if you are a live music lover, then you should rest assured that there are tons of music options to choose from after sunset. Check out Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville, for a chilled-out party vibe. For a taste of the tropics, grab a refreshing frozen drink at Sharky’s Beachfront Restaurant & Tiki Bar. At Schooner’s Last Local Beach Club, night owls can celebrate until the wee hours of the morning. Post up at Pineapple Willy’s, especially for unbeatable sunset views. Have a drink, park yourself in their pier seating, & take in the beauty of the Gulf of Mexico.
Inspired Shopping
No trip to Panama City Beach is complete without Florida panhandle vacation rentals and a trip to Pier Park. With its huge, arching sign, ocean views, and colorful storefronts, at first glance, this area looks more like an amusement park than the shopping mecca it is.
With more than a hundred stores, Pier Park has almost everything from national department stores to local boutiques. Flagship stores such as Target, Dillard’s, and JCPenney anchor the outdoor mall. Other well-known favorites such as Old Navy and Forever 21 are also located here.
Whether you’re looking for classy home décor items, casual flip-flops, or an eye-catching outfit, there’s a shop at Pier Park to meet your needs.