Local & Off the Beaten Path Attractions
Panama City Beach is a waterfront town and vacation destination in northwest Florida. It's known for miles of white-sand beaches fronting the calm, clear waters of the Gulf of Mexico. St. Andrews State Park, one of 2 protected nature preserves nearby, is bordered by the Gulf and has hiking trails and fishing piers. Pier Park is the main shopping hub and a venue for major events. There are lots of outdoor recreaton opportunities within an hour drive of PCB!
Pier Park
Pier Park is Panama City Beach’s premier shopping and entertainment destination. Serving the Panama City Beach and 30A community, this outdoor complex boasts 124 stores, ranging from clothing for the whole family to home goods, shoes and jewelry. Pier Park also offers many exciting dining options. No matter what you’re in the mood for, Pier Park has the variety that puts the all in mall. Choose your adventures at a variety of entertainment venues from the Grand IMAX movie theater, to laser tag and live music, Pier Park is your destination for fun, food and fantastic shopping all near one of the country’s most beautiful beaches.
Shell Island & Dolphin Cruises
Among the many things to do in Panama City Beach Florida, there is one standout that should not be missed. At the far south end of the long stretch of resort hotels and condominiums lining the white sands of Panama City Beach, Shell Island which is located across from St. Andrews State Park offers a surprisingly pristine slice of Florida coastline to beach lovers and outdoor adventurers.
The Park is situated along miles of sugar-sand coastline that is consistently rated as America’s best beach. St. Andrews State Park covers 1200 acres and offers boating, camping, swimming and watersports, fishing, hiking, and bird/wildlife watching. The Shell Island Shuttle, located at 5709 N Lagoon Dr Panama City Beach Fl 32408 is the official water transport service to one of the star attractions in Panama City Beach: Shell Island.
The Shell Island Shuttle is the safest, quickest, and easiest way to reach Shell Island. The Shuttle is also your connection to snorkel gear rentals and Shell Island Snorkel Tours, kayak rental and Shuttle ticket packages, Panama City Beach dolphin tours, and more.
St Andrews State Park
With the Gulf of Mexico on one side and St. Andrews Bay on the other, visitors who crave swimming, snorkeling or surfing will be more than satisfied.
Theodore Tollofson evidently liked what he saw when he shipwrecked on what is now St. Andrews State Park during a 1929 hurricane. He homesteaded in his derelict boat for the next 25 years.
Now, state park visitors can experience what kept “Teddy the Hermit” at St. Andrews — sugar white sands, emerald green waters and a vast array of ever-changing winged creatures.
The park is a popular migratory stopover for numerous bird and butterfly species.
Besides boasting a mile-and-a-half of pristine beaches for fishing and swimming, St. Andrews also offers the chance for visitors to stroll through pines and along dunes and coastal plant communities or stay overnight in the campground.
https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/st-andrews-state-park
Blackwater River
The Blackwater River of Florida is a 56.6-mile-long river rising in southern Alabama and flowing through the Florida Panhandle to the Gulf of Mexico. The river enters Florida in Okaloosa County and flows through Santa Rosa County to Blackwater Bay, an arm of Pensacola Bay. You can do an easy day paddle and rent kayaks from the Blackwater Canoe Rental.
State Park website -https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/blackwater-river-state-park
Blackwater Canoe Rental website -https://www.blackwatercanoe.com/
Cypress Springs
Cypress Springs: Florida’s Pristine Hidden Spring - When most people think of Florida, they think of the ritzy beaches of Miami Beach, or the white sandy beaches of Panama City. Florida is home to many hidden natural wonders. One of the most remarkable is Cypress Springs. Cypress Springs is a stunning natural spring basin with several Cypress trees growing in the water that is located in Northwest Florida. The inviting blue waters of Cypress Springs have long been a favorite among locals who are seeking a less touristy destination for relaxation and recreation.
Bring your own canoe/kayak and put in at Cotton Landing on Holmes Creek or you can rent a canoe/kayak or paddle board from the local outfitter, Cypress Springs Adventures.
Shipwreck Island Waterpark
The Zoom Flume waterslide was the genesis of Shipwreck Island Waterpark when its opened in 1976. Over the next five years, The Raging Rapids and bumper boats were added. Beginning in 1983 the Zoom Flume and Rapids were merged into a unique tropical themed waterpark filled with attractions for family members of all ages. Our food and beverage quality, selection, and pricing is so good, many season pass holders just stop by for lunch, even when they aren’t coming to enjoy the park. The twenty-acre park features lush landscaping, a professionally trained aquatics staff, and is one of the most hospitable attractions in all of North Florida.
Ripley's Believe it or Not!
Discover Hundreds of fun and weird exhibits at Ripley's Panama City Beach. See eye-catching artwork, try fun interactives & more! There's something for everyone at the Believe It or Not! Are you curious for more?
Let your senses run wild as you experience every bump, drop, and turn in the Ripley’s 7D Theater. The theater offers three high-impact 3D movies.
Find the hidden treasure chest in the Mirror Maze! Embellished with LED lights and infinity mirrors which contain authentic pirate artifacts.
WonderWorks
WonderWorks is an amusement park for the mind with 35,000 square feet of “edu-tainment”. The attraction combines education and entertainment with more than 100 hands on exhibits that challenge the mind and spark the imagination.
This once top-secret laboratory was located in the Bermuda Triangle. An experiment gone awry lifted the laboratory, carrying it to Front Beach Road in Panama City Beach where it landed upside down.
Luckily, all of the exhibits remained intact and available for guests to explore.
Panama City Beach Winery
We are the home of citrus, berry & fruit wines. All of our wines are made in Florida and are award winners. Our wines have won national and international recognition at the number one fruit wine judging contest in the United States -- the Indiana State Fair.
Our wines proudly display the Florida Department of Agriculture's seal. This seal indicates that our wine is an authentic Florida product, produced in Florida from Florida agricultural products.
We are proud to be the only tropical winery in Bay County, Florida. Please don't miss our daily wine tasting (during all hours of operation) and be sure to make Panama City Beach Winery one of your "Must See" destinations in Florida.