Selfie on the beach during sunset.
Planning a trip to the Panama City Beach? Maybe you’ve never been and you’re trying to get a feel for whether or not it’s worth the trip!
Do you enjoy delicious food? How about collecting seashells scattered amongst soft, white sand? How about stunning sunsets or tasty cocktails at a restaurant on the water? And our primary travel consideration…what does the outdoor recreation scene look like? We hope that by sharing our authentic experiences in Panama City Beach, you will be more informed and can make the most out of your time here.
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Look at all those hotels on the beach!
For most travelers, one of your first big decisions is figuring out where to stay. You may be considering variables such as price, location, style, comfort, breakfast, vibes, and views. What’s important to you? We have three different suggestions based on our experience.
Where To Stay:
SpringHill Suites: It’s like a tropical retreat with their pool, hot tub, and beach access. SpringHill Suites freshly opened in June 2019. Overlooking the Gulf of Mexico, their oceanfront property is steps from the Emerald Coast's famous beaches. We got lucky enough to have a balcony suite overlooking the water. We flew the drone from the balcony which was pretty neat.
This was the view of the hotel from the beach.
The beautiful view of the pool, jacuzzi, and the beach from our balcony.
Fairfield Inn: We both had to work in this hotel room and they had a desk and chair which helped. We worked out in their fitness center and was going to go into the heated pool.
This hotel had such a tasty breakfast with so many options. Only a few rooms look out onto the water but there are no balconies.
The boardwalk to the beach right near the hotel.
Where To Go:
Panama City Beach: Features 27 miles of white sand beaches along the turquoise waters of the Gulf of Mexico, is home to two state parks - St. Andrews State Park and Camp Helen State Park - dozens of public beach access points, waterfront restaurants that serve up fresh, local seafood, and many attractions.
Walked down from the hotel straight to the beach to watch the sunset.
St. Andrews State Park: This park charges $8 for a day pass. It had a neat landscape of sand dunes. Look for seashells, alligators, birds, and deer. 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.
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.
While we were watching this sunset, a man on a paramotor came flying by!
Sunsets: You can't really go wrong with any sunset while your on the Gulf Coast.
PCB is gorgeous in all seasons and at all times of the day, but the area’s natural beauty is especially awe-inspiring in the evening when the vibrant colors of the daily sunset take over.
This was the 1st time Jeremy was able to walk on the beach without his crutches.
Shell Island: Take a boat ride to Shell Island. Unfortunately, they were closed and don't open until march. Take a ferry ride to the island and apparently there are SO many shells and dolphins.
Pier Park: Explore the shops, restaurants, & entertainment at Pier Park. Very cute and colorful walking area with lots of shopping and restaurants. We indulged in some Dippin' Dots.
We were going to walk the pier, but Jeremy was still limping from the double ankle fracture. It would've been cool to see the many different views of the sun while walking the pier.
This is the pier right near the hotel we stayed at.
Gayles Trails: Ride bikes or take a stroll through their walking trails. This was the first time Jeremy had been back on a bike since breaking his ankle.
We spent a few hours riding through the woods, over docks, and enjoying the neat nature.
Biking through the trails, there was so much mud and water splashing up everywhere.
30A : We drove through this area and were in love. It was very upscale and expensive looking. What we loved seeing the most was how many bicycles there were. People were out and about enjoying the fresh air. We saw a really cute food truck area with lots of tasty options.
Navarre Beach: As soon as we walked onto the beach we realized how many sand dollars washed up onto shore. I was in heaven!
The sand was soft, the water was clear, and we enjoyed spotting sand dollars all along the shore.
This was one of the few beaches that actually had seashells and we were stoked!
We found so many parts of sand dollars but not any whole ones.
Gulf Islands National Seashore: After several months of being shut down for construction due to hurricane Sally, they finally opened the gates and we got to be one of the first people to walk the seashore.
Where To Eat:
Bayou Joes: Have a seat on the Bayou! Overlooking beautiful Massalina Bayou with 180-degree views of the water and excellent views of the sunset, Bayou Joe’s is unlike any other waterfront dining experience in Panama City.
Serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner year round, Bayou Joe’s has an “Old Florida” style and service with a smile.
Come sit, relax, and enjoy a great meal with a view at Bayou Joe’s! We had brussel sprouts covered with bacon and cheese, seafood chili, smoked tuna dip, fried shrimp, & grouper tacos. Everything was so fresh!
This is right before you head into the restaurant.
Jeremy ordered the grouper tacos that came with two sauces and a side of sweet potato fries.
Bubbas Pizza: Have you ever tried bacon ranch cheese fries? They were mouth-watering!
This family-owned pizza joint welcomes you in and has that nice local feel. They strive for an authentic, New York style pizza with a thin, crunchy crust.
Jeremy getting ready to indulge with some bacon ranch cheese fries.
The pizza is made in a huge oven and comes out perfectly. There are tons of pizza options to choose from. We chose the Matty and the BBQ chicken. We also had wings in their special sauce.
Their open kitchen format, which shows off their pizza tossers' skills with the dough, proves their claims that they never use frozen dough.
Back Beach Barbeque: We had some tasty brisket. We also indulged in their mac n cheese and baked beans. You can sit inside or outside.
That's all we have for you folks!
This area is technically “not in season” in February, which can be good and bad. Good because there aren’t a ton of spring-breakers or tourists. Bad because many small businesses here only operate when it’s warmer and of course the temperatures are colder. However, we still had fun and enjoyed the area.
Thanks for reading our blog post all about Panama City Beach! Now get out there and Quench Your Adventure!
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