Welcome to Panama City Beach
PCB offers the quintessential Florida beach experience.
Panama City Beach is a waterfront city in the panhandle of northwest Florida. It sits on a peninsula bordering the Gulf of Mexico, Lake Powell, and St. Andrews Bay. Residents can enjoy plenty of ocean- and water-related activities in this picturesque city right on the turquoise waters of the Gulf Coast. Due to its location near St. Andrews Bay and Shell Island, the area has a rich history of pirates and mysterious sunken treasures.
Today, a vibrant community teeming with upscale restaurants, exceptional shopping, and entertainment. Panama City Beach is 100% Florida with plenty of fun in the sun activities on the Emerald Coast. There are numerous beach neighborhoods featuring either quaint cottages and bungalows tucked in near the dunes or spacious homes with tropical landscaping and beach views. Many gated communities offer new homes, exciting architecture, and delightful palm tree-lined streets.
What to Love
- Pristine white sandy beaches
- Excellent restaurants featuring fresh seafood
- Warm weather
- Laid-back beach vibes
Local Lifestyle
There is a metropolitan feel to Panama City Beach, but residents enjoy a distinctive laid-back beach atmosphere with little traffic. With 27 miles of beachfront and coastal Lake Powell, the area is infused with a variety of ocean views, inlets, bays, dunes, and nature preserves. If you love the water, Panama City Beach is your home.
Dining, Entertainment & Shopping
Pier Park shopping mall offers premium shopping and dining minutes from Emerald Beach. This colorfully styled outdoor mall has more than 124 retail stores along with several locally owned boutiques offering the latest fashion trends. Other open-air shopping areas include the boardwalk and Pier Park North.
Live music rocks at the annual Pepsi Gulf Coast Jam, a four-day event just minutes from the beach, where top country music stars perform outdoors. On Carillon Beach, residents can enjoy the monthly Groovin’ on the Green concert series that features live music on the Village Green.
For the freshest seafood, fabulous oysters, and a festive atmosphere, go to Hunt's Oyster Bar and Seafood; you won’t be disappointed in this Panama City Beach favorite. The Firefly is not your typical beach restaurant, and its five-star menu and ambiance add to what they call “elegant casual dining.” Another favorite right on the beach is Schooners, called the “last local beach club,” where they celebrate the sunset every night by firing off an old cannon. Besides their great selection of seafood and burgers, they feature plenty of live music and a real beach club feel.
Things to Do
Take the ride of your life swimming with the fascinating dolphins at the world-class marine park Gulf World. The park features daily shows with dolphins, manatees, and sea lions. More fun in the water is nearby at St. Andrews State Park, where you can enjoy swimming, shelling, snorkeling, and surfing. There is more than a mile of pristine white sandy beaches on the Gulf of Mexico, and it’s home to hundreds of migratory birds and butterflies. Another nature preserve on the Gulf is Camp Helen State Park, a 180-acre park next to Lake Powell, the largest coastal dune lake in Florida. Great saltwater and freshwater fishing abound here, and there is plenty of space to explore.
The award-winning Bay Point Golf Club at Sheraton Bay Point Resort is the only Jack Nicklaus-designed course in northwest Florida and features some stunning golf vistas. Holiday Golf Club is another local course featuring an 18-hole par championship course and a unique executive par-three course to test your short game.
Shipwreck Island Water Park is a great place to enjoy the Florida sunshine while whooshing down their signature ride, “Zip from the Ship!” For an adrenaline rush, the SkyWheel has it all. It’s a top-notch outdoor ropes course for the adventurous. Explore sunken treasures, U.S. Navy SEALABS, and everything there is to know about deep-sea diving at the Man in the Sea Museum.
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