Why You Should Visit Panama City Beach in Florida.
If you’re heading to Florida, there are only two possible outcomes: either you’re going to end up in the local Florida news for something completely bizarre OR you’re going to have the time of your life…either way, it’s guaranteed you’ll have fun!
Jokes aside, Florida is known to be one the most popular vacation destinations in the US...and for a good reason too! With hundreds of miles of beaches, marvelous vacation resorts and a plethora of secret islands, it’s pretty much obvious why they call it The Sunshine State.
One of Florida’s hidden gems is the beautiful Panama City Beach, which, contrary to its name, is not a mere beach but a waterfront town in northwest Florida.
Here’s why Panama City Beach should find a spot on your bucket list:
THE amazing COMMUNITY.
The sense of community in Panama City Beach is reason enough to visit. It really is that strong and poignant. During my short trip to Panama City Beach, I learned about how the city is recovering from the aftermath of Hurricane Michael and I was humbled by the strength and resilience of the community. There are so many stories of business owners and individuals opening up their doors to support one another in their time of need. They were all so beautiful to hear and truly touching. Let’s just say that I have never felt so welcomed in a new city than by the locals of Panama City Beach and would highly recommend visiting to get a true sense of the kindness and warmth this community has made part of its core.
all of The Color.
Panama City Beach is full of color! Think candy-colored houses, neon signs everywhere and tons of bold buildings that you could see from a mile away. As someone who loves color, a visit to Pier Park, Panama City Beach’s premier shopping and entertainment destination, was pretty much like going to Disneyland because of the ridiculous amounts of color and the never-ending list of things to do. Panama City Beach boasts so much color and personality nearly everywhere you go!
Panama City Beaches.
Although Panama City Beach has much more to offer than just beaches, it would truly be a shame to miss the white sands and emerald clear waters of the Gulf of Mexico. That being said, make sure to make some time and explore the Panama City Beach…which is the name of the most popular beach in Panama City Beach…the town. You get where I’m going with this, right?
Aside from sunbathing and swimming, this enchanting beach is a great spot for snorkeling as well as parasailing! If you want to get away from the crowd, then Grayton Beach, Santa Rosa Beach and Pensacola Beach are also great choices.
One of the absolute highlights of my trip to Panama City Beach was visiting the beautiful Shell Island. The sugar sand shoreline is embellished with colorful conches, shells and crabs running along the pristine beaches. If you look closely, you just might catch a glimpse of some dancing dolphins!
The MOUTH-WATERING Food.
If there’s one thing I love to do more than pretty much anything, it’s eat. That’s why my whole trip to Panama City Beach was filled with delicious bites from poke at Grand Marlins and the most mouthwatering cookies at Andy’s Flour Shop to massive milkshakes at Gulf Coast Burger Co. There are so many culinary gems all over Panama City Beach that you could essentially eat at a new place for every meal every day for a month and still find new restaurants that make your tastebuds want to smile. While I only ate at about half a dozen places (a girl can only fit so many meals into a short weekend!), local favorites that everyone I talked to was obsessed with include Firefly, Another Broken Egg, Saltwater Grill and Hunt’s Oyster Bar.
you’ll never be bored.
One of the things that surprised me the most about Panama City Beach is how alive the city feels! There are always so many things happening at any one time and it’s pretty much impossible to be bored there. The highlight of visiting Panama City Beach was attending UNwineD, a fun-filled weekend of amazing craft beer, wine and spirits from around the globe and some of the most delectable bites from many of Northwest Florida’s most renowned chefs. The festival ended with a concert in the park with live entertainment from Brandi Carlile and JOHNNYSWIM, and I’ve never seen a crowd so relaxed and happy!
The festivities don’t end when the sun goes down though - get your party shoes ready because Panama City Beach does not sleep! This charming waterfront town is one of the best nightlife destinations. From daytime celebrations on the beach to the biggest nightclub in the US, Panama City Beach will leave you begging for more! Whether you live for dancing, karaoke and bar crawls or you prefer jazz clubs and quiet bars and restaurants, the Florida panhandle has you covered.
With some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, amazing food and plenty of thrilling activities for all ages, Panama City Beach is one of the must-visit places in Florida…and the world!