It may be one of the lesser-known Florida hotspots, but trust us when we say it’s a hidden gem that everyone needs to visit…
Why go?
Panama City Beach is in the area of Florida known as the Panhandle – the north west of the American state. This stunning area boasts 27 miles of white sandy beaches along the turquoise waters of the Gulf of Mexico. The relaxed beachy city is sunny for most of the year, although temperatures do tend to drop in the winter months and warm up again around April.
Currently there are no direct flights from London but you can fly direct to Atlanta and then it’s just over an hour’s internal flight to Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport.
The beaches
Panama City Beach is home to some of the most beautiful sandy strips in Florida. The white sand will take your breath away and the crystal-clear turquoise water is so inviting. It’s the perfect place to give paddle boarding a go, what with the ocean being so calm and warm – especially in the summer months.
Shell Island is a protected and undeveloped beach and is probably one of the most picturesque we have ever come across. With its crystal clear water and sugar white sand stretching for seven miles, it is only accessible via water, although there are a few easy options to get you there. We went on an organised trip with Island Time Sailing (Islandtimesailing.com) on a beautiful catamaran. We were fortunate enough to see lots of dolphins on the way. You can also take the ferry from St Andrews State Park which costs around $28 per person. There isn’t much to do on Shell Island except take in the stunning scenery and relax, swim or snorkel and stroll along the perfect coastline.
What to do
There are two state parks which are both stunning and worth visiting. St Andrews State Park offers 2.5 miles of sandy beaches and is the perfect place for spotting wildlife and offers state of the art camping facilities. You can also hike or cycle along the paved trails here or kayak and canoe along the Emerald Coast.
St Helens is the one of the largest coastal dune lakes in Florida and it also offers beautiful forest trails. We recommend the kayaking on Lake Powell (around $20 for an hour) which joins the ocean and offers spectacular views across the gulf.
Pier Park is a great place to visit during the day or evening and offers a selection of stylish shops, restaurants bars and outdoor family activities. The Sky Wheel stands at 200ft tall and offers the best views of the beautiful coastline, Panama City and the Gulf of Mexico.
If you love music and dancing, we suggest popping to Tootsies, which offers live music every day from 11am and it’s a lot of fun!
Where to stay
We stayed at the Hyatt Place Panama City Beach hotel which is in the Laguna Beach area and a great place to stay because it’s so central – just a five-minute walk away from Pier Park which is a great place to shop, eat and drink! The rooms at the hotel are a good size and they also offer family rooms. Most rooms have a balcony and fantastic sea views. The hotel also offers a complimentary hot and cold breakfast which was plentiful, and a great way start to the day. The pool is great for all the family, and it even has a lazy river which the kids loved!
Where to eat
You will not go hungry during your stay, with many fantastic restaurant choices to suit all budgets. Andy’s Flour Power (Andysflourpower.com) is very popular and serves a fantastic breakfast martini. They also serve up huge omelettes and pancakes. They are open for breakfast and lunch only and don’t take reservations but it’s worth the wait. Thomas Donuts is another one to add to your list, offering a huge and tasty selection of doughnuts! Again, you will need to queue, and they do sell out so we suggest an early morning visit.
For fine dining and seafood, we would suggest booking a table at Firefly, and for pretty sunsets we enjoyed a great meal at Grand Malin. Runaway Island is set on a fantastic spot right on the beach and has great cocktails and delicious blackened fish tacos.
Schooners Last Local Beach Club is the perfect place to catch a sunset and you can book a sunset beach bonfire with Endless Beach Rentals (Endlessbeachrentals.com), which offers various day and night packages. We enjoyed the s’mores and live music option.
Need to know
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Travel Planners offer a seven-night stay on a B&B basis at the Hyatt Place Panama City Beach- Beachfront from £1,319pp. Price inclusive of flights (via ATL) and car hire, based on a family of four travelling on 1 April 2024. Visit Travelplanners.co.uk or call 020 3542 8888 to book.
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For more information on Panama City Beach, see visitpanamacitybeach.com
Words: Carly Honeyfield