St. Andrews State Park is a premier coastal destination offering a calm swimming lagoon, ideal surfing waves, and excellent jetty fishing for Spanish mackerel, redfish, and flounder. The park features full amenities, including restrooms, a convenience store for bait and snacks, and rental services for beach chairs and umbrellas.
Pier Park serves as the ultimate shopping, dining, and entertainment hub on the Emerald Coast. Spanning over one million square feet, this vibrant open-air complex features premier retail shops, popular coastal restaurants, a grand IMAX movie theater, and regular live entertainment events just steps from the beach.
The spectacular Pirates Voyage Dinner & Show by Dolly Parton is an immersive indoor theater experience. Guests are treated to an epic battle between competing pirate crews on full-sized ships inside a 15-foot deep indoor lagoon, complete with incredible acrobatics, diving mermaids, live animals, and a delicious four-course pirate feast.
Yes, Topgolf Panama City Beach brings a world-class entertainment venue right to the heart of the beach community. Featuring climate-controlled hitting bays, precise microchipped golf balls for automatic point scoring, an extensive chef-driven menu, and private event spaces, it provides high-energy entertainment for all ages and skill levels.
Shipwreck Island Waterpark is a favorite family attraction featuring a massive 500,000-gallon wave pool, a relaxing lazy river, high-speed thrill slides, and interactive water play areas designed specifically for younger children, making it a perfect day-long excursion.
Shell Island is an undeveloped, pristine 7-mile barrier island accessible only by boat or water shuttle. Visitors can book dolphin-watching cruises, rent pontoon boats, or take the official shuttle from St. Andrews State Park to spend a peaceful day snorkeling, collecting seashells, and viewing native wildlife.
The iconic Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Odditorium in Panama City Beach features hundreds of weird, remarkable, and interactive museum exhibits. It is a perfect indoor alternative for rainy days, offering a mind-bending mirror maze, a high-octane laser race game, and an interactive 7D moving theater ride.
A staple of local family entertainment, Coconut Creek Family Fun Park offers two tropical-themed 18-hole miniature golf courses filled with waterfalls and exotic landscaping, alongside the Gran Maze—a giant, football-field-sized wooden labyrinth that tests your navigation skills.
Nestled on the western edge of Panama City Beach bordering 30A, Camp Helen State Park is a peaceful historical park bounded by the Gulf of Mexico and Powell Lake—one of the largest coastal dune lakes in North America. It is highly regarded for quiet hiking, bird watching, and uncrowded coastal exploration.
Publix Sports Park is a premier, state-of-the-art 200-acre outdoor sports complex designed for athletes of all levels. Featuring 13 configurable multi-purpose fields with cooling technology, batting cages, and a scenic boardwalk, it serves as a central hub for travel sports tourism, hosting major baseball, softball, soccer, and lacrosse tournaments on the Emerald Coast.
As the largest park in Panama City Beach spanning over 100 acres, Frank Brown Park offers incredible recreational options, including baseball and soccer fields, tennis and basketball courts, playgrounds, a youth fishing pond, and trails. It is also home to the Panama City Beach Aquatic Center, which features an outdoor Olympic-size pool and a Kids Splash Pool.
Located right inside Frank Brown Park, the Frank Brown Dog Park features three distinct, fenced play areas tailored to your pup’s energy level: Active Paws for high-energy big dogs, Calm Paws for older or slower pets, and Lakeside Paws for a scenic water view. It also links directly to Gayle’s Trails for over two miles of dog-friendly paved walks.
Yes, located directly across from Pier Park (accessible via beach accesses 56 and 57), the Panama City Dog Beach offers 400 feet of beautiful, pristine beachfront where leashed dogs are welcome to splash in the gulf waves, play in the sand, and socialize with other coastal pups.
What are the top attractions in Panama City Beach?
Panama City Beach offers a variety of attractions including St. Andrews State Park, the shopping and entertainment hub Pier Park, and family favorites like Shipwreck Island Waterpark and Gulf World Marine Park.
How can I visit Shell Island?
Shell Island is accessible only by boat. You can take the official Shell Island Shuttle from St. Andrews State Park or rent a pontoon boat from various local marinas.
What makes St. Andrews State Park a must-visit?
St. Andrews State Park is renowned for its pristine beaches, excellent snorkeling at the jetties, and diverse wildlife. It's also the departure point for the Shell Island Shuttle.
