So, where’s your next vacation going to be? If you’re dreaming of white sand beaches, oodles of sunshine, and a long list of fine restaurants without leaving the United States, you will do well to put Panama City Beach at the top of your list of potential destinations. One of the best parts many of our visitors enjoy is our pet-friendly condos in Panama City Beach, which means your four-legged friends don’t have to stay home!
From its convenient location to beachfront as well as city parks to our beautiful 1 bedroom Panama City Beach condo rentals, this Florida panhandle destination has everything you’d want to fulfill your vision of a fantastic vacation.
We’ll take a closer look at why Panama City Beach is growing in popularity as a vacation spot, where it’s located, and the many things you can do, and the many places you can eat while you’re visiting this beautiful Sunshine State destination.
#2 Emerging Destination
Who says Panama City Beach is so popular? Well, for starters, TripAdvisor, an online travel company known as the largest travel guidance platform, ranked Panama City Beach #2 on the list of top Emerging Destinations in the world in its 2021 Travelers Choice Best of the Best Awards. The site also recognizes Panama City Beach as an “affordable beach vacation” and makes note of the beach town’s Pier Park and St. Andrews State Park, a premier outdoor shopping complex and 2.5-mile beach, respectively.
Panama City Beach has also been recognized as a top beach in the U.S. by Conde Nast Traveler, USA Today, The Travel Channel, Southern Living, the Clean Beaches Council, and Dr. Beach (American ecologist Dr. Stephen Leatherman)!
The Weather
We now know that Panama City Beach is viewed as a top beach and vacation site, but what exactly makes it so? For one, Panama City Beach weather is grand from summer to winter. Many people might prefer to visit during the summer months (90 degrees in August) or during prime celebration times like the Fourth of July or Memorial Day, but it’s a place where the weather is agreeable even in fall and winter.
From December to February, temperatures range in the mid-60s (light jacket weather mostly), but there are still enough attractions open so you can enjoy the ocean views and (chilly) walks on the beaches without feeling the heat.
If you like it a bit warmer, Spring hits the upper 70s and lower 80s, not too hot and mostly dry. Fall temperatures are similar, so you won’t need a light jacket during the day, and even most evenings remain warm enough for summer attire.
Note that the rainiest months of the year in Panama City Beach are March and September.
The White Sand
Many exotic beach destinations outside of the United States boast white sand beaches, but Panama City Beach can boast the same. Every beach here has pristine white sand that is beautiful to witness and walk on.
What separates Panama City Beach’s white sand from other white sand beaches around the world? And why is this white sand even whiter than those of most other Florida beaches?
Panama City Beach sand is composed of silica quartz, a pinkish substance that loses its color as it washes down from the Appalachian Mountains—resulting in the incomparable whiteness that you’ll experience quite unlike anywhere else!
The Location
Situated smack dab between the larger cities of Pensacola and Tallahassee, Panama City Beach is in the part of Florida closest to the Alabama border.
Need directions to Panama City Beach? You’ll mostly come into the beach town from I-10 east or west; eastbound, it’s US-331 south to FL-20 east, and there you are, while from the west you’ll take US-231 right down to Panama City Beach.
Coming from Birmingham or Nashville? It’s I-65 down to 331. Starting from Atlanta? It’s I-85 to I-185, and then the signs will take you where you want to be.
Activities & Attractions
Now you know why you should come and how to get here. What to do once you’re here?
From Panama City Beach fishing charters to a sunset cruise Panama City Beach, you’ll find more things to do and places to see than you can ever experience in a single vacation. From bay and beach fishing to deep sea and even shark fishing, fishing charters should definitely be experienced if you’re a rod-and-reel type of person. All-inclusive packages typically include tackle, bait, and rod, and could even include meals from breakfast and lunch to snacks and soda or beer.
Want to swim with the dolphins? Watch the amazing red sunset? Choose a sunset cruise in Panama City Beach! Narrating captains aboard the Sea Screamer Cruise point out places of interest in a fun and enjoyable way, while the Shell Island Panama City Beach cruise takes you to encounters with dolphins as the sun slips below the horizon. You can even take a Pirate Cruise: a unique adventure with lots of activities right up until the sunsets.
You can stop at Shell Island, known for its expansive blue water views, as the only way to this spot is by boat. If picking shells is your thing, this island is your nirvana; you’ll find lots of variations, from conch shells to moon snails, and if you’re lucky, even a sand dollar or two!
Book Your Stay
Now that you know why Panama City Beach is an ideal location for your next getaway, you need a place to stay! Check out our Panama City Beach condo rentals and let us help you plan your vacation!
Pier Park in Panama City Beach, FL, has so many things to do! There are 1.1 million square feet of outdoor shopping and attractions, including state-of-the-art sound and visual effects at movies taken in at the Darkside Experience; laser tag; a Maze of Mirrors; the Million Dollar Midway; Grand IMAX Theater; and more than 120 stores for an amazing shopping experience.
For outdoor people, St. Andrews State Park lets you swim, fish, or sunbathe on a mile-and-a-half of pristine white beaches; walk the dunes; visit plant communities, and even stay at the park’s campground.
Shipwreck Island Water Park has tube rides, racing slides, a lazy river, pools, and a whitewater experience. These are just a few of the attractions for adults and kids of all ages! Finally, Gulf World Marine Park has sea lions and sharks and flamingoes, oh my! See shows featuring these and more fascinating creatures and even swim with dolphins and stingrays.
Restaurants
After a fun day at the beach, park, or any other attraction, you’ll likely search for a good place to eat. Panama City Beach will not let you down when it comes to a wide range of great formal and informal restaurants.
Captain Anderson’s is a waterfront restaurant offering a wide range of seafood dishes such as jumbo Gulf Shrimp, flounder, grouper, snapper, oysters, scallops, and catfish. Don’t want seafood? How about ribeye, filet mignon, sirloin steak, or ground hamburger steak? House wines, champagnes, premium beers, and specialty drinks.
Saltwater Grill, known for its 25,000-gallon aquarium, is a fantastic eatery that prepares all the seafood fare you want, from grouper to red snapper. Non-seafood dishes, too: including penne primavera, pork tenderloin, parmesan-crusted chicken. Pick your favorite drink from the wine and cocktail menu!
J. Michaels offers various oyster preparations in the appetizer offerings; surfer sandwiches (fish, chicken, burger, Reuben); authentic Key West-style key lime pie. Last but not least, Bella Roma Tuscan Grill has fresh seafood and authentic Italian cuisine. It’s a top 10 Italian restaurant in Panama City Beach with the area’s best gourmet pizza!
Now you know where to go, what to do, and where to eat; what about where to stay? You’re in luck; all of our condos in Panama City Beach are close to the attractions and restaurants. Choose from 1, 2, and 3-bedroom Panama City Beach condo rentals with plenty of amenities, including full kitchens, private balconies, and heated pools. When you select Panama City Beach as your next vacation location, stay in style!