Start from 31 curated places around Panama City Beach, FL, then choose the recommendations that fit your guests.
Restaurants & cafés
Captain Anderson's Restaurant
A Grand Lagoon institution since 1967 where the menu is built around the day's local catch and the dining room overlooks the working marina and shrimp boats. It's the special-occasion seafood dinner generations of visitors return to. Best for a sit-down feast with a view of the boats that caught your dinner.
The Grand Marlin Restaurant & Oyster Bar
An upscale waterfront seafood house on Grand Lagoon with a serious raw bar and surf-and-turf plates, plus a lively dock bar. It's the polished end of the local seafood scene without tipping into chain territory. Best for a refined dinner or oysters and cocktails on the deck.
Trails & outdoors
Panama City Beach Conservation Park
A surprisingly vast preserve behind the beach with miles of flat trails and boardwalks looping through pine flatwoods, titi swamp, and wetland, with loops from a short stroll up to 11 miles. It's the area's best real hiking, and almost no tourists know it's here. Best for a longer nature walk and birdwatching away from the sand.
Gator Lake Trail
A short loop in the northern reaches of St. Andrews State Park leading to the park's high point through prime bird habitat, with chances to spot alligators in the freshwater lake. It packs a lot of Panhandle ecosystem into a half-mile. Best for a quick, rewarding nature walk paired with a beach day.
Things to do
Gulf World Marine Park
A long-running marine park with dolphin and sea-lion shows, a tropical garden, and animal encounters that let kids get close to rays and penguins. It's compact and hands-on rather than a sprawling aquarium. Best for a family half-day with up-close animal experiences.
WonderWorks Panama City Beach
An upside-down 'amusement park for the mind' at Pier Park, packed with hands-on science exhibits, an indoor ropes course, and laser tag. It's the go-to rainy-day energy-burn for families. Best for a few hours of interactive fun when the weather turns.
Landmarks & sights
St. Andrews State Park
A 1,200-acre park at the east end of the beach with sugar-white sand, a calm jetty-protected lagoon, and some of the best snorkeling on the coast. The 'kiddie pool' behind the rock jetties is gentle enough for toddlers while the Gulf side gets the surf. Best for a full beach day with snorkeling, plus the launch point for Shell Island.
Shell Island
An undeveloped seven-mile barrier island between the Gulf and St. Andrew Bay, reachable only by boat and prized for shelling, clear water, and frequent dolphin sightings. There are no facilities, which is exactly why locals love it. Best for a back-to-nature beach day away from the high-rises.