It's no secret that the beach is one of the best parts of Panama City Beach, but that doesn't mean it's the only way to enjoy the outdoors while you're visiting Panama City Beach. If you want to make the most of your trip to the Real. Fun. Beach., you'll want to try these top 10 outdoor activities while you're here.
Paddle Boarding
Stand-up paddle boarding is a great water sport that allows you to enjoy Panama City Beach’s protected and open waters such as the Grand Lagoon, St. Andrews Bay, and the Gulf of Mexico. Calmer waters make for a relaxed experience and a chance to paddle above rays, fish, sea turtles, and other wildlife beneath the water’s surface.
Beach Volleyball
There are many ways to stay active on the beach. Various beach access points and restaurants have volleyball nets that are open to the public. Grab a delicious lunch at Schooners or Sharky's then hit the sand for some volleyball. You can also go to the City Pier, where multiple nets can be found.
If you aren't a fan of volleyball, you can always grab a football to throw around or a soccer ball to kick. You might even have some locals asking if they can join in on the fun with you!
Biking
What’s the best thing about biking around Panama City Beach? The land is almost perfectly flat, so anybody can enjoy biking here. You can rent bikes from multiple locations in Panama City Beach.
There are many places to ride bikes such as St. Andrews State Park, PCB Conservation Park, Gayle’s Trails and Camp Helen State Park.
Pickleball
As this sport has quickly gained popularity, pickleball courts are popping up all over Panama City Beach. Pack the rackets and balls and head out to one of the many courts during your beach vacation. The beautiful weather and scenic surroundings make it an ideal spot to enjoy this popular sport.
Beach Yoga
Summer vacation is full of fun, and can be a great way to relieve stress. If you're looking for a way to stay zen or fit while on your vacation to Panama City Beach, yoga is a great way to do it!
Camp Helen State Park, St. Andrews State Park & The Conservation Park
Trip Advisor named St. Andrews State Park the #2 beach in the nation, but whether you're interested in sunbathing on the beach, snorkeling along the jetties, canoeing, kayaking or hiking through the forest, there's something for everyone here! Fishing from the pier or the jetties is popular, and a boat ramp provides access to St. Andrew Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. Nature trails wind through a rich diversity of coastal plant communities providing an excellent opportunity for bird-watching - You might even spot a deer! The 700-acre island is home to deer, turtles, pelicans, sandpipers, gulls and piping and snowy plovers, and in the surrounding waters you'll spot colorful fish, dolphins, sea turtles, and other aquatic life. Shuttles are available to take visitors back and forth from St. Andrews State Park, and pontoon boat rentals are another popular way to get to Shell Island.
Camp Helen State Park is a hidden gem on the western border of Panama City Beach. It sits between the Gulf of Mexico and Lake Powell - one of the largest coastal dune lakes in the state of Florida. Natural areas range from coastal dunes and salt marshes along the Gulf to freshwater wetlands and scrub oak forests along the lake.
In the Panama City Beach Conservation Park, you'll find 12 looping trails ranging from 0.6 to 11 miles for walking, biking, wildlife and bird watching. The county's desire to protect and balance our natural resources while providing outdoor recreational opportunities is the driving force in establishing the Panama City Beach Conservation Park.
Shell Island
If you are lucky enough to spend the day on Shell Island in Panama City Beach, the three most important things to bring are your family, a camera and... your sense of adventure!
This amazingly pristine, uninhabited island is just waiting to be explored. Shell Island is a barrier island, a 7-mile stretch of undeveloped land nestled between the Gulf of Mexico and St. Andrews Bay. If you are seeking a beach experience that will help you reconnect with Mother Nature, this is the place for you.
Shell Island lives up to its name. Sand dollars, moon snails, conch shells, pin shells, periwinkles, whelk and olive shells are just a few of the indigenous seashells found here. And, as long as there are no creatures living in them, there is no limit to how many of these one-of-a-kind souvenirs you can take home with you.
You don't need your own boat to get to Shell Island, there are plenty of other ways to get there. For a full list, click here.
Snorkeling or Diving
If you’re seeking adventure on your next park outing, but don’t want to deal with the gear needed for surfing and scuba diving, grab a mask and flippers and give snorkeling a try instead. The jetties at the St Andrews State Park serve as an underwater wildlife refuge and harbor an incredible variety of species. Think of the jetties as the area’s first artificial reef. The Gulf ’s excellent water clarity, which gets even better during the fall months, allows for plentiful encounters with starfish, crabs and other crustaceans and dozens of varieties of fish.
Within the 27 miles of Panama City Beach, there are many spectacular locations to explore, which has gained the area the reputation of the “Wreck Capital of the South”. From inshore to offshore, there isn’t an artificial reef or jetty not worth “diving” into!
The northern Gulf of Mexico has a new addition to its extensive artificial reef system with the deployment of the 239-foot R/V DEEP STIM III. The vessel joins hundreds of other artificial reefs already deployed off the shores of Northwest Florida and serves as a haven to support various marine species while simultaneously providing the fishing and diving industry with an additional resource.
Golfing
Recognized by Golf Digest Magazine as one of America’s top three golf towns, Panama City Beach has affordable greens fees paired with award-winning course design. Tee times are available year-round, with an average annual temperature of 74 degrees and an estimated 320 days of sunshine.
Course choices include:
Fishing
You can catch a variety of fish while in Panama City Beach including redfish, flounder, Spanish mackerel, and cobia. Popular fishing spots include the Russell-Fields City Pier and the M.B. Miller County Pier, both extending 1,500 feet into the Gulf of Mexico, perfect for shore fishing. The jetties at St. Andrews State Park provide another excellent location for both novice and experienced fishermen. For a more immersive experience, fishing charters like Captain Anderson’s Marina offer guided trips into deeper waters where you can target larger species like snapper and grouper. Inshore, offshore, up in the creeks, under the bridges or off the pier – where there’s a bite, you can fish.
