FLORIDA PLACES AND DESTINATIONS:
PANAMA CITY

Panama City Florida

ust east of it is Panama City with its comfortable climate, its fishing and water sports, arts and entertainment, a popular destination in its own right. At the heart of the city is its historic downtown with its boutiques, galleries, antique shops and eateries. From its indoor science and adventure exhibits to the nature walk through swampland and pioneer homestead outdoors, Junior Museum of Bay County is a big draw for the family.

Gulf World Marine Park has more than 25 shows and exhibits to entertain and educate guests; families looking to take a break from the beach will love Shipwreck Island Waterpark; Coconut Creek Family Fun Park’s two 18-hole miniature golf courses and large, bumper boat lake add to the family vacation experience; Coconut Creek’s Gran Maze is one of the most challenging mazes in the country; ZooWorld Zoological & Botanical Park is home to more than 350 animals in a lush tropical landscape.




You can step back in time to the days when pirates roamed the Florida coastline aboard the Sea Dragon, an 85-foot authentic pirate ship, cruising the Gulf waters and scenic Shell Island with cannons blasting, swords swinging and pirates hanging from the rigging. Still too tame? Visitors seeking a thrill will want to hop aboard the Sea Screamer for a high-speed, narrated tour of the Grand Lagoon, Shell Island and other Panama City waterways … just be prepared to get wet! There are miniature golf, go-cart racing, sightseeing tours, boat and Jet Ski rentals, parasailing, seaplane and helicopter rides.

Travelers looking for an off-the-beaten path destination will find plenty of unexpected natural wonders to fill their vacation experience. The 1,260-acre St. Andrews State Park has thick forests, sand dunes covered with sea oats, fresh and saltwater marshes, a lagoon swimming area, fishing jetties, hiking trails, 1.5 miles of beach and two campgrounds. Outdoor enthusiasts will find endless opportunities in the area’s two state forests. Pine Log State Forest is a popular spot for picnicking, hiking, off-road bicycling, horseback riding, fishing and hunting. There are 23 miles of hiking trails winding through the forest, yielding great wildlife and bird viewing opportunities. Point Washington State Forest, a favorite location for wildlife and bird watching, is less developed than its counterpart. It is widely used for hunting, off-road bicycling and hiking on its 19 miles of trails.

Both Panama City and Panama City Beach host world-class sporting events, music festivals, crafts fairs, horse shows, fishing tournaments, car rallies, holiday fests and more.


Photo: Visit Florida