Top Family-Friendly Things to Do in Panama City Beach

Last Updated: September 5, 2025

Panama City Beach is a coastal resort city located in the Florida Panhandle, along the Gulf of Mexico. Besides sun and sand, it's a destination of unique adventures, cultural gems, and lifelong memories waiting to be made. From beach bliss to wildlife adventures and thrilling attractions, you will find a blend of different things to do in Panama City Beach. No matter if you’re alone, with family, or with friends, there’s something for everyone. It is renowned for its sugar-white sand beaches, emerald-green waters, and family-friendly attractions. Some of the things to do in Panama City are:

Relax on the Beaches & Explore Shell Island

Panama City Beach:

Enjoy 27 miles of soft white sand beach and warm, clear Gulf waters ideal for swimming, paddleboarding, jet skiing, sunbathing, and beachcombing.

Shell Island:

Shell Island is a beautiful, undeveloped barrier island just off Panama City Beach and is only accessible by boat or shuttle. It is known for its pristine white sandy beaches and crystal-clear waters, perfect for relaxing, sunbathing, picnicking, snorkelling, wildlife watching (especially dolphins), and getting away from crowds.

Public Access Points:

The Shell Island Shuttle from St. Andrews State Park Marina makes getting there easy, where you can enjoy a peaceful day surrounded by nature.

Family Fun Amusements & Attractions

Pier Park: A large open-air complex with shopping, arcades, restaurants, dining, entertainment, an IMAX theatre, and amusements like the Skywheel and mini-golf.
WonderWorks: An upside-down indoor amusement park with an interactive science museum with over 100 exhibits, laser tag, and a ropes course.
Shipwreck Island Waterpark: A water park with various water slides, rides, a lazy river, a zipline, and a wave pool for kids and adults alike.
ZooWorld Zoological Park: A small zoo where you can have the opportunity for animal encounters, including feeding giraffes, holding kangaroos, and meeting sloths.
Race City Amusement Park: Go-karts, mini-golf, rides, bumper boats, an arcade, and a thrilling Skycoaster.
SkyWheel Panama City Beach: Giant Ferris wheel with stunning views of the Gulf Coast.
Coconut Creek Family Fun Park: Features mini-golf courses and a giant maze in a tropical setting.

Enjoy Outdoor Activities

St. Andrews State Park: A 1,200-acre park offering two-and-a-half miles of beaches perfect for kayaking, snorkeling, fishing, hiking, and exploring nature trails and diverse wildlife. It's a haven for outdoor enthusiasts.
Camp Helen State Park: Situated between the Gulf of Mexico and Lake Powell, this 180-acre park offers hiking trails, paddling, birdwatching, a peaceful natural escape, and a historic lodge.
Conservation Park: A vast park with over 24 miles of scenic trails for hiking, biking through wetlands and pine forest, and wildlife observation.
Fishing and Boating: Join a charter for deep-sea fishing, like snapper and grouper, or rent a pontoon to cruise the bay.
Dolphin and Sunset Cruises: Take a charter boat to witness marine life, including bottlenose dolphins, and breathtaking sunsets over the Gulf of Mexico.

Also Read: Best Places to Visit in Panama

Cultural & Unique Experiences

Man in the Sea Museum: Explore the world's oldest diving museum, which showcases military diving history, U.S. Navy apparatus, underwater submersibles, and interactive exhibits suitable for all ages.
Unique Workshops & Experiences: Try these fun and creative activities without any experience, like floating yoga on Lake Caroline, glass blowing at Hot Glass Studio, joining painting classes, and bead crafting, which are great for families, couples, and solo travellers.
Ripley's Believe It or Not: A fun and quirky indoor attraction great for families and kids featuring an Odditorium with 500+ strange exhibits, a Mirror Maze, a 7D Moving Theater, Laser Race, and making a colourful wax sculpture of your hand.
Decor By the Shore Trail: A fun, self-guided shopping trail featuring local coastal décor shops, passport stamps, free souvenir, boutique decor, and coastal crafts. Its Beach House Market, Pieces on the Beach, The Treasure Box, Turtle Girls Market, 13 Hub Lane, and The Salt Shed are some standout shops that you must check out.

Best Time to Visit Panama City Beach

Spring (May): It offers warm, pleasant weather with fewer crowds and is perfect for families and couples.
Summer (June–August): This peak season is great if you love festivals, but expect crowds, humidity, and hot weather with lots of events and busy beaches.
Fall (September–October): The ideal time to visit with warm weather, fewer crowds, and lower prices, great for relaxing and fishing, offering fun festivals.
Winter (November–February): To enjoy peaceful getaways and seasonal events winter months are ideal, offering quiet and mild weather, but too cool for swimming.
When to Avoid:
Spring Break (March–April): Avoid visiting in these months as they are very crowded and noisy.
Late Summer (August–October): This period is hot, humid, and during hurricane season, so travel with caution.

Conclusion

From relaxing on white-sand beaches to exploring nature, enjoying family attractions, and discovering local culture, there are many fun things to do in Panama City Beach. It offers something for everyone, from water sports and dolphin cruises to shopping, dining, and scenic parks. There’s no shortage of things to do in Panama City Beach and beyond. No matter your travel style, you will find unforgettable Panama City Beach things to do that make your trip memorable. Book your flight with Affluence Travels.

FAQs about Things to Do in Panama City Beach

Q.1: What are the top things to do in Panama City Beach?

Some of the top and fun things to do in Panama City Beach include relaxing on the beach, shopping and dining at Pier Park, exploring St. Andrews State Park, going on a dolphin or sunset cruise, and trying parasailing, jet skiing, or paddleboarding.

Q.2: What’s the best time to visit Panama City Beach?

The best time is from late spring, May, or early fall, September–October offers warm weather, fewer crowds, and is budget-friendly.

Q.3: What water activities are available in Panama City Beach?

Water activities such as jet skiing, parasailing, banana boat rides, paddleboarding, snorkelling, boat tours, and Shell Island trips are available in Panama City Beach.