Located on Florida’s panhandle, Panama City Beach is a great family destination. In fact, our entire family celebrated New Year’s down there a few years back! They so much to do from beautiful, white sand beaches to family-friendly adventure parks, pirate cruises, and more. Panama City Beach is loaded with activities that parents and their children will love doing together, and that’s really what it’s all about. I decided to rent us a convertible car, because why not. Gemma’s never been in one before, so this was certainly a highlight of the trip for her!
The hub for our Panama City Beach girls trip was SpringHill Suites by Marriott. This hotel is absolutely beautiful and located near pretty much anything you’d ever want to do in the area. This welcoming hotel is full of modern amenities and cozy comfort. The staff there is eager to help you with anything you need. It was such a great way to end every exciting day of our trip.
Firstly, our first day was filled with adventure at Pier Park. You’ll find this fantastic pier district in the heart of Panama City Beach. With 124 stores ranging from commercial storefronts to boutiques and unique treasures to discover, it’s a shopping lover’s dream. It also features tons of great dining opportunities and of course, tons of fun. If you go, be sure to check out the SkyWheel for amazing views of the area.
Secondly, for dinner, we went to Runaway Island. You can choose to dine in one of two indoor dining levels or outside on the deck. The food is top-notch, offering some of the best seafood we’ve ever had, and you’ll frequently find live entertainment, as well. Furthermore, before heading to bed each night, Gemma and I would walk along the beach to catch the sunsets, which were some of the best I’ve ever seen!
We started our second day at Andy’s Flour Power. Open for breakfast and lunch, this restaurant offers delicious muffins, pastries, omelets, and some of the best breakfast potatoes we’ve ever had.
Moreover, the afternoon saw us enjoying the Sea Dragon Pirate Cruise. This is in my top 5 of any kind of water excursion I’ve ever taken with the family. While on the cruise, adults can relax and take in the views while the kids play under the watchful eye of Captain “Fearless” Phil and his crew. Henceforth, we loved this cruise and saw so many dolphins in the waters as well. It was pretty incredible to see that many!
We ended the day at Grand Marlin of Panama City Beach, which sits right next to the marina. My daughter and I both love seafood, and the Grand Marlin delivered. Their seafood ranges from fancier fare to simple dishes that even the kids will love, and you can enjoy it all while basking in its relaxing, laid-back atmosphere.
Our final day began with breakfast at The Pour. I remember having breakfast here last time we were in town, and I’m happy to report it was just as good as I remember. Just a few blocks from our hotel, The Pour offers locally roasted organic coffee, homemade food, and fresh baked pastries. The space is super cute too with swing chairs and mis-matched couches and coffee tables.
A spot we were told not to miss in PCB was Thomas Donuts & Snack Shop. Of course, we loved the donuts, but if you’re not into those, you can also find delicious biscuits, muffins, sandwiches, and more.
Moreover, from there, we capped off the trip with a few hours on the white sand beaches. Gemma looked like a little dolphin swimming in the water, and I have to say it was definitely hard to leave this beautiful beach.
Finally, before heading to the airport, we stopped at Sharky’s for lunch. Sharky’s Beachfront Restaurant in Panama City Beach is famous for its delicious seafood and world’s largest Tiki hut, and the fish tacos definitely did not disappoint.
Gemma and I absolutely loved our Panama City Beach girls trip, but all things must come to an end. We said goodbye to our hotel and Panama City Beach and headed home. Another fun mother daughter trip, and so many fun memories made! If you’re looking for a great family-friendly destination, I can’t recommend Panama City Beach enough.
Big Thank You to PCB and TravelMindset for inviting me to be part of this paid partnership.
This post was originally published May 23rd, 2022*
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