Panama City
Panama City home of Spring Break celebrations for thousands of college and high school students every summer, is much more than party central. The 27 miles of coastline offer a venue for beach activities that will appeal to vacationers of all ages. Yet, water sports, scuba diving and snorkeling, swimming, and deep-water fishing are just the tip of the sand castle. Find out here what more Panama City has to offer.
Movies
Splurge on that large tub of butter popcorn and a large soft drink, the sit down to a good movie at any one of 30+ cinema screens Panama City has to offer. There is a flick showing somewhere just for you.
Carmike 10
4049 West 23rd Street
Panama City Beach, 32407.
(850) 913-9292
Carmike Panama City 4
2218 N Cove Blvd.
Panama City Beach, 32407
(850) 769-2345
Edgewater Cinema 10
473 Beckrich Road
Panama City Beach, 32407
(850) 234-9232
Regal Regency 11
1515 W 23rd St.
Panama City Beach, 32407
(850) 763-3657
Attractions
From the delightful to the bizarre, visitors can enjoy sights and sounds that boggle the mind. Panama City offers up close and personal contact with native and exotic marine life and mammals at two of its wildlife parks, while featuring everything from the unusual to the unbelievable at the new Ripley's Believe It or Not Odditorium and giant labyrinth at Coconut Creek Family Park.
Gulf World Marine Park - marine life park, animal exhibits and live shows
15412 Front Beach Road
Panama City Beach, 32407
(850) 234-5271
ZooWorld - zoological and botanical park featuring more than 350 animals and 250 species of plants and trees
9008 Front Beach Road
Panama City Beach, 32407
(850) 230-1243
Marina Civic Center - special events
8 Harrison Ave.
Panama City Beach, 32407
(850) 763-1696
Ripley's Believe It or Not Odditorium
9907 Front Beach Road
At the intersection of Thomas Drive/Middle Beach Road
Panama City Beach, 32407
(850) 230-6113
Coconut Creek Family Park - miniature golf and football-field-sized human maze
9807 Front Beach Road
Panama City Beach, FL 32407
(850) 234-2625
Circus by the Sea - three-ring aerial and stage production
16200 Back Beach Road
Panama City Beach, 32407
(850) 249-1101
Sports
Typical vacation sports like golf and fishing are eclipsed by the more adventurous paintball battles at Panama City fields. Catch a greyhound race in Ebro, bowl a few frames, and then end the evening on Dan Russell Pier casting for dinner.
Panhandle Paintball Field
2305 Sherman Ave.
Panama City, FL 32405
(850) 785-2030
Tyndall AFB Paintball Field
Tyndall AFB
Panama City, FL 32403
(850) 283-3199
Rock'it Lanes
513 Beckrich Road
Panama City Beach, 32407
(850) 249-2695
Ebro Greyhound Park
Highway 79/Highway 20
Ebro, FL 32437
(850) 234-3943
Gulf Coast Community College - men's and women's basketball, women's volleyball, baseball and softball
5230 W Highway 98
Panama City, FL 32401
(850) 769-1551
Golfing
Check here for all you need to learn about golfing on the Emerald Coast, where to call for tee times, directions to the best courses, game tips, and feature stories can be found at EmeraldCoast.com Golf.
Golfing Etiquette - if you are visiting one of the many award-winning golf courses along the Emerald Coast, be sure to follow these simple rules of engagement.
Golfing Terms - sound like an old duffer when you pepper your golfing talk with these important words and phrases.
Master Golf Course architect Robert Trent Jones, Sr. and sons - learn where on the Emerald Coast you can golf on the only two golf courses designed by Jones Brothers, RT, Jr. and Rees, that converge, and where you can hit nine holes designed by Jones Sr.
Fishing
Find information and articles all about fishing in the local area. Learn where to go to charter a leisure cruise or deep sea fishing trip. If freshwater fishing is more to your liking, the Emerald Coast has miles and miles of creeks and acres of ponds where you can find some of the best fishing in the region.
Fishing licenses - where to go to get a license for fresh and saltwater fishing.
Fresh water fishing - where to find all the best rivers and ponds.
Saltwater fishing - Whether you want to fish from the beach, a pier or aboard a charter, where you go to catch the "big one."
Tackling the tackle box - What the best-dressed tackle boxes include for a day of fishing.
Dan Russell Pier
16101 Front Beach Road
Panama City, FL 32413
(850) 233-5080
Parks
Some of the Panhandle's most scenic parks are located in or near Panama City. Enjoy the unspoiled beauty while hiking nature trails or kayaking along the Emerald Coast.
Camp Helen State Park
23937 Panama City Beach Pkwy.
Panama City, FL 32413
(850) 233-5059
St. Andrew's State Park
4607 State Park Lane
Panama City, FL 32408
(850) 233-5140
Joe Moody Park - lake, nature area, 800-foot boardwalk, community center, special events
9th Street
Panama City, FL 32401
(850) 872-3199
Frank Brown Park - ball fields, tennis courts, beach volleyball pit, indoor gym, fishing ponds, dog park, aquatic center, picnic pavilions, playground, special events
16200 Panama City Beach Pkwy.
Panama City, FL 32413
(850) 233-5045
Fine Arts
Check out the local talent at these art galleries or take an art class or two.
Visual Arts Center
19 E Fourth St.
Panama City, FL 32401
(850) 769-4451
Martin Theatre
409 Harrison Ave.
Panama City . FL 32401
(850) 763-8080
Restaurants
When you want to know where the finest places to eat are, just ask the locals. These Panama City eateries got top marks from the people who know the town the best.
Dado's Café & Pub
425 Grace Ave.
Panama City, FL 32401
Phone (850) 215-1283
Chula's by Rita
750 W 15th St.
Panama City, FL 32401
(850) 215-7472
Tally-Ho
1449 Harrison Ave
Panama City, FL 32401
(850) 769-2436
Shopping
When on vacation it is almost sacrilegious too forget to bring home souvenirs. Find just the right relic, along with a perfect beach outfit, at any of these area shopping centers.
Panama City Mall
2150 N Cove Blvd
Panama City, FL 32405
(850) 785-9587
Pier Park - 900,000 sq. ft. tourist extravaganza featuring restaurants, retail shops, a 16-screen theater, and beach access boardwalk
Panama City Beach Parkway
Panama City Beach, FL 32414
(850) 236-9974
Nightlife
Whether it's good food, cold drinks, or rocking music, Panama City's nightlife promises everyone a great time. Check out these nightspots when planning an evening on the town.
Mulligan's
1000 E 23rd St., Unit B
Panama City, FL 32405
(850) 215-3663
Java Bar
233 Harrison Ave.
Panama City, FL 32401
(850) 215-5225
Hooter's
676 W 23rd St., #B
Panama City, FL 32405
(850) 873-9993
Club La Vela
8813 Thomas Drive
Panama City Beach, FL 32408
(850) 234-3866
Spinnaker
8795 Thomas Drive
Panama City Beachm, FL 32408
(850) 234-7892
Festivals
Panama City knows how to celebrate. The area offers a choice of festivals recognizing the region's rich heritage, abundant seafood delicacies, or a simple gala to mark the end of summer.
Mardi Gras Parades and Festival - mid-February, culminates with the Krewe of St. Andrews parade.
Festival contact - (850) 763-6261
Panama City Highland Games and Scottish Festival - early March
Festival contact - (850) 769-4000
National Shrimp and Oyster Festival at St. Andrew's - early April
Festival contact - (850) 230-3716.
Thunder Beach Motorcycle Rally - Spring Rally early May, Fall Rally late September
Rally contact - (850) 249-7627
Bay Point Invitational Billfish Tournament - mid-July
Tournament contact - (850) 233-1633
Indian Summer Festival - mid-October
Museums
There is nothing boring about these museums. Kids can participate in a wide variety of scientific adventures at the Junior Museum while parents take a look back at rare, and unusual diving memorabilia at the Museum of Man-in-the-Sea.
Junior Museum of Bay County - hands-on science center
1731 Jenks Ave.
Panama City, FL, 32405
(850) 769-6128