Best Things to do in Panama City Beach With Kids

Panama City Beach (PCB) is a family-friendly destination on Florida’s Emerald Coast known for its white sandy beaches, crystal-clear waters, and a variety of kid-friendly activities.

Visiting Panama City Beach feels so nostalgic packed with all of the fun things I enjoyed as a kid – arcades, mini golf, fun pools, and generally just an endless list of fun things to do.

Whether you’re planning a relaxing beach getaway or an action-packed vacation, PCB has something for kids of all ages. Here’s a list of the best family-friendly activities and things to do with kids in Panama City Beach:

Visit the Beaches

Panama City Beach is home to 27 miles of beautiful beaches. There are around 100 access points, so accessing the beach is easy.

Here are some of the best areas to explore the coast if you aren’t staying somewhere with easy beach access:

• St. Andrews State Park is around 1,200 acres and has over 1.5 miles of gorgeous beaches. It’s perfect for swimming, shelling, and relaxing. You can camp here as well with reservations.
• Nearby Camp Helen State Park is another more secluded area. It’s a bit of a walk to the beach but less crowded. This is also a great, picturesque area to rent a kayak.
• Shell Island is only accessible by boat, but worth the trip! If you don’t have a boat, I have some tour options listed below.

Boat Tours

Experiencing a new city from the water is a great way of exploring.

And basically, if there is something you want to do on the water, it’s available in Panama City Beach.

From water sports to chartered boats, here are some of the best tours:

• Shell Island Snorkel & Dolphin Catamaran – Take a catamaran to the famous Shell Island. The catamaran is stocked with paddle boards, a water slide, and all the gear you need to snorkel. On the way, you’ll hopefully see dolphins in their natural habitat (they’re wild animals so nothing is guaranteed, of course)
• Sunset and Dolphin Catamaran – A sunset cruise. You’ll sail for two hours watching dolphins as the sun sets
• Take a Day Trip to Cypress Springs – Florida Springs are gaining popularity because they are so beautiful it’s almost unbelievable. This tour takes you to Cypress Springs where you will canoe, kayak, or paddleboard.
• Jet Ski to Shell Island – This is a good option if you prefer to jet ski!

Pirates Voyage

The Pirates Voyage Dinner and Show is a fun and interactive show for the entire family. You get a 4-course meal while watching a pirate show featuring acrobats, dancers, music, and even a dog and seal!

Shipwreck Island Waterpark

If you want a break from the beach, or a little bit more excitement, head to Shipwreck Island Waterpark. It is one of the top water parks in Florida.

They have water slides, a wave pool, a play area for younger kids, a lazy river, and raging rapids.

Artsy Things to do in (and Around) Panama City Beach

These are some great artsy options:

Panama City Hot Glass Studio

This is a really fun and unique activity for kids who can follow directions (I would not bring my toddlers here because they would probably try to destroy everything – ha). The hot glass studio has workshops, classes, a gallery, and a gift shop.

You can work with a glassblower to make your own glass! They have a few different shapes/things that you can make including bowls and vases.

Atelier Candle Bar

At Atelier Candle Bar, you can make your own custom candle. You can choose from over 80 fragrance oils.

It only takes around 45 minutes. After that, the candle does need to set for around 2 hours.

They do have a cafe attached to the building so you can grab lunch if you’d like. Every candle pour includes a craft cocktail, beer, wine, or mocktail as well.

Pier Park

Pier Park is one of the top things to do in Panama City Beach. It’s a large outdoor shopping and entertainment center with restaurants and local shops. There are actually over 120 stores here.

I actually typically don’t love shopping on vacation, but walking around Pier Park is one of my favorite things to do in Panama City Beach.

There is also a SkyWheel, which is a giant ferris wheel that has panoramic views of Panama City beach. Our entire family loved doing this – we did it at night and it was cool to see all of the lights, but it would also be cool to see the beach during the day.

Pier Park is also home to Emerald Coast Mirror Maze, an IMAX theatre, laser tag, a rope course, water bumper boats, and so much more.

Visit a Waterfront Park

There are quite a few waterfront parks in and around the Panama City Beach area. We love grabbing a coffee then starting our morning at one of them.

Carl Gray Park

Our toddlers loved the waterfront playground here. This is also a good spot to launch a boat or kayaks. They have plenty of parking and picnic tables.

Address: 4600 Collegiate Drive

Oaks By the Bay Park

This is one of my favorite parks I’ve ever been to. It doesn’t have a playground but it’s a beautiful place to walk around and wander.

It’s quiet and right on the water in historic St Andrews. You can take a boardwalk over the dune to the water. We were the only ones at the secluded bayside beach when we visited.

They have a weekly market here on Saturdays from 9-1.

Location: 2715 W 10th Street

Museums

There are also several museums in the area. Right now, we travel with young kids (two toddlers and a baby) so most of these are not super appropriate for their ages but older kids will likely love and appreciate some of these places:

Man in the Sea Museum: A military diving museum. Note that at the time of this writing, the museum is only open Wednesday through Friday.

Panama City Center for the Arts: They have rotating art exhibits and there are also various class options for all ages.

Gallery of Art on Beach Drive: A gallery with both local and regional art.

Crushed Glass Art Studio PCB: You can make your own glass art or shop for unique souvenirs.

Panama City Publishing Company Museum: Housed in the actual Panama City Publishing Company building from 1920, you can see vintage printing equipment and learn more about the history of publishing.

Much of the museum focuses on George Mortimer West, who did a lot of things in his life. He was a writer, promoter, economist, horticulturist, railroader, entrepreneur, attorney, photographer, a founding father, and of course a publisher. You’ll also learn about his third wife, Lillian, who ran the printing company for more than 10 years after his death. Located in the historic St. Andrews neighborhood.

Bay County History Museum: A newer museum that opened in 2014. They have permanent and temporary exhibits about the history of the Florida Panhandle and Panama City.

Hands-On Fun

Here are some fun hands-on things to do in Panama City Beach:

Science & Discovery Center of Northwest Florida

This museum is a bit smaller than WonderWorks and Ripley’s but has tons of great hands on and interactive exhibits.

It has rotating exhibits and activities including interactive science and natural history displays, play areas for little kids, live reptiles, and a nature trail. 

Ripley’s Believe it or Not! Odditorium

Ripley’s is right across the street from WonderWorks. It’s home to bizarre exhibits and interactive displays.

There is a mirror maze, a moving theater, and artifacts from around the world. The museum is dedicated to quirky, fun, and weird things that are fascinating and out of the ordinary.

WonderWorks

WonderWorks is a hands-on museum housed in an upside down house. It’s funky and so much fun.

There are over 100 hands-on exhibits. Our kids were 2 and 3 years old at the time of our visit and I was worried there wouldn’t be enough for them to do, but they were happily entertained for several hours. It’s also fun for older kids with a ropes course, laser tag, and more.

There are a few other WonderWorks throughout the US, including in Orlando, Pigeon Forge, Myrtle Beach, Syracuse, and Branson.

Conservation Park

If your family enjoys the outdoors, Conservation Park is a beautiful place to hike or bike.

• The park features over 24 miles of trails and boardwalks winding through wetlands and forests.
• Bring snacks, water, and a stroller for little ones who might tire out.

ZooWorld Zoological Park

ZooWorld is a smaller zoo with plenty of options to interact with animals.

They have experiences available with sloths, lemurs, giraffes, kangaroos, and more. The experiences with animals are an extra fee.

Since the zoo is smaller, you can get through it in around two hours, which makes it manageable. Our kids are still young, so it’s perfect for us.

The Portal

This is a unique spot that has tons of board games and unique soda combinations. Grab a unique drink and play some games with the whole family.

Games

If you are a family who enjoys a little friendly competition or bonding over some games, there are tons of opportunities.

Mini Golf

There are several places to play mini golf throughout Panama City Beach. We haven’t visited every single one, but every one we drove by looks like fun!

Here are some options:

Pirates Island Adventure Golf – Well-maintained mini golf spot featuring two 18-hole courses themed around pirates, caves and waterfalls.

Located at 9518 Front Beach Road

Coconut Creek Family Fun Park – This location is really cool because there are 3 mini golf courses plus a large maze.

Located at 9807 Front Beach Road

Rainforest Black Light Golf & Arcade – Super fun with black lights, animals, and dinosaurs. There is also a put put track and an arcade.

Located at 9129 Front Beach Road

Hidden Lagoon Super Race Track and Mini Golf – two 18 hole mini golf courses and a go-kart track

Located at 14414 Front Beach Road

Cobra Adventure Park – This spot has more than just mini golf, it also has go-karts, an arcade, and several large rides.

Location: 9323 Front Beach Road

Arcades

There are also tons of arcades throughout Panama City Beach. Here are some options:

• Rock’it Lanes (also a bowling alley) located at 513 N Richard Jackson Blvd
• 810 Entertainment located at 9902 S Thomas Dr Unit 23
• Rainforest Black Light Golf and Arcade located at 9129 Front Beach Road
• Cobra Adventure Park (also has mini golf and several large rides) located at 9323 Front Beach Road
• Dave and Buster’s located at 15701 L C Hilton Jr Dr (it’s in Pier Park, right by the Skywheel)
• Point Break Arcade (also a bar with 50 different craft beer options) located at 445 Harrison Ave

Walk the Pier

Panama City Beach actually has three piers.

St. Andrews State Park Pier – this pier stretches on the Grand Lagoon. There are also rocky jetties where people enjoy fishing and climbing. It’s also a great spot to watch the boats pass through. There is a small fee to enter the state park.

Russel-Fields Pier – this is a popular pier because it is right by Pier Park. It is $4 to walk the pier and you can purchase a daily fishing license for $7.

M.B. Miller County Pier – we usually visit this one due to its proximity to The Pour (our favorite coffee shop in the area). We grab a coffee on the way and walk the pier with coffee in hand. The pier extends 1500 feet into the Gulf. It’s $3 to walk the pier and $6 for a daily fishing license.

Kid Friendly Restaurants in Panama City Beach

If you want to go out to dinner with your kids, here are several kid-friendly restaurants in Panama City Beach:

Breakfast

The Pour Coffee and Community – We always get a coffee and a muffin from The Pour! We take it to go then walk the pier.

Thomas Donuts and Snack Shop – Some of the best donuts! They also have bacon breakfast biscuits which are delicious.

Andy’s Flour Power – They have delicious fresh breakfast and also serve lunch. They’re best known for their rolled omelets and french toast.

Family Friendly Lunch & Dinner Spots

Hook’d Pier Bar & Grill is a staple in Panama City Beach. Unfortunately, they recently had a fire and they are currently closed while they remodel but they are hopeful to reopen.

Capt. Anderson’s – A historic, well known restaurant in the area that’s been around for almost 60 years. Named among America’s top 50 restaurants and has an award from Southern Living for best seafood restaurant. They have 725 seats! It’s waterfront, right on a marina and it’s fun watching the boats go by. Do note that if you’re like us and love visiting in the off-season that they do close for one month every year (around January).

Saltwater Grill – In full disclosure, this is actually more of a romantic restaurant if you have the option to sneak away. But you can bring kids there and the real reason I’m still including this on the list is for their huge (25,000 gallon!) saltwater aquarium in the middle of the restaurant that kids will think is pretty cool.

Runaway Island has two levels of dining plus a huge outdoor deck. We ate on the deck at sunset and it was incredible. The drinks are also good and come in a to-go cup that you can get refilled at a discount at a few different places.

Schooners is right on the beach and has a sunset cannon every night. It’s laid back with sunset views and live music.

Papa Joe’s Bayside is located right on the bay. There’s wide open spaces to stretch out and play and the food consists of various food trucks. But just a heads up that this seems to be more of a summer thing. We never saw any food trucks during our one week stay during the winter months.

Sharkys is waterfront. It’s perfect for kid-friendly entertainment since there is also a playground located right on the sand.

Ready to Visit Panama City Beach, Florida?

Our entire family loves Panama City Beach and we take an annual family trip there.

As you can see, Panama City Beach vacation is perfect if you are a family wanting a mix of relaxation and adventure. You’ll love relaxing on white sand beaches yet there’s plenty of adventure if you want more excitement.

Hopefully this article helped you plan your trip!