A Weekend Escape in Panama City Beach
I’m not kidding when I say, Panama City Beach is PARADISE FOUND.
Being a born & raised Florida gal, I STILL can’t believe it took me this long to visit Panama City Beach (not to mention, it was also our very first time in the panhandle?!)
So grateful for having Visit PCB host us on this dream beach getaway and reminding us just how freaking lucky we are to call this state home :)
We fell in love. The insane crystal clear water, the seaside restaurants, the locals and just the overall beach town feels was everything and more than we had expected. If you’re looking for a tropical getaway (even if you’re from Florida), PCB is a MUST VISIT. Here’s what we did!
Miami -> Panama City beach, florida
As soon as we arrived, we rented a car at the airport and drove straight to our beachfront stay. I would definitely recommend renting a car instead of taking an Uber everywhere––this way you’ll have more of a chance to explore around PCB!
where we stayed
We checked into Holiday Inn Resort and loved our stay here. If you’re visiting PCB, I would highly suggest staying at a beachfront resort to get the full experience! The poolside bar & restaurant was great, they have a lazy river (!!!) and the beach balcony views are incredible. See little vid below x
where we ate
Breakfast:
The Pour - Please visit this coffee shop :’) Not only is their hand-crafted coffee heavenly, but the ambience and community behind this cafe was everything. We came about 4 times because of how much we loved it. They also have reallllly yummy homemade treats.
Finns Island Style Grub - this was by far our absolute FAVORITE spot for breakfast! We also loved it so much, we came back the next day hehe. Their banana pancakes and breakfast tacos are crazy good. They also have a Barista Bar & Snack Shack which delicious smoothie bowls, toasts, coffee + more.
Andy’s Flour Power - if you love homey american breakfasts, this is definitely the place. It almost feels like the town’s local diner.
Lunch:
The Seaglass Bar Grille at the Holiday Inn is a great spot if you're enjoying a full beach day at the resort.
Schooners - this is a local’s favorite beach spot! they have live music, fresh seafood, oceanfront views––you can literally walk straight onto the beach from the dining area! Make reservations beforehand!
Hang Five - another great beach bar - perfect for enjoying a drink with a view.
Dinner:
Runaway Island - this was such a beautiful place to enjoy a local seafood dinner + sunset. There’s an outdoor deck with a boardwalk that takes you right on the beach. Definitely recommend!
The Grand Marlin - WOW the food was incredible here (our favorite dinner spot hands down). Must add to your itinerary!
things to do
Before you book anything – make sure you enjoy a FULL day out on the beach. There’s just no better way to soak up the delicious ocean water and sunshine here hehe.
Jet Ski Adventure Tour | Lagoon Pontoon - this 2 hour tour was SO much fun. We headed over to Shell Island and St. Andrews Bay, saw some cutie dolphins swim right by us and explored all the beautiful sea life!
Paddleboard or Kayak | Paradise Adventures - you can paddle through the private shallow lagoon area behind the Sheraton PCB Resort.
Visit the Pier Park & ride the SkyWheel - you can relax, walk around Pier Park, enjoy a smoothie or ice-cream and ride the SkyWheel for sundown. It has some really pretty views of PCB from above!
Dolphin Sunset Cruise with Island Time Sailing - this was such a sweet way to end our visit! We cruised around Shell Island during golden hour, saw heaps of dolphins swimming around, soaked up the sunset hues and island music - it was just perfect :)
If there’s one place we want to head back to this summer, it’s the panhandle because it truly is the sweetest slice of paradise here.
I created a whole Instagram story highlight of our visit to PCB! If you’re interested in visiting and have ANY questions - comment below or feel free to message me on insta!
