Relax and Recharge at the Bluegreen Bayside Resort in Panama City Beach

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NOTE: This post was originally written as a partnership with the Sheraton Panama City Beach Golf & Spa Resort. Since then, the property has changed hands and is now Bluegreen Bayside Resort Panama City Beach. Most everything remains the same other than the name. So, I am updating this post in early 2024 to reflect the new name and any changes that I am aware of.

When you hear Panama City Beach, I bet you picture highrises and tourist attractions, but what if I told you that there is a whole other way to experience this little slice of paradise?   I am talking about a place where nature rules, the pace is slower, and outdoor activities take center stage.  I am talking about the Bluegreen Bayside Resort in Panama City Beach!

Visiting Panama City Beach, Florida

We first discovered the Bluegreen Bayside Resort Panama City Beach back in 2020 when we planned a last-minute weekend getaway.  Matt especially fell in love with the property.   Long walks down the pier and sipping coffee while watching the boats come in and out proved to be just what he needed after a long work week.   

We ended up visiting again in mid-May knowing that it was a great place to social distance during the pandemic and enjoy the outdoors for a couple of days.  It’s just over 90 minutes straight south of our home in Dothan, Alabama, so a nice little getaway.

So, when the hotel recently invited us back for a visit, I knew that it was a definite yes.   In fact, we already had the property on our shortlist of ideas for an upcoming holiday weekend vacation with our friends.  The timing was perfect, and we were able to spend Labor Day weekend down there.

Today, I am excited to be able to share this hidden gem with you.  We were hosted for a portion of the stay but paid for all activities ourselves, and of course, all opinions are my own.   And all of the photographs as well!  I hope you enjoy them!

While there are so many reasons to love the Bluegreen Bayside Resort Panama City Beach.

The highlight for me is their marina, which has recently reopened after extensive damage by Hurricane Michael.   You can spend a weekend on the water without having to get into your car!  A local favorite, Paradise Adventures, offers Adventure and Sunset Catamaran Tours, Pontoon Boat Rentals, Jet Skis, paddleboards, kayaks, and more!  Last weekend, we did a full-day pontoon rental and also a sunset cruise, and both were, hands down, the highlights of the weekend.

But first, I want to tell you a little more about the property

The Bluegreen Bayside Resort Panama City Beach

Located on the Grand Lagoon in the Bay Point community of Panama City Beach, this expansive property has something for everyone!  I was actually telling Matt that it would be the perfect place for a multigenerational family beach vacation. 

 And that includes your pets!  Not only are pets welcome, but it truly is a pet-friendly destination.  With paths and green spaces for daily walks, ground floor rooms, outdoor dining, and shallow bay access, your four-legged children will have just as much fun as everyone else!

This top-rated resort is home to the only Nicklaus Design golf course in northwest Florida, a full-service upscale spa, tennis courts, conference facilities, a variety of restaurants, two pools, a white-sand bayside beach, and, of course, the marina!   The beautifully maintained grounds provide an ideal setting for weddings, and the spectacular views are perfect for any outdoor gathering.

Bluegreen Panama City Beach Accommodations

We stayed in a bay-view room at the Bluegreen Panama City Beach with two queen beds, and the view of St. Andrews State Park, Shell Island, and the Grand Lagoon can’t be beaten!   These spacious rooms are equipped with flat-screen TVs, wifi, a mini-fridge, and, of course, very comfortable beds.

This is a nice, low-key key, and spread-out property compared to many of the highrise-style accommodations in Panama City Beach, Florida. Even when the property was at capacity last weekend, we never felt crowded.   There was enough space around the two pools and along the white sandy beach to truly relax.  

The Pools & The Beach at the Bluegreen Panama City Beach

The Bluegreen Bayside Resort Panama City Beach has two pools, and since our stay has added a new hot tub!

In addition to the pools, there is a white sand beach out at the tip of the peninsula.  Chairs and umbrellas are provided, and it is the perfect place to relax!  Every morning, Matt and I grabbed some coffee from the cafe and walked out to the beach.  We watch the boats head out with views of Shell Island and St. Andrews State Park in the distance.

The above photo was taken the Sunday of Labor Day Weekend and look at how much open space there is!  I know for a fact that over on the Gulf side of Panama City Beach, the beaches were packed. 

 I knew the hotel was pretty full, so I was surprised and delighted when we had this area almost all to ourselves for the day! There are little white crabs that peek their head out of the sand, and we love watching them scoot around.   This shallow area is perfect for snorkeling!  The kids pulled out living sand dollars, crabs, and even a living scallop!

In the bay, there are thousands of hermit crabs, too!   You can see them dotted all along the shoreline as you walk the pier.  The kids love to just sit and observe them.   This is where we rented the clear kayaks (remember this post) last May.  That is a really fun way to get out over the shallow water and look for creatures!  Next on our list is to try the paddleboards.

Food & Drink at the Bluegreen Bayside Resort Panama City Beach

At the Bluegreen Bayside Resort Panama City Beach you have several options for dining.  The cafe near the lobby sells grab-and-go food as well as coffee. 

Tides is their upscale option that also serves breakfast.   Our favorite place for food and drink is Flip Flops, located outside between the pools.  They have a great kids’ menu and serve refreshing tropical cocktails.  It’s all open-air, and there is plenty of outdoor seating.

A visit here would not be complete without catching the sunset while enjoying some food and drink at Pelicans.  This seasonal, open-air bar and grill is located out on the boardwalk, just steps from both the marina and the white sandy beach.  Not only is it popular with hotel guests, but boaters from all around love to pop by for a good meal.

They also have Bar 72 located out on the golf course.  Matt and I rode the complimentary YOLO bikes around one afternoon and popped in there for a cool drink.

Fun on the Water at the Bluegreen Bayside Resort

So, I am excited to share these next two parts of our trip with you!   I absolutely love that you can rent a pontoon boat from Paradise Adventures here at the Bluegreen Bayside Resort Panama City Beach. 

Not having to load everyone up into the car with all of the stuff you need for a full day on the water is priceless!  They even have wagons to make it even easier to get ready for your boat trip!

There are options for half-day and full-day rentals through Paradise Adventures.  I always recommend the full day because it goes by faster than you think!  Also, if you have the full-day rental, that slip is yours for the day. 

So, when traveling with small children or even grandparents, you can easily swing back by midday to give some of the party a break.

So, you probably want to know where you even take the boat, right?  This is the best part! 

Shell Island, Panama City Beach

The Bluegreen Bayside Resort Panama City Beach is super close to Shell Island!  This 7-mile barrier island is only accessible via boat and provides an unspoiled taste of true Florida.  The white sand beaches and coastal dunes could grace the cover of any travel magazine, and when out on the sand, without a soul in sight, you will feel like you are on a deserted island somewhere in the Caribbean. 

Take my word on this; you must visit Shell Island next time you visit this area.

Read: The Ultimate Guide To Visiting Shell Island Panama City Beach

Shell Island has a bay side where you can drop anchor anywhere.  There are a few popular areas for boats to gather and in many places, there is a walk over to the Gulf side of the Island. Over on that side, you have the white sand and emerald green waters that the panhandle is known for.

If you want to do some snorkeling, the bay is the place to be! 

I can’t believe everything that the kids found that day.  They came up with sand dollars, sea urchins, starfish, and scallops, and every few minutes, someone would squeal with delight as they saw schools of colorful fish swim by! 

And speaking of squealing with delight, we even saw the ice cream man come by on a set ski!

You could easily spend the entire day trolling up and down the island, but we always like to leave at least an hour to go to the tide pools near the jetty. 

This area is directly across from the eastern tip of St Andrews State Park and has similar black rock jetties.   Between the rocks and the sand, the water is often only inches to maybe a couple of feet deep, and the best place to snorkel.  I took a turn at it and every single time I went under I saw something new including beautiful black and yellow striped fish!

You may even see a mermaid!

Sunset Cruises at the Bluegreen Bayside Resort Panama City Beach

The following night, we also booked a sunset cruise with Paradise Adventures.  Matt and I did this together when we visited in March, and I knew that the kids would love it!  Our friends booked one for the same time, and the memories they made are priceless. 

The quote that kept coming to mind as they sat together, getting an occasional splash while watching the sun set came from good old Winnie The Pooh.

“We didn’t realize we were making memories, we just knew we were having fun.”

The approx 90-minute outing is fairly inexpensive and our trip included a free drink for the adults.  To be honest, this is probably one of the best value-for-your-money activities in all of Panama City Beach!

READ: 19+ Fun Things To Do In Panama City Beach, Florida

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I hope this post helps you in planning a visit to Panama City Beach! 

We are ready to head back as soon as we can.  I didn’t mention this earlier, but Fall is my favorite time of year along the coast.  The water is warm, like bathwater, making snorkeling and boating so much more enjoyable. The days are still long, and the pace is even slower.  I hope that you can make it down soon

PIN: Bluegreen Bayside Resort Panama City Beach