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Panama City Beach, Florida, has something for everyone and is one of our favorite places to spend time in the Sunshine State. Today, I want to share some of our favorite fun things to do in Panama City Beach with kids in 2024!
We have done pretty much all of these, so I will include my photos and some of my best tips for visiting each location on your family trip to Panama City Beach, or PCB, as the locals call it!
Things To Do In Panama City Beach With Kids
Get ready for sun, sea, and sand as we uncover the top things to do in PCB with kids. From strolling Shell Island to buckling in for a wild airboat tour, this list guarantees a family vacation filled with joy, laughter, and memories that’ll last a lifetime.
But, first, I want to quickly touch on where Panama City Beach is, the different types of accommodations for families in Panama City Beach, and the Panama City Beach airport.
Where Is Panama City Beach?
Panama City Beach is located in the northwestern part of Florida along the Gulf of Mexico, known as the Florida panhandle. This area is renowned for its stunning white sandy beaches and crystal-clear emerald waters.
Situated approximately 95 miles southwest of the state capital, Tallahassee, Panama City Beach is a popular Florida tourist destination known for its vibrant atmosphere, water sports, and diverse recreational activities.
Booking.comFamily Accommodations in Panama City Beach
Compared to other popular beach communities in this area, such as 30A, visitors to Panama City Beach will find plenty of beachfront accommodations. The coast is lined with hotels and condominium-style vacation rentals.
Our favorite hotels include the Holiday Inn Resort Panama City Beach, the Hyatt Place Beachfront Panama City Beach, and the Gulf-front Holiday Inn Express Panama City Beach. All offer large pools featuring lazy rivers and family friendly rooms, and the latter two also have complimentary breakfast!
Panama City Beach Airport
The Panama City Beach airport might confuse you because it’s not called that. The local airport is called Northwest Florida Beaches Airport (ECP). It is set inland for about 20 minutes, but there is no shortage of Ubers or shuttles.
I have a Guide To 30A and Panama City Beach Airports with all about this airport and which cities offer direct flights. Feel free to read that!
19+ Top Things To Do In Panama City Beach With Kids
So, let’s dive in and look at 19+ fun things to do in Panama City Beach with kids. Mixing beach and pool days with outings and adventures, your family can easily spend a week here and have enough things to do!
Please note that many of these activities are seasonal, so please verify they are open and secure any required advance tickets before visiting.
1. Visit Shell Island
Grab your sunscreen and hop on a boat to this pristine paradise. This primitive barrier island is one of my favorite places! Only accessible by boat, it does require a little planning ahead. Our favorite way to get there is by renting a pontoon boat for the day, but there is also a shuttle and organized boat outings.
In Summer and Fall, when the water is warmest, the Paradise Adventures waterpark in the bay is really fun for kids!
READ: Guide To Visiting Shell Island in PCB
2. Sea Dragon Pirates Cruise
If you have young kids, they will get a kick out of this exciting 2-hour family Pirate cruise!
Board a real pirate ship and enjoy dolphin sightings, music, and non-stop pirate activities for the kids. Parents can relax and enjoy the coastal breeze as the crew keeps the kids entertained with sword fighting, swabbing the deck, finding treasure, and, of course, having a pirate dance party. And yes, there is a cannon!
INFO: Sea Dragon Pirate Cruise (March – October)
3. Pier Park: Shopping, Dining, & Fun
It’s fun to stroll along the bright and colorful buildings as you enjoy shopping at the 120+ stores. Families can dine at iconic family vacation spots such as Margaritaville and Dick’s Last Resort. However, Pier Park offers a lot more!
Here, you can ride the famous Panama City Beach Skywheel, enjoy an IMAX movie, play at Dave and Buster’s, and tackle the Mirror Maze or Pirate’s Quest Laser Tag.
MORE INFO: Pier Park
4. Gulf World: Swim With Dolphins In Panama City Beach
Dive into the wonders of marine life at Gulf World PCB. From kid friendly dolphin shows to special interactive exhibits, your kids will be fascinated and sure to enjoy the Gulf World. However, please know this is a smaller place and different from sites like SeaWorld or the Georgia Aquarium.
However, they do offer a few different 30-minute dolphin encounter experiences. I recommend booking these in advance!
5. Spend A Day At The Beach
I can’t go any further without mentioning the beach. With so many fun things to do in Panama City Beach with kids, it may be tempting to overplan your trip. But please leave plenty of time for the beach!
Hopefully, you are staying at a condo or hotel directly on the beach, but even if you aren’t, just know that Panama City Beach has a lot of public beach access compared to places like 30A, where most of the 30A beaches are private. If you aren’t staying beachfront, consider going to St. Andrews State Park (more on that later).
Also, at many of the beaches, you can do banana boat rides and even parasailing!
Please pay attention to the beach flags. Knee deep is too deep on red flag days, and the water is closed when you see double red flags flying. This is due to dangerous rip currents. Please do not let your kids in the water when there are red flags. Also, to learn more about the beach flag system and sign up for current beach conditions text alerts here.
6. Wild Thang Airboat Tours
We always drive past this place on the way to our condos on 30A, and it’s still on our bucket list. However, people have nothing but good things to say about it. So, I feel confident recommending it to you!
Hop on an airboat and take a thrilling ride through the marshes and backwaters, searching for alligators, dolphins, and birds! They offer 1/2-hour rides, 1-hour rides, and even night rides!
LEARN MORE: Wild Thang Airboat Tours
7. Ride The Scream Machine: High-Speed Speedboat Thrill Ride
Hold on to your hats! The Scream Machine is not your average boat ride; it’s a thrill-packed adventure on the high seas. Feel the wind in your hair as you embark on a high-speed escapade, perfect for the whole family.
Kids must be at least 38″ tall, and you will get wet on this exhilarating one-hour boat ride. We haven’t done this yet ourselves, but I always see it listed among the top things to do in Panama City Beach with kids
8. Enjoy St. Andrews State Park
A true gem, St. Andrews State Park is a great place to spend the day. With hiking trails, white sand beaches, and opportunities for birdwatching, it’s a nature lover’s paradise for families seeking a day in the sun. This is one of our favorite cheap things to do in Panama City Beach, Florida.
One of the most popular areas here is the jetties. Kids play on the rocks and snorkel in the shallow waters of St. Andrews Bay as they watch the boats come and go. You can even take one of the shuttles to Shell Island from here!
Other popular Florida State Parks in the area include Camp Helen State Park, Grayton Beach State Park, and Eden Gardens State Park.
MORE INFO: St. Andrews State Park (a Florida State Park)
9. Wonderworks Museum Panama City Beach
This is one of my go-to rainy-day recommendations for my guests at our 30A Airbnb rentals. However, it’s everyone else’s, too! So, it can get busy on rainy days, so consider it for one of those mornings where you just need to get everyone out of the sun for a bit!
You can’t miss this 29,000 square feet educational and entertaining museum as it’s housed in an upside-down building. Kids will surely get a kick out of it, and my two kids have loved visiting over the years!
WEBSITE: Wonderworks PCB
10. Book A Catamaran Sunset Cruise or Daytime Snorkel Trip
This is my favorite thing to do in Panama City Beach, Florida! Paradise Adventures offers wonderful daytime or evening catamaran cruises that are kid-friendly!
So, climb aboard for a breathtaking cruise along the Gulf of Mexico. Watch as the sky transforms before your eyes, creating a magical backdrop for quality family time. Don’t forget the camera – these moments are picture-perfect. This is also one of my favorite things to do in Panama City Beach for adults.
READ: Book A Daytime or Sunset Sail in PCB
11. Coconut Creek Family Fun Park
Putt-putt your way through one or both of the 18-hour mini-golf courses for family fun at Coconut Creek. Or, opt for the Gran Maze. Kids 5 and under pay for free! This is one of the best things to do in Panama City Beach at night for families.
You will also find many other great mini golf courses, go-carts, arcades, and fun parks in the Panama City Beach area!
WEBSITE: Coconut Creek Family Fun Park
12. Ripley’s Believe It Or Not: Oddities and Amazements
One of TripAdvisor’s Travelers Choice 2023 award winners, Ripley’s Believe It Or Not, promises an eccentric adventure for the whole family. From bizarre artifacts to mind-boggling illusions, it’s sure to elicit some interesting reactions from the kids!
Plan 1-2 hours for this museum. And it’s another great rainy day or got-too-much-sun inside activity in PCB.
WEBSITE: Ripley’s Believe It Or Not Panama City Beach
13. Off-shore Fishing: Reel in Family Fun
Cast a line and reel in the fun with an off-shore fishing adventure!
Whether you’re a seasoned angler or a first-timer, the Gulf waters near Panama City Beach offer some of the best fishing around.
There are quite a variety of options when it comes to off-shore fishing. Visitors can plan in advance and book all-day deep-sea fishing trips or just adventure out for a couple of hours on a Captain Anderson vessel.
The best way to see the options is on the Visit Panama City Beach Fishing Charter page. There are almost 60 options listed! However, please remember that you need somewhere to keep your catch for the remainder of your trip and a way to get it home! On our last outing, we caught the maximum amount of snapper and are still eating it.
14. Summer Fun At Shipwreck Island Waterpark
Summers are hot on the Gulf Coast, and for years, both visitors and locals alike have cooled off at Shipwreck Island Waterpark. Centrally located in Panama City Beach, Shipwreck Island has thrilling slides, lazy rivers, and wave pools. This waterpark is always a great time for the entire family, and it’s consistently rated as one of the top things to do in Panama City Beach with kids.
WEBSITE: Shipwreck Island Waterpark
15. Sharky’s Beachfront Dining With A Sandy Playground
Savor the flavors of Panama City Beach at Sharky’s. Adults can enjoy beachfront dining under the giant tiki while the kids run around and play on the playgrounds (on the sand). The ocean breeze and fresh seafood make for an unforgettable family meal.
Also, we always try to go when they have live music! It’s one of the most iconic and unique things to do in Panama City Beach, Florida.
MENUS + EVENTS: Sharky’s Beachfront Restaurant
16. Dolphin Watching In Panama City Beach
It’s common to see dolphins frolicking in the Gulf from your beach chair while in Panama City Beach, Florida!
Additionally, you can set sail on a dolphin-watching excursion and witness these playful creatures in their natural habitat. It’s a magical experience that’ll leave your family in awe as they chase behind you in the wake of the boat.
You may want to consider a private dolphin-watching trip. Additionally, several companies offer group dolphin-watching trips, and below is one of our favorites!
17. ZooWorld: The Panama City Beach Zoo
For a dose of furry, feathery fun, ZooWorld is your go-to destination. You can even opt for up-close encounters with exotic animals, including a Snuggle A Lemur and Pet A Sloth! This small zoo is easy to navigate and makes for a great educational outing. It’s one of the most popular things to do in Panama City Beach with kids of all ages.
WEBSITE: ZooWorld PCB
18. Sandcastle Lessons Panama City Beach
Want to really impress your kids? Book a sandcastle lesson!
That Sandcastle Guy and Beach Sand Sculptures offer private sandcastle-making lessons for your family. You need to book these in advance! Also, these lessons can be pricy. I consider them best for slightly older kids who listen and can follow directions well. This really is one of those fun activities for teens!
19. Plan A Day Trip From PCB
There are so many other great things to do within an hour of Panama City Beach, many even closer! Day trips include visiting 30A, driving up to Florida Caverns State Park, a kayak or canoe outing to Cypress Springs, family horseback riding near Panama City Beach, and so much more!
READ: Day Trips From 30A & Panama City Beach
More Things To Do In Panama City Beach With Kids
This list covers many of our favorite things to do in Panama City Beach with kids, but there are so many things to do in Panama City Beach with kids! Consider escape rooms, pier fishing, local shopping, bookstores, and more.
RELATED POST: Fun Water Activities in Panama City Beach
Local parks, including Aaron Bessant Park, Conservation Park, and Frank Brown Park, are great places to visit. Enjoy summer concert series, playgrounds, and biking.
In addition, the Forbidden Tomb Escape Room has rave reviews on Trip Advisor!
Here are a few other top-rated PCB activities to consider!
- Cypress Springs Eco Adventure
- Fear At The Pier Haunted Attraction
- Swampy Jack’s Wongo Adventure
- Gator Country Alligator Park
- Ax Throwing PCB
- Stolen Relic Escape Room
Your Family Trip To Panama City Beach
Panama City Beach is a treasure trove of family adventures, offering a perfect blend of sun-soaked beaches, thrilling attractions, and unforgettable experiences. As you can see, there are so many great things to do in Panama City Beach with kids.
From the wild rides tracking gators to serene sunsets aboard a catamaran, every moment is an opportunity to create cherished memories with your children. So, pack your bags and enjoy your family vacation to Panama City Beach, Florida!
PIN: Fun Things To Do In Panama City Beach With Kids
