Top 10 Reasons to Vacation on Panama City Beach

10. Weather
Do you know the average temperature for Panama City Beach? No? 78°. That’s right, a magnificent 78°, which I’ll bet for some of you is warmer than your summer days. Early spring begins late January where you will find “snowbirds” (winter vacationers) walking the beach, tanning and building sandcastles. Summer temperatures are in full swing by April, warming the gulf enough for water sports and excellent fishing. And the Fall, my personal favorite, keeps the nights a cool 68 – 75° , perfect for seasonal outings and dinner cruises.

9. Ripley’s Believe or Not Museum
Who doesn’t love a good ol’ shrunken head? But after a while even tiny skulls get boring. Panama City Beach’s “Ripley’s” has an added feature that’s sure to liven things up. A 4-D movie zooms you deep into a mine cave and up into space. Its totally fun. What’s even more amazing is that they even have a booth that transforms human beings into hermit crabs. Okay, that last bit wasn’t entirely true…but you’re welcome to believe it anyway…OR NOT!

8. Club La Vela
If clubs are your thing, there’s no better place to dance and play than the “Largest Club in the US”. Club La Vela has several themed rooms, each with its own atmosphere, ambiance, feel, and audience. You’ll find Hip-Hop, and High-Energy dance fans in the Thunderdome, you’ll see techno-lovers and trendy people in the Underground, Nightgallery, and in Galaxy Club dancing to Break Beats, Progressive House, Chicago Hard House, and Jungle. They even have Live Rock, a Sportszone and a Foam room. You’ll think you’ve died and gone to super-club heaven.

7. Pompanos Restaurant
Whenever tourists approach a local and ask where they can get fresh, delicious seafood, almost unfailingly, the answer is Pompanos Restaurant. Everything about Pompano’s exudes laid back beach. Located at the entrance to Front Beach Road, from the palm frond ceiling fans to the nautical theme, Pompanos doesn’t miss a beat. Startlingly fresh seafood, skillfully cut sushi and an atmosphere so relaxed and tropical you’ll want to take off your shirt and shoes and kick back. But, please, do remain clothed.

6. St. Andrews State Park
Perennially on top 10 lists for America’s most beautiful beaches, St. Andrews State Park is absolutely breathtaking. And there’s a great deal more to the park than beach. Vacationers get into nature and enjoy alligator ponds, nature trails, shell island tours, camp grounds and some of the best fishing in town. There are few things better on Panama City Beach then spending an afternoon at St. Andrews State Park, renting a jet ski and a snorkel and truly having an adventure. You’ll see dolphins, alligators, all sorts of marine life…definitely worth being called “World’s Most Beautiful Beach”.

5. Gulf World Marine Park – Panama City Beach
Have you ever wanted to swim with a dolphin? No, not a rubber-floaty shaped like a dolphin, an actual “Flipper” underwater mammal? Would you like to? If you answered yes, the place for you is Gulf World Marine Park on Panama City Beach. They offer full access to dolphin habitats allowing you to get pulled by a dorsal fin or get a dolphin kiss. They also offer opportunities to be a trainer for a day and learn what its like to take care of these awesome animals. But that’s not all. Not only can you swim with the dolphins, but hang out with sea lions, parrots, alligators, sting rays, sharks, sea turtles, penguins, reptiles and even Elvis. Yep, you heard right, Elvis.

4. Willy’s Pier Bar a.k.a The Pier Bar at Pineapple Willy’s
Show of hands; how many people like food, music, sports and beach? Good, that’s everyone. P. Willy’s Pier Bar rocks, literally and figuratively. A new addition to the Pineapple Willy’s restaurant, Pier Bar is the ultimate after-hours spot. All the best blues bands, awesome food and drinks and a better view of the beach than you can get on a postcard. Not as rowdy as a club, Pier Bar has just the right blend of laid back and exciting to make for an awesome night out. Pineapple Willy’s Pier Bar also made the top 5 places to watch the game list.

3. Firefly – Panama City Beach Restaurant
Good food can be found in many places. Great food, however, cannot. You might’ve had a dream once where you thought you had great food. It wasn’t great food. You haven’t enjoyed truly great food until you’ve tasted Firefly’s Espresso-braised Free-range Texas Boar Shank. Firefly is one of the most elegant dining experiences on the beach. The food is upscale, the setting is intimate and you will not find a trendier place for Martini’s. Also try the Ahi Tuna with the soy-lime ginger sauce. You’ll swear off cooking for a week.

2. Pier Park – Panama City Beach
Panama City Beach’s recent and biggest addition is Pier Park, an outdoor mall and entertainment boardwalk. Tourists and locals alike absolutely love Pier Park. If not for the great stores, then for the state-of-the-art movie theater, or the most unique restaurants in all of NW Florida, or the outdoor amphitheater with live summer shows. It can be any of those things, but my guess is everyone loves it because of the choo-choo train. Who doesn’t love a choo-choo train? Pier Park stands alone complete with festivals, events, rallies and all sorts of cool stuff normal “malls” just don’t have. Not to mention it’s on the beach. Come to PCB and go to Pier Park. If you don’t go to Pier Park you haven’t really vacationed on Panama City Beach.

1. The Beach
Were you expecting anything else? Panama City’s Beach is the number one reason to vacation on Panama City Beach. Show us an all around better beach that doesn’t require a passport and a vacation guide named Reynard who, for some odd reason, prefers banana hammocks over board shorts. Panama City Beach is without rival in that category. Although world renowned for its Spring Break season, after the students have gone back to school, the beach transforms; gone are all the beer cans and Mardi gras beads and what remains is a quiet, sparkling paradise. PCB has a dedicated Tourist Development Council that puts a lot of money and care into making PCB an enjoyable, relaxing experience for vacationers.

These are our reasons…

What are yours?