🏆 Things to Do · Panama City Beach
Things to Do in Panama City Beach
41 real attractions across eight categories — state parks and Shell Island, dolphin cruises and dive charters, Pier Park’s rides and museums, family entertainment, fishing, nature, and nightlife.
🗺 8 Categories
✅ Verified Direct Sources
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Panama City Beach’s attraction scene splits pretty cleanly between the natural side — St. Andrews State Park, Shell Island, dolphin cruises — and the built-up Pier Park side, with rides, museums, and mini golf. We verified every listing against its own official site and flagged two long-running names that are now permanently closed, so you don’t plan around something that’s no longer there.
State Parks, Barrier Islands & Public Beaches
St. Andrews State Park
1,200-acre state park with Gulf and bay beaches, jetties, a snorkeling reef, nature trails, and the boat launch for Shell Island.
Shell Island
Undeveloped barrier island with 7 miles of untouched beach, a dolphin habitat, and shelling — no permanent structures.
Camp Helen State Park
Historic 1930s fishing lodge site on Lake Powell, a rare coastal dune lake, with a footbridge to a secluded Gulf beach.
Russell-Fields City Pier & Beach
City-owned fishing pier and public beach with a dog-friendly beach access area.
Rick Seltzer Park
Public bayside park with a designated dog beach and picnic pavilions.
Dolphin Cruises, Diving, Parasailing & More
Shell Island Shuttle
Ferry service to Shell Island plus wild dolphin encounter tours and pontoon boat rentals.
Sea Screamer
High-speed 100-ft “world’s largest speedboat” dolphin-watching tour.
Sea Dragon Pirate Cruise
Family-oriented pirate-themed sightseeing cruise on Grand Lagoon.
Island Time Sailing
Catamaran-based Shell Island snorkel sails and sunset dolphin cruises.
Paradise Adventures Catamarans & Watersports
Catamaran and glass-bottom boat tours plus watersports rentals.
Florida Parasail Co.
Parasailing flights over the Gulf.
Sunshine Watersports of PC
Jet ski rentals and guided tours.
Divers Den
Scuba dive charters to Gulf wrecks and reefs — PCB is known as the “Wreck Capital of the South” — plus certification courses.
Paddle and Glow Night-Time Glow Kayaking
Self-guided illuminated kayak tour after dark on St. Andrews Bay/Grand Lagoon.
The Hub of PCB
Pier Park
Open-air shopping, dining, and entertainment complex with 100+ stores — the hub of PCB.
SkyWheel Panama City Beach
100+ ft enclosed-gondola observation wheel overlooking the Gulf.
Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Odditorium
Oddities and curiosities museum-attraction.
WonderWorks Panama City Beach
Upside-down building housing 100+ hands-on science exhibits, a ropes course, and laser tag.
The Escape Game Panama City Beach
Themed escape-room attraction.
Water Parks, Go-Karts & Mini Golf
Shipwreck Island Waterpark
Seasonal water park with slides, a lazy river, and a wave pool.
Race City
Amusement park with a roller coaster, multiple go-kart tracks, a sky coaster, and glow-in-the-dark mini golf.
Coconut Creek Family Fun Park
Three 18-hole tropical-themed mini golf courses plus a large human maze (“Gran Maze”).
Emerald Falls Family Recreation Center
Go-kart track, arcade, mini golf, and bumper boats.
Goofy Golf
Historic 1959 mini golf course famous for its giant dinosaur/monkey statues, still family-owned.
Rock’it Lanes
Bowling, roller skating, and a large arcade under one roof.
ZooWorld Zoological and Botanical Conservatory
Small zoo with big cats, primates, and a botanical garden setting.
Man in the Sea Museum
Military/commercial diving history museum, self-described “oldest diving museum in the world,” with SEALAB exhibits.
Capt. Anderson’s Marina
Deep-sea fishing headboat trips and private offshore charters.
M.B. Miller County Pier
County-owned Gulf fishing pier — no charter needed.
Hook’em Up Charters
Private deep-sea and reef/wreck fishing charters.
Panama City Beach Conservation Park
2,900-acre city-owned park with boardwalks, wetlands, and 10+ miles of hiking/biking trails.
Frank Brown Park
City sports/nature complex with walking trails, disc golf, a dog park, and an outdoor amphitheater.
Airboat Adventures of West Bay (“Swampvette”)
Guided airboat tours for alligator and wildlife viewing in the backwater bayous.
Panama City Beach Turtle Watch
Nonprofit sea turtle nest monitoring program — visitors can view marked nests and learn about conservation.
Spinnaker Beach Club & Paradise Grill
Longstanding (40+ year) beachfront nightclub complex with live bands, DJs, and karaoke.
Schooners – The Last Local Beach Club
Beachfront restaurant/bar known for live music and a nightly sunset cannon ceremony.
Sharky’s Beachfront Restaurant
Beachfront venue with a regular live-music schedule.
Aaron Bessant Park Amphitheater
City park amphitheater hosting a free summer concert series and other public events.
Ms. Newby’s
Live-music bar with two connected venues — “the Mothership” and “Newby’s Too.”
Good to Know
- Two well-known names are permanently closed. Gulf World Marine Park closed for good in May 2025; Club La Vela has remained closed since Hurricane Michael in 2018. Neither is listed above as active.
- Shell Island has zero permanent structures. Bring water, sunscreen, and shade — there’s no shop or restaurant once you’re there.
- Pier Park covers a lot of ground. Budget a half-day if you want to hit the SkyWheel, Ripley’s, and WonderWorks in the same visit.
- Grand Lagoon is the boat-tour base. Most dolphin cruises, Shell Island ferries, and fishing charters launch from marinas along N Lagoon Drive, not from the main beach.
Is Gulf World still open?
No — Gulf World Marine Park closed permanently in May 2025. The property was sold to a local resort operator that’s still evaluating redevelopment.
How do I get to Shell Island?
Take the Shell Island Shuttle from Grand Lagoon, or launch from the boat ramp inside St. Andrews State Park — there’s no bridge or public road access.
Is Club La Vela still operating?
No — the nightclub closed after Hurricane Michael in 2018 and has not reopened as of this guide’s last verification.
What’s the best free thing to do in Panama City Beach?
St. Andrews State Park’s beaches and jetties, the public beach access at Russell-Fields City Pier, and the free summer concert series at Aaron Bessant Park Amphitheater.
How does NME choose which attractions to feature?
We verify each attraction against its own official site rather than relying on aggregator lists, and we flag anything confirmed closed or that we couldn’t independently verify. Read more on our methodology page.
Know Something We Missed?
If there’s an attraction, tour, or activity in Panama City Beach we’re missing, email us and we’ll take a look.
Heading to Panama City Beach?
See the full trip guide — where to stay and where to eat, organized the same way, by area.
