Things To Do Index

Things to Do – Panama City

Panama City, home of Spring Break celebrations for thousands of college and high school students every summer, is much more than party central. The 27 miles of coastline offer a venue for beach activities that will appeal to vacationers of all ages. Yet, water sports, scuba diving and snorkeling, swimming, and deep-water fishing are just the tip of the sand castle.

Page Index

Movies Fine Arts Festivals
Attractions   Restaurants   Museums
Sports   Shopping   Libraries
Parks   Nightlife    

 

Movies

  • Carmike 10
    4049 West 23rd St.
    (850) 913-9292
  • Carmike Panama City 4
    2218 N Cove Blvd.
    (850) 769-2345
  • Edgewater Cinema 10
    473 Beckrich Road
    (850) 234-9232
  • Regal Regency 11
    1515 W 23rd St.
     (850) 763-3657

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Attractions

From the delightful to the bizarre, visitors can enjoy sights and sounds that boggle the mind. Panama City offers up close and personal contact with native and exotic marine life and mammals at two of its wildlife parks, while featuring everything from the unusual to the unbelievable at the new Ripley’s Believe It or Not Odditorium and giant labyrinth at Coconut Creek Family Park.

  • Gulf World Marine Park – marine life park, animal exhibits and live shows
    15412 Front Beach Road
    (850) 234-5271
  • ZooWorld – zoological and botanical park featuring more than 350 animals and 250 species of plants and trees
    9008 Front Beach Road
    (850) 230-1243
  • Marina Civic Center – special events
    8 Harrison Ave.
    (850) 763-1696
  • Ripley’s Believe It or Not Odditorium
    Intersection of Front Beach Road/Thomas Drive/Middle Beach Road
    (850) 230-6113
  • Coconut Creek Family Park – miniature golf and football-field-sized human maze
    9807 Front Beach Road
    (850) 234-2625

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Sports

Typical vacation sports like golf and fishing are eclipsed by the more adventurous paintball battles at Panama City fields. Catch a greyhound race in Ebro, bowl a few frames, and then end the evening on Dan Russell Pier casting for dinner.

  • Nature Walk Golf Club
    2900 Club House Turn
    Lynn Haven
    (850) 265-2582

  • Bay Dunes
    53204 Majette Tower Road
    (850) 872-1667

  • Signal Hill Golf Course
    9615 Thomas Drive
    (850) 234-5051

  • Hombre Golf Club
    120 Coyote Pass
    Panama City Beach
    (850) 234-3673

  • Bay Point Yacht & Country Club
    4701 Bay Point Road
    Panama City Beach
    (850) 235 6909

  • Holiday Golf Club
    100 Fairway Blvd.
    Panama City Beach
    (850) 234-1800

  • Panhandle Paintball Field
    2305 Sherman Ave.
    (850) 785-2030

  • Tyndall AFB Paintball Field
    Tyndall AFB
    (850) 283-3199

  • Rock’it Lanes
    513 Beckrich Road
    (850) 249-2695

  • Ebro Greyhound Track
    Highway 79/Highway 20
    Ebro
    (850) 234-3943

  • Dan Russell Pier 
    16101 Front Beach Road
    (850) 233-5080

  • Fishing – find information and articles all about fishing in the local area
    Fishing licenses – Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission

  • Gulf Coast Community College – men’s and women’s basketball, women’s volleyball, baseball and softball
    5230 W Highway 98
    (850) 769-1551

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Parks

Some of the Panhandle’s most scenic parks are located in or near Panama City. Enjoy the unspoiled beauty while hiking nature trails or kayaking along the Emerald Coast.

  • Camp Helen State Park
    23937 Panama City Beach Pkwy.
    (850) 233-5059

  • St. Andrew’s State Park
    4607 State Park Lane
    (850) 233-5140

  • Joe Moody Park – lake, nature area, 800-foot boardwalk, community center, special events
    9th Street
    Millville
    (850) 872-3199
  • Frank Brown Park – ball fields, tennis courts, beach volleyball pit, indoor gym, fishing ponds, dog park, aquatic center, picnic pavilions, playground, special events
    16200 Panama City Beach Pkwy.
    (850) 233-5045

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Fine Arts

Check out the local talent at these art galleries or take an art class or two.

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Restaurants

When you want to know where the finest places to eat are, just ask the locals. These Panama City eateries got top marks from the people who know the town the best.

  • Tally-Ho Drive-in
    1449 Harrison Ave.
    (850) 769-2436

  • Chula’s by Rita
    750 W 15th St.
    (850) 215-7472

  • Angelo’s Steak Pit
    9527 Front Beach Road
    (850) 234-2531

  • Capt. Anderson’s Restaurant
    5551 Lagoon Drive
    (850) 234-2225

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Shopping

When on vacation it is almost sacrilegious too forget to bring home souvenirs. Find just the right relic, along with perfect beach outfit, at any of these area shopping centers.

  • Panama City Mall
    2150 N Cove Blvd.
    (850) 785-9587

  • Edgewater Shoppes
    4412 Delwood Lane
    Panama City Beach

  • Pier Park – 900,000 sq. ft. tourist extravaganza featuring restaurants, retail shops, a 16-screen theater, and beach access boardwalk
    Panama City Beach Parkway 
    Coming in 2007!

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Nightlife

Whether it’s good food, cold drinks, or rocking music, Panama City’s nightlife promises everyone a great time. Check out these nightspots when planning an evening on the town.
  • Mulligan’s
    1000 E 23rd St., Unit B
    (850) 215-3663

  • Java Bar
    233 Harrison Ave.
    (850) 215-5225

  • Hooter’s
    676 W 23rd St., #B
    (850) 873-9993

  • Side Kicks
    2438 Highway 77
    (850) 914-0089

  • Club La Vela
    8813 Thomas Drive
    Panama City Beach
    (850) 234-3866

  • Spinnaker
    8795 Thomas Drive
    Panama City Beach
    (850) 234-7892

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Festivals

Panama City knows how to celebrate. The area offers a choice of festivals recognizing the region’s rich heritage, abundant seafood delicacies, or a simple gala to mark the end of summer.

  • Mardi Gras Parades and Festival – mid-February

  • Panama City Highland Games and Scottish Festival – early March

  • National Shrimp and Oyster Festival at St. Andrew’s – early April

  • Thunder Beach Motorcycle Rally – Spring Rally early May, Fall Rally late September

  • Bay Point Invitational Billfish Tournament – mid-July

  • Indian Summer Festival – mid-October

Museums

There is nothing boring about these museums. Kids can participate in a wide variety of scientific adventures at the Junior Museum while parents take a look back at rare, and unusual diving memorabilia at the Museum of Man-in-the-Sea.

  • Museum of Man-in-the-Sea
    17314 Panama City Beach Pkwy.
    (850) 235-4101

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Library

Reconnect on vacation at the public library. Keep up on all the latest news fit for print, as well as on the Internet. Check on e-mail and send messages along the libraries’ wireless access.

  • Bay County Public Library
    25 W Government St.
    (850) 872-7500

  • Robert L. Young Public Library
    116 Arnold Road
    Panama City Beach
    (850) 233-5055

  • Parker Public Library
    4710 Second St.
    (850) 871-3092

  • Springfield Public Library
    408 School Ave.
    (850) 872-7510

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