21 Fun Things to Do in Panama City Beach With Kids in 2024
LOOKING FOR THE BEST THINGS TO DO IN PANAMA CITY BEACH WITH KIDS?
You’ve landed on the right page! We’ve been traveling with our kids since 2015, including extended stays in Panama City Beach. Speaking from experience, we can tell you that there are so many fun things to do in Panama City Beach with kids. We’ve always enjoyed our time together in this sunny beach town.
This article will give you a snapshot of what it might be like to explore this spot with your family as we cover some of the Panama City Beach kid’s activities you shouldn’t miss. After looking over this post you won’t ever have to wonder what to do in Panama City Beach with family again!
Things to Do in Panama City Beach with Kids
1. St Andrews State Park
Did you know there are a slew of amazing state and national parks in Florida? They are some of our favorite places to visit when spending time in the Sunshine State.
One of the best things to do in Panama City Beach with kids is to spend a day at St. Andrew’s State Park. Kids can play with sand toys in the white sand at Jetty Beach or snorkel through the crystal clear waters. We brought a kid’s snorkel set with us during our last visit and my kids had a great time snorkeling in the nearby lagoon.
Gulf Pier Beach is another great place in the park to set up a beach chair and enjoy the Florida sunshine. After checking out the pier, fishing, or a bit of sunbathing, you can catch the Shell Island Ferry from this beach area.
Shell Island is a highlight of the park and one of the most fun places to explore as a family in Panama City Beach. Keep in mind that the ferry tickets over to Shell Island were a bit expensive for our family of 5. After our trip over to Shell Island we probably would have opted to just play on the main beaches in the park rather than taking the ferry over. However, the undisturbed beaches over there are beautiful.
Trust us, St. Andrew’s State Park is definitely something you want on your Panama City with kids itinerary!
2. Enjoy a Dolphin Tour on the Sea Screamer
When exploring Panama City Beach with kids, there isn’t a more exciting excursion we could recommend than a dolphin tour on the Sea Screamer!
Panama City Beach is one of the best places in the United States to spot dolphins. You can sometimes even see them from the shore. Because it’s such a popular activity here, there are many different Panama City Beach dolphin tours to choose from.
Truly one of the best Panama City Beach family activities, the Sea Screamer tour is a special experience. It combines a dolphin cruise and sightseeing experience into one event. Fit for all ages, you can choose to cruise during the day or at sunset.
Our kids love seeing dolphins and still talk about the ones we saw on our last trip to Panama City Beach. A dolphin tour is definitely one of the top things to do in Panama City Beach with kids.
3. Airboat Adventures
There’s more than one way to spend time on the water in Panama City Beach. Veer away from the sandy shore and take the kids on an Everglade excursion with Airboat Adventures!
It’s not every day you get the chance to explore the Florida swamp on an ecotour, so take the opportunity and have an amazing time! Tours range from 1 to 3 hours and are relatively affordable. You can even rent your own airboat if your family would like to explore on your own.
The airboat tours offer a thrilling ride across the water, with lots of opportunities to take photos of the striking marshland landscape and marvel at the wildlife, including lots of birds and alligators! Fit for the whole family, this is one of the best things to do in Panama City Beach, Florida.
4. Gulf World Marine Park
Gulf World Marine Park is one of the top things to do in Panama City Beach FL for kids who are crazy about marine life! Home to dozens of fascinating species like dolphins, sea lions, seals, penguins, and more, it’s a wild animal lover’s dream come true!
General admission to the park will offer your family access to the animal exhibits and daily shows. Interactive programs, which include experiences like swimming with dolphins and interacting with sea lions and penguins, are also available at the park.
A visit to Gulf World Marine Park is educational, fun, and overall one of the best family things to do in Panama City Beach.
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5. Zoo World
No matter where we travel, our kids always love to spend a day at the zoo! If you’ve got animal enthusiasts like we do, check out Zoo World.
Not only is the zoo home to a variety of exotic animals, they also have rides for the kids to enjoy as they explore the animal park. Aside from the typical zoo exhibits, Zoo World also includes a butterfly garden, an aquarium section, and, the best part, a petting zoo!
One of the best Panama City family attractions, a day at Zoo World is a day well spent!
6. Shipwreck Island Waterpark
Even when visiting a beach destination, nothing thrills a kid like a water park adventure!
Shipwreck Island is the perfect activity in Panama City Beach for kids. With a wave pool, lazy river, raft ride, a water playground complete with dumping buckets and tons of water slides, this spot guarantees family fun!
One of the most fun things to do in Panama City Beach for adults and kids alike, we dare you to visit Shipwreck Island Typhoon, where you will experience waves crashing along with simulated lightning and thunder during an interactive storm!
7. Pirate Island Adventure Golf
If Panama City Beach loves one thing, it’s miniature golf! With a handful of different family-friendly options, we love the Pirate Island Adventure Golf experience. Different than the typical run-of-the-mill mini-golf course, your family will get to track the path of the famous pirate, Blackbeard!
The course takes you from a seaside village through caves where treasures are buried, alongside waterfalls and over bridges, making for a fun-filled pirate adventure your kiddos won’t soon forget!
8. Coconut Creek Family Fun Park
Spending an afternoon at Coconut Creek Family Fun Park is one of the most fun things to do in Panama City Beach, Florida with kids. It’s an entertaining, perfect place to visit while the kids burn off some energy.
One of the main attractions here is the Gran Maze. Florida’s answer to a corn maze, this year-round feature will test your family’s sense of direction and navigation skills as you make your way through this fun maze, roughly the size of a football field.
After you make your way out of the maze, you can play the 18-hole mini golf courses through a jungle safari! We love that this venue offers an unlimited play ticket option. So, if you’re interested in spending the entire day here, the kids can play golf or cruise through the maze as many times as they would like.
9. Emerald Falls Family Recreation Center
If you’re planning a visit to Panama City for kids a little beyond the likes of miniature golf, we recommend Emerald Falls Family Recreation Center.
One of the very best Panama City Beach attractions for families, this fun center is stacked with enjoyable experiences for all ages. Young kids will love the seven on-site rides, while those of all ages will be excited to dive into the epic arcade games.
The four-story wooden go-kart Vortex track will be the highlight for older kids. Younger kids won’t have to be left out, as they can ride along as a passenger as long as the driver is 16 years of age or older.
The formula track offers another thrilling experience, this time on a concrete route. The route includes tight turns as you speed over bridges and overpasses.
Overall, spending time at Emerald Falls Family Recreation Center is one of the best family things to do in Panama City Beach. It’s a good time for all!
10. Pier Park
If you plan to spend some time sunbathing or playing in the water at Panama City Beach, be sure to venture over to Pier Park. One of the most popular Panama City attractions for families, this place has it all.
A mini city center, you can find just about anything you need at Pier Park. It’s one of the best spots in town to find water activity rentals. Looking to rent a boat or kayak? You can do that here!
Young families looking for fun things to do in Panama City Beach can keep their kids entertained by the three different playgrounds in the Pier Park area. We love a good arcade, where we can get a bit competitive playing all the retro games, and there’s an amazing selection of games here as well.
If you’re a fishing family, this is a great place to sink a line too. There are two separate piers, one for adults and one for children, so everyone can fish with ease.
Those looking to escape the sunshine for a bit can enjoy exploring the shops or grab a bite to eat at Dave & Buster’s or from one of the tasty food vendors in Pier Park.
11. Race City
If your family enjoys theme parks and you’re looking for a fun-filled day of adventure, you have to make your way to Race City. One of the best Panama City Beach family attractions, this amusement park is stacked with fun rides and experiences.
Kids can speed around the go-kart track, enjoy laid-back fair-style rides, play glow-in-the-dark mini-golf, or take to the sky on the sky coaster ride. Take an adventure in the Spin Zone, splash around in bumper boats, or even test your courage in their year-round haunted house!
However you spend your day, it’s safe to say Race City has some of the most cool things to do in Panama City Beach!
12. Man in The Sea Museum
The Man in The Sea Museum is one of the most interesting museums you will ever come across. We were fascinated as we walked through some of the amazing exhibits on display here.
If you stop by, you can check out the US Navy SEALAB, the first underwater living facility. A US Navy Deep Dive System from 1968 can also be viewed here, as well as amazing diving suits and helmets dating back to 1837!
A stop here is one of the most fascinating and fun things to do in Panama City Beach, Florida.
13. Cobra Adventure Park
Cobra Adventure Park is another fun amusement park for families visiting the area. Featuring some of the best Panama City Beach kid activities, this place has a flight simulator, a kids-only roller coaster, and a foul-level go-kart track.
There’s also an arcade and min-golf course on-site to keep everyone happy during your day of fun at Cobra Adventure Park!
Free Family Things to Do in Panama City Beach
14. Panama City Beach
A trip to Panama City Beach wouldn’t be complete without an actual visit to the beach. Because it’s free and open to the public, a beach day is one of the cheap family things to do in Panama City Beach. No matter your budget, you can enjoy a memorable day of sun, sand, and epic Gulf Coast views!
If you’re traveling with little ones, be sure not to forget a beach tote with all your baby beach gear essentials. Planning ahead will better enable you to be able to relax and enjoy your beach day in the shade provided by your beach chair with an umbrella.
Depending on the water conditions, kids might enjoy catching waves on a boogie board at the beach. Flying a beach kite is another one of the most fun things to do in Panama City Beach for kids, so be sure to bring one along!
Panama City Beach family fun can extend far beyond the shoreline. If you’re looking for more than water fun, visit the fishing pier to sink a line or have lots of fun at Pier Park!
15. Conservation Park
Conservation Park is one of the most fun and free things to do in Panama City Beach, especially if your family loves wildlife. This Gulf Coast refuge covers over 2900 acres, including 12 different trails to wander. It’s home to many species of tropical birds, so be sure to bring some binoculars!
Families can enjoy walking through the museum on the park’s grounds as well. The educational and interactive exhibits there offer kids and adults alike a look into the world of the wildlife species that live on the property.
There’s also a fun gift shop you can visit if you’d like to purchase something to commemorate your visit to Conservation Park.
16. Summer Concert Series
If you happen to be visiting Panama City Beach in the summer and are looking for some live and free entertainment, get yourself down to the PCB Summer Concert Series. Locals and tourists alike congregate every Thursday night at Aaron Bessant Park, starting in June and going through mid-August.
Attendees are advised to bring a lawn chair or blanket, settle in, and enjoy a night of live music entertainment. This is a great family activity for families to experience the local culture and to dance like nobody’s watching.
Things to Do in Panama City Beach When it Rains
17. Wonder Works
If you’ve been planning a family trip to Panama City Beach, you’ve likely come across the Panama City Beach upside down house in your research.
One of the most unique things to do in Panama City Beach for families, the infamous Panama City upside down building is actually Wonder Works, an interactive museum your kids are sure to love!
With exhibits ranging from American history to interactive scientific experiments, we love the wide-ranging educational and fun coverage this museum offers. We consider Wonder Works to be one of the best Panama City Beach activities for kids.
18. Ripley’s Believe It or Not
Ripley’s Believe it or Not will always be one of the top options for the most family fun when looking for indoor activities in Panama City Beach. Aside from being so fascinating, we love the interactive nature of this museum.
Kids don’t have to keep their hands to themselves but instead are encouraged to jump into the experience.
Both interesting and educational, families will get to see artifacts from Africa, Asia, and many other locations around the globe. Kids might be equally impressed and creeped out by the exhibits ranging from statues made from coins to shrunken heads from South America!
Whether it’s a rainy day or you’re just looking for an indoor space to escape the heat, Ripley’s Believe it or Not won’t disappoint!
19. Rock’it Lanes
When it comes to Panama City indoor activities, things don’t get any more fun than Rock’it Lanes! Given the title, you’ve probably guessed that bowling is involved, but that’s not all!
The bowling alley also features a state-of-the-art arcade and a roller skating rink! So, no matter each person’s preference, with so many fun activities to choose from, everyone is bound to have a good time at Rock’it Lanes!
Things to Do in Panama City Beach at Night
20. Grand IMAX Theater
Sometimes, dinner and a movie just feel right, even when you’re on vacation. After a long day in the sun, we recommend grabbing a bite to eat and then heading over to the Grand IMAX Theater in Pier Park.
Settle in for an epic experience watching one of the latest Hollywood releases on an amazing screen.
21. Ride the SkyWheel
One of the most popular attractions in Pier Park is the massive SkyWheel. Riding the SkyWheel is one of the most fun things to do in Panama City Beach FL. It’s super fun to ride during the day, but given the 360-degree view at night, it’s a great way to see the stars over the Gulf of Mexico.
You can expect to be on the ride for about 30 minutes. Your kids will love the view of twinkling lights around Panama City Beach in the calm of the night.
FAQ: Things to Do in Panama City Beach With Kids
Some of the most fun things to do in Panama City Beach, FL include hanging out at the beach and Pier Park. There are also a bunch of family fun centers to check out, many of which have go-kart racing and arcades.
Yes! There are so many things to do near Panama City Beach and right in town. From spending time on the beach itself to playing mini-golf and enjoying the beachside amusement parks, Panama City Beach is a great family vacation destination.
Yes! Some of the best things to do in Panama City Beach for kids include exploring the beautiful landscape on an airboat tour through the marshes or spending the day walking the paths of Conservation Park.
Panama City Beach is still one of the most popular spring break destinations for college-aged adults. The city also has a lively nightlife scene.
Both Panama City Beach and Destin offer a great beach vacation experience. Some travelers prefer Panama City Beach because the city offers more kid-friendly activities separate from the beach experience. Panama City Beach is also more affordable, as vacationing in Destin can be expensive.
Conclusion: Things to do in Panama City Beach With Kids
There you have it! There are some amazing things to do in Panama City Beach with kids. We hope this guide will be helpful to you as you plan your own family adventure to the Emerald Coast! Because all in all, you can’t go wrong with a family trip to Panama City Beach!
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