If you’re looking for something new to do on your next Florida vacation, there are plenty of fun things to do in Panama City Beach for families. The city has many fun attractions, including Saint Andrew State Park, St. Andrews State Park, Pier Park, Shipwreck Island Waterpark, and more. Here, we list some of our favorites. And while we love the beaches here, we’d love to visit more of Florida’s treasures, too.
St. Andrews State Park
Three miles east of Panama City Beach, Florida, St. Andrews State Park is a 1,200-acre Florida State Park. It is the home to one of the five AmeriCorps Florida State Parks chapters. The park is open to the public every day from dawn to dusk and offers a wide variety of activities for kids and families. AmeriCorps members also lead guided nature tours of the park.
Families will love St. Andrews State Park because it’s close to Panama City, which is a popular destination for beach vacations. The park has a great beach and many recreational activities. You can hike or bike trails or take a boat tour of Shell Island, a seven-mile long barrier island. There are even restrooms with showers. Whether you’re looking for a quiet spot for relaxing and catching rays, St. Andrews State Park offers a fun, low-key atmosphere for families to enjoy the sunshine.
The park has an excellent wildlife population. It hosts salt marshes, sand pine scrub, and rolling sand dunes. A migratory bird population calls the park home. Visitors to the park will enjoy watching birds at the Gator Lake Overlook and Button Bush Marsh Overlook. You can also enjoy a great view of the Gulf of Mexico from Buttonbush Marsh Overlook. The Gator Lake Trail is a half-mile walk through scrub forest and offers great birding along a rookery.
Camping is available at St. Andrews State Park. Campers can enjoy waterfront sites and camp in tents. Camping in the park is only $26 per night and includes electric hookups. The park also features boat rentals and a boat launch. There are other attractions within the park as well. If you’re looking for a campground for your RV or tent, St. Andrews State Park is the perfect spot for your family vacation.
Sea Dragon Pirate Cruise
On the sea dragon Pirate Cruise, families will enjoy the fun pirate theme and entertainment for the whole family. There are activities for the kids, as well as dolphin sightings, which add to the fun of this family-friendly excursion. The crew will keep the kids entertained by playing pirate music and keeping the kids occupied while on board. The cruise is a great way to spend a day in Panama City Beach.
The family-friendly Sea Dragon Pirate Cruise is one of the most popular kid-friendly attractions in Panama City Beach. The crew is dressed in authentic pirate attire, complete with scimitars and eye patches. They’ll also be dressed in pirate hats and buccaneer breeches. Plus, you’ll be able to enjoy the beautiful sights of the beach and wildlife as well. The pirate adventure is perfect for the entire family, and is an excellent way to see some of the best of Panama City.
The family-friendly experience on the Sea Dragon Pirate Cruise is an ideal option for families. The captain and crew are local and are devoted to offering families a wholesome sightseeing adventure. The Captain is an experienced First Aid/CPR instructor and scuba diving instructor. He enjoys working with children and is available to answer any questions. He also provides free Wi-Fi access on the cruise. All of the staff are friendly and eager to please.
The Sea Dragon Pirate Cruise is a fun family activity in Panama City Beach. The crew will help children dress up for their pirate adventures, host pirate-themed games, and teach the kids how to read a treasure map. Pirate-themed souvenirs are available for purchase on the main deck. The family can also purchase pirate-themed gifts. The fun lasts for two hours and the parents will be able to relax on the main deck while the kids enjoy themselves.
Shipwreck Island Waterpark
The waterpark is a great place to spend a day with your family, and there are several attractions to choose from. The activities include a waterslide, wave pool, rapids, and a lazy river. There are also restrooms, a concession stand, and a kids’ area. Children under the age of six are free. For those with older children, the park also has an arcade and a restaurant.
Shipwreck Island Waterpark offers thrilling rides and attractions for the whole family. There is a wave pool and a lazy river, and there are two pools for smaller children. The water park also has concession stands and a zip line off a 17th-century sailing ship. The entire facility is open year-round, and visitors can enjoy a day or season pass. There are several different water slides to choose from, including a three-story, four-story water slide.
The Waterpark at Shipwreck Island is a family-friendly, five-acre theme park. It features the Raging Rapids, the Tree Top Drop, and the White Knuckle River. The park also has a lazy river, a wave pool, and the option to book a birthday party for the kids. Guests can also buy tickets online or at the park in advance and receive a discounted rate.
This park is a great place for the whole family. There are so many different things to do at the park that there is bound to be a kid in everyone. The great shipwreck is a 17th century replica and the Great Shipwreck is the centerpiece of the park. Cables dangling over the lagoon pool make it an unforgettable experience. Other cool spots include the Lazy River, an artificially slow-moving river with a large waterfall. There is also a family spot, Skull Island, complete with a pool, racing slips, and a giant bucket that pours water on guests every few minutes.
Pier Park
For a day that’s filled with fun and excitement, take your family to one of the many places in the area, including Pier Park. This 1.1-million square-foot outdoor mall features hundreds of stores, restaurants, and other attractions. There are also a number of fun activities for the kids, including laser tag and the Emerald Coast Mirror Maze. Visitors to the area can also visit the XD Darkride Experience, which features stunning 3D graphics and incredible special effects.
Located on the beach, Splash Resort – Laguna Beach is a popular tourist attraction in Panama City Beach. It offers white-sand beaches, calm emerald waters, and lush vegetation. The entire family can enjoy activities at the water park and mini-golf courses. The park also features a dolphin encounter. Families can also experience a day of adventure and culture at the nearby Panama City Beach Museum.
There are also plenty of water attractions in the area. The Seaside Pier and Emerald Falls are two of the most popular attractions, and the park has several rides for kids of all ages. The waterpark also features an indoor mini golf course, a ropes course, and a giant ferris wheel. If the kids get a little bored with the rides, they can also take part in a fun and educational adventure at the Ripley’s Believe It Or Not Museum. The museum has a shrunken head exhibit, an interactive kids crawl area, and a world-famous Odditorium.
The Sea Dragon Pirate Cruise is another fun activity for families. This exciting tour features sword fighting, a kiddie cannon, and a sunken treasure. Families can take advantage of this fun experience with kids ages 3 and up. Airboat Adventures is another option, located on Hwy 79, and offers educational airboat tours. This tour is perfect for kids who want to learn about Mother Nature, while spending a fun day with the family.
Gulf World Marine Park
When you’re in Florida with your family, you’ll want to spend a few hours at the Gulf World Marine Park. This dolphinarium was founded in 1970, and it’s one of only a few places in the United States where you can see rough-toothed dolphins. If you’re planning a vacation to Panama City Beach, Florida, you’ll want to plan a day trip to this dolphinarium.
Whether you’re visiting with your kids or on your own, Gulf World Marine Park has something for everyone. There are live shows every day where keepers educate visitors about various species of marine life. You can also take part in feeding sessions with sharks, turtles, stingrays, and penguins. This park has several interactive shows you can attend, including a feeding session with the endangered African penguins.
There are several shows at Gulf World, including the Feathers and Friends show. These shows feature many different species of birds and even reptiles. These animals are usually very friendly and are often happy to see people. During the show, they will encourage guests to get up close and personal with them. The animals are sure to be a hit with your family! The show is a fun and informative experience that you won’t soon forget.
If you’re visiting Panama City Beach with your family, consider Gulf World Marine Park for a fun day out. With daily shows and exhibits highlighting the marine world, the park is sure to please the entire family. You can also visit the Gulf World Marine Institute, one of the leading facilities for the National Marine Fisheries Service. If you’re traveling with your family, don’t forget to make a day trip to this park to see all the animals and see what the aquarium has to offer.
