Visiting Panama City Beach, FL: A Laid-Back Coastal Escape with History, Adventure, and White Sand Beaches

Before high-rise condos and seafood shacks lined the shoreline, Panama City Beach was a remote stretch of barrier island known for its fishing villages and pristine Gulf beaches. Indigenous peoples including the Creek and Choctaw tribes were the earliest known inhabitants, thriving off the area’s rich marine life.

In the early 1900s, PCB began evolving as a vacation retreat, especially for residents of Alabama and Georgia escaping summer heat. The area’s name — a nod to the famous Panamanian port city — was part of a clever real estate marketing strategy to spark interest during the Florida land boom. By the 1930s, small resorts, motels, and dance halls popped up along the beach, and by the 1960s, PCB had earned a reputation as a spring break hotspot.

Panama City Beach, once notorious for its lively party atmosphere, has evolved into a destination that appeals to families with its numerous attractions and pristine white-sand beaches. It now successfully blends the appeal of classic Florida with the amenities of a contemporary resort town.

Tucked away on Back Beach Road in Panama City Beach, the Man in the Sea Museum stands as an unexpected gem, offering an enthralling journey into the annals of underwater exploration. Operated with evident passion by the Institute of Diving, this unique museum provides a captivating glimpse into the evolution of humanity’s quest to conquer the depths. Stepping inside is like entering a time capsule, where visitors are greeted by an impressive collection of historical diving apparatus. Towering vintage diving suits, with their weighty helmets and intricate breathing mechanisms, evoke a sense of the pioneering spirit of early deep-sea adventurers. The museum’s exhibits showcase the ingenuity and bravery of those who first ventured into the underwater realm.

Beyond individual diving gear, the museum also houses larger artifacts that played crucial roles in underwater exploration. Scale models and actual components of submarines illustrate the technological advancements in submersible craft over the decades. Perhaps the most captivating exhibit is an early SEALAB capsule, a tangible piece of underwater habitat history. This allows visitors a rare opportunity to crawl inside and imagine the confined and challenging living conditions faced by aquanauts pushing the boundaries of human endurance beneath the waves.

While it might not be the most conventional tourist attraction, the Man in the Sea Museum possesses a distinctive charm and an undeniable appeal, particularly for those with even a passing curiosity about ocean history or the wonders of marine science. Spending an hour or two exploring its diverse collection of artifacts and exhibits proves to be a rewarding and intellectually stimulating experience, offering a deeper appreciation for the challenges and triumphs of underwater exploration. It’s a testament to human innovation and our enduring fascination with the mysteries hidden beneath the ocean’s surface.

Pro tip: Ask one of the volunteers about the museum’s connections to Cold War diving programs. The stories are wild.

St. Andrews State Park

If you do one outdoor thing while visiting PCB, make it St. Andrews State Park. The park covers over 1,200 acres and includes beaches, hiking trails, and boat tours. We spent a day here hiking the Gator Lake Trail, swimming off the jetties, and kayaking in the calm waters of Grand Lagoon.

There’s a ferry service to Shell Island, an undeveloped barrier island famous for its seashell-strewn beaches and dolphin sightings. Bring a cooler, plenty of water, and sunscreen — it’s rustic but beautiful.

PCB Conservation Park

Another underrated spot is the Conservation Park, with over 24 miles of trails for hiking and biking through pine forests and wetlands. It’s dog-friendly, so Loki and Gracie (our adventure pups) loved it. Keep an eye out for herons, gators, and wildflowers depending on the season.