10 Things You Don't Know About Panama City Beach

Think you know Panama City Beach? Even locals don't know all these secret spots and tips... but you'll want to!

1. PCB Conservation Park

You think of Panama City Beach, you think of the beach, right? Maybe that’s why even most locals don’t know where the PCB Conservation Park is, even though the 3,000 acre conservation park opened in 2011. Featuring miles and miles of looping trails (the longest loop is 12 miles long) and incredibly photogenic boardwalks that cross cypress ponds, this park is only a few miles from the famous white sand beaches, but it feels worlds away. Trails are mostly unpaved, though there are paved trails, picnic pavilions, and a welcome center. Perfect for those of you who got too much sun on day one, or who need an easy change of scenery. It’s not well marked by signs, so look for the La Quinta Inn on the Panama City Beach Parkway a couple miles west of Hwy 79, and turn there. Then go straight until you find the park at the end of Griffin Blvd.

2. Camp Helen State Park

At the east end of Panama City Beach is St. Andrews State Park, which is beautiful. It’s also one of the most visited state parks in Florida! No less beautiful is Camp Helen State Park, what was once a company retreat and is now features a historic log cabin, along with shaded trails through oaks hanging with Spanish Moss, and a secluded stretch of beach you’ll have to hike about half a mile to get to. Trust me, the hike is worth it if you’re looking for a stretch of beach all to yourself. Judging by the nonexistent crowds, no one knows this park exists. Camp Helen State Park is on PCB’s western border, and also includes Lake Powell, one of the largest coastal dune lakes in the world! It’s a nice option for stand up paddleboarders, or anyone interested in doing a little canoeing on calm water.

3. Zen Garden

Everyone who goes here is like, “I had no idea this place existed.” Vegan-friendly or gluten-friendly options abound (your loss, though, because the salmon is awesome), but really you go for the vibe, which is (obviously) quite Zen. The garden, complete with ornamental streams and Buddha statues, sets the vibe to “chill,” and the food manages to be both healthy and good. For a kind of “secret within a secret,” check out Wild Root, a store hidden on the front of Zen Garden… it’s got cool prints and photography, heirloom seeds, and super cool succulent plants in glass globes (guys, buy your girlfriend one… just trust me one this).

4. Shell Island

It’s a 7 mile island of nothing but sand dunes and natural beauty. Seriously – no buildings, no welcome centers, no bathrooms, no pavilions, nada. So it’s not for everyone, but anyone looking for a natural slice of paradise should pack well, then head to Shell Island for the day. You can rent a pontoon boat, take a shuttle boat from St. Andrews State Park (a more accessible version of the same thing), or choose one of the day cruises that make stops at Shell Island.

5. And even if you knew about Shell Island...

It’s not listed in the credits, but part of the movie Second Hand Lions was filmed in Panama City Beach. In the scene, the princess and one of the main characters is said to be galloping along the Mediterranean Sea, but really they’re on Shell Island. (Check out the seagull at about :26)

6. You think they'd be in the Atlantic...

Weirdly enough, there's a higher concentration of Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphins along this stretch of the Gulf of Mexico than anywhere else in the world. If you spend much time near the water, you're sure to see one, but if you need a guarantee, go to Gulf World Marine Park.

7. Speaking of which... Gulf World Marine Park

Well known for dolphin and sea lion shows, most people don’t know that Gulf World is the region’s marine rescue facility. Almost every year, they rescue, rehabilitate and release thousands (yes, thousands) of sea turtles, as well as other marine life, like stranded dolphins. Only dolphins which are deemed by the government to be unfit for survival in the wild are kept and trained for educational encounters and shows.

8. Man in the Sea Museum

Imagine that instead of saving their lunar landing capsules for posterity, NASA just kind of dumped them out. That’s basically what the Navy does with underwater exploration. Because the US Navy’s dive school is in Panama City Beach (bet you didn’t know that, either!), many of the advances to modern diving have been pioneered here, too. But, like I said, the Navy just kind of scraps their stuff, so a group of retired divers founded the Man in the Sea Museum, a kind of rough around the edges museum that houses (among other items) the world’s first underwater habitat and research laboratory (SeaLab I). This place is great for kids, since it’s pretty hand’s on (there’s an aquarium with a diving helmet installed for kids to stick their heads in for a look around, and a research submarine you can crawl into). Divers love it, too – This is basically the only museum you’d ever catch most of them in.

9. What’s the busiest time of year?

(You guessed spring, right? Wrong.) June and July, when school’s out for summer, is when PCB gets the most visitors, mostly families who pile a week’s worth of bathing suits and floaties into the car (or minivan) and spend a traditional family vacation on the beach. What you should be asking, though, is “What’s the BEST time of the year?” And any local will tell you that fall is the best time of the year. The water’s still warm, the air isn’t so hot, and the crowds are long gone! It’s even less expensive, so if you don’t have kids keeping you on a schedule, plan a visit in the fall, and thank me later.

10. New Year’s Eve Got Huge

Panama City Beach all of a sudden became a hot spot for New Year’s Eve. The tradition started in 2008 with the lowering of a giant, lighted 800 lb. beach ball as the countdown to the New Year took place (imagine NYC’s Time Square, if it was by a beautiful beach, and about 1,000 miles further south), but now includes two countdowns (one for families at 8 p.m. that’s accompanied by dropping 10,000 inflated beach balls, fireworks, and music – then the traditional one at midnight, with more music and fireworks). Last year, about 40,000 people showed up for the party in Pier Park, where music stages, shops, arcades, bars and restaurants mean there’s plenty to do other than just standing there waiting for midnight.