27 Fun Things to Do in Panama City Beach with Kids (Updated) – 2024
You just can not be bored at Panama City Beach.
It is, in fact, more fascinating than its inland equivalent, Panama City.
Despite the numerous exciting things to do in Panama City with kids, this seaside resort is much more family-friendly.
Seashores that are perfect for kids? Check. Amusement parks? Check!
And we’re here to assist you in organizing a wonderful holiday by compiling a list of the finest fun activities to undertake in Panama City Beach with your children.
Best things to do in Panama City beach with children
1. Shipwreck Island Waterpark- Laguna Beach
Shipwreck Island Waterpark is spread over 22 acres and has been among Panama City Bay’s most preferred family events destination since it opened in the late 1970s.
Why visit?
Shipwreck Island is unrivaled in terms of family-friendly entertainment.
Featuring a range of diverse age-appropriate attractions and water activities, this popular park provides endless splashy excitement for teenagers, parents, and children.
It provides attractions and thrills for guests of all ages, from a child-friendly section to exciting thrills.
2. Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museum- Laguna Beach
Whoever says galleries are dull hasn’t clearly been to Ripley’s.
Including its lovely exhibitions, this extraordinary destination in Laguna Beach will revolutionize your kid’s impression of galleries.
Why visit?
What can you do with your children at Panama City Beach whenever it rains?
In that case, add Ripley’s Believe It Or Not to your checklist of spots to take children to Panama City Beach.
Featuring more than five hundred bizarre and strange displays await you as you discover this underrated museum.
Our picks include an authentic vampire assassination kit, a monument composed of vehicle parts, and shriveled skulls.
Did you know that it boasts a plethora of engaging hands-on attributes?
The displays at Ripley’s Believe It Or Not! are suitable for both teenagers and children.
3. Panama City Beach
Looking for free activities for children in Panama City Beach?
PCB provides limitless chances for affordable family entertainment, featuring 27 yards of white sand and over Eighty accessibility sites.
Why visit?
Here on the 27-yard route, you may experience a few free events at everybody’s special price of zero bucks.
Enjoy the sun and soak in the coastal atmosphere to escape the tedious daily routine.
Visitors may also go swimming and surfing in its clear seas.
You may also go jet boarding, skydiving, and whale watching if you spend little extra bucks.
Panama City Beach offers a variety of attractions for teenagers, grown-ups, and kids of all ages.
4. Gulf World Marine Park- Laguna Beach
Gulf World, which opened in the 1970s, is an essential site noted for its instructional programs exhibiting fascinating aquatic species.
Why visit?
At Gulf World Nature Reserve, you’ll get a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to dive with a group of adorable dolphins.
Engage with the resort’s sea otters, fishes, penguins, marine turtles, and other animals then after.
Also, before you depart, make time to see the live animal presentations & feeding demonstrations.
Gulf World Marine Park is a fantastic destination for parents, teenagers, and children aged three and up.
5. SkyWheel Panama City Beach- Pier Park
This gigantic tower in Pier Park gives a spectacular panoramic view of the entire gulf and town from a total height of 200 ft.
Why visit?
SkyWheel takes you over 100 ft over the Gulf Coast in a comfortable glider.
After taking in the breathtaking views from the observation deck, visitors may explore the resort’s other activities.
Aside from the wheel, there’s also a trapeze course and a miniature golf range for kids.
SkyWheel is an enjoyable and secure activity for adults, teenagers, and children of all ages.
In reality, it’s a pleasant tourist adventure for families with kids.
6. Saint Andrews State Park- Lower Grand Lagoon
St Andrews state park, nestled in the city’s southeastern outskirts, will provide you with a suitable dosage of Vitamin Beach owing to its own 4 km white sand shore.
Why visit?
Saint Andrews State Park offers a variety of attractions and experiences to ensure everybody in the family is entertained.
It not only features a sugar-white stretch of beach but also has water activities and bike and trekking routes.
In addition, the facility features a cafeteria station that sells fishing gear, mementos, and refreshments.
Saint Andrews is without a doubt one of the finest places to visit in Panama City Beach with babies and youngsters of all ages.
7. Coconut Creek Family Fun Park- Laguna Beach
This utopia along Main Beachfront is accessible all year round and will provide children with an entire day filled with excitement and adventures.
Why visit?
For a reason, Coconut Creek is known as one of the most incredible family activities in PCB.
This family-friendly park is famous for its tropical atmosphere and has flowing cascades in addition to a lagoon with local fish.
Even more, it has two 18-hole mini-golf courts and an intriguing maze the size of a soccer field.
Coconut Creek will undoubtedly fascinate both grownups and children aged three and above.
8. Conservation Park- Conservation Drive
This park is spread on 3000 acres of area and is ideal for families looking for a vacation in a natural environment, with its invigorating landscape and 36 kilometers of trekking paths.
Why visit?
Tired of the endless beachfront and adventure?
Visitors might wish to spend some time exploring Conservation Park’s scenic paths and pedestrian walkways.
Furthermore, the area is an excellent location for animal viewing and bird gazing.
Conservation Park offers programs and events for teenagers, adults, and children aged three and older.
9. Pier Park
Pier Park, launched in 2008, is undoubtedly the finest shopping location in Panama City Beach.
Why visit?
Explore this contemporary, stylish, and pleasant family-friendly supermarket for some shopping therapy.
Prominent labels such as Old Navy and Charming Charlie may be found here.
It also features some fantastic children’s attractions, owing to its on-site amusement park.
Pier Park provides guests of all generations with an unlimited selection of food, leisure, and retail possibilities.
10. Race City PCB- Laguna Beach
Race City, which has been in operation since the mid-1980s, is host to a number of thrilling activities for children in Panama City Beach.
Why visit?
Race City provides everything you could possibly require for a fun-filled day on the beach.
This entertainment area is jam-packed with family-friendly tourist spots, including the city’s steepest, fastest, and most extensive go-kart courses and a cursed horror house.
Race City is packed with thrills and activities for parents, teenagers, and kids of all ages. If you are a Formula 1 fan, you should definitely visit Race City.
11. Wonderworks- Laguna Beach
WonderWorks is an excellent alternative for families searching for academic activities, with 35000 sq ft of hands-on displays.
Why visit?
Wonderworks combines pleasure and academics to create an engaging and unforgettable experience.
Allow the children to experience over 100 tasks and displays that will pique their interest and creativity.
Moreover, don’t forget to take in the gallery’s unique, upside-down front.
Wonderworks includes displays that will entertain and teach children aged twelve and under.
12. Splash Resort- Laguna Beach
This 2-tower property offers a beautiful and entertaining break for everybody thanks to its coastal setting and family-friendly facilities.
Why visit?
Splash Resort impresses visitors with its ocean views and exceptionally comfortable beds.
This property is a playground for kids, with numerous kid-friendly attractions.
Your kids are going to have a great time enjoying the hotel’s child play area, wave pool, and three courts.
Splash Resort features lodgings and facilities for individuals of all ages.
13. ZooWorld Panama City Beach- Laguna Beach
ZooWorld is a five-acre nature preserve with a variety of species in a lush tropical environment.
Why visit?
In contrast to other wildlife sanctuaries, this little zoo in Panama City Beach provides several possibilities for wildlife interactions.
Visitors can feed crocodiles and giraffes and cuddle with a gentle lemur.
It also has over two hundred animals, like monkeys, leopards, lions, and prairie pups.
ZooWorld is best suited for families who have children aged Three and up.
14. Sea Dragon Pirate Cruise- Lower Grand Lagoon
While only a 90-minute trip, this epic journey will provide your children with many fantastic memories they’ll cherish for a lifetime.
Why visit?
The Sea Dragon Pirate Cruise is a child’s fantasy come to life.
This trip has something for everyone, from swordplay to shooting a tiny cannon to searching for a hidden treasure.
and a special surprise,
On this tour, visitors will also be able to see a lot of dolphins.
The Sea Dragon Pirate Cruise is a fantastic adventure for adults and kids who are Three and over.
15. Airboat Adventures- Sidecamp Road
Airboat Adventures, situated on Hwy 79 near Sidecamp Lane, will take you on a beautiful trip to the area’s swamplands and waterways.
Why visit?
Airboat Adventures is not on any list of the best activities to do when visiting Panama City Bay with children.
This airboat trip is excellent for kids who want to discover further about Mother Nature and is packed with intriguing facts.
On this excursion, you’re likely to witness crocodiles, eagles, owls, and dolphins.
In addition, the tourist guide is pretty clever and amusing.
Airboat Adventures trips are appropriate for teenagers, parents, and children aged Three and up.
16. Sea Screamer
While coastlines are fun, the splendor of the Gulf is best appreciated from the platform of a sailboat.
Why visit?
Your family will particularly appreciate the Sea Screamer trips, which, given their fearsome moniker, are as child-friendly as possible. The 73 ft sailboat delivers a calm voyage that even nauseous people may appreciate. Enjoy a dolphin tour that will drive you many kilometers along the coast to visit the town’s most famous sea creatures. If you’re feeling particularly daring, schedule the snorkel excursion to Shell Beach. You and your family members will be able to get a detailed look at the magnificence that lies under the ground.
17. Pirate’s Island Adventure Golf
As your group overcomes this land-based pirates quest, play with Blackbeard & Captain Kidd.
Why visit?
These immaculately kept facilities take miniature golf to an entirely new level, introducing the thrill of a scavenger hunt to a previously fantastic game. Various levels are provided to accommodate both rookie and professional mini-golfers looking for a battle. If you’re fortunate, you might be able to emulate the steps of President Obama’s child Sasha, who hit a hole-in-one here.
18. Goofy Golf
If you enjoy miniature golf, you’d be doing yourself and your children an injustice if you didn’t visit Panama City Beach’s finest and most innovative circuit. Goofy Golf, which started in the late 1950s, transformed mini-golf from a relatively small and, undoubtedly, ho-hum sport into the show it is presently.
Why visit?
Originally marketed as “A World of Magic,” the course remains as unique now as it was when it first debuted. Its massive sculptures are so attractive that they may take your attention away from the task at hand. But it’s okay because the sculptures are the big draw. You’ll like the pharaoh, the dinosaur, and the numerous characters that give the track its earned reputation as crazy.
19. Just Jump Trampoline Park
Allow your children to burn off surplus power at Just Jump Trampoline Park.
Why visit?
This enclosed park allows guests to bounce to their hearts’ content, making it ideal for rowdy kids who want to get some air on a wet day. In complement to a big open jumping area, the trampoline park has an endurance test, a double tightrope, and a volleyball area. obviously, these amenities appeal to lively youngsters. However, most grown-up guests are just as eager to let loose. If you have small children, come to Toddler Time on Wednesdays or Saturdays in the early hours.
20. David’s Sno-Balls
Your children will be craving a sweet reward after witnessing so much Panama City Beach thrill. That’s precisely what David’s Sno-Balls offers.
Why visit?
The ice cones offered at this quaint bistro are unlike any other delicacy you’ve had – they’re tasty and filled with ice cream. Have po’boys, beignets, as well as other New Orleans specialties as well.
Panama City Beach has a lot to offer, from nautical excursions to sweet delicacies. Your children will be beaming from head to head if you plan the correct schedule.
21. Daniel’s Shells & Thomas Donuts in Laguna Beach
These two different, unconnected enterprises are just a few houses away from one another. Each West End stalwarts are situated adjacent to the ocean in the portion of Laguna Beach with the designated beach.
Why visit?
Thomas Doughnuts & Munchies contains all your treats, not to mention the fantastic donuts and the spectacular view! Daniel’s Shells seem to have a great assortment of shells at eminently fair pricing, not tourist hotspot prices. Here is the location to buy seashells to complement the seashells you got on the beach if you want anything else.
22. Free Summer Concert Series
Panama City Beach’s free Holiday Music Festival is a summer classic. Every Monday, enjoy a FREE performance at Aaron Bessant Park Auditorium.
Why visit?
All season long, take a mattress or seat and the entire family to experience some fantastic music in the area. Food and beverages can be purchased. Chillers, snacks, and dogs are permitted.
23. Man in the Sea Museum
The Man in the Sea Memorial is situated on Back Shore Rd. in Panama City Beach’s Western Suburbs. It’s a terrific location to see excellent exhibitions and learn about the history of swimming.
Why visit?
The exhibitions use interpretative paintings, dioramas, and textual documents to depict initial efforts to labor undersea.
The extensive catalog of unique diving gear demonstrates Man’s accomplishment in finding means to live in underwater environments for long periods of time, such as the legendary SEALAB-1, which the US Navy employed.
24. Camp Helen State Park
Camp Helen State Park is situated on the far western edge of Bay County and offers a variety of activities.
Why visit?
You may also lease hanging paddleboards and canoes.
Worth noting: The trip to the shore from the parking garage is approximately a couple of miles without protection, with a portion in the sand, so one may not want to attempt that trek with little children or anyone who is not ready for that type of strenuous walk. It’s a beautiful natural unspoiled beach near the Philips Gulf.
On Tuesday afternoons during the season, Camp Helen State Park organizes Films and S’mores, a free film showing along with engaging children’s activities. You may also take a guided tour of the Park Entrance and learn more about Camp Helen’s remarkable history.
25. Shell Island
Shell Island in Panama City Beach is an excellent opportunity to enjoy a gorgeous natural Florida beach.
Why visit?
Shell Island can only be reached by watercraft. There are no facilities on the beach, not even bathrooms or garbage cans. A chartered boat tour to Shell Islands is a terrific way to see the island without having to lug anything on and off the ferry.
So you’ll enjoy sailing and the island’s serenity all in one.
26. Emerald Falls Family Recreation Center
Spend spending a day at Emerald Falls Family Recreation Center, among the most prominent attractions to experience in Panama City Beach with children, for additional excitement and rip-roaring family entertainment.
Why visit?
Add to the fun with bouncing boat rides, Eighteen or thirty-six rounds of complex and fantastic miniature golf, or a trip to the bizarre Alien Arcade. The arcade has a variety of games, ranging from ancient classics to the most recent and famous.
You may also enjoy the Max Flight Simulator, which simulates a futuristic 360-degree rollercoaster ride.
On Emerald Fall’s 3 go-kart courses, drive your family members along the tracks. The Vortex, for example, is a four-story Formula II circuit entirely built from wood.
Hours of 9-horsepower enjoyment will satisfy your underlying craving for pace.
They also have some intense rides for the thrill enthusiasts in the family, such as the SkyFlyer and the Vertical Acceleration. The Kids World offers five kid-friendly attractions and will appeal to the younger set.
The gorgeous position of Emerald Falls on the seashore will appeal to the entire family.
27. The Big Takeaway
As you will see, if you’re seeking the greatest activities to enjoy in Panama City Beach with children, you’ve come to the right place. There are numerous things to pick from that everyone in your group is going to have a terrific experience and a trip they will never forget.
Why visit?
Discover Florida’s numerous natural marvels, exotic attractions, breathtaking landscapes, and lots of child-friendly fun and holiday amusement for everybody.
If you’re planning a trip to Florida, any and every one of the alternatives listed are incredible things to do when visiting Panama City Beach with children.
Conclusion
If you’re among the 4.5 million other visitors who come to Panama City Beach each year, you’ve opted to explore one of the most excellent shores in Florida’s Panhandle!
That’s a terrific option for anybody who wants to be a traveler and especially good news if you’re traveling with children. This famous tourist site offers a variety of entertainment for your family’s small, middle, and large children.
This is a carefully curated list of the best things you can do in Panama City Beach with kids so that you don’t miss out on the best it has to offer.
