Panama City Marketplace

Guide to Panama City Florida

 

Panama City Beach Guide

Here we have some useful links to sites that may interest you regarding Panama City Beach, FL. There is so much to see and do on the world's most beautiful beaches, so explore away!

If you are in need of more information or some local help, just contact us and we would be glad to help.

 

Bay Town Trolley   

 

List of beach access points & descriptions.

 

Panama City Beach, Florida - City contacts directory. Get connected with the officials!

 

City Pier - Panama City Beach has a great fishing pier known as Russell-Fields Pier or The City Pier to locals that is across from Pier Park Shopping Complex. Take a walk on this newly built pier and view the gulf and enjoy the local fishing community, too.

 

Frank Brown Park - Panama City Beach, Florida's recreation facility houses ball fields, soccer fields, football fields, basketball courts, tennis courts, shuffle-board courts, indoor gym, playground, pavilions, 22-acre festival grounds, youth fishing ponds, trails, dog play area and aquatic center! This is a full service sports destination center that is home to numerous annual events.

  

Boating -- A variety of rental boats are available at the marinas near the Thomas Drive bridge over Grand Lagoon. These include the Captain Davis Queen Fleet, based at Captain Anderson's Marina, 5500 N. Lagoon Dr. tel. 800-874-2415 or (850) 234-3435; the Passport Marina, 5325 N. Lagoon Dr. tel. (850) 234-5609; the Port Lagoon Yacht Basin, 5201 N. Lagoon Dr. tel. (850) 234-0142; the Pirates Cove Marina, 3901 Thomas Dr. tel. (850) 234-3939; and the Treasure Island Marina, 3605 Thomas Dr. tel. (850) 234-6533.

 

Many resorts and hotels provide beach toys for their guests' use. WaveRunners, jet boats, inflatables, and other equipment can also be rented from Lagoon Rentals at (850) 234-7245.

 

A nearly unbroken strand of fine white sand fronts all 22 miles of Panama City Beach, but the highlight for many is St. Andrews State Park, at the east end. With more than 1,000 acres of dazzling white sand and dunes, this preserved wilderness demonstrates what the area looked like before motels and condominiums lined the beach. Lacy, golden sea oats sway in the refreshing Gulf breezes, and fragrant rosemary grows wild. Picnic areas (on the Gulf beach and the Grand Lagoon), restrooms, and open-air showers are available for beachgoers. Anglers will find jetties and a boat ramp. A nature trail reveals wading birds and perhaps an alligator or two. And drive carefully here, because the area is home to foxes, coyotes, and a herd of deer. A historic turpentine still on display was formerly used by lumbermen to make turpentine and rosin, both important for caulking old wooden ships.

 

The park's 176 RV and tent campsites are among the state's most beautiful, especially the 40 situated in a pine forest right on the shores of Grand Lagoon. They are very popular, so reservations are highly recommended -- and absolutely essential in summer. Call tel. 800-326-3521 or go to www.reserveamerica.com. Sites cost $24 year-round.

 

Park admission is $5 per car with two to eight occupants, $3 per single-occupant vehicle, and $1 per pedestrian or cyclist. The area is open daily from 8am to sunset. Pets are not allowed in the park. For more information, contact the park at 4607 State Park Lane, Panama City, FL 32408 tel. (850) 233-5140; www.floridastateparks.org/standrews.

 

Pristine Shell Island, a 7 1/2-mile-long, 1-mile-wide barrier island accessible only by boat, sits a few hundred yards across an inlet from St. Andrews State Park. This uninhabited natural preserve is great for shelling and also fun for swimming, suntanning, or just relaxing. Visitors can bring chairs, beach gear, coolers, food, and beverages. The best way to get here is on the park's Shell Island Shuttle tel. 800-227-0132 or (850) 234-7245; www.shellislandshuttle.com), which runs every 30 minutes -- in summer, daily from 9am to 5pm; in spring and fall, Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 3pm. Fares are $9.50 for adults and $5.50 for children 11 and under, plus the admission fees to the state park . A special snorkeling package costs $18, which includes the shuttle ride and equipment. Kayak rentals are $35 a day for a single-seat boat, $45 for a double-seater.

 

Several cruise boats go to Shell Island, including the glass-bottomed Captain Anderson III, which departs from Captain Anderson's Marina, 5500 N. Lagoon Dr., at Thomas Drive tel. (850) 234-3435. It charges $16 for adults, $10 for kids 12 and under (Mar-Oct).

 

St. Andrews State Park Well known for its sugar white sands and emerald green waters, this former military reservation has over one-and-a-half miles of beaches on the Gulf of Mexico and Grand Lagoon. Water sports enthusiasts can enjoy swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving, kayaking, and canoeing. Two fishing piers, a jetty, and a boat ramp provide ample fishing opportunities for anglers. Two nature trails wind through a rich diversity of coastal plant communities - a splendid opportunity for bird-watching. Those wanting to relax can sunbathe on the beach or enjoy a leisurely lunch under the shade of a picnic pavilion. Full-facility campsites, as well as primitive youth group camping, make this park a popular overnight destination. A concession offers snacks, souvenirs, and fishing amenities. Shell Island Boat Tours are available during the spring and summer. Located three miles east of Panama City Beach, off State Road 392 (Thomas Drive).

 

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