Panama City Beach: Discover unspoiled beauty

Boasting 27 miles of award-winning white-sand beaches, Panama City Beach not only claims one of the best beaches in Florida, it also has a diverse natural beauty filled with rare species of wildlife and offers an abundance of outdoor adventures and recreational activities.

This area remains the way Florida used to be . . . natural and unspoiled. And much to visitors’ delight, it’s still pretty much undiscovered by the rest of the world. Expect hospitality to be “down-home Southern” here. And, on average, the sun shines 320 days a year. Not a bad calling card.

SEE AND DO

In St. Andrews State Park, formerly a military installation, you can frolic on a mile-and-a-half of Gulfside and lagoon beaches, where you can swim, snorkel, dive, kayak, canoe or try to hook tonight’s dinner with a fishing rod. Enjoy these same activities as well as birdwatch at nearby Camp Helen State Park. And Panama City Beach has the two longest piers on the Gulf coast. Both stretch over a quarter-mile into the Gulf, making them ideal for pier fishing.

DINE AND PLAY

Five championship golf courses in the area include the only Jack Nicklaus-designed course in Northwest Florida, just one reason why Golf Digest ranked Panama City Beach among America’s top three golf towns.

Spanning more than 900,000 square feet, the open-air Pier Park is the center of activity for shoppers, diners and entertainment. Here, you can browse through notable national chains as well as one-of-akind local shops that sell interesting novelties. At the IMAX Grand 16 Theatre, immerse yourself in a big-screen experience that feels as if you’re actually in the movie, not just watching it.

Culinary and entertainment options at Pier Park include Hofbrau Beer Garden, Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge and Back Porch Seafood & Oyster House, along with national brands like Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville, Five Guys Burgers and Fries, Longhorn Steakhouse and Panera Bread.