Panama City Beach: The Ultimate Seenager’s Guide to Activities

When Suzy was younger she did not understand why anyone would leave her beautiful state of North Dakota to winter in Florida. Suzy’s only experience was Orlando and it was hot and muggy. Do not judge Florida landscape or other places in Florida by one stop, one time in a theme park in the beginning of summer. Sharon introduced the Gulf of Mexico to Suzy in 2014. It was the place Suzy dreamt about to escape to when she would float in her pool, a white sandy beach, and blue blue water. It exists in the United States. Getting close to retirement age, this was the place Suzy wanted to be. 

So why call someone who leaves the great north to go south during the winter,a snowbird..  In looking into this the term snowbird started in the early 1920’s to describe migrant workers heading south for the winter. In the late 70’s it became a term for those living up North in Canada and Northern states coming to the south to escape the harsh winters. Now many refer to them as “winter residents”. 

Suzy thinks the term “snowbird” is more fun hence the funny Meta AI photos created of couples on a big white bird for this article. The Whee sign hides the hideous hands AI has created, a whole another story could be written about the three armed, six or four fingered, weird eyed people AI creates, all for fun, a laugh to Suzy. Here is a few of the things the Sisters of the Spoon have found to do in the Panama City Beach, Florida area or PCB for short. They have been wintering in the area since 2017. Traveling to Florida may make you feel like a seenager. A seenager is a teenager feeling trapped in a Senior aged body.

Just some of the things the Sisters of the Spoon have found to do

First Stop the Panama City Beach Visitor’s Center

First stop, sign up for the newsletter at the Visitors Center 17001 Panama City Beach Parkway, Panama City Beach, FL (at the intersection of Highways 79 and 98) get a calendar if they have one.  The center sponsors some fun events for winter residents, the Homecoming January , the Grande Finale and Suzy’s favorite the Prom

Ask to get on Richard’s email list at the Visitors Center. He sends out contests from time to time and you could win tickets to events or gift certificates. You can’t win if you don’t enter. Suzy and Sharon have played the contests and have been winners in the past. 

Attend the “Senior Prom” or other Winter Resident Dance

Every year we have been in PCB except during Covid the Panama City Beach Visitors Center invites the Winter Residents/Snowbirds to attend a fabulous dinner and dance not just once but you have three  opportunities. The first is the Welcome or home coming event which is January 10, 2024 and tickets go on sale on the 8th. , Second is the Senior Prom tickets go on sale on February 5, 2024 and the Prom is February 8, 2024′ and the third is the Grand Finale with tickets going February 19 on sale with Grand Finale held on February 21. For more info on these events go to  https://www.visitpanamacitybeach.com/events/winter-resident-events/

Take a Photo of the Sealife Art around PCB

Look for the Sealife Art, Dolphin, Sea Turtle or Sea Horse in different locations in Panama City Beach. The program, introduced in 2020, allowed community members and groups to paint 11 marine-themed statues that were installed as public art throughout the city. In 2023 the city unveiled 5 more dolphins and 5 sea horses. The Sisters of the Spoon have not seen the latest sea life as it happened in June. Pier Park recently also had a painted art mural installed in the breezeway near the Skywheel in Pier Park. 

Across the highway east of the Visitor Center is a fabulous seafood market which brings us to the next thing to do, enjoy a seafood boil.

Enjoy a Seafood  Boil

What is a seafood boil? It is the generic term for cooking seafood, shrimp, crab, crawfish by steaming or boiling often with sausage, potatoes and corn.

Buddy’s Seafood Market

Located at 111 S Highway 79 Panama City Beach, Fl. Buddy’s is a fresh seafood market offering a variety of Florida shrimp, and other catches. At Buddy’s you pick out your shrimp they will steam it and they also offer potatoes and corn. The potatoes are sliced and have a cheese on top. We love the royal red shrimp which is plumper and a little sweet. We get the meal steamed and take back to the condo and dine gulfside on the balcony.

Tootsies

Temporarily closed as they are relocating to a larger venue located in Pier Park, look for the lavender colored building. Every Friday at 4pmTootsies at Pier Park offers a FREE shrimp boil with a $5 drink purchase which includes corn, potatoes with the jackets, sausage, and shrimp with melted butter sauce for dipping. Come early and get your table because this packs in the crowd. They also have live music. Sometimes they have a restroom attendant which can come as a surprise to the guys. Shhh, Don’t tell let them find out.

Local Steamers

The Local Steamers is located at 14656 Front Beach Rd Panama City Beach, Fl (850) 866-9330. They offer their boil with you choosing the fixin’s. They have different kinds of shrimp, crab and sides. You can dine in or take out and they have a delivery service too. Again we recommend those yummy royal reds. For videos check their page out.

Watch a Sunrise or Sunset

One of our favorite things to enjoy. Just looking at the beach, the beautiful gulf view, watching a sunset, walking on the beach listening to the squeaky sand or watching the sunset.  Panama City Beach video playlist

Please share your photos in a post on our Facebook group Things to do, Places to Dine in Panama City Beach

Sunrise Panama City Beach Florida

Sunset Panama City Beach Florida

Take a walk on the beach

Look for seashells and marine life

Many times people ask where do you find the best shells? We have the best luck after bad weather, early in the morning and near the piers. Make sure anything you pluck out of the shallows or off the beach is no longer living. Sand dollars will appear white when they are no longer living. If you find a starfish being carried in, catch and release a little further out. Also do not pick up jelly fish or any blue creature that is puffed up like a balloon. They sting.

While out for your walk on a beach be sure to look for marine life and sea shells. We found these sand dollars at Shell Island, if they are dark greenish/gray then they are still living put back in the water ASAP. The star fish was found after a stormy day by the pier. The starfish was still living so we quickly snapped a photo and placed back in the water. For more videos on the beach check out this playlist on our YouTube channel. If you are going to wade or swim (if it is warm enough for you) in the gulf please heed the warning Flags. A red flag, is too deep to enter pass knee deep. Double red flag do not enter the water. Please read our post about Beach Warning Flags.

Take a ride on the Sea Screamer

This ride is a blast and you may see a ton of dolphins. Suzy recommends videoing the dolphins with your cell phone rather than trying to snap photos as they move too fast to get a good photo. Then after the cruise review your videos, zoom in and screen shot the dolphin up close. The quality might not be the best for printing but it works well for showing others. We recommend buying tickets in advance during the summer season but when snowbirds are in town, the cruises may just be starting end of February or beginning March.

Visit Gulf World Marine Park

We enjoyed the dolphin shows they have at the park and strolling through the park seeing the other marine life there. They also offer swim with the dolphins and dolphin encounters. Gulf World Marine Park is located at 15412 Front Beach Rd, Panama City Beach, FL

Winter Wednesdays 2024

10am Winter Wednessdays through February 21 for seniors 55 and up, Donuts and coffe at 10:30am Open Rain or Shine $10 General Admission, pass is good for all day. 10:30 am and 1:30am Feathers and friends show; Dolphin show 12:30pm see their website for other viewings/chats/feeding (Sea Lion Stadium is currently closed for renovations; the Dolphin stadium is open) using code WW15 when checkout online Gulf World 15412 Front Beach Rd Panama City Beach

Listen or if you are brave enough sing Karaoke

Tootsies is Temporarily closed as they are relocating. On Mondays and Thursdays in the past years Runaway Island has Karaoke with Mike. Mike also has the Karaoke over at the Bayou on the Beach check our Facebook group for Karaoke listings and our Daily Things to Do Panama City Beach on this website.

This video below is of a very entertaining gal who sang when we were at Runaway Island for Karaoke. There are some very good singers and everyone is entertaining. Currently Runaway Island is undergoing renovations so Karaoke is not being held there and they have a limited menu of food and drinks that can be ordered. Line dancing is very popular at many of the bars. If you do not know how to line dance and want to learn classes are offered at Frank Brown park or at the Lyndell Center by the Senior Center. FYI the indoor pickle ball courts are open at the Frank Brown park. Complete Senior activites are found on the city’s website . Sharky’s on Monday nights 5pm to 8pm has a fun Karaoke crowd.

Have Lunch at one of Suzy’s favorite spots

Fatty’s Sandwich Shop 916 Thomas Dr Panama City Beach Florida

What is a Fatty ? Just a big sandwich. Suzy and her husband love Fatty’s. Suzy usually has the Albuquerque Turkey which is served on a deliciously warm soft crusty bun loaded with turkey, lettuce, tomato, bacon, provolone cheese, mayo and avocado. Her hubsand changes it up sometimes the meatball sandwich, sloppy joe, or something new to him. They also have pizza, salads, wraps, and much more. The place has a 70’s kind of hippy vibe. The ladies bathroom is awesome! The staff is friendly and service is good. We love the place.

Salty Sue’s 17501 Panama City Beach Pkwy Panama City Beach Florida

Salty Sue’s has great daily lunch specials for only $8.99 (as of this writing please verify with the restaurant) on Mondays they have a delicious huge Country Fried Steak. They also have an everyday Lunch special of pulled pork which is a huge portion we often have to take part of it home. Their smoked wings are so yummy!

Take in one of the many festivals in the area

2024 Panama City Beach Mardi Gras

This is one of the Sisters of the Spoons favorite an authentic Mardi Gras celebration to attend. It starts out with the Krewe of Dominique Youx’s great Mardi Gras at the Beach parade in the evening, lots of beads to catch, and no funny business to get the beads, wink, wink if you know what I mean. It is a family event. Then there is music at the Pier Park Celebration stage by a Zydeco band usually Chubby Carrier with the Bayou Swamp Band. If you do not know what Zydeco music, it will get you up and dancing in the street, washboard playing, accordion and more. The celebration continues on with a headliner concert and more Zydeco music on Saturday then crescendos with a beautiful fireworks display which can be seen from the beach, the piers, your gulf front balcony or pretty much anywhere you look up.

Mardi Gras Brunch coming February 4th.11am-3pm Music with Dikki Du & The Zydeco Krewe. AJ’s Grayton Beach 63 Defuniak St, Santa Rosa Beach, FL

St Andrews and many place all along the gulf also have Mardi Gras celebrations. For more info on other Mardi Gras in the area check out our post Mardi Gras Celebrations Near Panama City Beach Area

Panama City Beach Scottish Festival the Highland Games

The Annual Panama City Beach Scottish Festival will be at Frank Brown Park on March 2, 2024, so some snowbirds may have already started the trek back north. Bring your hats, sunglasses, and folding chairs.  There is great food like scotch eggs, music, lots of bag pipe musicians, vendors and the #HighlandGames are fun to watch. This video is of a couple of the #caber tosses. The poles or cabers weigh up to 130 pounds and are 16 to 20 pounds long. The goal is to get the pole as close to the 12 o’clock position as thrower can. Suzy and her husband have attended two festivals and really enjoy them.

Experience the beautiful parks in the area

Florida has many beautiful state parks. Every park has a different entrance fee, there is also camping at some. A disabled honorable discharged military veteran can get a pass at no charge. Information on passes and costs to parks.

Eden Gardens State Park in Santa Rosa Beach

This place is a garden of Eden. Every February the Friends of the Eden Gardens hosts a Camellia festival. The festival in 2024 is on February 10, 10am-2pm. The Camellias are in all their budding glory and you can purchase some too.  Their is music entertainment and activities throughout the grounds. It is about a 35 minute drive on US 98 from Panama City Beach. They have this huge tree in the center of the grounds called the wedding tree, because many weddings have been performed there. Near the water by the Park you can see oyster beds and they have placards telling how oysters make their home.  Their is also a home you can tour on the property. This place is beautiful and peaceful.

St Andrews State Park

We love going to St Andrews State Park which is on the far west end of Panama City Beach. From the park seasonally you can take a shuttle to Shell Island. Shell Island does not have a lot of shells, at least when we have been there. 

We usually rent a pontoon from Scotty’s Boat Rentals and drive over towards the very end of February or beginning of March. While heading to Shell Island, we have spotted dolphins. Once we arrive, walking on the beach and wading in the shallow crystal clear water is how we spend some of the time there.  The pontoons cannot be taken into the gulf. If you do go to Shell Island keep in mind there are no facilities of any type, no bathrooms, no dining. It is just a beautiful island. 

St Andrews park you can easily spend the day. Swimming in what they refer to the “kiddie pool” , a calm shallow beach area protected by rocky jetties, or a picnic at one of the picnic areas. There is camping available too.

We usually walk on the beach and drive through the park, stopping at Gator lake, if it is sunny you may spy a gator out of the water sunning themselves but they hide. The photographs of the alligator Suzy took back in 2017 since then we have not seen one so close up. We have seen them in the green shallows of the lake but usually just the snot and their eyes out of the water. On the walking path we have heard gator noises or at least that is what one passerby told us what the sound was. Be sure and stop in the Welcome Center at the park’s entrance. This is where we have spotted deer up close and the center is full of informative displays.

There is different wildlife you may see at the park

Florida’s Highest Waterfall is at Fallings Water Florida State Park

The park is about 1 hour northeast at 1130 State Park Road Chipley FL of Panama City Beach. You could easily take in the Ponce De Leon State Park first and then travel on to this park. Two parks in a little day trip. Plan it to also take in dining or sights in Chipley, Florida. The state of Florida may be flatter then North Dakota. Just like North Dakota you will not find many waterfalls and the highest one may not even be visible. It is dependent on the weather condition. Falling Waters Sink is a 100-foot-deep, 20-foot-wide cylindrical pit into which flows a small stream that drops 73 feet to the bottom of the sink. The water’s final destination is unknown.

Ponce De Leon Springs

The Ponce De Leon Springs 2860 Ponce de Leon Springs Road Ponce de Leon FL 3 is about an hour northwest of PCB. The first time the sisters made a visit to this park was in 2014, since then we have made a few more trips to the springs.  Springs are magical places. The first time Suzy she remembers the scent of cedars. A good scent, reminding her of opening a cedar chest or one of those cedar souvenir boxes at a souvenir shop back in the day. Many swim in the warm springs.  Suzy has just hung her feet over the edge in them. The sisters like to journey on many of the little walking trails throughout the park. After your visit you could travel onto the Falling Waters State Park and see Florida’s tallest waterfall.

Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park

Located 465 Wakulla Park Dr, Wakulla Springs, FL is about 2 hours north east of Panama City Beach Fl. You will lose an hour as the park is on Eastern time. Our suggestion is to book a boat tour in advance in late February. The boat runs as long as it is above 45 degrees.  The tours were all booked up already. The photos below are from one of our boat tours. Manatees do make appearances at the Springs.

Enjoy a early bird dining discount

Runaway Island 12 for $12 11am-4pm

It is located at 14521 Front Beach Rd, Panama City Beach, FL 850-634-4884 . It has beautiful water front dining. At sunset they walkout on boardwalk and ring a bell. 

Saltwater Grill Happy Hour and Early Bird Menu

Located at 11040 Hutchison Boulevard Panama City Beach, Florida 850-230-2739. The Early Bird menu is served 4pm to 5pm dine in daily except New Year’s Eve.  There is a nice selection of different specials and appetizers. We love the atmosphere at Saltwater Grill. The fish are fun to watch in the huge 25,000 gallon fish tank.

Stop for Donuts

Thomas Donuts 19208 Front Beach Rd, Panama City Beach FL 

The Sisters of the Spoon love love love the donuts here. They serve other food but they really like the donuts. Their all-time favorite is the key lime donut. Sharon thinks the boxes are a pretty pink, her favorite color. While at Thomas’s donuts take a photo in the donut cutout. Also take a walk across the street to look at beautiful Laguna Beach, the west end of PCB.