There’s nothing like a family friendly vacation. Spending quality time with your kids creates amazing memories, great pictures, and a lot of fun. But if you’re not careful with the kinds of attractions and events you plan, kids can end up overwhelmed—or worse, bored.
Plan your Panama City Beach vacation so that your kids have just as much fun as you do, keep everyone happy, and head home with some excellent new stories to tell. Here are our favorite locations in Panama City Beach, guaranteed do-not-miss for the whole family!
There are plenty of excellent adventures to be had on land in Panama City Beach, but no Florida Gulf visit is complete without getting out on the open water. With Adventures at Sea boat cruises, families can relax and let the crew take care of all the hard work. Whether you’re hoping to see wild dolphins, snorkel in gorgeously clear waters, or explore Shell Island, Adventures at Sea will help make it happen.
A great way to spend a few hours with the whole family! Race City is one of Panama City Beach’s most family-friendly attractions located on Front Beach Road. Home to the famous Hurricane Rollercoaster, which stands at over 50ft. tall, and reaches speeds up to 30mph! Race City also has 4 unique and exciting Go Cart tracks, indoor Mini Golf, Bumper Boats, a huge indoor Arcade, and thrill rides that are perfect for toddlers to teens. Free parking and admission year-round/ Plus, look out for the Unlimited Armbands offering the biggest bang-for-your-buck.
Coconut Creek Family Fun Park is themed like a tropical island, complete with a lake stocked with native fish and cascading waterfalls. Kids can enjoy the Gran Maze—the size of a football field, the first of its kind in America!—and the whole family can compete at two different 18-hole Mini Golf courses. The park is open year round, and is free for kids under the age of 6.
Called an Amusement Park For the Mind, Wonderworks contains 35000 square feet of “edutainment.” The park features over 100 hands-on displays that encourage creativity, exploration, and entertainment. Several themed zones give kids and their families interesting areas to explore, whether the fascinating thing of the moment is space exploration, natural disasters, or light and sound. With laser tag and an indoor ropes course, this is a great place to visit when a vacation needs a day out of the sun.
From the “roller coast of the century,” the Max Flight Simulator, to the Dragon Wagon kids only coaster, Cobra has something for everyone. The park also includes four levels of 9hp Go-Kart racing, a variety of coasters and rides, an arcade with all the latest games, and a pirate themed 18 hole Mini Golf course.
FUNLAND opened in 1953, making it the oldest arcade in northwest Florida and an absolute must-stop adventure. FUNLAND has more than 100 arcade games, and also serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, so whether you’re looking for a cup of coffee before heading to the beach, or a quick dinner before turning in for the night, this is the place to be. FUNLAND also offers birthday packages.
Need to get some putt time in, but the kids are insistent they need to play? Goofy Golf is the solution. A combination play area and 18 hole Mini Golf course, kids love the experience. Climb statues to get a great view, hide inside others to get out of the sun, and keep the entire day under par. At night, enjoy the glowing eyes in giant dinosaurs and monkeys!
Even on your tropical vacation, it’s possible to need a day out of the sun; Ripley’s Believe It Or Not keeps everyone entertained, even when you need to stay cool and dry. Attractions a family won’t find anywhere else include the Odditorium, where kids can see shrunken heads and an actual vampire killing kit, the Mirror Maze Challenge, a 7D Moving Theater, and the Impossible LaseRace. Before heading home, check out the Ripley’s Retail Shop for some souvenirs that everyone will appreciate.
This waterpark offers many attractions, from the Ocean Motion Wave Pool, generating 3 foot waves every 10 minutes, to the Pirate’s Plunge Racing Slide, where riders can challenge their friends, or their own nerves, to the Great Shipwreck. Ever wanted to swing out from a pirate ship and drop feet first into a lagoon pool? Now you can! Park food is available for purchase, as well as sun protection products. The park also offers birthday party package.
The XD Darkride Experience is a thrilling interactive movie and immersive video game experience. It’s a unique and fun attraction unlike anything else! Put us on top of your ‘Things to do’ list…
Whether you are a Wine connoisseur or just along for the ride, Panama City Beach Winery is a great place to not only taste but also learn about some of your favorite wines. And if you don’t have a favorite wine, the hosts at Panama City Beach will make sure you leave with one! For more information: 
At the Firefly, you can enjoy an array of seafood, salads, pizza, pasta, steaks, sushi, and desserts. They even have a kid’s menu that will be perfect for the pickiest of eaters. From the atmosphere to the service, every thing in this restaurant is perfect! They also have a great wine list, so you’ll know you’ll get the perfect wine to go with your meal! This restaurant opens everyday at 5PM. To see their menu: 
Dessert is a must after a long day at the beach. And what can be better than sno-balls filled with ice cream? A plate of stuffed sno-balls with a plate of hot, fresh, melt-in-your-mouth beignets covered in powdered sugar. David’s Sno-balls also has a great lunch and dinner menu also with Classic Po-boys, Jumbalaya, Gumbo, and hot dogs. To see their menu: 
land Style Grub features delicious vegetarian, vegan, seafood, and steak tacos. You can cool off with Finn’s island ceviche a seafood salad made with tomatoes, onions, and cilantro. This refreshing salad will surely make your taste-buds dance! To see their menu: 
come stale and boring. Nothing is worst than everybody moping around and getting on each other’s nerves. So, break the spell and hop on a jet ski. Jet skis can be rented from Panama city Beach tours and rentals. For more details or to book your jet ski online: 
y at the zoo! Zooworld Zoological Conservatory has over 260 animals. And for $2, you can even feed the giraffes! You can also become a keeper for a day if you are 10 years old and older. As keeper of the day, you can help prepare the animal’s meals and even hold some of these animals! For more information: 
oat and explore the beach’s beautiful waters. The Pontoon boat is fun for the whole family and can sit up to 12 passengers! With a Pontoon boat, you can enjoy a day out at sea with the dolphins or go explore a secluded shore. For more information: 
On the Pontoon boat, you can visit Shell Island, where you can explore a lush tropical forest, splash your fee in to the crystal clear waters, and go hunting for shells.
You can even buy some snorkeling gear and jump right in to these beautiful clear waters. With a good pair of goggles and a waterproof camera, you can capture unforgettable images of your adventures under the sea!
Get on a boat cruise and enjoy all the sights of Panama City Beach from St. Andrews Bay to Shell Island. This cruise is the perfect adventure families of any size and age! For more information: 
e the guide. You can explore Shell Island, see the Bay Area Wildlife, go snorkeling, and even play with dolphins! Each Waverunner can sit up to two people, so whether you are driving or just along for the ride, don’t forget to hold on and enjoy the ride! For more information: 
Do you love adventure? Live for that adrenaline rush? Then, try parasailing over Panama City Beach! Parasailing gives you a beautiful view of the crystal clear waters. Before you even fly high in to the sky, you can enjoy seeing the wild marine life swimming all around you. You can share this once in a lifetime experience with two of your siblings or your closest friends because each ride can hold up to three people. For more information: 
urous families! Banana rides let you see the marine life while enjoying a splashingly fun ride, bouncing along the waves. Each banana boat can sit up to six people, so you can enjoy the ride with all your family and friends! And if you’re afraid, don’t worry! The crews have life jackets for everybody, so you’ll be 100% safe. For more information: 
Get ready, get set, go! See Panama City Beach in a whole new way when you step on the boat and set sail! Each sailboat can hold up to four people, so you can sail the seven seas (or just the one) with three of your favorite family members. These sailboats are easy to steer, so you can sail like a pro even if you’re sailing for the first time. For more information: 
If you love shopping, then this is the place for you! Pier Park is a huge shopping center with almost 100 stores! At Pier Park, you can dine on a balcony by the beach or grab a quick snack while you shop. List of stores: 
When the shops are closed and the moon is out, you can drop off your shopping bags, take off your swimsuits, and party at Club La Vela, one of the best clubs in the world! At Panama City Beach, we do things big, so come party at THE biggest club in the US! For more information: 
ur heart out on Karaoke night or play a game of pool with your friends. And while you’re here, enjoy a cup of Ms. Newby’s world famous Hunch Punch drink!
Sitting on the docks of St. Andrews Bay
