Panama City
Around Panama City
Photo: Balon Greyjoy · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons
Metro area · Florida · 226k people
Panama City
“Emerald Coast”, “PCB”
Panama City · Panama City Beach
Where the Gulf meets Southern charm.
Emerald GreenDeep NavyBeach Sand
Welcome to the Emerald Coast! Whether you're here for the sugar-white sand or the laid-back Gulf vibe, you'll fit right in. Grab a grouper sandwich and enjoy the salt air.
Clubs for Panama City
No clubs for Panama City yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Panama City. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Panama City. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- St. Andrews State Park Sugar-white sand, snorkeling, and a historic jetty.
- Shell Island Accessible by boat, pristine barrier island.
- Pier Park Open-air shopping, dining, and entertainment hub.
- Camp Helen State Park Coastal dune lakes and nature trails.
- Deer Lake State Park Scenic trails and a rare coastal dune lake.
- Conservation Park Miles of boardwalk and wildlife viewing.
- Outdoors Snorkeling at St. Andrews State Park
- Outdoors Kayaking through the coastal dune lakes
- With kids Build sandcastles at St. Andrews State Park
- With kids Take a dolphin-watching cruise
- Evenings Live music at beach bars
- Evenings Sunset happy hours
- Locals love Beach bars and tiki huts
- Locals love Seafood shacks
Through the year
- Seabreeze Jazz Festival April Smooth jazz on the beach every April.
- Gulf Coast Jam September Country music festival with big-name acts.
- Panama City Beach Seafood Festival October Fresh Gulf seafood, live music, and arts.
- Emerald Coast Cruisin' May Classic car show and beach cruise.
- Thunder Beach Motorcycle Rally May & October Bikers from all over gather on the beach.
Subtropical climate with hot, humid summers and mild winters. Hurricane season runs June through November, but the area is a year-round destination. Best: Spring (March-May) and fall (October-November) are ideal with mild temps and fewer crowds.
Talk like a local
- “PCB”
- Panama City Beach
- “The Gulf”
- The Gulf of America
- “Redneck Riviera”
- Nickname for the Florida Panhandle beaches
Getaways
- Destin & 30A World-class beaches and beach towns.
- Pensacola Historic downtown, naval museum, and beaches.
- Tallahassee State capital with parks, trails, and college town vibe.
- Apalachicola Quaint fishing village, oyster capital of Florida.
Local flavour
Rooting for Florida State Seminoles (NCAA), Alabama Crimson Tide (NCAA), Atlanta Braves (MLB), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (NFL)
Eat and drink
- Gulf Coast Oysters Served raw, grilled, or in stews; a staple of local seafood shacks.
- Fried Grouper Sandwich A classic beach-town dish, often with tartar sauce and lettuce.
- Shrimp and Grits Southern comfort food with a coastal twist, common in local diners.
- Seafood Boil Crawfish, shrimp, crab, and corn boiled with spices; a social meal.
Where people go
- Beach bars and tiki huts Casual spots right on the sand, often with live music and frozen drinks.
- Seafood shacks No-frills eateries serving fresh Gulf shrimp, oysters, and fish.
- State parks and nature trails Coastal dune lakes, pine forests, and wildlife refuges nearby.
- Fishing piers Public piers for angling and watching sunsets over the Gulf.
Heritage and traditions
The region takes pride in its sugar-white beaches, laid-back coastal lifestyle, and rich history as a timber and fishing hub.
This time of year in Panama City
- St. Andrews Waterfront Festival October Held in the historic St. Andrews district with local artisans and music.
Say it like a local: “fixin' to” — About to do something.
Festivals
- Blessing of the Fleet April A ceremony blessing fishing boats for a safe season, followed by a seafood festival.
- Battle of Marianna Reenactment September A Civil War reenactment of the 1864 battle in Marianna.
- Panama City Beach Mardi Gras February A local Mardi Gras celebration with parades and beads.
- St. Andrews Waterfront Festival October Held in the historic St. Andrews district with local artisans and music.
Landmarks with a story
- Historic St. Andrews A waterfront district with 19th-century buildings, art galleries, and the St. Andrews Marina.
- Marianna Historic District Features antebellum homes and the 1838 Jackson County Courthouse.
- Camp Helen State Park Contains a historic lodge and cabins from the 1930s, now a state park.
- St. Andrews Episcopal Church A historic church in Panama City with Gothic Revival architecture.
- Blue Spring Recreation Area A spring in Marianna with a historic swimming area and a Civil War-era mill site.
Food traditions
- Smoked Mullet A local delicacy where mullet is smoked over oak, often served at fish camps and festivals.
- Oyster Roasts Community gatherings where oysters are roasted over open flames, especially in the fall.
- Lenten Fish Fries Churches and civic groups host fish fries on Fridays during Lent, featuring fried grouper or catfish.
- Grits and Grillades A Southern breakfast dish with slow-cooked beef and grits, popular in the Panhandle.
- Hush Puppies Cornmeal fritters served with fried seafood, a staple at local seafood shacks.
Music and arts
- Southern Rock and Country The region has a strong live music scene with local bands playing at beach bars and venues.
- Historic St. Andrews Art Galleries A community of local artists and craftspeople in the historic district.
A little history
- The area was inhabited by the Apalachee and Creek peoples. Pre-1800s
- Andrew Jackson's forces passed through the region during the First Seminole War. 1818
- The Battle of Marianna was fought, a skirmish in the Civil War. 1864
- Panama City was incorporated as a city. 1909
- Tyndall Air Force Base was established, bringing military presence. 1941
- Game day Friday night lights for high school football
- Game day Fishing tournaments
- Outdoors Canoeing or tubing the Chipola River
- Outdoors Swimming at Blue Spring
- With kids Building sandcastles on the beach
- With kids Visiting the local science museum
A Southern drawl with coastal influences; locals say 'y'all' and 'fixin' to'.
Only here
- Panama City is named for its location on a narrow strip of land between the bay and the Gulf, reminiscent of the Isthmus of Panama.
- The area is known for its 'sugar sand' beaches, which are fine and white, unlike coarser sand elsewhere.
- The Chipola River is one of the few rivers in Florida that flows north.
- The St. Andrews historic district is home to the oldest continuously operating post office in Florida.
New here? A few tips
- Be prepared for hot, humid summers and mild winters.
- Hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30; have a plan.
- Traffic on Panama City Beach can be heavy during spring break and summer weekends.
- Try the local smoked mullet and fresh grouper.
- Locals pronounce 'Panama City' with a short 'a' as in 'pan'.
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Nearby
Every areaForgotten CoastFloridaWhere the Gulf meets the pinesFort Walton Beach–DestinFloridaWhere emerald waves kiss sugar-white sandsMariannaFloridaWhere the Chipola runs clear and the pines touch the sky.DothanAlabamaThe sweet heart of the WiregrassEnterpriseAlabamaWhere a pest became a point of pride.BainbridgeGeorgiaWhere the Flint River meets southern charmTallahasseeFloridaWhere the oaks meet the Gulf breezeOzarkAlabamaWhere the pines meet the sky and the tea is sweet
Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.