With sugar-white sand, emerald Gulf water, and miles of coastline, it's easy to understand why the beach is such a big part of life in Panama City and Panama City Beach.
But here's something you quickly learn when you spend enough time here: not every beach day has to be the same.
Some days call for calm water and snorkeling. Sometimes you want an easy spot where you can park, set up your chairs, and stay all afternoon. And other days, you want to get away from everything and find a stretch of undeveloped Florida coastline.
Panama City Beach has more than 100 public beach access points as well as two state parks, so there are plenty of options.
Here are a few of our favorites.
If we had friends visiting Panama City for the first time and wanted to show them why we love living here, St. Andrews State Park would be high on the list.
Located between the Gulf of Mexico and Grand Lagoon, the park combines beautiful beaches with a much bigger outdoor experience. You can spend the day swimming and relaxing on the sand, but you can also snorkel, kayak, canoe, fish, hike, bird-watch or have a picnic.
One of the things that makes St. Andrews special is having different types of water within the same park. The Gulf side gives you the classic Panama City Beach experience, while areas protected by the jetties can offer calmer water.
The jetties are also one of the area's popular places for snorkeling.
Great for: Families, snorkeling, fishing, kayaking and an all-day beach trip.
For something completely different, head to Shell Island.
Shell Island is a roughly seven-mile-long undeveloped barrier island between the Gulf of Mexico and St. Andrews Bay. There are no hotels, restaurants or rows of condos here—the natural setting is the attraction.
You can swim, snorkel, kayak, walk the shoreline, look for shells or simply find a quiet spot and enjoy the water.
Wildlife is part of the experience, too. Sea turtles, shorebirds, ghost crabs and dolphins are among the wildlife found on or around the island.
There is one important thing to know before going: Shell Island is only accessible by boat. Shuttle service operates seasonally from St. Andrews State Park, and private boat tours and rentals are other options.
And come prepared. Because the island is undeveloped, there aren't restrooms, concession stands, picnic pavilions or trash cans waiting for you when you arrive. Bring what you need and take everything back with you.
Great for: Exploring, snorkeling, boating, wildlife and getting away from the crowds.
Sometimes you don't need an adventure. You just want an easy beach day.
That's where Rick Seltzer Park comes in.
Located on Thomas Drive, this nearly five-acre beachfront park offers free parking, picnic pavilions, restrooms, outdoor showers and direct beach access. Restaurants and shops are also nearby.
That convenience makes it particularly nice when you're carrying chairs, towels, coolers and everything else required for a Florida beach day.
It's also a good option for families who don't necessarily want to turn a couple of hours at the beach into an all-day excursion.
Great for: Easy beach days, families, picnics and convenient amenities.
If you like having plenty to do nearby, the beach around Russell-Fields Pier gives you a very different experience.
The pier sits across Front Beach Road from Pier Park, putting restaurants, shopping and attractions close to the beach. The pier itself extends approximately 1,500 feet into the Gulf and is popular for fishing, sightseeing and sunset views.
This can be a great choice when some people in your group want a beach day and others would rather explore shops, grab lunch or walk out over the Gulf.
And sunset from the pier is hard to beat.
Great for: Visitors, fishing, sunsets and combining a beach day with Pier Park.
Another easy option is the beach surrounding M.B. Miller County Pier, also known as County Pier.
Like Russell-Fields Pier, it stretches approximately 1,500 feet into the Gulf and provides an opportunity to combine fishing or sightseeing with a traditional beach day.
It's also one of the area's public beach locations with convenient parking access.
If you've never walked out onto one of Panama City Beach's piers, it's worth doing at least once—especially toward the end of the day.
Great for: Fishing, beach days, Gulf views and sunsets.
On the western end of Panama City Beach is a completely different kind of coastal experience.
Camp Helen State Park offers a quieter setting where the beach is part of a larger natural landscape.
Getting there requires a little more effort. From the main parking area, visitors make roughly a half-mile walk past the historic lodge and Rainbow Cottages and through the park toward the Gulf.
That extra walk is also part of what makes it special.
Rather than choosing Camp Helen because it's the easiest place to unload a car full of beach equipment, choose it when you want to slow down, walk and experience another side of Florida's coast.
Great for: Nature lovers, walking, photography and a quieter coastal experience.
One of the underrated advantages of Panama City Beach is the sheer number of ways to reach the Gulf.
Bay County maintains 96 public beach access points, stretching from the east end of Thomas Drive toward the western end of Front Beach Road.
That means you don't necessarily need to visit one of the area's well-known parks every time you want to put your feet in the sand.
Sometimes the perfect beach day is simply finding a public access point, carrying down a chair and a towel, and spending a couple of hours by the water.
That's one of the privileges of living here.
Florida sunshine is no joke, so bring sunscreen, water and some shade if you're planning to stay for several hours.
It's also important to pay attention to the beach flag warning system and current Gulf conditions before swimming.
And help keep the beaches beautiful. Panama City Beach's Leave No Trace rules mean tents and other personal belongings left unattended on the beach between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. are subject to removal.
Pack it in, pack it out, and leave the beach ready for tomorrow.
Of course, there's one thing nobody tells you about living near the Gulf:
Beach stuff multiplies.
First you buy two beach chairs.
Then there's an umbrella.
Then a cooler.
Then fishing rods.
Then somebody buys a paddleboard.
Add bikes, snorkeling equipment, floats, canopies and the mysterious collection of beach toys that somehow follows you home, and suddenly half the garage belongs to the Gulf of Mexico.
That's where we come in.
At Panama City Storage, we're a local business that loves the Panama City lifestyle just as much as our customers do. If your beach gear, fishing equipment, household belongings or business supplies are starting to take over your home or garage, we're here when you need a little more room.
Keep the things that make Florida fun.
We'll help you make space for them.
Panama City Storage
1920 Sherman Ave
Panama City, FL
Call or text: 850-771-7676
Secure. Simple. Local.