Choosing Panama City Beach, Florida, for a weekend vacation with your family is a no-brainer. After all, who doesn’t want to enjoy miles and miles of white sandy beaches, gorgeous emerald Gulf waters, and outdoor adventures galore?
However, with so many things to see, do, and experience in and around PCB, there’s just one problem: how to pack in as much action as possible in a three-day window! Fortunately, the hard work has been done for you. Keep reading to find a helpful three-day family itinerary with fun activities for everyone and the perfect PCB resort to tie the trip together.
Day 1: Accommodation Check-in, Beach Visit, and St. Andrews State Park
There’s no time to waste. As soon as you see that ‘Welcome to Panama City Beach’ sign, make a beeline for Sandpiper Beacon Beach Resort & Tiki Bar to get settled into your accommodation and get ready for a day of fun!
Morning: Check In and Visit the Beach
How better to start your very first day in PCB than with a trip to the beach? After all, those beautiful white sands are what lure in thousands of visitors every year. If you’ve booked a room, suite, or beach house at the Sandpiper Beacon hotel, you’re mere feet from the sand, no matter which room you check into.
Pack your beach gear and get ready for a morning of sandcastle-building! Even better, being a guest at Sandpiper Beacon means taking advantage of beach service. You’ll be able to rent paddleboards, canoes, beach chairs, umbrellas, and more.
While you can access the beach from Sandpiper Beacon, there are many public beach access points throughout PCB for your convenience.
Afternoon: Visit St. Andrews State Park
If you’re a nature lover, you’ll want to spend at least a few hours at St. Andrews State Park with your family. Go shell collecting on 1.5 miles of white sand beaches, enjoy scuba diving and snorkeling off the shores of Shell Island, or go paddleboarding and kayaking around the sheltered cove and bay.
If you prefer to keep your feet firmly on the ground, you may enjoy the many hiking trails, and fishing opportunities from the piers or rocks.
Evening: Enjoy a Beachfront Dinner
You’re in for a real treat when you take the family to a local PCB restaurant. Many of the best in the township are by the beach or offer beachfront views. Panama City Beach is full of wonderful options, including Barefoot on the Beach Bar & Grill and The Grand Marlin Restaurant & Oyster Bar.
However, if you’ve decided to stay at Sandpiper Beach Beach Resort in PCB, you don’t even have to leave the comfort of your accommodation for delicious food. There are many on-site eateries for your convenience, including Coconuts Restaurant, Shoobies Grill, and the Ice Cream Shop for a sweet treat.
Day 2: On-Site Fun, Family Favorites, and Shell Island
Ease into day two on your PCB vacation by checking out the many outstanding amenities at Sandpiper Beacon Beach Resort & Tiki Bar. After a relaxing start to the day, get out in nature with a trip to Shell Island, and enjoy some family fun in the evening.
Morning: Explore Sandpiper Beacon Beach Resort
You can’t stay at an idyllic beach resort without exploring everything it has to offer! Sandpiper Beacon is jam-packed full of amenities to make any family’s stay memorable for all the right reasons.
Go swimming in one of the swimming pools, relax in the Lazy River, or start the day on a high note by visiting the waterslides. You can even show off your competitive side in the Arcade Room and Mini Golf course, or let the kids go wild in the playground. You certainly won’t hear the kids saying, ‘I’m bored!’
Afternoon: Explore Shell Island
Shell Island is a nature lover’s paradise, so no trip to PCB is complete without a trip to this undeveloped paradise. Jump aboard the Shell Island Shuttle and spend the afternoon connecting with wildlife, such as ghost crabs, deer, shorebirds, and sea turtles. You might even spot the pod of bottlenose dolphins that live around the island!
The adventurers in your family are also bound to enjoy the many fun activities to participate in on the island, such as pontoons, kayaks, paddleboards, bikes, and tours with boats and jet skis.
Evening: Venture into PCB for Family Favorites
Is there something the kids have been wanting to do, but you haven’t yet found the time? Venture into PCB and make it happen.
There are so many wonderful activities for a variety of age groups and energy levels, including arcade games, mini golf, Pier Park for shopping, ZooWorld, and more. You can then end the evening with a family dinner somewhere special and a beach walk.
Day 3: A Fun Park, Beach Trip, and a Quiet Sunset Farewell
On the final day of your vacation in Panama City Beach, it’s all about making every moment count. Spend the morning visiting a fun park – of which there are plenty! – before taking one final trip down to the beach to swim, play in the sand, or soak up the sunshine.
Finally, end the evening with a nice dinner, chats about how much fun you’ve had in this vibrant tourist town, and watching the sun set over the beach.
Morning: Visit a Fun/Water Park
Before the heat of the day arrives in earnest, pack up the kids, your swimwear, sunscreen, and hats, and set off to one of the many fun amusement parks or attractions in Panama City Beach.
Young and old alike will love the Lazy River, Pirate’s Plunge, and White Knuckle River at Shipwreck Island Waterpark, while those with plenty of energy to burn will have the time of their life at Just Jump Trampoline Park. There’s even plenty of tropical fun to be had at Coconut Creek Family Fun Park with mini golf, cascading waterfalls, rocky caves, and more.
Afternoon: Head to the Beach
Before you have to head back to the daily grind of city life, take one last trip to the beach. Soak up the atmosphere, enjoy the sunshine, and don’t forget to take photos!
The best part of staying at a beach resort, too, is being able to walk back and forward to the beach within minutes, rather than dealing with the hassle of a commute, finding a parking space, and loading and unloading the car.
Evening: Rest, Relax, and Reminisce
After a few days of fun in the sun, it’s time to reminisce on the events of your weekend away, rest, and get ready for the trip back to normality. Enjoy the finer moments, and end the night with a delicious family meal. Remember, staying at a PCB beach hotel like Sandpiper Beacon means enjoying convenient on-site restaurants, with no need to travel far to find delicious food and beverages.
Plan Your Weekend Getaway and Book Your Stay at Sandpiper Beacon
We all deserve a break from time to time. Now’s the time to plan an unforgettable three-day vacation with your loved ones in PCB!
Get your vacation planning off to a great start by booking your accommodation at Sandpiper Beach Beach Resort & Tiki Bar in Panama City Beach. With beachfront resort amenities, idyllic rooms and suites, and proximity to some of the best activities in PCB, it’s bound to be a trip your entire family will enjoy – even your furry friend!
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