Fly High With A Helicopter Ride
Now this is special A trip with the guys at Panhandle Helicopter will be an unforgettable vacation adventure for the kids.
They will always remember the excitement of their first helicopter ride. Plus, if you already think Panama City Beach is beautiful you should try seeing it from up in the sky. Its a whole new experience!
The helicopters are big enough to fit a family of four comfortably, letting you all share the experience together. But thats not all.
Your kids will love trying to spot sharks and dolphins in the Gulf as you fly along the coastline.
Plus, they will feel like a REAL pilot when they get to wear their own headset and interact with the pilot along the way.
This really is a fun and memorable activity that is just the right speed for kids and adults to enjoy together.
Panhandle Helicopter15726 Front Beach Rd, Panama City Beach, FL 32413 230-2080
Book Our Panama City Beach Condo Rentals
Browse our Panama City Beach condo rentals at Aqua. Aqua Gulf Resort features 22 stories of luxury accommodations and amenities, including a beachfront pool and whirlpool spa grotto, poolside cafe, and state-of-the-art fitness center. Plan your family vacation to the sparkling shores of the Gulf of Mexico today.
Speak The Language Of Panama
Now youre filled to the brim with things to do in Panama with kids. All of Latin America is a gem for travelers with not only delicious cuisine but also beaches, mountains, jungles, cloud forests, and more.
Break through the language barrier by learning Spanish before your trip! Being bilingual empowers you to travel more easily and communicate with the 121 million people in Latin America .
Homeschool Spanish Academy helps you achieve fluency through live 1-on-1 instruction with friendly native-speaking teachers, high-quality programs, and affordable payment options. Give it a try today! To get your family comfortable with conversational Spanish before your trip to Panama, sign up for a free trial class at Homeschool Spanish Academy.
Sign up for your today!
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Take A Dolphin Sunset Cruise
You can spend time aboard Island Times sailboat and take one of their dolphin sunset cruises. Dolphins and sunsets through the Grand Lagoon, it doesnt get much better than that! Enjoy two hours of relaxing and cruising through the calm waters of the Grand Lagoon. You go past the marinas, a state park, and the beautiful seaside homes, then off into the Gulf of Mexico on a leisurely sunset sail! We were lucky, the weather was perfect and we saw lots of dolphins! Grab a cocktail, then end the evening with a beautiful sunset on the emerald waters.
You could also take a sunset walk along the Russell Fields City Pier, as it is also a leisure activity to do in the evening after dinner in the area.
Santa Maria A Luxury Collection Hotel & Golf Resort
Santa Maria | Photo by Holly Rosen Fink
Kids get the royal treatment at the Santa Maria, a Luxury Collection Hotel & Golf Resort in Panama City. Kid perks include complimentary breakfast and access to a beautiful swimming pool. Parents appreciate the hotels childcare services, spacious rooms and affordable rates.
Other amenities include a world-class spa, chef-driven restaurants and custom curated destination experiences. If thats not enough, how about access to the only Championship Nicklaus Design 18-hole, 72-par golf course in Panama City?
Disclosure: The author attended a press trip in Panama, and much of her experience was complimentary, but all of her opinions are her own.
Lead image by Holly Rosen Fink
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Have An Animal Adventure At Zooworld Panama City Beach
Get up close and personal with the wildlife at ZooWorld Zoological and Botanical Conservatory. Home to hundreds of exotic animals, from kangaroos to lions to sloths and so much more, this park will take you on an adventure trip around the world!
You also get to experience petting and feeding animals like lemurs and baby bearded dragons, not to mention the free kisses that you will get from the giraffes This is one experience you cant miss!
Top 5 Things To Do In Panama With Kids
Central and South America still seem to be eluding our family when it comes to travel. Its not that we dont want to go, we really do, but other trips pop up keeping us from heading south. I asked Tara from PintSizedPilot.com to share her favorite spots and things to do in Panama with kids, a country I really hope to make it to very soon, especially after seeing her photos.
Our family has recently returned from several weeks in Panama. For me, this was a bucket list trip. Flora and fauna was the theme, and I had been holding off until my children were old enough to fully understand how awesome an adventure they were about to embark on. There was no end of things to do in Panama with kids, and we took full advantage.
Never a family to shy away from an action packed itinerary, we had five stops on our trip to Panama with kids. Bocas del Toro, Boquete, Gatun Lake, the Guna Yala and Panama City. While I fully realize that this may have been a bit much , here is a little overview of each place we visited in Panama with kids.
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Things To Do In Panama City Beach With Kids Rain Or Shine
Located in the panhandle of Florida, PCB, as its affectionately called, boasts beautiful, sugar-white sand beaches and family-friendly fun. But theres much more to PCB than beaches and the crystal clear waters of the Gulf of Mexico.
When the rain drives you from the beach, the kids need an afternoon away from the sun, or youre just looking for a new activity, here are our favorite things to do in Panama City Beach with kids.
TravelingMom Tip: PCB is less than six hours drive from Orlando, which makes it a great stopping off spot for families road tripping to Walt Disney World!
Hike Camp Or Fish At St Andrews State Park
A seaside oasis for the whole family, St. Andrews State Park is a great place to take it easy and enjoy some peace and quiet.
The park has everything you need: A playground for kids, 2-mile paved road for cycling a campground of 60 sites restrooms with showers shaded picnic tables perfect for a snack , plus boat launches and two half-mile walking trails, Heron Pond and Gator Lake!
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Stuff Your Face At Sharkys Beachfront Restaurant
No visit to Panama City Beach is complete without a meal at the iconic Sharkys Beachfront Restaurant, with an amazing view overlooking the Gulf of Mexico from its patio!
Tucked away in between Lullwater and Bahama beach, and open for lunch or dinner every day until 11 pm , get your fill from some of the freshest seafood around including Sharkys World Famous Keys Platter.
Feeling thirsty? Youll find no shortage of margaritas here too.
Snorkeling In Isla Colon
Why not kick off your trip with snorkeling? Isla Colon in the beautiful Bocos del Toro area offers some of the best underwater fun in the region! Whats more, its situated close to the airport and hospital for convenience. Isla Colon is also home to Playa Estrella, a beautiful, starfish-rich beach that will have both you and your children enjoying the best the region has to offer.
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Visit The Panama Canal + Imax Panama Canal Movie
The Panama Canal | Photo by Holly Rosen Fink
The Panama Canal fascinates little travelers. One of the most well-known attractions in Panama, 800,000 ships pass through the 50-mile-long waterway annually. The biggest vessels coming through the lock chambers are mid-sized Panamax cargo vessels.
Be sure to stop at the at Miraflores Locks Atlantic & Pacific Restaurant for lunch. Dont miss the new IMAX Panama Canal 3-D Movie, narrated by Morgan Freeman. Theres also a museum showcasing the history behind this 100-year-old Panamanian icon.
Did you know you can take a cruise through the Panama Canal with Uncruise?
Zoo World Panama City Beach
Suppose youre looking for an exciting vacation experience that teaches kids of all ages about the importance of wildlife conservation. In that case, Zoo World should be at the top of your travel itinerary.
ZooWorld is home to more than 260 exotic animals from around the globe, and your family can even directly interact with some of them. ZooWorld offers daily exhibits and shows that include activities like petting a sloth, walking about with flamingos, feeding alligators and giraffes, and more. It is open every day from 9:30 am and 5 pm.
Ticket prices are $19.95 for adults, $13.95 for children 2-12, $18.95 for seniors, and kids under two get in free.
ZooWorld is determined to showcase the beauty and variety of wildlife and teach visitors about our shared responsibility to conserve wild habitats. They allow guests to get up close and personal with the animals they champion and learn about their lives.
Through these interactions, ZooWorld hoped to inspire its visitors to understand how critical the survival of endangered species is and how important the preservation of their natural habitats truly is.
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Meet Cougars At The Bear Creek Feline Center
For cat lovers, a trip to Panama City Beach isnt complete without stopping into this heralded sanctuary for displaced and rescued animals.
Home to 21 beautiful creatures and counting, including a lynx, cougars, Florida panthers, servals and bobcats and no tigers at the moment, despite laying their two cents on the table after the Tiger King Netflix show the Bear Creek Feline Center provides a rare opportunity to get up close with these wild cats and learn more about their conservation.
Relaxing At Isla Bastimentos
Ever seen a sloth? You may just catch sight of one at Isla Bastimentos! This incredible isle offers one-of-a-kind snorkeling
opportunities, pristine beaches for all-day fun, and the chance to see a variety of jungle animals in their natural habitat. Take advantage of the Panama weather here by enjoying a perfect day with your children!
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Take A Panama City Beach Helicopter Tour
If there is one thing that makes Panama City Beach worth returning to, its the helicopter tours. The views on the ground and the sea are already spectacular, but seeing Panama City Beach up in the air provides a different perspective of its beauty and splendor.
If you havent tried riding a helicopter before, now is your chance to do so! You can also try a wildlife helicopter tour if you want something a little different. Youll be able to see turtles, stingrays, and even sharks! Theyll get you close enough to see the magnificent creatures while also keeping enough distance as not to disturb them.
Panhandle Helicopters has a variety of tours for you to choose from!
The Best Things To Do In Panama City Beach On Your Beach Vacation
Panama City Beach is a popular spring break and summer vacation destination in the Northwest Florida sector known more commonly as the panhandle. This beach community juxtaposing the Gulf of Mexico is famous for wild college spring-breakers, but families find it a great beach retreat at other times of the year.
With warm temperatures much of the year and sugar-white sands all the time, there are many things to do in Panama City Beach water recreation and outdoor fun, along with other attractions, activities and amenities.
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How To Get To Panama
Most nationalities including US, UK, EU and Canada citizens do not need a visa to enter Panama. Check with your embassy to see if you need a visa.
The main gateway to Panama is Tocumen International Airport , around 35km north-east of the city. There are direct flights from Miami to Panama City for as cheap as $250 return. Flights from Los Angeles to Panama City are around US$500 return .
For those in Europe, you can find pretty good deals flying from Madrid to Panama City for just $550 or London to Panama City for $600 return. We flew from Amsterdam to Panama City on KLM and our flights cost only US$500 return .
Indulge At The The Yard Milkshake Bar
Howd you like a milkshake with a whole cupcake sticking out of the top or an entire waffle peeking out of a mound of whipped cream? At The Yard Milkshake Bar, you will not believe your eyes as you are dazzled with some of the craziest treats. Theyre not just for kids! Whether you choose the Cookie Monster , the Cereal Killer or any of the other decadent desserts, I dare you to eat the whole thing.
Tip: We went at around 12:30 p.m. on a Sunday, and the line was about a half-hour long . But, by the time we left the place at around 2 p.m., there was no line at all.
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Do A Tasting At Panama City Beach Winery
Panama City Beach Winery specializes in fruit wines and is the only registered citrus winery in the United States. Their wines are made with 100 percent real fruit and no added sugar to the finish. Their blackberry wine literally has four pounds of blackberries in every bottle!
Stop by for a free tasting and take a bottle back to the beach with you. Dont miss trying the Key Lime wine it was my favorite and has won a number of awards!
The Yard Milkshake Bar
I saved the best for last, and while I already noted the food selections above, milkshakes deserve their own mention. When I Googled Panama City Beach and read about the milkshake bars, it sealed the deal. I made it my mission to try at least a few different shops out to find out for myself which was the best. In the end, the competition wasnt even close. The rightly Insta-famousThe Yard Milkshake Bar blew me away. Did I mention I went back twice? The milkshakes are not cheap $22 CAD for a shake, but it was a inevitable treat and, if I lived nearby, I can see how The Yard could become a habit.
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Emerald Falls Family Recreation Center
For more thrills and rip-roaring family fun, you can try a day at Emerald Falls Family Recreation Center, one of the best things to do in Panama City Beach with kids.
Amp up the excitement with bumper boat rides, join your family in 18 or 36 holes of challenging and fantastic mini-golf or visit the out-of-this-world Alien Arcade. The arcade features hundreds of games, from your old favorites to the newest and most popular.
You can even try the Max Flight Simulator and experience a 360-degree roller coaster straight out of the future.
Race your family members down the lanes on Emerald Falls three go-kart tracks. One of them, the Vortex, is a four-story Formula II track made entirely of wood. Find your inner need for speed with hours of 9 horsepower fun.
There are even some extreme rides like the SkyFlyer and the Vertical Accelerator to tickle the adrenaline junkies in your family. The younger kids will love the Kids Kingdom, which has five kid-friendly rides.
The whole family will appreciate Emerald Falls scenic location on the beachside.
Relax On Panama City Beach
No review of the best things to do in Panama City Beach would be complete without mentioning the world-famous beach itself! PCB is home to several picturesque beaches, but it has been argued that its namesake beach is the best of them all.
The powdery white beached comes from quartz crystals that washed down from the Appalachian mountains hundreds and hundreds of years ago.
This long journey down to sea level bleached, ground down, polished, and smoothed the quartz, which washed up out of the Gulf of Mexico and deposited onto the shoreline to form the beaches we know today.
Seeing how PCB has an average of 320 sunny days per year, taking the family to the beach is one of the best and least expensive things to do in Panama City Beach with kids.
PCBs climate is subtropical, and its average temperature is 74 degrees, so youll be able to enjoy fun in the sun on Panama City Beach almost all year round.
Kids of all ages will have a blast building sandcastles, playing volleyball, swimming in the Gulf, and making memories that will last a lifetime.
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Explore Punta Culebra Nature Center
Punta Culebra Nature Center in Amador is a small, open-air museum dedicated to marine science and conservation. Its a fun place for kids with exhibits including a turtle pool and a pool where kids observe and touch starfish, sea stars, sea cucumbers, and sea urchins with assistance.
Operated by the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, this unique site also gives children a chance to visit sea life exhibitions, watch the Fabulous Frogs of Panama exhibit, and walk through a tropical dry forest.
Do You Need To Speak Spanish To Travel Panama
Like the rest of Central America, Costa Rica uses Spanish as its official language. In Panama City and the tourist town in Bocas del Toro, youll find lots of locals who speak English. We speak Spanish, so this is not a problem for us. But if you dont, try to learn some basic words before you go.
But in the more remote areas like San Blas, English is scarce. Take the opportunity to expose your kids to a new language and teach them some words like hola! , gracias and por favor .
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