Panama City Beach is an exciting vacation destination for anyone. With gorgeous white sand beaches, miles of blue ocean, and endless activities to explore, a trip here will be one to remember. Traveling with kids? Don’t worry! Panama City Beach is very kid-friendly. Your family vacation to Panama City Beach will be your little ones’ favorite yet!
Whether your children are interested in learning about zoo animals and pirate ships or just want to run around and play some arcade games, you’ll find the perfect vacation activities for them here. In fact, there’s so much to do that there’s no way you’ll cover it all in one trip. They’ll be begging you to come back before you know it!
Without further ado, let’s dive in. Here are the top things to do for families in Panama City Beach!
Shipwreck Island
What’s more fun than a day at the waterpark? Shipwreck Island is the perfect place to take kids on your family vacation to Panama City Beach.
One of our favorite parts about Shipwreck Island is that the rides appeal to people of all ages. You’ll have just as much fun as your kiddos on rides like the Zoom Flume and White Knuckle River!
- Hours: Open Daily 10:30 AM – 5 PM
- Location: 12201 Hutchison Blvd. Panama City Beach, FL 32407
- Age Range: All Ages
- Price: $51.99 on weekdays, $54.99 on weekends. Senior tickets $46.99, Two-day tickets for $83.99
Wonderworks
Wonderworks is an amusement park for your mind! With over 29,000 square feet of “edu-tainment” (educational entertainment), you could spend all day here.
You can learn about all sorts of different things here, from the human body to extreme weather! Exhibits include the Space Discovery Zone, Physical Challenge Zone, Imagination Lab, and so much more. Plus, there’s an Indoor Ropes Course and Laser Tag Arena. It’s the perfect place to go on a rainy day!
- Hours: Sunday – Thursday: 10 AM to 9 PM, Friday and Saturday: 10 AM to 10:00 PM
- Location: 9910 Front Beach Rd, Panama City Beach, FL
- Age Range: All Ages
- Price: Varies On Experience, Check Website
Spend an Exciting Day at Gulf World Marine Park
Gulf World Marine Park is one of our favorite family activities in Panama City Beach! If your kiddos are interested in marine animals, this spot is a dream come true.
Take part in exhibits like swimming with dolphins, meet and greets with seals and penguins, and a stingray interactive program. Did you ever think you’d have the chance to cuddle a stingray? Kids over 12 can participate in the “trainer for the day” program and experience what it’s like to be a Gulf World Trainer. The marine park is a can’t-miss stop for families with kids who love ocean life!
Hours: 10 AM – 3 PM, Wednesday-Sunday (Closed Mondays & Tuesdays)
Location: 15412 Front Beach Rd, Panama City Beach, FL
Age Range: All Ages
Price: $25 Ages 3+, Under 3 Free. Check their site for what General Admission includes
Blue Dolphin Tours
Head out on a dolphin-watching tour! Blue Dolphin Tours offers a six-person experience or a larger 15-person Family Cruiser experience. You’ll spot all kinds of sea life like sea turtles, sting rays, and seahorses, plus your boat captain will instruct you on the safest and best means of interacting with dolphins. You and your family will love it!
*Pricing and Hours Vary By Tour*
Zoo World
We’ve covered marine life, but what if your child is more of an on-land animal lover? Luckily, you can plan a trip over to Zoo World Panama City Beach.
There are endless activities to explore here. Kids can meet animals like capybaras, kangaroos, and lemurs, get up close and feed giraffes and alligators, and even pet a sloth at Zoo World!
- Hours: Open Daily 9:30 AM – 4 PM
- Location: 9008 Front Beach Rd, Panama City Beach, FL 32407
- Age Range: All Ages
- Price: Kids General Admission $19.95, Adults $24.95
Ripley’s Believe It or Not
You never know what you may come across at Ripley’s Believe It or Not, hence its name. This wacky museum has all sorts of interesting artifacts inside!
Kids love discovering the unique exhibits and events at Ripley’s. Plus, it’s ever-changing, so if you come here one year, it may look totally different the next. Don’t miss out on this vacation classic!
- Hours: 10 AM – 3 PM, Wednesday-Sunday (Closed Mondays & Tuesdays)
- Location: 15412 Front Beach Rd, Panama City Beach, FL
- Age Range: All Ages
- Price: Varies by exhibit
Dave & Buster’s
Another classic! Dave and Buster’s is the top choice for arcade games in Panama City Beach.
Treat your kids to a day of fun with all their favorite arcade games plus new immersive gaming experiences like The Arena. Parents will have tons of fun at Dave and Buster’s too—their food and drinks are delicious, plus plenty of the games are suitable for people of all ages.
- Hours: Sun: 10 AM - Midnight, Mon - Thu: 11 AM - Midnight, Friday: 11 AM - 1 AM Sat: 10 AM - 1 AM
- Location: 15701 L C Hilton Jr. Drive, Panama City, FL
- Age Range: All Ages
- Price: Varies on food/drink and games
Book Your Panama City Beach Vacation Directly with Benchmark Management!
4 Bed, 3 Bath Emerald Coast Vacation Rental: Sea Jam
Wow! Who knew there were so many exciting family activities in Panama City Beach? You could stay here for a month and still not run out of things to do. If you’re only here for a few days or a week, don’t worry; you can always come back!
When searching for the best Panama City Beach vacation rentals, look no further than Benchmark Management. With years of dedicated property management experience, our team is ready to help you have your best vacation yet. Your vacation is our passion, and we do everything we can to make your trip one to remember.
Our Panama City Beach vacation rentals are located conveniently close to world-class dining spots, exciting nightlife, and, of course, all the family-friendly activities we mentioned above. You can browse by amenity and find a Panama City Beach rental with a pool, or a pet-friendly rental so you can bring the four-legged members of your family along, too.
When you book your trip directly with us, you save time, money, and stress. Sounds like a deal! Browse our available Emerald Coast vacation rentals now and book your trip directly with Benchmark Management!