Panama City, FL – August 7, 2018 –The sunny destination of Panama City, Florida is known for world-class sailing conditions, artistically-rich neighborhoods and delicious seafood. All three of these attractions can be experienced year-round, making Panama City the perfect last-minute getaway destination.

“Any time of year is a good time to visit Panama City,” says Jennifer Vigil, Destination Panama City president and CEO. “Our comfortable climate and packed events calendar make Panama City the ideal destination for an impulse trip.”

Marinas

Panama City’s three marinas, Panama City Marina, St. Andrews Marina and Sun Harbor Marina, provide access to outstanding year-round inshore and offshore fishing and shelling excursions to Shell Island, an unpopulated barrier island. Charters are available for snorkeling and diving excursions or dolphin watching. Located on the boating world’s “Great Loop,” waters around Panama City boast ideal wind conditions that make it a world-class sailing destination and host to of numerous regattas. Adventure seekers can also rent paddleboards for a solo tour of the bay.

Arts

Anchored by the Panama City Marina, Historic Downtown Panama City serves as the art and theater district. Here you can drop by the stunning 1936 Art Deco-style Martin Theatre, beautifully restored to its original glory. You can also visit City Arts Co-Op, a 7,000-square-foot facility with performance and studio space and an art gallery or stop by Panama City Center for the ARTS, where past exhibits have showcased fine art, sculpture, jewelry and ceramics.

Just three miles west along scenic Beach Drive, the St. Andrews Marina is the backbone of the Historic St. Andrews neighborhood, whose motto is #KeepStAndrewsSalty Here you can check out art galleries like Fiddlestix Gifts & Gallery and Native Spirit Museum & Gallery. Shop Floriopolis, featuring an eclectic gallery that showcases more than 100 local artists, where you’ll see pottery, jewelry, sculpture, paintings, photography and more. Create your own art at Jani Ceramics. They supply everything you will need to craft a keepsake to remember all the fun you had in Panama City. Floriopolis also features Art on the Spot, free mini art lessons disguised as fun projects that happen daily. Meet the locals at Little Village. This hippie enclave offers plenty of entertainment options.

Dining

Panama City’s proximity to the Gulf of Mexico provides a year-round supply of fresh-caught seafood, and “Hook & Cook” is a unique way to enjoy it. Offering guests the opportunity to have a restaurant expertly prepare the fish they catch, “Hook & Cook” trips turn a fun day on the water into an evening of fishing stories shared over a delicious meal of fresh seafood. Charter boats that run out of Sun Harbor Marina are offering this service at The Shipyard Grill.

Panama City’s historic districts feature an abundance of dining options along the water. Bayou Joe’s is a waterfront dining experience unlike any other in Panama City. Tucked in the heart of Massalina Bayou, Bayou Joe’s offers 180-degree views of the water and serves some of the best Southern-style fried oysters. Watch the boats sail by while enjoying a meal at Alice’s on Bayview and Uncle Ernie’s Bayfront Grill & Brew House, both overlooking the St. Andrews Marina or arrive by land or by sea and take in the laid back atmosphere at Barefoot on the Bay Bar & Grill. Also, taste the locally caught seafood and amazing views at The Shrimp Boat, a casual waterfront restaurant.

Panama City’s Oyster Trail, made up of more than a dozen restaurants, is designed to connect you to Panama City oyster purveyors, raw bars and restaurants and to celebrate and support the watermen who harvest wild oysters, a generations-old sustainable industry and an engrained cultural treasure in the region. Whether craving raw, baked, chargrilled or fried, Panama City serves up the tasty local bivalves in almost every method imaginable. The Oyster Trail is open year-round as Gulf Coast oysters don’t change significantly in flavor throughout the year. Because of the warm waters, the oysters never go dormant and stay mild and somewhat soft all year round. For more information, visit https://destinationpanamacity.com/oyster-trail/.

Near Panama City

Panama City’s proximity to a number of state parks and nature preserves allows for the perfect day trip. Nearby St. Andrews State Park is known for its sugar white sands and emerald green waters, this former military reservation has over one-and-a-half miles of beaches on the Gulf of Mexico. Water sports enthusiasts can enjoy swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving, kayaking and canoeing. Florida Caverns State Park is one of the few state parks with dry caves and is the only state park in Florida to offer cave tours to the public. Econfina Creek Recreation Area boasts a spring fed creek that is a favorite of paddlers. The recreation area offers paddling, horseback riding, swimming, fishing, hunting, hiking, camping, and wildlife viewing all within 41,363 acres of unparalleled scenic beauty.