Access to marinas, water activities and waterfront dining options attract visitors

Panama City, FL – May 8, 2018 – Panama City, Florida’s history and culture is defined by water: from St.
Andrews Bay, which offers ready access to the Gulf of Mexico, to the many bayous and creeks that run
through the city and empty into the bay. Panama City is known for its rich biodiversity and a favorable
climate, making it an angler’s paradise, a world-class destination for sailing and boating and an overall
favorite destination of water lovers.

“St. Andrews Bay continues to draw international crowds to Panama City,” says Jennifer Vigil,
Destination Panama City president and CEO. “We cherish the water and the role it has played in Panama
City’s development. Surrounded by water on three sides, we truly are a community where life sets sail.”

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 unpopulated
barrier islands. Located on the boating world’s “Great Loop,” waters around Panama City boast ideal
wind conditions that make Panama City a world-class sailing destination and host of numerous regattas.

Activities

Sprawling more than 68,000 acres behind the protection of the Gulf of Mexico shoreline, St. Andrews
Bay is home to abundant aquatic life. The bay spans more than 20 miles and includes a wealth of
saltwater flats and seagrass beds that offer a rich bounty. Redfish, speckled trout, black drum, cobia,
sheepshead and flounder are just a few of the species populating these channels. The clear waters of
this extensive ecosystem are ideal for both novice and expert anglers.

Nearby Shell Island, an undeveloped barrier island occupying a seven-mile stretch between the Gulf of
Mexico and St. Andrew Bay, is the perfect excursion for the sea loving. Only accessible by boat, its
pristinely white beaches, natural dunes and emerald water attract locals and visitors alike. The warm
waters around the island are home to friendly bottle-nose dolphins. It’s ideal for shelling, snorkeling,
fishing and maybe even a sea turtle sighting!

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 offered this service at The Shipyard Grill.

Panama City features an abundance of waterfront dining options. 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. Visitors enjoy
watching 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. Arrive by land or by sea and enjoy the laid back
atmosphere at Barefoot on the Bay Bar & Grill. Also, taste the locally caught seafood and amazing views
at The Shrimp Boat, the casual waterfront restaurant has been a staple in St. Andrews since it was built
in 1950.

Panama City is also home to Chef Ernie Hall, who was named by Food Network as one of the Top 16
Cooks in America. Head over to Chef Ernie’s floating restaurant, Just the Cook, for his award-winning
Dan-D-Donut Burger, a rosemary-seasoned all-beef burger topped with Canadian bacon, Swiss and bleu
cheeses, and a grilled red pepper, sandwiched between two locally made grilled doughnuts. The house
boat turned restaurant occupies slip 81 at St. Andrews Marina.
Panama City’s Oyster Trail, made up of more than a dozen restaurants, is designed to connect visitors 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/.

Attractions

Enjoy a beautiful sunset at Oaks by the Bay Park, which features a boardwalk overlooking St. Andrews
Bay. Or, take a ride on the Governor Stone, Panama City’s national historic landmark. The 140-year-old
wooden schooner sails the St. Andrews Harbor on the second Saturday of each month, carrying
passengers at no cost.