panama city beach

The white-sand beaches and clear, emerald waters of the Gulf of Mexico in Panama City Beach (PCB) hold a special place in my heart. It is one of my favorite destinations to visit when I just need to get away and relax. I consider myself to be a beach AND
mountain girl, but if I was forced to pick, you’d likely find me with salt in my hair and sand in my toes. I grew up listening to the Beach Boys with my parents and visiting family in Southern California often. My siblings and I enjoyed spending time playing in the ocean, body surfing, boogie boarding, and attending surf camp. I have always enjoyed marine life, feeling like The Little Mermaid exploring a whole new world in the ocean, and beach combing for unique shells and sea glass.

It's no wonder why I spent a large part of my childhood dreaming of being a dolphin trainer when I grew up. I took several college classes in marine biology and animal psychology at the University of Washington but felt called away from working with animals in captivity around the same time I discovered the field of speech/languagepathology, and my path quickly deviated. 

However, years later, my passions merged and this is how I stumbled upon the beautiful place of Panama City Beach!

I found a company, Water Planet, that offered an internship program to work with children with disabilities and their families, in land programs and in encounters with the wild marine life in the Gulf of Mexico. I completed a month-long internship program with them back in 2014 and have been visiting this area ever since!
If you are looking for an incredible experience to potentially swim alongside wild dolphins (while respecting them in their environment), encounter other Sealife, and explore Shell Island to search for souvenir shells, I highly recommend booking a tour with Water Planet during your visit. They offer a variety of tour options for tourists, as well as the Dolphin Therapy Program and internship opportunities.

Since my family and I visit frequently, we decided to invest in a beachfront condo in one of the most desired locations in PCB. It is within walking distance to Pier Park with many shopping and dining options, as well as other attractions. We also love to share our little slice of heaven with others, and if you’re interested in visiting and are looking for a place to stay, we’d be honored to host you! Click here to book your stay.

I have a couple favorite annual events in the area as well. Since I am a Jeep girl, the Florida Jeep Jam is a must! I brought my Jeep and some girlfriends in 2021 and boy did we make some memories! My husband spoiled me with some new tough tires and a lift and this was the perfect place to go test it out! I loved driving the obstacle course, shopping the vendors, cruising on the sandy beach for the Topless for Turtles Jeep Beach Crawl (the only time of year I can drive my Jeep on the beach here), and barely survived the Dunes Day Off-Road Excursion with my Jeep functioning enough to make the drive back home (others weren’t so lucky)!

Since I am a crazy triathlete, my other favorite annual events are the Ironman races. I enjoy cheering on the athletes from our condo (it is right along the bike course) and I participated in Ironman 70.3 Gulf Coast in 2022. 

I can’t talk about PCB without mentioning my favorite waterfront bar and seafood restaurant…Schooners. The food, vibe, music, sunset views and cannon shouldn’t be missed! 

I’d say anytime is time for a beach trip to PCB. Spring break and the summer months are the most popular and crowded times to visit. If you’re looking for a quieter beachtrip, it’s perfect in the off-season.