Top 5 Panama City Beach Car Tours: A Scenic Drive Review
Panama City Beach, with its sparkling turquoise water and smooth, sandy beaches, it’s almost screaming for you to come explore. So, you are thinking about cruising around in your ride, seeing what this area has to offer? Here’s a look at five tours by car that should give you that full, great view of PCB that you were hoping for.
1. The Classic Beachfront Cruise: Front Beach Road
Front Beach Road is likely the heart of Panama City Beach and tends to be where most visitors spend some amount of time. It’s like your postcard view made into reality. Seriously, it stretches right along the beach, and is usually pretty jam-packed with activity. As you crawl, make sure you give a gander at the shimmering ocean views – that’s, honestly, quite pretty – and there are so many spots that are nice where you could stop. Shops with goofy t-shirts, cafes dishing up seafood, and, of course, long stretches of sandy white beach can also be found.
As you drive, honestly, consider dropping into some well- known spots, that might even be called landmarks. There’s Gulf World Marine Park that has some of your sea life attractions that will surely entertain or Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, which, too, has some pretty weird oddities on display. Or, if you’re feeling peckish, then consider that you can park and, you know, grab a bite to eat at one of the many seafood shacks. Front Beach Road tends to be perfect if you need a solid mix of scenery, tourist traps, plus, perhaps a little retail snacking. It’s, really, like getting a full taste of what PCB has to offer.
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2. The Coastal Highway: Scenic 30A (East Section)
Scenic 30A, particularly the bit that heads to the east, that too could offer a gorgeous alternative if you fancy taking a side trip not that far from Panama City Beach. OK, yeah, perhaps you’ll have to actually make the trek toward that direction first, even if a little, toward the west. Even so, the ride is pretty easy if you start from PCB. This stretch usually winds through super nice beach towns that might, conceivably, make you forget all that noise and glitter.
As you make your way through spots like Rosemary Beach or Alys Beach, you’ll also find those charming spots usually showcase cool architecture plus some fancy landscaping. Also, make certain you’ve packed a camera, because, actually, the photo opportunities out here aren’t too bad! Make a little detour off the main drag plus go visit places that could include Camp Creek Lake; too, that is supposed to be a dune lake where a bit of your nature fix could perhaps be fulfilled.
Scenic 30A too has a number of eateries, many offering the kinds of meals that usually would require reservations, to be safe. Anyway, as you drive along, it’s also hard to skip some of those views as well as the vibe of this place that might give you a taste of Florida living and you might find to your surprise you actually don’t mind. This drive too works if perhaps you like that kinda luxurious side to the coastline and the local vibe out that way seems pretty good.
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3. The Nature Escape: St. Andrews State Park Route
So, if you want nature plus driving mixed, then St. Andrews State Park route might just do the job for you. Basically, to reach the park area, there’s usually a stretch of road you’ll follow that has some pretty awesome bay views. The waters actually stretch and shine; furthermore, they also tend to host sailboats just going around and fishing boats hunting for that supper. Honestly, even the entrance to St. Andrews alone makes your travel time rather worthwhile.
Also, the park generally hosts parking sites plus scenic pull-offs so it can let you park and see cool sights. You may decide that you would like to hop away from your driving and simply hike one of these nature trails? What’s cool too is, so many trails may let you observe native wildlife while, also, you are strolling around the natural habitat. Camping is available, too, if that is very, really, up your alley, giving a pretty terrific shot at taking pleasure in evenings near that crackling campfire just underneath what some could refer to those dreamy skies.
Also, make sure to include what’s called the pier at the park to try and watch a cool view as boats enter or leave that Gulf. Or you can just enjoy a relaxing sunset view. That is just the location that may just chill even the busiest vacationers since, also, it might provide the break you actually kinda need.
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4. The Grand Lagoon Loop: A Local’s Favorite
The Grand Lagoon Loop generally gives a feel for the area behind that main strip that’s really often overlooked, perhaps. As you move along these roads you get bayside that also provides lots of chances where you can, actually, experience the water or try to spot various places to eat. It does provide you what some tourists may feel like are better glimpses on where locals, often, enjoy chilling. It is like an actual change that you could find relaxing or exciting.
Consider grabbing water rides in one of such centers located here for getting some type thrills or try exploring shell Island through hopping with that boat tour from the local spots down there around the Lagoon. Grand Lagoon keeps several smaller cafes often serving all forms meals. So you may take stops grabbing local specialties while also enjoying some beautiful viewpoints here at your convenience. As with anywhere where lots traffic frequent that area you must consider using GPS systems cause these loops could get complex if that you didn’t use to travel round about or go to those regions. But there are certainly those options available.
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5. West End Exploration: A Ride to Pier Park
The drive from main PCB through to Pier Park too grants its fair bits of fun as places can give you various viewpoints while having great distractions if the main areas feel somewhat claustrophobic to you and make people wanna just be driving elsewhere too.
On route through the destination you see gradually changes when the area is a ton more commercial while traveling nearby or toward shops available around Pier. As those get much near this destination. At Pier Park there should also have stores/boutiques giving wide variety wares when finding gifts to others even if needing simple souvenirs while getting somewhere from within the location. Pier area can definitely take half one day though its much contingent as people have the shopping energy after hours and after lots vacationing so adjust through getting maximum fun with breaks at the locations
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