Panama Metropolis Seaside is called a spring break and household trip vacation spot, with its excessive rises and crowded seashores. However throughout St. Andrews Bay, Panama Metropolis is an entire different story. Whereas it could be the most important metropolis on Florida’s northern Gulf Coast, Panama Metropolis maintains that small-town appeal and funky village vibe, working arduous to maintain issues salty.
With thriving historic districts, numerous eating choices, eclectic retailers, and galleries paired with dolphin excursions, fishing charters, crusing excursions, and entry to beautiful seashores, there are many issues to do in Panama Metropolis Florida for these searching for a quaint twist to the everyday Florida seaside trip.
About Panama Metropolis, Florida
Initially based as a fishing village in 1827, Panama Metropolis has a powerful maritime historical past of fishing, shipbuilding and salt mining. Through the Civil Conflict, the St. Andrews Bay Saltworks was one of many south’s largest salt producers and the 2 remaining authentic salt kettles are marked with state historic markers.
In 1909, through the constructing of the Panama Canal, Chicago businessman George Mortimer West drew a line between Chicago and Panama Metropolis, Panama and determined to speculate the place it intersected with this space in Florida.
There are 4 distinct neighborhoods in Panama Metropolis, every with its personal character and appeal. Downtown, often known as Harrison, was the unique title of the city and at present it’s the space’s arts and theater district. St. Andrews is a historic downtown on the Bay, with pretty parks with moss-draped dwell oaks, stunning bay views, cute retailers, galleries, and eating places that line the sidewalks alongside of a big marina.
Glenwood is the cultural hub of Panama Metropolis’s African American neighborhood, with the African American Cultural Middle and the twenty third Avenue Panama Metropolis Buying District. East of Downtown, Millville is the world’s paper manufacturing and shipbuilding middle.
Regardless of its proximity to native seaside resort cities, Panama Metropolis and its native neighborhoods look extra like small fishing villages. It’s a kind of small cities in Florida that may be a hidden gem and well-worth testing.
One factor I cherished about St. Andrews was that it has character and appeal. It has a picturesque setting, quaint old-time structure, and is a kind of small cities crammed with fascinating characters.
How do you Get to Panama Metropolis, Florida?
Panama Metropolis sits within the middle of Florida’s Emerald Coast on the northern shores of St. Andrews Bay. It’s lower than three hours east of Pensacola and two hours west of Tallahassee.
The closest airport to Panama Metropolis is the Northwest Florida Seashores Worldwide Airport (ECP), which is situated roughly 20 miles northwest of downtown Panama Metropolis. A number of airways function flights into ECP, together with Southwest Airways, Delta Air Strains, and United Airways. The airport presents direct flights from a number of cities together with hubs comparable to Charlotte and Atlanta.
Issues to do in Panama Metropolis Florida
Listed here are a few of the many issues to do in Panama Metropolis Florida:
Take a Dolphin Cruise
Panama Metropolis is a good place to take a dolphin cruise. Dolphins love the clear water of the bay and for those who get fortunate, they might even come as much as the boat and flirt a bit. I took a dolphin tour with Panama Metropolis Dolphin Seafari Excursions.
Not like different dolphin cruises I’ve taken in Orange Seaside, Alabama, Dolphin Seafari Excursions presents smaller boat cruises for personal excursions — excellent for households. Since you’re the solely ones on the boat, the agenda is as much as you. You possibly can comply with the dolphins or snorkel by Shell Island to seek for sand {dollars}. Captain Matt is aware of these waters effectively and may tailor your expertise to your tastes.
Go to Shell Island
A brief boat or shuttle journey away from Panama Metropolis is Shell Island. This uninhabited barrier island is roughly seven miles lengthy and is understood for its stunning, pristine seashores and crystal-clear waters. It’s well-liked with guests for swimming, snorkeling, kayaking, and fishing.
The island is accessible by boat, and several other corporations provide guided excursions to the island or you can even lease your personal boats or jet skis to get to the island. As soon as on the island, there aren’t any services, so it’s good to convey your personal meals, water, and provides, making for a peaceable and secluded escape from the busy metropolis seashores.
Take a Fishing Constitution
Deep-sea fishing is a well-liked exercise in Panama Metropolis and the world attracts each novice and skilled anglers. Fishing charters usually take visitors out into the Gulf of Mexico, the place they’ll catch quite a lot of species comparable to gag grouper, scamp grouper, bonito, trout, flounder, blackfin tuna, white snapper, and extra.
Charters can vary from a number of hours to a full day and a few additionally provide instruction and steering for many who are new to fishing.
Go Birdwatching
Situated on the Nice Florida Birding Path, Panama Metropolis is a good location for birdwatching, with quite a lot of habitats and ecosystems which might be house to many species of birds. There are a number of websites within the Panama Metropolis space on the Path together with the Econfina Creek Wildlife Administration Space and the Level Washington State Forest.
Different well-liked locations for birdwatchers are St. Andrews State Park, which boasts over 200 species of birds, and Panama Metropolis Seaside Conservation Park, which options quite a lot of trails and boardwalks that wind by marshes and woodlands. In the event you want, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Fee presents a free birding information to the Florida Birding Path, which incorporates detailed maps, species lists, and birding suggestions.
Watch a Sundown
These Gulf Coast sunsets are beautiful and it’s good to be sure that to see a minimum of one in your go to to Panama Metropolis. The St. Andrews Marina is a pleasant spot to catch a sundown, with the silhouette of the boats at anchor within the foreground.
Take a Historic Strolling Tour
To study extra concerning the distinctive historical past of this space, be a part of a guided historic strolling tour round St. Andrews. These 90-minute excursions happen each Wednesday and Friday at 1 p.m. and meet on the Panama Metropolis Publishing Firm Museum.
There’s additionally a free strolling tour app produced by Florida Tales that you could obtain to take the tour by your self.
Hire a Kayak or Paddleboard
Renting a kayak or paddle board is an effective way to discover the gorgeous waters round Panama Metropolis. There are a number of corporations that provide kayak and paddle board leases within the space, together with Bayside Leases, Katie’s Paddleboarding Adventures, and All Inclusive Adventures, the latter two which supply excursions guided by skilled instructors.
For a novel expertise, you may take a glow at the hours of darkness kayak tour with All Inclusive Journey utilizing clear backside kayaks fitted with LED lights that illuminate the bay crammed with marine life.
Well-liked places for kayaking and paddle boarding in Panama Metropolis embody St. Andrew’s Bay, Shell Island, and the close by Econfina Creek. For extra adventurous paddlers, the Florida Circumnavigational Saltwater Paddle Path presents an unimaginable journey across the total state of Florida, together with a number of stops alongside the Panhandle coast.
Go Buying
Panama Metropolis would make an amazing girlfriend getaway vacation spot too, with its mixture of artwork, meals and purchasing. In St. Andrews, yow will discover cute areas like Little Village, which presents a mixture of small artisan retailers, meals, drink, and dwell music in a peaceable waterfront venue.
There are additionally cute beachy boutiques in addition to enjoyable surf retailers like Sunjammers, which is a mixture of boutique and water sports activities clothing store. There are additionally artwork galleries and paint studios like Floriopolis.
Make a Cease on the U.S. Civil Rights Path
It shocked me to study that Panama Metropolis has an official cease on the U.S. Civil Rights Path. In 1963, civil rights activists organized a peaceable protest in opposition to segregation on the metropolis’s Gulf Coast Group School, which led to the arrest of a number of demonstrators. The next 12 months, civil rights chief Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. visited Panama Metropolis and delivered a speech at a neighborhood church, urging the neighborhood to face up in opposition to segregation and discrimination. Over time, many native activists and neighborhood leaders labored to problem segregation and promote equal rights in Panama Metropolis.
At this time, the town has a number of historic websites and landmarks that commemorate the civil rights motion, together with the Nelson Chapel AME Church and the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial on Harrison Avenue.
The historic Bay County Courthouse can be house to the landmark Gideon v. Wainwright case, through which the Supreme Court docket upheld the U.S. Structure’s sixth Modification, granting felony defendants the appropriate to free court-appointed protection counsel and is a cease on the Civil Rights Path.
Eat Oysters
Panama Metropolis’s historical past as an oyster fishing city dates again to the early 1900s when oysters had been ample within the close by Apalachicola Bay and native fishermen would harvest them by hand and promote them to markets and eating places all through the area.
At this time, oysters are nonetheless an essential a part of Panama Metropolis’s economic system and tradition, and the town has developed the Panama Metropolis Oyster Path. This self-guided path covers over a dozen oyster purveyors and eating places, together with Gene’s Oyster Bar, with its personal historic marker.
Whether or not you like uncooked, baked, grilled, fried or sauteed, the Panama Metropolis Oyster Path is an effective way to style all of them. And there’s an Ale Path, too, the place the craft beer and the ambiance movement at 9 native pubs. And do you know that Panama Metropolis native Honor Allen is a four-time Nationwide Oyster Shucking Champion together with his personal documentary, Honor’s Finest?
Attend a Madri Gras Parade
The Krewe of St. Andrews Mardi Gras celebration is an annual occasion that has been going down in Panama Metropolis, Florida, for over 20 years. The occasion takes place within the historic St. Andrews district of Panama Metropolis, and usually happens on the weekend earlier than Fats Tuesday.
The parade options over 30 floats from 14 Krewes, and attracts a big crowd of locals and vacationers alike, with an estimated attendance of over 50,000 folks. The St. Andrews Krewe Mardi Gras celebration additionally options various different particular occasions, together with a pet parade and a household parade, together with dwell music performances, meals distributors, and different actions all through the weekend. I had the chance to attend and journey on a float for the parade and it was so enjoyable, opening my eyes to Mardis Gras past New Orleans.
Take heed to Music
Panama Metropolis is lucky to have the Panama Metropolis Symphony Orchestra, the Panama Metropolis Music Affiliation, and the Gulf Jazz Society offering glorious symphonic, classical, opera, fashionable and jazz music performances annually.
Attend a Pageant
The Blessing of the Fleet & Sock Burning is an annual custom the place almost 50 boats sail by the St. Andrews marina whereas the neighborhood gathers to honors these misplaced at sea and ask blessings for the protected travels of those that make their residing on the water. Afterwards, revelers pull off their winter socks to “free their ft,” tossing them into an enormous tub to be burned and formally usher in flip-flop season. Simply one of many ways in which St. Andrews stays salty!
Different enjoyable festivals in Panama Metropolis embody:
See Public Artwork
Panama Metropolis is understood for its arts neighborhood, from a scattering of artwork galleries to a spread of public artwork. One of many largest of which is Public Eye Soar, the most important free digital projection artwork present within the state of Florida. Happening in November, this competition options artwork, movies, music, dance, movie, and interactive experiences from artists all around the world.
There are additionally three Chad Gainey sculptures situated at Oaks by the Park, which spotlight the ocean life residing in and round Panama Metropolis waters.
The Middle for the Arts is the creative coronary heart and soul of Panama Metropolis. Housed in a 1926 historic constructing throughout from Martin Theater that when served because the Metropolis Corridor, it’s free to go to and hosts 30 displays a 12 months and likewise presents artwork lessons for kids and adults.
Take a Meals Tour
One in every of my favourite methods to discover a vacation spot is thru its meals and one of the simplest ways to try this is on a meals tour. A Style of Panama Metropolis Meals Excursions presents meals tour choices in Harrison and St. Andrews, introducing guests to native historical past and cultural alongside the way in which. The excursions cowl “Outdated Florida” delicacies, cajun and creole, Mexican, and different native favorites.
The place to Eat in Panama Metropolis Florida
Amavida — this natural, truthful commerce espresso store isn’t what you’d look forward to finding in a small city like St. Andrews, however if you’re a espresso connoisseur, it’s good to test it out. Even for us non-coffee drinkers, they provide smoothies, scrumptious pastries and native paintings in a hip setting.
Bayou Joe’s — in the summertime this dockside staple opens up the deck so boaters can pull proper up, generally stacking up four-five deep. That is the one place the place I’ve seen an early morning “joyful hour,” well-liked with native shift staff, however in addition they provide an incredible breakfast. I indulged within the irresistible “Rubbish Grits” — a large bowl of grits with cheese, tomatoes and veggies piled excessive.
Little Village — For yummy fish tacos in a quiet out of doors setting, sit on the again deck at Little Village in downtown St. Andrews.
The place to Keep in Panama Metropolis Florida
Observe: My go to was hosted by Vacation spot Panama Metropolis. All opinions are my very own. This publish incorporates affiliate hyperlinks. In the event you click on and make a purchase order, I’ll make a small fee to assist the operating of this weblog and to maintain providing your trip concepts and suggestions.
The opposite good thing about staying in Panama Metropolis versus Panama Metropolis Seaside is that you’re going to avoid wasting cash. There will not be any beachfront highrises however you will see choices pleasant to your finances. I discovered the Vacation Inn in Panama Metropolis surprisingly giant and cozy, with free WiFi and parking, fashionable walk-in showers, and a full-service restaurant and bar.
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