Panama City Beach sits on Florida's northwest Panhandle, where the Gulf of Mexico meets St. Andrews Bay. The beaches here are genuinely beautiful -- wide stretches of white quartz sand and clear emerald water that look more like the Caribbean than the typical American South. It is a drive-to destination, drawing families from across the southeastern United States and snowbirds from the north.
The town was long known as a spring break hotspot, and traces of that reputation linger, but a building boom in recent years has shifted the character toward families and couples. St. Andrews State Park, at the eastern tip, is the highlight -- a protected stretch of dunes, pine flatwoods, and quiet beach that feels a world away from the condo towers along the main strip. Pier Park, a large open-air shopping and entertainment complex, anchors the commercial end of things. The fishing is good, both from the shore and on charter boats, and the diving on the artificial reefs offshore is surprisingly decent for the Gulf.