Panama City Beach Kids Attractions for Year-round Family Fun
Need a spring break or summer vacation? What about a fall or winter getaway? Head to Panama City Beach, one of Southern Living’s best beach towns. It earned a spot for a reason, too. Families flock to PCB for spacious beaches, entertainment and adventure. Here’s a rundown of the top Panama City Beach kids attractions they can enjoy all year.
Panama City Beach Kids Attractions Welcome Families to Play
Gulf World
Gulf World ranks among the top Panama City Beach kids attractions for its up-close encounters with marine life. This indoor-outdoor park features gardens that provide a home to exotic birds, penguins, flamingos, gators, turtles and more. After seeing animals, get a seat for a live show. Gulf World offers daily shows with dolphins, sea lions, stingrays, sharks and birds.
For an added bonus, schedule an interactive experience. Kids love swimming with marine life in a safe setting. Guests swim with bottle-nose dolphins, seals and sea lions, depending on the option that suits their interests.
WonderWorks
Expand the mind at WonderWorks, home to more than 100 hands-on exhibits. This popular indoor attraction is sectioned into six zones where visitors explore, learn and play. Kids enjoy learning about the science behind natural disasters, creating masterpieces at imagination lab and operating spacecrafts. They can also play with light and sound, look for hidden images, and blow bubbles.
After exploring exhibits, try a new activity. WonderWorks houses an indoor ropes course, virtual Army experience and Laser tag arena. Get WonderWorks tickets.
Race City
Home to the only roller coaster in Panama City Beach and one of the steepest go-kart tracks in the area, Race City offers thrills for all ages. From toddlers to teens, kids have a blast at Race City. Younger children play mini-golf, ride bumper boats, spin and navigate the sea maze. Kids looking for thrills ride fast go-kart tracks, a sky coaster and Hurricane — a small steel coaster with twists and turns.
Race City doesn’t charge admission or parking fees. Instead, guests buy unlimited arm bands that grant access to all outdoor attractions except the sky coaster. Armbands provide unlimited access, so kids play all day.
Coconut Creek Family Fun Park
For quick and affordable fun, head to Coconut Creek Family Fun Park. The attraction houses two 18-hole mini-golf courses and a giant outdoor maze the size of a football field.
Let kids play mini-golf courses that feature challenging holes in a tropical setting. They may even see fish and turtles while they line up their shot. After a friendly game, head to Gran Maze. This attraction provides pathways and twists where families work together or compete for the best time. Guests may purchase tickets to individual attractions or a pass to all three.
Shipwreck Island Waterpark
There’s no better place to cool off on a hot day than at a water park. Ranked among the best water parks in the U.S., Shipwreck promises wet-and-wild fun in the sun. Individual day and season passes are available, and guests under 35 inches get in free.
At the park, families find areas for both children and adults. Tadpole Hole has children’s activities, including small slides, a rope climb and yellow submarine in shallow pools. Families also enjoy playing at Tipping Bucket and Skull Island, or relaxing in the lazy river. For thrills, zoom down the Tree Top Drop and Zoom Flume.
Ripley’s Believe It Or Not
See the strange and unusual at Ripley’s Believe It Or Not in Panama City Beach. The attraction offers dozens of exhibits and hands-on activities. See animal skeletons, play a life-size game of Operation, and let kids play in the crawl area.
Other things to do at Ripley’s Panama City Beach include a 7D moving theater, laser race challenge and mirror maze. Don’t forget to take pictures with a replica of the tallest man in the world who measured 8 feet, 11 inches tall.
FunLand Arcade
This family-owned spot has ranked among the top Panama City Beach kids attractions for over 65 years. FunLand doubles as an arcade and restaurant that serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. However, it does close for the winter season.
Play over 100 arcade games located throughout FunLand. The dining and gaming areas are separate, ensuring kids have room to roam without disturbing diners. In addition, many games pay tickets or coins, which kids redeem for fun prizes.
If visiting during the off-season, don’t worry. Pier Park also has a Dave and Buster’s, which has arcade fun for the family.
Sea Dragon Pirate Cruise
Those looking to see the Gulf in a new way should board Sea Dragon Pirate Cruise. This two-hour cruise welcomes kids to play pirates. While cruising the open sea, kids sword fight, look for treasure, shoot water guns, swab the deck and fire the kid cannon.
In addition, families enjoy sightseeing near St. Andrews Bay while listening to lively music. The crew keeps little ones busy and entertained, so parents can relax.
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