When considering condo ownership in Panama City Beach or evaluating the Panama City Beach real estate market in general, there are a number of factors to consider but one of the first steps should be to make yourself familiar with this awesome city and all that it has to offer.
Panama City Beach is widely known for its beaches, restaurants, nightlife and shopping but some of its most spectacular attractions are a little more off the beaten path.
These three secret treasures in Panama City Beach are excellent destinations for your next adventure!
- Shell Island is a barrier island and part of St. Andrews State Park. It is 700 acres of undeveloped beach reachable via a daily shuttle. The island is rich with marine life, in particular, with lots of bottlenose dolphins. While Panama City is a busy exciting destination, Shell Island offers a quiet, untouched escape just minutes away. Imagine packing a picnic and leaving for the day to stretches of beach that are free of all structures and signs of commercial development, add on the chance to some of the world’s largest pods of dolphins and you have the recipe for quite a day.
- Camp Helen State Park is a historical 180 acre site surrounded by the Gulf of Mexico and Lake Powell, a coastal dune lake. It is rich in history and has remnants of human existence on the property as far back as 4,000 years!! It also has old buildings that are being restored to explore from when the park was a company retreat from the 1940s to 1980s. The park offers hiking, swimming and fishing (freshwater and saltwater) but most importantly, Camp Helen State Park offers Panama City Beach visitors a spot to slow down and connect with nature.
- Panama City Beach Conservation Park is another option with 2,900 acres and 24 miles of hiking trails. Over a mile of boardwalks lead you through different parts of the park. The park’s active wildlife population attracts many wildlife lovers and birdwatchers, and areas with picnic tables and a pavilion are a great spot to convene. The park hosts a variety of different recreational and educational events.
Visitors’ dogs are also welcome in the conservation park, as opposed to many beaches, making Panama City Beach Conservation Park a great destination to get a small break from the sun and some quality time with your pet.
Remember that there is more to Panama City Beach than high-rises, restaurants and parties. These special spots offer a balance to the party that the Panama City Beach real estate market has to offer.
