When you think of New Years Eve activities, it doesn’t typically include small children. In fact, most parents become incredibly deceiving and creative with their NYE activities. With bed times and kids who do not handle late nights well the next day, we result in faking a new years countdown on the TV, or just ignore the holiday all together. When Visit Panama City Beach invited us to celebrate NYE with them, I took a while to reply back to the email. The idea of traveling and celebrating NYE seemed daunting to a mom with three little children. Having only visited that area once before and loving it, I decided to say yes and I’m so glad I did. The city curated the most perfect itinerary for us and I would 10/10 recommend each spot.
STAY
With a reasonably priced stay, the HYATT Regency is right on the beach. We couldn’t have picked a better location, with it being just a walk away from the pier and a short drive from all the fun activities and restaurants. We were welcomed with a private bonfire on the beach with drinks and all the s’more makings, creating an unforgettable memory right from the jump. We didn’t realize how incredible this location was until New Years Eve when we could walk back to the hotel from the fireworks so the kids could head to bed, then Matthew and I watched the fireworks from the patio just us two.
EATS
Coconut Charlie’s Beach Bar & Grill
Located in the Hyatt Place hotel, we were surprisingly shocked how amazing the food was! The pasta, wings, and even the kids personal pizzas were to die for.
Andy’s Flour Power
Absolute MUST! I’d honestly drive back up just for a cup of their creamy cheesy grits and homemade biscuit and sausage. Andy was walking around making conversation with everyone and it gave such a personal fun experience to the whole meal.
Schooner’s
Crab Cakes 10/10! Right on the beach, live music, lots of room for dancing.
The Pour Coffee
A beautiful coffee shop with so much character and a nonprofit that pours into their community. Their coffee was delicious and my only regret was ordering their cinnamon roll to share.
Finns Island Style Grub
Another spot I’d drive 8 hours to eat again. Their fish tacos were out of this world. The kids devoured everything we ordered. It was also a cute outdoor eating spot where the kids could run around and play, those are always our favorite.
Parlor Doughnuts
If you don’t have one in your hometown, definitely make a stop here and indulge. There’s a soft flaky doughnut for every kind of sweet tooth!
ACTIVITIES
Beach Bonfire
The Hyatt Place set one up for us, and I forgot how much I missed doing this in California. There’s nothing like a s’more on the beach, looking out to the ocean. We saw many families setting these up all along the beach for New Years and it made me want to create a new family tradition.
WonderWorks
We could have been there all day if we had the time. This amazing attraction connects science and fun with activities, games, and entertainment for every age.
PCB Wheel
This is a must when visiting PCB. 200-feet above the Gulf in a fully enclosed, climate controlled gondola! This was such a safe fun treat for the kids and a chance to get some amazing views! Highly recommend at sunset!
Pirates Voyage Dinner & Show
We had no ideas what to expect when we showed up, but a time was had! This was a fun acrobatic pirate show with a four course feast! I recommend arriving early so you can wander the gift shop and get some slushy drinks before the show starts. Bring your appetite because they give you a lot of food!
St. Andrews State Park
There wasn’t much time for us to explore the park, but if you have time, this park includes a mile and a half trails for walking, biking, and nature. Lots of people surf and swim over here since the waters are calmer and there’s a kiddie pool protected by the jetties!
New Year’s Eve Beach Ball Drop
After walking around Panama City Beach a few days ahead of NYE, all the locals raved about this fun event. We had no idea what to expect, but when we arrived, we were showered with free NYE gear, lights for the kids, popcorn from the local police station, bubble stations, a kiddie train ride, and full on concert and DJ! The kids were hype for the beach balls hanging over the street just waiting for them to drop! As we counted down at 8pm, the beach balls were dropped and the kids excitedly snagged their own to take home with them as a core memory. It was the perfect time to count down for the kiddos, as we walked back they also got their own fireworks show. With a quick walk back to the hotel, we put this kids to sleep and got a front row seat in the comfort of our own patio to watch the midnight fireworks off the pier. This was such a fun way to bring in the New Year!
If you want to learn more about events around Panama City Beach check out @Visit_PCB or https://www.visitpanamacitybeach.com
P.S. for more travel family fun in Florida, check out this post or this one!
