Summer days spent splashing in the surf. Fruity drinks sipped by the pool. You might conjure these images when dreaming of a vacation at Panama City Beach. But, did you know all the opportunities the city provides to commune with nature? From state parks like St. Andrew’s to city parks, like Panama City Beach Conservation Park, you’ll discover why you need to explore “The Undiscovered Florida Coast” during your visit.
Panama City Beach Conservation Park
This 2912-acre park, part of the West Bay Ecosystem, was created to help rehydrate wetlands while providing recreational opportunities for residents and visitors. With 908-acres of uplands and 2004 acres of wetlands, it’s the perfect area to spot native plants, trees, and wildlife.
Whether you want a short, leisurely stroll, a long hike, or an all-day bike ride, you can find it here. The park has over 24 miles of trails and 1.3 miles of boardwalk to explore. We received bikes for our day of exploration in the park from Bike the Beach, who delivered the bikes and bike locks to the bike rack and parking area and returned to pick them up when we were finished.
All of the trails, with the exception of Walt Oberst Way, are unpaved. However, the flat, packed dirt trails made riding a bike a breeze. The park feels secluded even though it’s located in the middle of the city; a surprising oasis to the hustle and bustle of city life. There were no crowds on the weekday we visited, only a few friendly locals and a few fellow bike-riding tourists. It was peaceful and quiet, the only sounds the chirping of the birds or an animal scurrying through the undergrowth.
Trails in Conservation Park
- The 1.7 mile Green Trail meanders by Buck Pond and Cypress Pond.
- The 4 or 6 mile White Trail wanders by Marshy Pond and Eagle Spur.
- The 5.2 or 6.5 mile Blue Trail wanders along Longleaf and Dragonfly.
- The 9.5 mile Orange Trail passes by the Baxley Homestead and Bear Track.
- The 11.2 mile Red Trail passes by Tree Frog, Bear Track, and White Tail.
- The 5-mile Watersound Trail leads to the Watersound Origins where 14 million gallons of reclaimed water is pumped back into the wetlands daily.
Some of the trails, such as the Marshy Pond trail, are designated as hiking-only trails. These trails are covered with native grasses and well-maintained for an easy walk. Note: If there has been excessive rainfall or a hurricane in the area prior to your visit, some trails may be flooded.
What Kind of Wildlife Will You Find?
Keep your eyes peeled for
- black bears
- alligators
- white-tailed deer
- wild hogs
- turtles, lizards, and snakes
- birds; egrets, herons, bald eagles, storks, woodpeckers, and more
We saw turtles, lizards, deer, butterflies, and birds during our visit, but we chatted with a man who had just passed an alligator on another trail and saw 3 black bears the day before.
You can easily spend a day at this park. Bring a picnic lunch and eat at one of the tables under the pavilion. The only public restrooms are located at the Trail Head Parking area and drinking water is not available on the trails, so pack your own before hiking.
Where to Eat
Thomas Donut and Snack Shack– I had the pleasure of trying their donuts and kolaches on a previous trip to Panama City Beach. The memories of those goodies inspired me to revisit. They were just as good as I remembered! I purchased a Nutella filled Oreo Doughnut, made with a rich Nutella cream filling and topped with crumbled Oreos. My husband, feeling less brave, purchased a cream-filled doughnut.
Thomas’s has been open since 1971 and has developed a loyal following. Walk up to the window for service. Then, sit at one of the picnic tables to enjoy your goodies while overlooking views of the ocean. With 26 doughnuts on the regular menu and a variety of seasonal doughnuts that change frequently, along with assorted muffins and kolaches, you’ll find a flavor for any taste.
The Grand Marlin– You know a restaurant is good when it is frequented by the locals. That’s the case with The Grand Marlin. They really do deliver “the freshest seafood and decadent desserts in a relaxed and casual atmosphere.” I’m picky about my fried oysters, refusing to eat them at a restaurant not located near the beach, and even then, viewing them with suspicion. The oysters at The Grand Marlin are always done to perfection, and, if you purchase a platter, it’s served with jalapeno coleslaw and fries.
Their desserts are spectacular too. When asked if I had saved room for dessert, I knew the one I wanted; a thick, fudgy, dark chocolate brownie, topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, drizzled with caramel and hot fudge sauce, and sprinkled with praline topping. And, sure, there are some berries on the side, but I focused on the chocolate. My husband settled on the key lime pie and declared it to be ‘the best he ever had.’
Things to Know Before You Go:
- Conservation Park is located at 100 Conservation Drive.
- Admission to the park is free.
- Trails are open daily from sunrise until sunset. Dogs are permitted in the park as long as they are kept on leashes.
- The Grand Marlin is open daily for dinner. It is located at 5323 N. Lagoon Drive, Panama City.
- Thomas Donut and Snack Shack is open daily from 6 AM until 3 PM and is located at 19208 Front Beach Road, Panama City Beach.
- Public Beach Access can be found directly across the road from Thomas Donut and Snack Shack.
- Bike the Beach is located at 17292 Front Beach Road, Panama City Beach.
- Panama City Beach is a short drive from Seaside, Florida.
Have you visited Panama City Beach Conservation Park? Did you see wildlife? Let us know in the comments!
What a beautiful place to walk at, and get energy back with sweets! 😀 😀
Haven’t been to a beach for long so thanks for the virtual tour!
What a beautiful park. It is nice to hear about places that have been preserved. Sounds like a great place to explore.
Wonderful to be able to enjoy the park that is free. Gorgeous sunset photos. And that donut….yum! Definitely a great way to spend a day.
The place is incredible and everywhere you look is so mesmerizing. Plus the food looks so delicious and tasty. I’ll definitely visit this place in the near future.
Those trees look incredible. I’d love to do an all day bike ride around the conservation park for a great family day out.
That looks like an amazing park. I love taking the kids to the park. We always like to ride bike and take walks. It’s wonderful.
What a gorgeous place for a walk! I’ve been finding new places to go to in lockdown, and it’s made so much of a difference to my mental health.
That’s a lovely beach. I love to take a long walk and some sunsets with my husband on the side of the beachwalk. Panama is beautiful. I love to visit there someday.
Wow! I have read about this place and all are good things. And your blog made me want to visit. I will definitely add Panama City Beach Conservation Park on my bucket list.
The donut looks great. I will definitely try this if ever I visit there.
I have actually been here and it is absolutely gorgeous. I think this may have been when I started to realize that the noncommercial areas were more fun than the commercial ones!!
We have a similar spot near us. We love to go there and enjoy nature!
What a lovely looking place to spend some time. I love that they offer bike rental and food looks delicious as well.
The park sounds like a great place to explore. My kids would enjoy looking for different types of wildlife.
I love Panama City Beach but didn’t know about this place. Thanks for sharing
Looks like a lovely place to hike! Hope I don’t see bears or alligators though. It’s ok to see them from afar. Like really far LOL.
I love that sort of boggy area, and the views are awesome. The tasty food is a nice touch, too. Go out and burn a bunch of calories exploring and then get them all right back with that food! Awesome.
How nice. I always love being by the beach. I would so stop into that donut shop.