This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Visit Panama City Beach for IZEA. All opinions are 100% mine.

Our family loves to travel and we are always looking for new destinations to check off on our list. A few years ago we made the drive to Florida and had an amazing time! We have said many times that we need to make another drive to Florida and one of the places on our list is to Visit Panama City Beach. What drew me to this area is that there is so much to do and something fun for everyone in the family. When taking a big trip like this I want to feel like the long drive was worth it. From doing research I have come across so much that I know my family will enjoy and I know we are going to enjoy a variety of activities while we are there.

I love that I have the ability to customize our vacation to Panama City Beach around our family’s preferences. The ability to make it yours makes it truly unique! I can tell you hands down that our first experience during this vacation would be the beach! I grew up on the coast of Maine and moved to Georgia several years ago… I can not wait to get my toes in some real beach sand! Panama City Beach gives you the opportunity to tour Shell Island, a seven mile stretch of undeveloped land with 700 acres of secluded barrier island. I can not wait to witness the native animals like deer, nesting shore birds, and ghost crabs. This amazing experience doesn’t end there… our family will then have the opportunity to delve into the emerald waters of the Gulf Coast with a kayak tour, this is a great option for Outdoor Play.

Our family really enjoys simple activities such as exploring/tours and learning more about the place we are visiting. Panama City Beach has some of the most beautiful state parks in the United States that I would love to visit with my family. Between the Gulf Coast and Lake Powell, Camp Helen State Park offers a variety of ecosystems, including salt marshes and freshwater wetlands. We bring our children hiking very often, so you can guarantee we will find some time to hike, swim and just be at one with nature during our vacation!

One of our most memorable experiences during our trip to Florida last time was taking a bus tour and being able to learn more about the area. Panama City Beach provides the perfect opportunity to do just that with their tours that allow you to experiencing wildlife in their natural ecosystems. I would love to take an airboat tour, as this is the ideal way to explore the waters around Panama City Beach because the blade is located above the waterline, so it doesn’t disturb wildlife or vegetation. Since the boats float on top of the water, if they do come into contact with an alligator or other animal, it will gently glide over them, leaving them unharmed. I am pretty sure seeing alligators during our last vacation to Florida was the biggest hit for our kids, so I know they will really enjoy this tour!

While there are so many fun and exciting activities our family can experience at Panama City Beach, I am personally looking forward to spending some time relaxing in what can be describes as the worlds most pristine sand! With 27 miles of sugar-white sand, there is an infinite number of ways for our family to enjoy our time on the beach. Whether we are lounging under an umbrella, giving paddle-boarding a try, swimming, snorkeling, riding a Jet Ski, playing beach volleyball, or running with our dog or explore the pristine beauty of Shell Island… I just know we are going to create unforgettable memories! Thinking about a vacation this summer? What are you waiting for!  Plan your fun today and visit the Real. FUN. Beach!