Dining, shopping and entertainment fill this area adjacent to one of Panama City Beach’s long piers jutting out over the Gulf of Mexico.
Pier Park is abuzz with activity throughout the year. Surprisingly it’s not a green space, but a large shopping, dining and entertainment complex. The site takes its name from the nearby city pier. Visit Pier Park for a full day of activities and watch the sunset over the Gulf of Mexico.
Meander between more than 100 stores in this eclectic outdoor mall. Several large anchor stores carry fashion, necessities and household items. Pop into boutiques for one-of-a-kind accessories and beach shops with lightweight and fashionable clothes for Florida’s sunny days. Purchase the perfect souvenirs to remember your time in Panama City Beach. Specialty shops feature shoes, gifts, children’s items and culinary treats.
Dining choices range from fast-food favorites to fine-dining seafood or steak restaurants. Clean the sand off your feet and bring your whole group right from the beach to popular family restaurants. Satisfy cravings with coffee specialties, ice cream, margaritas or oysters.
Entertainment options abound in Pier Park. Ride 187 feet (57 meters) in the air in one of the cabins of the SkyWheel Panama City Beach or test your skills on the challenges of the site’s Sky Trail ropes course. See a movie in air-conditioned luxury in the Grand Theatre, with IMAX, 3-D and motion-enhanced effects.
Enjoy plenty of outdoor activities near Pier Park. Aaron Bessant Park offers sports fields, an amphitheater and space for concerts and festivals, such as Oktoberfest. The section of beach near Pier Park has lifeguards, beach volleyball courts and dog-friendly spaces. Walk out onto the 1,500-foot-long (460-meter) Russell-Fields City Pier to look for dolphins or go fishing.
Join others celebrating holidays at Pier Park. Halloween and Christmas are especially fun times for kids. Watch the unique New Year’s Eve festivities when 10,000 beach balls are dropped from the sky. See the fireworks of Independence Day from the pier, with dazzling reflections in the water.
Find Pier Park about 6.5 miles (10 kilometers) from the center of Panama City Beach and 15 miles (24 kilometers) from Panama City. The buildings are surrounded by numerous free parking lots.
