I do love to be spontaneous and just see where the day and night takes me but somedays it is fun to have a basic agenda and some fun things to do. Here is how I do it.
Arriving into PCB:
I roll into PCB around 20:00or 8:00pm for you nonmilitary folks. As soon as I hit “Back Beach Rd” I roll my windows down and let the breeze come through. I love to feel that warmth and smell the salt in the air. I make sure I don’t eat dinner till I arrive so I can hit my first favorite spot Dat Cajun Place (DCP). I always order a dozen Cajun Rockefeller Oysters. They will change your life. If you’ve never had oysters make sure you try these first. After dinner, I am usually pretty beat and know I have a full day ahead of me so I am thinking of crashing out. However, if I want some nightlife, I will go to Foghorns (Foggy’s) right next door to DCP or Ms. Newbys which is down the street.
Day One: Get Some Sun
I always start my first day out with a fun beach day. I spread on lots of sun screen and get in the water but not just anywhere you need to get some snorkel gear and get over to shell island by the jetties. I have a boat there, but you can take a Shell Island Shuttle over for pretty cheap. You will see dolphins swimming around there and all sorts of fish life by the rocks. If you’ve never snorkeled or didn’t like it before, try it here as it will change your opinion.
You can pack a lunch but I am usually come back in for lunch and hit Off the Hook. I recommend the fish tacos and cheap beer. They will have live music in the evenings during the weekends and it is a good mix of locals and tourists. This is also a fun spot to hit in the evenings as well. Make sure you talk to people about other fun things to do and get fishing reports. I like to make sure I know what is in season and what is biting what.
To be honest by now I am usually wiped and tipsy so I go back to the room take a quick shower and a nap. Why I used to fight naps when I was young, I will never know.
Now that I am clean and refreshed I get ready for some fun night life. I usually want to grab a bite to eat. I will always hit Fish Ales. This is one of my favorite spots to eat. The food is fantastic thanks to Mike the Head Chef and Erika the best server. They also have a great selection of craft beers on tap. So if you are a beer snob this is defiantly the place to go.
After I eat my favorite spot to start off the night is Buster’s Beer and Bait (Buster’s). As odd as it sounds, it is a Liquor store that is also a full service bar that has live music and side games to play like large block Jenga and Corn Hole. This is a local spot and you will meet every walk of life. Everyone is super friendly and guaranteed to have an awesome time.
Day Two: Get some food
Now that I have talked to some people about fishing, I find a way to go get some. If you are just visiting, there are several ways to get some fish.
Get on a boat: If you have gear and pretty good knowledge you can rent your own. I suggest Scotty Boat Rental or you can get a pontoon at Adventures at Sea. I have also been able to talk my way onto other people boats that just love to go out and fish and want someone to go with them especially if I have someone with me who looks good in a bikini.
If you want to catch lots of fish and don’t have gear, you can hit one of the local fish charters. This is what I did when I first started coming to PCB and my favorite was Captain Ellis.
Even though I have a boat and love to fish, my passion is getting under the water. To do that, no place does it better than Panama City Diving. I have a whole article about what they have done for me here. I used to enjoy diving and just being part of the awesomeness that was the sea. Then the carnivore part of me would see a fish and want to eat it. The solution was spearfishing. I always make sure I set at least a half day aside and this is how I like to find my dinner.
To me there is nothing better than going out and getting your own food. Whether it is hunting or fishing, it just makes you feel like you’ve accomplished something. Once you have secured something to eat there are a few options as what to do with it.
You can grill it out on your own but I like to stay local and do the “Hook and Cook.” There are a few places in PCB that do it but none better than Dat Cajun Place. I started out here and I finish up here every trip. They will cook your catch anyway you like it and add two amazing sides to it. I have them do some each way, fried, blackened and pan seared. I also add sriracha for an extra kick.
There are always more local spots that are lots of fun but that is my take on what I do to hang out with the locals when I am in town.
Have you been to PCB? What was your favorite thing to do there?
