Fodor's Expert Review Panama City Beach

With nearly 100 access points along 27 miles of the sugary white sand and jewel-green waters for which the Emerald Coast is known, it's easy to find a place to sunbathe or swim on Panama City Beach. It still attracts the spring-break crowd, but the atmosphere is far less rowdy and much more family-focused these days, and the tradeoff for all the high-rises is an abundance of places to stay, play, and feast—you won't easily get bored or go hungry here. If, however, you're planning to drive to the beach, note that there are only four public parking lots. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; parking; showers; toilets; water sports. Best for: partiers; swimming; walking.