Top 5 Beach Activities on a Budget!
Let’s face it – vacations can be expensive. Between the cost of travel, lodging, meals, special events, and activities, a budget can be overrun very quickly. So with that in mind, here are a few things that will help you have fun on the beach with a limited budget, or without spending any additional money!

Hula Hooping
This is my daughter’s favorite pastime here in Panama City Beach. You don’t need a fancy hoop (although, they sell some nice weighted ones at Earthbound in Pier Park). Just grab a cheap one and try it out! It functions as a workout and you’ll get an entertaining chance to work on your tan. As you master the basics, you can start to practice some of your best moves to music! There are plenty of videos on YouTube that will show you fancy moves to practice. Try to learn one new one each day, and master one by the end of the week!

Building Sandcastles
All you need for this is some sand (which we provide) and your imagination. The sand in Panama City Beach is beautifully white and perfect for building the most incredible sandcastles and fun shapes in the sand, as long as you’re willing to get your hands dirty! If you have a special occasion to celebrate, perhaps you could say it with the sand?
Collect Shells
Shells and seaglass are everywhere, especially as the tide washes out. Just take a walk along the water line and look down! Here’s a tip: if you find small shells that have a small hole in them, eroded from the water and sand, keep them! They’re perfect for making necklaces by simply stringing through the hole. That’s a tip we learned from a Florida native years ago. It’s an easy craft for the kids and brings families together for the search.
Throw a Football or Play Volleyball
This is similar to the idea of hula hooping. It’s perfect exercise as well as being able to work on your tan. All you need is a ball! Strangers might even want to join in on the fun, and you’ll make some new friends! For tossing a football, we usually keep a light weight Nerf football in the beach closet for all ages to enjoy…and if you need another, sometimes they show up in the dollar spot at Target (also in Pier Park). A volleyball can be purchased at Target or Wal-Mart as well if you don’t find one near the courts at the beach.
Have a Photo Shoot
You don’t need a professional photographer to capture memories at the beach. Take the opportunity to dress up, get your party together, and take some fun sunset candids on the beach. Photos are the perfect to share your adventure with others and you’ll have creative and amazing photos to remember the trip. We also LOVE to post guest photos on our website, in our newsletters, and on our social media pages, so send us your favorites and let us do the rest! You can click the photo above to take a peek at some of our photos from past guests!
When you’re ready to book your vacation time, be sure to let us know your budget and we help you find something to fit your needs! Premium Beach Condos returning guests also receive a 5% discount, so that will help you with your budget too!