St. Andrews State Park offers many good options if you want to keep up a good workout routine during your Panama City Beach visit.
St. Andrews State Park Outdoor Sports
Visiting Panama City Beach or spending some time in the St. Andrews State Park Campground? You can keep up your gym routine in a beautiful outdoor setting that features white sand and emerald water, natural pine groves, sand dunes, an inland lake and more. Here are some suggestions for combining exercise and fun at Saint Andrews State Park.
Biking
Check the St. Andrews State Park Camp Store for beach cruiser bike rentals available by the hour, day or week. You can enjoy peaceful rides around the campground loops and park roads. There is also a 2-mile bike trail that wanders through the park. Riding quietly along is a good way to spot native birds, deer, and other wildlife.
Hiking
Do you like taking long walks along the beach or hiking through the bush on the lookout for birds and wildlife? St. Andrews State Park offers both options. For beach walkers, the park fronts on endless beach, and a short Shuttle ride across the St. Andrews Pass brings you to a beach walker’s dream. Uninhabited Shell Island offers seven miles of pristine white sand, and the inland areas of the island are great for bird and wildlife watching.
In the northern portion of the park, you can find two short and easy hiking trails that will give you a close look at the classic Florida Panhandle ecosystem of pine hammocks, sand dunes, and coastal scrub that has been preserved in the park. The Heron Pond Trail begins at a replica of a historic turpentine distillery that recreates the time when local pine trees were an important resource to ship builders. The half-mile Gator Lake trail leads to the highest point in the park, runs through excellent bird habitat, and offers chances to spot alligators and small animals.
Paddle Boarding
Standup paddle boarding or SUP is a great new sport that originated on the beach at Waikiki and has now taken the world by storm. Besides being fun and easy to learn, paddle boarding is estimated to burn between 300 to 400 calories an hour and is famous for offering an intense core workout. The calm Grand Lagoon at Saint Andrews State Park is a great place for novice paddle boarders to explore while more advanced paddlers might want to try the small waves along the jetty. The Jetty Store in the park offers convenient paddle board rentals so you can be on the water in minutes.
Kayaking
Kayaking is some of the most fun you will ever have while burning from 280 to 450 calories per hour during a solid upper body and ab workout. You will find the most convenient Panama City Beach kayak rentals right here in the park, and good water for beginning or experienced kayakers. Paddle the Grand Lagoon and the waters around the park jetty or arrange a package that includes tickets for the Shell Island Shuttle and a kayak ready and waiting when you arrive on the island.
Healthy Fun in the Sand and Sun
The St. Andrews State Park stores and the Shell Island Shuttle are your connections to a world of outdoor recreation in settings that provide a nice break from the more heavily-developed parts of Panama City Beach. Drop by the Pier Store, the Jetty Store, or the Camp Store to find everything you need. Or make all the arrangements quickly and easily online to have everything ready when you arrive.
