Panama City, FL, Summer 2026 Trip
Aww, you guys, we just got back from visiting my family in Panama City, and it was so fun!
My family is not originally from Panama City. My parents met in Tampa, and we called Tampa home for the first 9 years of my life. We then moved to Panama City when I was entering fourth grade, and boy, was that hard. Thankfully, we moved to a sweet neighborhood, and I was blessed to go to a sweet Catholic School where I met my childhood best friend. All this to say, Panama City is a place I lived from 9 to 17 years old. And now it’s where my parents, sister, and brothers call home. So every so often, which is at least twice a year, we make our way up there. I truly try to go once a quarter because twice a year is just not enough!
Summertime is usually one of our favorite times to visit. My sister and mom are out of school, they are both teachers, and our days just become a blur of fun and time well spent. This summer our trip got rescheduled for a couple different reasons and with all our other travel this was the only time our trip to Panama City made sense. So we packed our bags, hit the road, and made the best of the little time we had with family.
This summer trip was fun! Nothing crazy, nothing big, just super fun cousin time, and we loved every minute of it!
John wasn’t able to join us on this trip because he had too much work to get done, and it needed to be done in the office, so we left him at home and drove up to Panama City Tuesday morning.
I always get a little nervous when I take the girls to Panama City on my own. It’s a long trip, like 6 hours, and there are a lot of back roads/woodsy roads along the way. But I wanted to see my family, so I pulled up my big girl pants and hit the road!
And much to my surprise and belief in my abitlities, the trip was actually super chill and relaxing, and I loved it!
The girls watched movies the whole time, and I got to listen to an amazing audiobook! I began to really appreciate the quiet open road and all it brought to us.
Thankfully, before we jetted off, I decided what our stops would be along the way, so I didn’t have to try to look at Google Maps as I drove to figure it out.
Our first stop was Publix in Crystal River to grab lunch. We grabbed our popcorn chickens, Diet Coke, ice, chips, cookies, gum, and we were off!
Next stop…Rocky’s! We love this little gas station. The bathrooms are so clean, and they’re on the way. Such a great stop for gas, stretching the legs, and a potty break.
After that, we thought the last stop would be my parents’ house, but as we were approaching a McDonald’s, college me was craving a yummy iced caramel coffee. So we swung in through the drive-thru and grabbed one.
Finally, we arrived at my parents’, and I wish I could have taken pictures or videos of my sister with her kids and my mom waiting on the front porch swing for us, and I wish I could have seen my girls’ faces as we arrived because the joy and welcome greeting was just priceless!
When we arrived, my girls got to playing right away with their cousins, and my sister, mom, and I got to talking. It was so good to be with them again. Words just don’t describe how good it is to be with your sissy and mama.
That night we ate tacos and hung out till bedtime. It was so good!
Kate had a hard time sleeping the night before, so she came into bed with me, which meant I had a hard time sleeping till she fell back asleep. I wasn’t mad, though. She is so sweet and so cuddly, there is no way I could be mad.
When we woke up around 6 am, hello central time, we started our day by going to my sister’s house for breakfast made by her mother-in-law. My sister’s mother-in-law makes the best biscuits, eggs, and bacon. I don’t know what it is about her breakfast, but it’s delicious!
After breakfast, the girls played and played and played some more. Then we went to my mom’s house to get ready for an errand and lunch. What was that fun errand and fancy lunch spot? lol Sam’s Club!
We love going to Sam’s Club. I don’t know what it is about Sam’s Club, but it makes us all so happy and overwhelmed at the same time lol. And can you tell we love the color pink?! All the summer vibes here! lol
My mom bought us lunch-pizza, hot dogs, and pretzels, and it was delicious!
After we went shopping. We got the essentials and, of course, some extras. Somehow, we always spend an hour or more in this store when we are all together. lol!
With our errand complete and my sister Emily’s youngest waking up from her nap soon, we went back to her house for swimming and dinner!
That night, we started watching Rookie of the Year with my parents. We LOVE that movie so so much! We watched about 30 minutes of it before I finally had to send the girls to bed.
Thursday was a fun day and a day that I needed. We woke up a little later…6:30 am and we started our day with simple yogurt and granola and half a bagel for me with my mom. It was a nice, relaxing morning.
Around 9:00 am, we went to my sister’s house for another day of play! My sister and I could spend all the time in the world together, and our girls could too, so it works!
The girls went swimming and played so hard before lunch.
For lunch, my mom brought us Publix! My sister and I split an Italian sub, and the girls all had popcorn chicken!
After lunch, we went to visit my dad’s factory. My girls had been asking to see Papa’s work, so I thought it was the perfect opportunity to show them what he does. My dad owns a shoe brush manufacturing company. The girls had the best time learning about how to make shoe brushes and hair brushes. They all loved sitting in my dad’s office and playing pretend. This is one of their new favorite things to do at John’s office, so pretending at Papa’s work was right up their alley.
As we left my dad’s factory, he loaded them up with fun shoe brushe, and hair brushes. They were in heaven lol!
That night, we ate dinner at my parents’ house and finished watching Rookie of the Year! My sister even came over after she put her kids to bed. It was such a special treat to have her all to ourselves!
Friday was our travel home day. Our trip flew by. I didn’t take nearly enough pictures. And I didn’t get nearly enough time with my family. I hope to be able to do more trips throughout the school year, even if they are super super short. I think it’s worth it!
We left my parents’ house in tears around 9 am. My sister and her kids came over to say goodbye and have one last playtime while I loaded the van.
Saying goodbye is so hard. We were so sad to leave, but at the same time so excited to see John again.
Our first stop was Circle K to get gas and a swing through McDonald’s drive-thru for a Diet Coke to keep me awake! McDonald’s has never seen my face so much as this trip lol!
Our second stop was Publix yet again, but this time in Crawfordsville. This time we loaded up on ice, more Diet Coke, popcorn chicken, prosciutto and cheese roll-ups, and apples.
After our stop, we were on the road again until Crystal River. I was able to finish my audiobook and start a new one! I love listening to an audiobook while driving. It makes the time pass so quickly!
In Crystal River, we found a Starbucks and stopped. It was so so good!! A McDonald’s iced coffee is good, but nothing beats a vanilla iced latte from Starbucks!
Once on the road again, we had less than 2 hours till home, and we were so grateful!
Our time in Panama City was short but oh so sweet and good for the heart! I love spending time with my family and watching my girls make memories with their cousins and grandparents.
To tell the truth, we don’t do a whole lot while in Panama City. My goal while being there was to spend as much time as possible with my mom, sister, and my dad when he left work. And ya know what we accomplished just that!
Happy Monday friends!!
-Holley
