Panama City

Time a trip to Uncle Ernie’s and it might leave an impression that sticks. This waterside Saint Andrews restaurant is known not just for its fresh grouper but also for its memorable views of the sunset over the Saint Andrew Bay. It’s one of the highlights of a restaurant scene that draws plenty of people to this pocket of Panama City. “A lot of good restaurants have come to that area,” says Charles Sowers, a local realtor with Realty ONE Group Emerald Coast. “Some world-class restaurants in my opinion.” Seafood dominates this coastal outpost. Still, the options here come with a mix of atmospheres. “I think that I can go there, no matter what mood I’m in and find something to do,” says Sowers, a realtor in the area since 2017. Locals can play pool or shoot darts at The Dive, which calls itself Panama City’s premier dive bar. Or people can sit down for a proper dinner at Uncle Ernie’s Bayfront Grill and Brew House, widely known for its water views. “They have amazing sunsets,” says Janet Melton, a local realtor with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Beach Properties of Florida, who has more than 20 years of experience. Local boaters can even pull up and dock here to eat. Alice’s on Bayview, down the road from Uncle Ernie’s, is another hotspot, particularly for brunch. The menu includes dishes like shrimp and grits and salmon benedict. Those who want to take a break from seafood can swing by St. Andrews Slice House for pizza or visit Burgunbarrel for glasses of wine and a charcuterie board. Saint Andrews has a Grocery Outlet, too, convenient for those with their own homemade dish in mind. Europeans touched down in what’s present-day Saint Andrews in 1827. The area went on to develop into a beacon of industry, benefitting from its waterside location. There are still homes here that date back to the turn of the century, before the community was annexed to Panama City in 1927. “The Saint Andrews area is a one-of-a-kind historic area,” says Krista Navarro, owner of Gulf Real Estate, with almost 40 years of experience in the region. Away from the water and the restaurants, Saint Andrews is mostly residential, lined with slim streets partially shaded by Spanish-moss-laden trees. Single-story Craftsman is the predominant layout for single-family homes here, with options often falling between about 1,000 and 2,000 square feet, on lots between one-tenth and one-fifth of an acre. Prices usually range from the $100,000s for a property that needs some TLC to the $400,000s for something in good condition, but there are some expansive homes by the water topping $1 million. Saint Andrews also has some select condos and townhomes, which can sell from the $100,000s to the $400,000s. “I think you can find a little of everything,” Sowers says. “Some historic homes. Some old 1960s homes that are in good shape, refurbished. Some new builds by the water.” The area’s crime score ranks just slightly above the national average, according to the CAP Index. The waterfront plays a part in one of the highlights of Saint Andrews’ annual calendar: the Blessing of the Fleet in June. A tradition for almost 30 years, the Blessing of the Fleet takes place at St. Andrews Marina and features a boat processional, a fish fry and the “burning of the socks.” The sock burning represents the coming of more warm weather, with flip flops or no shoes at all a preferred route for waterside visitors. St. Andrews also has a farmers market every Saturday, around the corner at Oaks by the Bay Park. Oaks by the Bay Park is a hub for outdoor fun in Saint Andrews. It’s aptly named, filled with massive oak trees that provide excellent shade for a picnic or a game of fetch with Fido. There’s also a boardwalk where visitors can peer out into the bay. The park transforms into a popular Christmas light display each December, too. Area anglers, meanwhile, can set up shop at St. Andrews Marina — no boat required. Spanish mackerel and red drum are among the top species in the bay waters. U.S. Route 98 is the main transportation artery in Saint Andrews, a stretch that can take commuters toward popular tourist destination Panama City Beach. The route is also dotted with multiple stops in the area’s Bayway bus system. Kids in this area can attend schools in the Bay District system, which carries a B-plus grade on Niche. Students start at Lucille Moore Elementary, a C-plus-rated school whose extracurricular opportunities include a chorus group and a running club. The B-minus-rated Jinks Middle has a full complement of sports teams, from football to boys and girls track. Bay High boasts a B-plus grade and houses specialized programs in digital design, engineering and more.

Downtown Panama City is like a piece of preserved Americana, filled with brick and stucco storefronts, tall glass windows, and housing all manner of restaurants, boutiques and offices. It is a nostalgic picture straight from a movie set. But for locals, it’s home. “In that section, it’s kind of the heartbeat of Panama City. It’s historic,” says Summer Williams, a local realtor with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Beach Properties of Florida. An appropriate way to explore this area is with an appetite. Quite a few of Downtown’s storefronts are occupied by eateries and the neighborhood’s walkable layout makes it convenient to check out more than one. House of Henry, open since 2020, calls itself “Florida’s most authentic Irish pub,” serving up shepherd’s pie, corned beef and cabbage, and more. Spots like Lone Star Boil House & Sports Bar harness the taste of the region, home to a range of fresh seafood — the shrimp boils are a hit. “It’s a great little Cajun place,” says Clay Dalton, a local realtor with RE/MAX Beaches. History Class Brewing Company, housed in a 1930s building loaded with artifacts, allows customers to imbibe among local artifacts. “It’s fun, a lot of fun,” Williams says. Meanwhile, Tarpon Dock Seafood Market, right by the Massalina Bayou, is renowned for its selection of everything from grouper to oysters. The city takes advantage of Downtown’s walkability with events like a weekly farmers market, held at McKenzie Park each Saturday and attended by vendors offering not just fresh produce but also items like handmade jewelry. There’s live music, too. A Fourth of July celebration is one of the city’s most prominent annual traditions, with fireworks, multiple live music performances, food trucks and vendors. This neighborhood is dominated by retail and dining, so housing is limited. But the options are growing. The Mashburn Building is a prominent example, a historic, 27,000-square-foot structure once home to the Chavers-Fowhand Furniture Store and is now being turned into a selection of new condos. The Mashburn’s units range from about 500 square feet to 1,000 square feet, with prices from the high $200,000s to about $500,000. The building is representative of a trend Williams expects to continue. “I anticipate the utilization of these big buildings down there, turned into apartments and lofts and being re-done like that,” she says. “It’s kind of luring the younger market into that area.” The Bay District school system blankets Panama City, a district with a B-plus overall grade on Niche. Merriam Cherry Street Elementary has a student-teacher ratio better than the national average, at 15-to-1, and is C-plus rated. Students can explore a full range of athletics programs at the area’s B-minus-rated Jinks Middle, from football to boys and girls track. Bay High boasts a B-plus rating and dedicated programs in topics like digital design and engineering. Downtown’s McKenzie Park isn’t just home to events like the weekly farmers market, it is also an anchor of sorts to the area. This is the oldest park in all of Bay County, dating back to the 1880s — Panama City’s early days. The park, which Williams says is beautiful, is a peaceful spot to enjoy a picnic or a book under the towering oak trees. And it’s the subject of upcoming improvements, including the addition of restrooms. U.S. Route 98 is the main thoroughfare, an easy-to-find artery for heading out of town. People often use this route to head west, across the Grand Lagoon and toward the popular tourist haven of Panama City Beach. “I would say it’s less than 10 miles to some of the most beautiful beaches in the county,” says Dalton, who has almost 30 years of real estate experience. Also, the Bayway bus system has multiple stops in the neighborhood, along Route 98 and Harrison Avenue.

Downtown North is a swath of Panama City that’s lifting off, thanks in large part to a nearby military installation that’s growing at Mach speed. This neighborhood has homes dating back to the early 20th century but is also welcoming a spike in new construction, facilitating newcomers brought on by Tyndall Air Force Base. The base is in the midst of a multi-billion dollar rebuild after much of it was damaged by Hurricane Michael in 2018. “With that is going to come a huge influx of people,” says Summer Williams, a local realtor with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Beach Properties of Florida. Communities like Downtown North are experiencing the effects. This neighborhood is largely residential, dominated by straight-line streets filled with traditional single-family homes. Some houses date back to the 19-teens, and others were recently finished, but all have a cohesive look, with Craftsman the predominant architectural style. Virtually all of the houses here come with lawn space, part of lots usually between one-tenth and one-fifth of an acre. And, whether new or old, residences in this area typically have floor plans from 900 to 2,000 square feet. Price tags often range from the $200,000s for a home around the 1,000-square-foot mark to the $400,000s and $500,000s for something pushing 2,000 square feet. “There’s a lot going on out there,” says Williams, who has lived in the area for a dozen years. “There are a ton of neighborhoods going up that way.” The region’s Bay District school system serves kids in this neighborhood, one with a B-plus overall rating on Niche. Many students here can go to Merriam Cherry Street Elementary to start, a C-plus-rated campus where the student-teacher ratio is just 15-to-1. A range of sports teams are available to students at B-minus-rated Jinks Middle, from boys and girls basketball to boys and girls soccer. B-plus-rated Bay High has programs in topics ranging from culinary arts to sports and entertainment marketing. Though this enclave is made up mostly of tranquil residential streets, commuters here have quick access to U.S. Route 98. Branches of 98 can take drivers west to popular coastal destination Panama City Beach, roughly 10 miles away. Another branch connects people to Tyndall Air Force Base, also about 10 miles away. Tyndall’s reconstruction effort includes 120 new buildings and an investment of some $5.3 billion, which makes the development in close-by suburbs like Downtown North so pertinent. “I think it’s going to continue to mushroom out from downtown,” says Clay Dalton, a local realtor with RE/MAX Beaches. Downtown North commuters can also take advantage of the multiple stops in the Bayway bus system here. Among the nearby assets locals here have at their disposal is the Al Helms Dog Park, a spot beloved by local pet owners. This space includes separate sections for small and large dogs and a good bit of shade to help protect both owners and their four-legged friends from the Florida Sun. Those looking for more outdoor fun can head just a bit south to Asbell Park, a sandy beach facing the Saint Andrew Bay, complete with hanging beach chairs to relax in. Harrison Avenue and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard are the two primary commercial thoroughfares in the neighborhood, both dotted with multiple local restaurants. Those looking for something quick to pick up on the way home can consider spots like Downtown Slice House on Harrison Avenue, which Williams says has excellent pizza. Josiah's Southern Cooking on Martin Luther King Jr., meanwhile, is a place to sit down for a homestyle meal — the pork chops are a hit. And 23rd Street, just to the north, offers even more, lined with big-box retailers from Publix to Target and chain restaurants from Applebee’s to O'Charley's. Downtown North carries a crime score a bit higher than the national average, according to the CAP Index, particularly in the burglary category. Downtown North residents can head a tad south to Downtown Panama City proper for community events. McKenzie Park there hosts a farmers market each Saturday, for example, complete with a wide variety of vendors and live music. There’s also an annual Fourth of July celebration held just down the road from the park, along West Beach Drive, with food trucks, live performances and capped by fireworks.

Millville is an area with a blue-collar bent. It was once the most prominent hamlet by Saint Andrew Bay, buoyed by its industry. The town was annexed by Panama City in the 1920s, but is still a place with its own character — and still one that’s attracting business, too, from new companies to new construction. “Millville was always industrial,” says Richard Anderson, a local realtor with Premier Properties of Bay Co., who grew up in Millville. “Working-class neighborhoods.” This community predominantly comprises single-family homes, but the variance is quite wide. Millville’s grid of slender, but tranquil, streets is dotted with some classic residences dating back to the dawn of the 20th century — when the town was flexing its power as the area’s preeminent hub for commerce. But Millville has also become the site of a spate of new construction, adding some new sheen to this well-established enclave. Homes here typically come with at least a bit of lawn space, on lots from just over one-tenth to just over one-fifth of an acre. Most houses in this area have single-story Craftsman styling, too, regardless of age. Some options here start with prices in the low $100,000s, for something that needs work. Prices typically max out in the mid-$200,000s, for a new build. Tyndall Air Force Base has been a catalyst for new construction in the area, local Realtor Charles Sowers, of eXp Realty, believes. The base is the subject of a $5.3 billion reconstruction project, after damages sustained in Hurricane Michael in 2018. Tyndall’s rejuvenation is set to bring a wave of new people to the area. Also, SRM Concrete is planning a new facility in town, on the site of a paper mill that closed in 2022 — one that was long a major employer here. That project is projected to bring hundreds of more jobs. “For Millville specifically, it’s opportunity,” Sowers says, describing the community’s appeal. “Anytime something goes away there’s the opportunity for growth.” Millville’s web of residential streets branches out from 5th Street, the most prominent artery in town. This stretch is part of Florida State Road 30 and U.S. Route 98 and is not only lined with an assortment of commercial amenities but also connects people here with Tyndall, just about 8 miles away. There are multiple stops in the region’s Bayway bus service along 5th Street as well. Millville spurns an abundance of big box stores and chain restaurants for local options. “There’s still mostly mom-and-pop stores and restaurants,” says Sowers, who has been selling real estate in the Bay County area since 2017. Gene’s Oyster Bar is one of the institutions, a spot that dates back to the 1930s and is still cash-only. The fresh oysters have been a draw for decades. “Great food, great service. One of the last true gems of that area,” Sowers says. The Bistro Southern Cafeteria is much newer, open since 2017, but it’s become a hotspot in its own right for its soul food — the mac and cheese is a hit. Locals have places like Asian Oriental International Market and Capt. Hai's Fresh Seafood Market at their disposal for picking up ingredients for concoctions of their own. There’s also a Dollar General and a Family Dollar along 5th Street, convenient for grabbing other essentials. The overall crime score in Millville ranks above the national average, according to the CAP Index, particularly because of categories like burglary. This community faces not just a sliver of Saint Andrew Bay but also the Watson Bayou. The latter provides a serene setting for assets like Millville Waterfront Park, a 4-acre space with a pier out into the bayou where people enjoy fishing. There are also hanging beach chairs here, ideal for peering out at the water while enjoying a good book. There’s a marina, Emerald Harbor, just up the road from the park, too. Area boaters can scoot out to spots like Shell Island — which is only accessible by boat. Shell Island is an undeveloped getaway, where visitors can go snorkeling or hunting for all sorts of shells in the white sand. Bay District schools serve Millville, a system with a B-plus rating on Niche. Students here benefit from a student-teacher ratio of just 15-to-1 at c a C-plus-rated school. The extracurricular offerings at the B-minus-rated Jinks Middle include a full athletics program, with everything from girls volleyball to football. Sports and entertainment marketing and engineering are among the specialized programs available at the area’s Bay High, which has a B-plus grade on Niche. Millville is home to the Margaret K. Lewis School as well, a Bay District school serving students with special needs. The Millville Waterfront Park is not just a place for a relaxing picnic or afternoon fishing, but it also hosts community programming like periodic free movie screenings. Locals can come together for the Annual Millville Block Park on 9th Street in early summer as well, full of music and food. The community organizes a Christmas parade in December, too, that starts at Millville Waterfront Park.