Panama City Beach, FL, Decided.

✦ Stay: Holiday Inn Resort Panama City Beach ($$-$$$)

✦ Eat: Schooners — book largely walk-in — go early for a beachfront/deck table near sunset in season, or expect a wait at prime hours. The play: arrive well before sundown for the light and the cannon, and treat it as a casual toes-in-the-sand meal + beach hang, not a reserved fine-dining night. Confirm current hours + any reservation/wait-list policy.

✦ Stay: Edgewater Beach Resort ($$-$$$)

✦ Eat: Firefly — book days-to-weeks in season — PCB's marquee occasion room fills for anniversaries and celebrations, especially summer weekends. The play: reserve online/by phone, target a prime evening seating, and come dressed a notch up from the beach. Confirm current reservation policy + hours before relying on it.

✦ Stay: Carillon Beach Resort Inn ($$$)

✦ Eat: Saltwater Grill — book days ahead in season — a popular upscale room, busy on summer weekends. The play: reserve online/ by phone for a prime evening seating; the big aquarium tables are the sought-after ones. Confirm current reservation policy + hours before relying on it.

✦ Stay: Sheraton Panama City Beach Golf & Spa Resort ($$$)

✦ Eat: Captain Anderson's — book NO reservations — this is the plan-around-the-wait institution. The play: arrive early (before the prime-time rush) or come in the shoulder hours, and be ready for a line in season. IMPORTANT: it's reportedly CLOSED for part of the off-season — confirm it's open + the current hours before you go.