Panama was a week-or-so trip from when we lived near Miami.
We based ourselves in Panama City and spent most of our time exploring Casco Viejo, the historic district filled with colorful buildings, rooftop restaurants, cafés, and plazas. A lot of our days followed a pretty ideal rhythm: coffee in the morning, walking tours through the old streets, long lunches, wandering the city, and then dinner somewhere outdoors once the evening cooled off.
One thing that stood out immediately was how modern Panama City felt. In some moments it almost reminded us of Miami, with its skyline of glass towers rising up along the water, while Casco Viejo felt completely different — historic, colorful, and full of energy. That contrast between old and new gave the city a personality we weren't expecting.
We also spent time at the Biomuseo, learned more about Panama's unique biodiversity and role as a land bridge between continents, and explored local neighborhoods beyond the tourist center. One evening we even took salsa lessons, which felt like the perfect activity for the atmosphere of the city.
The food ended up being another highlight. We had several really memorable meals throughout the trip, and Panama City's restaurant scene felt much more elevated than I expected going in. Fresh seafood, rooftop cocktails, good coffee, and long dinners outdoors became a pretty regular part of the routine.
Of course, the Panama Canal is still one of the country's defining attractions, and seeing it in person gave me a completely different appreciation for the engineering behind it. It's one thing to know intellectually that the canal changed global trade. It's another thing entirely to stand there watching massive ships move through the locks. Panama wasn't a destination we'd spent years dreaming about before visiting, but by the end of the trip we both agreed we'd happily return.