41 Fun Things to Do in the Palm Beaches, FL

(UPDATED OCTOBER 2022) Florida’s Palm Beaches are situated along the Atlantic Ocean in South Florida, while other municipalities are further West. The Palm Beaches comprises West Palm Beach, the best-known address, and Palm Beach, Lake Worth, Wellington, Boca Raton, Jupiter, Delray Beach, Boynton Beach, and Palm Beach Gardens. This prestigious shopping destination and eco-paradise, with 47-miles of stunning, sandy beaches, have incredible beauty and attractions that will leave you yearning for more. Here are 41 awesome things to do (or see) in the Palm Beaches.

1. Visit The Breakers Hotel

The Breakers Hotel originally began as Henry Flagler’s Royal Poinciana Hotel, built in 1894. After surviving two fires, the hotel was rebuilt into its current iconic lavish state on the oceanfront in Palm Beach. The Breakers boasts a private beach, multiple pools, bars, restaurants, and a family entertainment center.

Posh shopping boutiques, championship golf courses, and lovely decor dazzle its guests, while the luxury spa brings them sheer bliss. It is one of the world’s most fabulous luxury resorts with luxury cars to rent, and raises the bar for all others.

2. Explore Antique Row

The Southeast’s Premier antique district in West Palm Beach is also known as Antique Row and is regarded as the most diverse antiquing district in the country. This interesting area contains 40 antique shops, vintage boutiques, and specialty stores with goods ranging from 17th to 20th-century antiques, period decor, and fine arts.

3. Shop Clematis Street

Clematis Street is the epicenter and most popular shopping area in West Palm Beach. Stroll the boutique shops, enjoy dining at local and trendy eateries, and people-watch in this sophisticated part of town that runs to the Intracoastal Waterway. A few of our favorite stops are Rocco’s Tacos, Clematis Street News Stand (great for souvenirs), and Subculture Coffee.

On weekends, kiosks selling all sorts of things hit the street and up the ante for finding treasures.

4. Have Brunch At Banana Boat

A tasty and picturesque spot for a lovely Sunday brunch is Banana Boat, sitting on the Intracoastal Waterway in Boynton Beach. Banana Boat has an island vibe and decor, offers live music and gorgeous patio dining. I’m all about the Eggs Benedict (or Crab Benny) with fresh fruit for my brunch order, but if you are there other Sunday, try the Coconut Shrimp or Macadamia-crusted Tilapia.

5. Wander The Flagler Museum

Henry Morrison Flagler, the railroad tycoon who put Palm Beach on the map and brought the railroad through South Florida, made his Palm Beach winter home a gift to his wife in the early 1900s. Today, his home, Whitehall, is a stately museum and one of the most excellent examples of grandeur in the country.

The Henry Morrison Flagler Museum is a National Historic Landmark open to the public for guided or self-guided tours. Opulent works of art and precious antiques are displayed in a lovely fashion at this beautiful Florida estate. 

6. Attend The Everglades Day Festival

This February eco-adventure takes place at the Arthur R Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge at Boynton Beach. Hear more about the Everglades’ history, archaeology, and creatures during this learning opportunity. Take an airboat tour for up close and personal sightings of gators in this gateway to the Everglades.

7. Shop The Gardens Mall

The premier mall of the Palm Beaches is The Gardens Mall, is a privately owned two-story shopping emporium that is second to none. Beautiful mall displays, attractive decor, and wide, open-air spaces make this shopping mecca a stellar place to not only shop and eat but also to walk indoors and exercise.

The Gardens Mall offers a concierge program where one can text (561-440-4440) for any help they may need while at the mall. Anchor stores are Bloomingdale’s, Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Macy’s.

8. Stroll Around Harbourside Place

Harbourside Place offers outdoor shopping, waterfront dining, and an impressive entertainment complex (with live music at the complex pavilion) in Jupiter, Florida. The Wyndham Grand Jupiter Hotel joins the mall.

Harbourside Place features popular boutique shops and tasty restaurants, such as Calaveras Cantina (upscale Mexican and fantastic margaritas) and The Woods (a swanky sports bar/grill owned by Tiger Woods). Unwind with Yoga on the Waterfront, and don’t miss the weekly farmers’ market.

9. Catch A Polo Game

Not many communities can boast that they have live polo matches, but the Palm Beaches can. Not only “matches,” but the finest polo institution in the world! From January through April, the International Polo Club Palm Beach at Wellington brings people in their fanciest clothing to cheer on this classic sporting event.

10. See A Musical Performance

West Palm Beach’s world-class entertainment and culture venue is the impressive Kravis Center for the Performing Arts. From off-broadway shows to concerts, ballet to opera, the Kravis Center’s calendar to their three venues (Dreyfoos Hall, Rinker Playhouse, and Gosman Amphitheatre are all nestled in one large building) offers dazzling performances and top-rated acts.

Kravis on Broadway’s 2021-2022 season performances include the Donna Summer Musical, Cats, Anastasia, Dear Evan Hansen, and My Fair Lady.

11. Admire Japanese Gardens

The Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens are home to one-of-a-kind tranquil gardens and culture in Delray Beach. The collections include more than 7,000 Japanese art and objects and lovely koi ponds and lakes.

Morikami also has an attractive world-class bonsai section and 16 acres of manicured grounds. Have your cameras ready for the huge iguanas that lie on the property. Stay for lunch at the Cornell Cafe.

12. Learn About Turtles Loggerhead Marinelife Center

The Loggerhead Marinelife Center is a non-profit conservation facility saving sick or injured sea turtles for years. It offers free admission (donations are appreciated) and many hands-on displays, as well as a campus hospital, learning exhibits, and a gift shop. See their attractive saltwater aquariums or request a guided tour of the facility to hear about the turtles that live there.

A cooler sits out front where people can drop off distressed hatchlings at any time of the day.

13. Enjoy West Palm Beach Nightlife

Clematis Street is the focal point of shopping in downtown West Palm Beach. This historic main street has high-end retail, impressive dining, and busy nightlife. A year-round entertainment destination, Clematis Street has everything from sandcastle shows to weekly green markets and plenty of options for both day and night.

Nightlife hotspots include Off the Hookah West Palm Beach, Square Grouper, and Roxy’s Pub.

14. See Manatees

This new Manatee Lagoon eco-discovery center, built by Florida Power & Light, is a major educational draw for families since you can see incredible sea life and partake in their hands-on museum. Bonus, it is all free! If you’ve never had the pleasure of seeing a manatee, this is where you need to be. Keep in mind that all manatees are wild; there are no captive ones in the Lake Worth Lagoon.

The Palm Beach Selfie trail starts at this location.

15. Spend A Night In A Luxury Hotel

The Palm Beach Marriott Singer Island is a beautiful high-rise with luxury accommodations, stunning swimming pools, an oceanfront restaurant, and beach access. Its sprawling property is filled with fragrant blooms, enticing seating areas, and condominium-style suites. You may never want to leave when you see the list of amenities and witness the impeccable service. 

16. Spruce Up Your Wardrobe

Located a hop, skip, and jump off of I-95, the Palm Beach Outlets are a huge draw for discount shoppers. Over 440,000 square feet is filled with the likes of Nordstrom, Saks off 5th, Trader Joe’s, and 100 other stores.

This venue brings in thousands of patrons daily. It is some of the best retail therapy in the country. You will also find an official Visitor Information Center here.

17. Learn About Kinetic Art

Boynton Beach has a unique offering in the Palm Beaches, one of the only examples I’ve seen around the country—kinetic art installments. Kinetic art is fine art powered by light, water, gravity, solar, wind, sound, robotics, and other elements. You can find a list of the art installments and info about them on the Boynton Beach website.

Keep in mind, with this type of art, photographs and the things that stand out to you may appear differenly depending on what time of day it is and what the weather is. 

18. Shop The Green Market

Each Saturday morning, from 9 AM to 2 PM, Delray Beach puts on the dog with their incredible Green Market at Old School Square. Over sixty vendors present their gourmet foods, fresh-baked pastries, farm-to-fork produce, herbs, tea, and artisan cheese, to name a few. The Delray Green Market has taken place for over 25 years.  

19. See A Spring Baseball Game

The Palm Beaches are where four pro-baseball teams make Florida their spring training homes. In Jupiter, the St. Louis Cardinals and Miami Marlins share the venue at Roger Dean Stadium, which also has four Minor league baseball teams.

The Houston Astros and Washington Nationals play at the state-of-the-art FITTEAM Ballpark of the Palm Beaches that opened in 2017 in West Palm Beach. How is that for major league sporting action? Spring baseball games have limited crowds, plus tickets are affordable.

20. Take A Food Tour

Food tours are all the rage across the country, but the Taste History Culinary Tour is no newcomer to the game. It has provided art, history, and food tours for nearly ten years in the Palm Beaches. Tours are available in three different locations; the tour is never repeated.

Lori, the Taste History Culinary Tours operator, keeps things fresh with her selection of yummy food purveyors and unique finds.

21. Indulge In Mexican Deliciousness

Dining doesn’t get much better than in Florida’s Palm Beaches. With hundreds of restaurants to choose from, the choices can sometimes be daunting. Our favorite Mexican restaurant in the Palm Beaches is Rocco’s Tacos, with four locations (our top pick is Clematis Street). Start your dining experience with the tasty Austin Queso, served with tortilla chips and fresh veggie sticks. 

For the main course, consider sharing the Molcajetes (“MOKA-HET-TAY”) available in carne, seafood, or surf & turf. The flavors are well developed, and the hearty dish is terrific. Pair your food with a smooth glass of sangria or my husband’s obsession, jalapeño margaritas.

22. Explore Northwood Village

Northwood Village is a vibrant and funky micro-neighborhood located north of downtown West Palm Beach with eclectic shopping, original art, fine dining, and international cuisine. The last Friday of each month is Art Night out; stroll the streets of this cultural hub and enjoy late-night shopping hours with wine in hand. “Unexpected” best describes this charming village.

23. Photograph Street Murals

The most recognized name in Palm Beach is Worth Avenue, a ritzy street lined with elite shopping and classic designer boutiques that rivals Madison Avenue and Rodeo Drive. Make a note of the high-end cars around this high-impact town. Unique hotels include the Brazilian Court Hotel, Eau Palm Beach Resort and Spa, and Four Seasons Resort.

24. Check Out Worth Avenue

The most recognized name in Palm Beach is Worth Avenue, a ritzy street lined with elite shopping and classic designer boutiques that rivals Madison Avenue and Rodeo Drive. Make a note of the high-end cars around this high-impact town. Unique hotels include the Brazilian Court Hotel, Eau Palm Beach Resort and Spa, and Four Seasons Resort.

25. Play Pinball

One of my favorite points of interest in the Palm Beaches is Silverball Retro Arcade (formerly Silverball Pinball Museum), home to two stories of vintage pinball machines and arcade games. Bring the entire family for fun and frolic as you flip, hit, and bump your way through their arsenal of arcade offerings and skeeball. Food and drinks are available. Vintage machines include Charlie’s Angels, Evel Knievel, Elvis, Harley Davidson, KISS, and Rocky.

26. See World-Class Yachts

Lined up on the Intracoastal Waterway Harbor are hundreds of glamorous yachts. Some are available for dining excursions and others for hire, but the site of them gathered throughout the piers is impressive. Tons of photo ops are here!

Check out Delray Yacht Cruises for sightseeing cruises and private charters.

27. Go To The Zoo

The Palm Beach Zoo & Conservation Society is small but mighty, housing around 550 animals. Asia (kangaroo, endangered Malayan tigers, howler monkeys, wallaby), the Islands (lemurs, sloths, koala, New Guinea singing dog, Goeldi’s monkeys, Komodo dragon), Tropics of the Americas (tapir, ocelot, anteater, spider and capuchin monkeys), and Florida wildlife are all showcased at this friendly zoo.  

28. See Mar-a-Lago

Mar-a-Lago might be the most visited and well-known name around Palm Beach. It is here that President Donald Trump now calls home and is also a private club. The magnificent Moorish-style 128-room mansion, also a National Historic Landmark, can be found along the Ocean Boulevard waterfront in Palm Beach or across the water on S. Flagler Drive.

29. Check Out The Selfie Trail

Take part in the Palm Beach Selfie Trail at Manatee Lagoon. To my knowledge, the Palm Beaches were the first to implement such a fun trail, with photogenic backdrops along the route. You can see the Selfie Trail locations in this post.

30. Sip & Dine In A Retro Airstream

Hullabaloo is an exciting restaurant with a chic feel and fresh decor. It has a cozy patio and courtyard in the back littered with tables and seating arrangements. This Italian gastropub even has a retro Airstream camper for a real throw-back dining experience. Hullabaloo’s mural-painted walls went well with the decor. It is where we sampled the incredible fire-roasted Brussels with candied pine nuts a bacon aioli. Yum!

31. Drive Through A Zoo

Take your family on a wildlife adventure at the Lion Country Safari, where you will see spider monkeys, giraffes, and a two-toed sloth. There are over 1,000 animals in over 600 acres to see, ah, and ooh over at this Loxahatchee (southwest of Palm Beach Gardens) location.

At the drive-thru safari part are seven areas with tigers, giraffes, tortoise, alpaca, kudu, wildebeest, chimps, and more. There are rides and games throughout, while a carousel, gift shop, picnic area, gem & fossil panning, mini-golf, and snack shacks are just a few of the other offerings on your grand adventure.

32. See The Ann Norton Sculpture Garden

Nestled in what looks to be a typical house in West Palm Beach is the fantastic Ann Norton Sculpture Garden and Museum. This little gem has been one of the biggest surprises to me on my Palm Beach visit.

The talented artists’ home has been turned into a museum, while out back, along the hidden pathways, tropical garden sanctuary, and tree-lined walks are larger-than-life sculptures that will make your jaw drop. Seven Beings, completed in 1965, is my favorite.

33. Wander Rosemary Square

The newest West Palm Beach neighborhood is a visually pleasing enclave for shopping, dining, events, and work and living spaces. The tree and flower-lined streets of Rosemary Square, adorned with sculptures and art installments, draw you into the pristine landscape. Pop-ups and performances are plentiful at Rosemary Square, while shops include Anthropologie, Yeti, Lululemon, Nantucket Whaler, and Sur La Table.

Dining spots are Cheesecake Factory, Brio, Sloan’s, and Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse. There is also a 12-theatre AMC on the property.

34. Drink At West Palm Beach Brewery

West Palm Beach Brewery is the only craft taproom in the downtown area. You can sample the beer made on the premises or enjoy the premium wine selections from the Napa Valley as you pair your beverages with a tasty wood-fired pizza.

35. Climb The Jupiter Lighthouse

The Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse & Museum is one of the beautiful lighthouses along Florida’s east coast. The waterfront lighthouse was built in 1860 and had 105 winding steps to the top. Admission will run you $12 per adult ($6 ages 6 to 18), and a tour of the museum is included with your ticket. 

36. Take A Diva Duck Amphibious Tour

This enjoyable 75-minute narrated musical tour takes guests on a sightseeing venture of Palm Beach mansions, estates, churches, hotels, and more. Cruise in duck-designed vessels that run on land and sea as it sinks into the beautiful Intracoastal Waterway. Tours occur daily at City Place.

37. Hang At Malted Barley

I fell in love with Malted Barley’s fresh pretzels with house-made flavored dips and great craft beer on a trip to Providence, Rhode Island. So, when I saw the sign as we were zipping down US-1 in Juno Beach, we pulled over on nearly two wheels.

Malted Barley is a fun place to enjoy a cold beer or beer flight and catch the latest sporting events on TV. You can’t beat the pretzels, available in flavors such as mozzarella & tomato, everything, salted, and jalapeño & cheddar. I swear by the Apricot Butter dip, recommended by my server in Providence, but the spicy brown beer mustard is delish, too. 

38. Eat At Sloan’s

Sloan’s is a regional homemade ice cream store known for its delicious creamy concoctions and vibrant hot pink or lime green ice cream shop decor. My family’s favorite flavors include Southern Butter Pecan, Cookie Monster, Coffee and Donuts, and Peppermint Pattie Chunk. 

Besides ice cream, Sloan’s has retro candies, pet treats, small gifts, stuffed animals, cookies, candy, and fudge. Sloan’s Florida locations include two in WPB, Palm Beach Gardens, Boca Raton, Delray Beach, Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, and Doral.

39. Explore Mizner Park

Boca Raton’s exclusive shopping address is Mizner Park, an open-air mall with high-end shops, including Bluemercury, Comfort Shoes, It’s Sugar and Z Gallerie. You’ll find a half dozen excellent eateries here, too, as well as the 8-screen iPic movie theater. 

40. Hang at Duffy’s

Duffy’s is a regional chain restaurant and sports bar with good food and a fun, festive feel. The patio is always a great spot to watch the big game or enjoy a cold beer. You’ll find Duffy’s Sports Bar locations at Jupiter, Deerfield Beach, Boca Raton, Palm Beach Gardens, and more. I recommend the chicken tenders with fries and coleslaw…so good. 

41. Hike Gumbo Limbo Nature Center

Another popular Boca Raton address is that of the Gumbo Limbo Nature Center. The Nature Center is currently closed, but you can still enjoy the Gumbo Limbo Boardwalk, a half-mile-round trip walking path through the Coastal Hammock. 

The Palm Beaches: There’s No Place Like It

So what did you think of our choices for points of interest Palm Beaches? It can quickly become a place that you fall deeply in love with. I know because I’m pretty obsessed with all of the Palm Beach destinations.

I hope to see you there!

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