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For me, West Palm Beach felt like the Beverly Hills of the East Coast. The destination is characterized by manicured palm trees, gorgeous sunset and ocean views, and refined architecture. There are plenty of fun things to do in West Palm Beach - it’s home to the rich and famous after all!
1. Stroll through The Society of Four Arts Gardens.
It’s so pristine and beautifully maintained, that I was shocked that it’s free to visit. Open from 10:00 - 5:00 PM daily, The Society of Four Arts Gardens has been open to visitors of West Palm Beach since 1938.
The Gardens contain renowned sculptures, magnificent florals, ponds, fountains, and a diverse variety of plant species. The Gardens are separated into themed spaces including the Chinese Garden, Fragrant Moonlight Garden, Palm Garden, Bromeliad Garden, Jungle Garden, Spanish Façade Garden, Formal Garden, Tropical Garden, and Madonna Garden.
Self-guided walking tours are available and wi-fi is complimentary. Food and drink may be enjoyed and picnicking on the furniture is allowed. If I lived in West Palm Beach, I’d enjoy my lunches here as often as possible! It’s so tranquil and peaceful.
Image courtesy of bizjournals.com.
2. Go bar hopping on Clematis Street and in Downtown.
If you’re looking for a place to explore into the evening, this is a great choice as it’s lively both day and night. Enjoy Asian-inspired cuisine or casual fine dining then go out for a night of dancing to live or D.J. music.
3. Spend a day relaxing at the beach.
West Palm Beach has some absolutely beautiful beaches, so a beach and/or pool day is a must. Though there are quite a few options, these are my top three recommendations.
The Breakers
The Breakers was founded in 1896 by Henry M. Flagler (who will come up again in this post)! Today, the Italian Renaissance-style resort is recognized as one of America’s most iconic resorts. The 140-acre oceanfront property contains 10 dining options, a private beach club, 4 pools, 6 whirlpool spas, 25 poolside bungalows, and onsite watersports. Other onsite amenities include two 18-hole golf courses, 10 Har-Tru tennis courts, a Forbes five-star spa, an indoor-outdoor oceanfront fitness center, 13 signature boutiques, and an alfresco shopping plaza.
Admission to The Beach Club at The Breakers allows access to the expansive main pool, the infinity-style adults-only pool, the zero-entry active pool (for families), the infinity-style south pool (home to the private bungalows), 5 whirlpool spas, and the private beach.. Poolside bungalows are available for daytime rental.
Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa
It’s one of 10 in Florida to earn the AAA Five Diamond Award. While private cabanas are available for resort guests only, you may be able to go to Eau Palm Beach for cocktails and a meal overlooking the beach.
A cabana rental includes bottled water service, personalized magazine selection, and towel service. Upgrades include cold-pressed juices, seasonal fruit, easels with painting tools, champagne service, and more. You can also request a Margarita Cart to make cabana-side margaritas.
Delray Beach
Peanut Island
The beach on this man-made island is frequented by boaters who love to dock on the island’s shallow waters. Peanut Island was made in 1918 and is the site of President John F. Kennedy’s underground Cold War bunker
4. Try delicious foods in the Warehouse District.
5. Visit the Henry Morrison Flagler Museum.
Flagler Museum is known as Whitehall - it was Henry Flagler's Gilded Age estate with 75 rooms. This 100,000 square foot mansion was completed in 1902 and is a National Historic Landmark.
Self-guided tours are $26 per adult. If you enjoy period homes and royal residences, you'll love visiting this museum!
6. Go luxury shopping.
Luxury shopping is a must while in this chic destination. Even if you just window shop, these shopping plazas are worth a visit simply for how beautiful and well-maintained they are.
Worth Avenue
Similar to the famous Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, Worth Avenue is a world-renowned shopping venue inspired by European sophistication. It’s home to the most exclusive and oldest club in Palm Beach, the Everglades Club, built in 1918 by Addison Mizner.
Some of the 250 high-end shops include Cartier, Louis Vuitton, Tiffany & Co., Gucci, Chanel, Valentino’s, and more. The oldest store, Kassatly’s, has been in business since 1923. After some shopping, enjoy courtyard dining in one of the many tucked away restaurants in the area.
Rosemary Square
This indoor-outdoor mall features refined Mission Revival architecture and palm-lined common areas. Visit at dusk to see The Wishing Tree all lit up and changing colors. This art installation resembles an ancient 26-foot Banyan tree with 100,000 individually programmable, full-color-spectrum LEDs embedded into 10,000 leaves.
End the night with handcrafted gourmet gluten-free, dairy-free ice cream from Angie’s Epicurean pop-up, just next to the Wishing Tree.
The Royal Poinciana Plaza
Antique Row & Design District
Image courtesy of WPTV.
7. See wild manatees at Manatee Lagoon.
Florida manatee season runs from November 15 to March 31. I visited at the end of March and unfortunately I missed seeing these incredible creatures in their habitat, so try to visit during peak season in the January timeframe if possible. During manatee season, you may see dozens of manatees at once at Manatee Lagoon.
Though this is a popular attraction for children and families, it’s still a great place to take a stroll on the promenade by the sea and observe some sea cows. You can expect that the interior of the 16,000 square foot center will be busier as it contains hands-on exhibits and children-friendly activities.
8. Wander through the Mounts Botanical Garden.
A little off-the-beaten-path, Mounts Botanical Garden is tucked away on a 16-acre tropical oasis behind the Palm Beach International Airport. They grow a large variety of Florida native plants, exotic and tropical fruit trees, ornamentals, herbs, palms, roses, cactuses, succulents, bromeliads, and more. I saw several unique and colorful species at this garden which I had never seen before in my life. Admission for adults is $12 (and free to Palm Beach County residents on the 2nd Saturday of each month through December 2022).
Image courtesy of Sun Sentinel.
9. Explore the Norton Museum of Art.
Image courtesy of Visit Florida.
10. Experience the Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens.
Image courtesy of the International Polo Club.
11. Watch polo at The Pavilion.
author bio
Known as The Jet Set Blonde, Brittany Ryan inspires others to add more adventure to their childfree travel experiences. Brittany has visited 23 countries (and counting!) Connect with her to get access to detailed childfree travel itineraries, travel guides for weekend getaways, and updates on adult-only hotels, resorts, cruises, and other travel amenities.
