West Palm Beach, located in the middle of Palm Beach County, is a major tourist attraction in the region of South Florida. The city has gained international renown for its stunning beaches and fascinating historical sites. West Palm Beach, with its perfect climate, year-round sunlight, cultural attractions, and abundance of outdoor activities, is a fantastic vacation destination for people of all ages. Come along with ViewCation as we take you on a cruise of the best things to do in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Explore “The Square”
There is something for everyone in The Square, whether they’re in the market for retail therapy, culinary delights, or a good time. Located in the heart of West Palm Beach, the Rosemary Square (or “The Square”) is a shopping and entertainment complex with a Mediterranean feel. There are plenty of stores selling apparel, jewelry, and gifts; restaurants serving cuisine from throughout the world, gourmet food markets where guests can assemble their own meals; and an AMC theater showing amazing IMAX films. Weekends in The Square typically feature free live music from regional acts playing in the plaza’s open-air amphitheater.
Taking a stroll across The Square is like visiting the town square of an ancient European nation, complete with its historic buildings, grand fountains, and sidewalk cafes. It’s a terrific area to spend the day if you want to take advantage of the free WiFi, listen to some live music, and watch the world go by.
Visit the Norton Museum of Art
The Norton Museum of Art, which was founded by Elizabeth and Norton and Ralph Hubbard in 1941, currently houses over 7,000 works of art. There are parts of the museum devoted to European art, American art, and Chinese art, among others.
Visitors to the museum can view works from the 19th and 20th centuries, as well as works by American and European sculptors and unique jade and bronze objects from China. Picasso, Monet, and Gauguin paintings, as well as sculptures by William Zorach and Theodore Roszak, are just a few of the highlights of the museum’s permanent collection.
There’s a beautiful courtyard and sculpture garden outside if you need some fresh air. Meanwhile, the rotating displays always provide something new and interesting to the museum. These displays include a wide variety of topics, from images of the Black panther to vintage toys. Every visit to the Norton Museum of Art might be different because of the museum’s commitment to its temporary exhibits.
Uncover the history of Downtown West Palm Beach at Clematis Street
For those interested in West Palm Beach’s past, Clematis Street is where it all began. Walking westward from Flagler Drive along the Intracoastal Waterway, you’ll find a vibrant collection of shops, bars, restaurants, and attractions that reflect the area’s indigenous culture. The pizza at Lynora’s wood-burning oven is excellent, and Grease has the best burger in town. Visit Roccos’ Tacos & Tequila Bar when you’re in the mood for Mexican food, and don’t forget to get some of the restaurant’s homemade guacamole. Another option is to visit the botanically-themed Sourbon Kitchen, where you can find the speakeasy-style The Lab, which serves original cocktails, on the second floor. Visit Clematis Social, a chic nightclub right in the middle of all the action on Clematis Street, after dark. Clematis By Night is a weekly event that takes place from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm every Thursday and involves live music from some of the best local bands, discounted food and drinks, and an electric atmosphere.
Discover unique items at Antique Row Art & Design District
The renowned Antique Row in West Palm Beach is home to more than 50 unique stores selling anything from antiques to unique gifts. Antiques, fine art, decorative items, period deco, contemporary furniture, and much more span the centuries from the 17th to the 20th here in this delightful neighborhood. A number of well-known publications, including Architectural Digest, House Beautiful, Art & Antiques, and The New York Times, have highlighted this lovely retail neighborhood as one of the best antiques buying destinations in the eastern United States. Check out the West Palm Beach Antique Row Art & Design District, where the world’s top decorators have been making their purchases for the past three decades, and get yourself some souvenirs.
Visit the Henry Morrison Flagler Museum
The area around West Palm Beach has a long and interesting past, and visiting the Henry Morrison Flagler Museum is one of the best ways to explore it. The museum is housed in a beautiful vintage Edwardian townhouse across the lagoon in Palm Beach. The beautiful house is still one of the best attractions in West Palm Beach, Florida, even without the museum it once housed. The Flagler family has owned this beautiful historic site for decades. The residence was erected by Henry Flagler as a gift for his third wife, and the couple resided there until Henry’s death in 1913. The impressive Flagler Museum is spread out across 100,000 square feet and contains 75 individual exhibit rooms. This must-see landmark is so magnificent that it has been likened to several European palaces.
Have fun at the Okeeheelee Park
A hidden gem in West Palm Beach, Okeeheelee Park is a destination that provides its visitors with access to a diverse range of exciting activities. It’s convenient for early birds and late risers alike, as it’s open from dawn ’til dusk every day. The Okeeheelee Nature Center is the most well-known part of the park among the park’s many visitors because of its abundance of wildlife. Family groups flock there to experience the museum’s hands-on wildlife exhibits. Once you’ve gotten all the details you need from the nature center, you can glide onto the Okeeheelee Nature Trail. The path passes through a forest that spans 90 acres and is home to oaks, pines, and palm trees. Be on the lookout for local birds and other forms of wildlife. Another beautiful feature of Okeekeelee Park is its butterfly garden. Don’t forget to bring your camera and enjoy the show of vivid butterflies flitting in the air above you.
Explore McCarthy’s Wildlife Sanctuary
McCarthy’s Wildlife Sanctuary is a great place to visit if you enjoy animals, as it is home to more than 170 species, including lions, tigers, panthers, and lemurs. Unlike at Lion Country Safari or the Palm Beach Zoo, visitors to McCarthy’s Wildlife Sanctuary can go quite close to the animals and even pet some of the smaller ones. Guests on each tour have the opportunity to hold a variety of animals, from newborn alligators to pythons.
Those who share McCarthy’s passion for rescuing abused or neglected wildlife will understand and respect his work. The gardens are kept in excellent condition, and the tour guides provide interesting and informed commentary. However, keep in mind that appointments are required for this attraction, so plan ahead! Open seven days a week, tours of the complex cost $35 for adults and $25 for children, and take around two hours. However, there is a strict no-children-under-5 policy in effect. There is a free parking lot and gift shop on the premises.
Enjoy a performance at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts
The Kravis Center for the Performing Arts is West Palm Beach’s premier facility for live theater, dance, opera, and music performances, with a total seating capacity of 4,200 throughout its four theaters (including an outdoor amphitheater). Every year, the theater hosts about five hundred and fifty events, including musicals, outdoor concerts, and performances in the genres of gospel, jazz, classical music, and dance. The cast of “Cats,” the Miami City Ballet, William Shatner, and Michael Bublé are just some of the famous performers and guests that have appeared here in the past.
Although there have been complaints from some prior visitors about uneven sound quality and poor sight lines depending on where you sat, tourists consistently rave about the wide variety of shows available. The venue’s welcoming personnel and free parking are also important highlights for many visitors.
Explore the Ann Norton Sculpture Garden
The magnificent Ann Norton Sculpture Garden can be found on the property of the artist Ann Weaver Norton’s former residence. Located in the heart of West Palm Beach, this landmark museum showcases more than a hundred sculptures by the legendary artist, from his early career in the early 1900s through her later work in the 1980s. These one-of-a-kind constructions can be found in the grounds, the garden, and the famous artist’s studio that once belonged to Norton.
Details about the creation process, such as the medium and year, are available to curious onlookers. Information about this American artist’s early life, education, lasting legacy, and other artistic activities are also available. The sculpture garden also serves as an outdoor theater for occasional performances of Shakespeare and other plays. What’s more? More than 250 types of palm trees are on display in these gardens, making it a perfect spot for a relaxing stroll.
Have a blast at the Palm Beach Zoo & Conservation Society
The Palm Beach Zoo and Conservation Society is the newest addition to West Palm Beach’s lineup of excellent animal attractions. There are more than 500 native and exotic animals living on this zoo’s 23 acres. Animal encounters with sloths and tigers, a lizard house, and a tropical area with monkeys, anteaters, jaguars, and bush dogs are just some of the permanent exhibits and touring educational programs available to zoo visitors.
The tropical grounds feature a wildlife carousel, a safari train, and a conservation station where kids may play in an interactive play fountain and watch interactive wildlife presentations. Before you head out to the zoo, be sure to check their events schedule. Breakfast with the Easter Bunny, a 5K tiger awareness race, and a craft beer festival are just some of the events that take place at the Palm Beach Zoo all year long. Try to schedule your trip for a day when the temperature is lower, if at all possible, since the animals are less likely to sleep in the shade and more likely to explore their enclosures.
Explore Northwood Village
This little neighborhood, situated just north of Downtown West Palm Beach, features a great assortment of fun dining options, small galleries, and a monthly wine promenade. Visit Northwood’s hidden artistic treasures and experience the town’s laid-back hippie ambiance. This area has everything an urban explorer might want, from cutting-edge art galleries to gourmet restaurants and unique boutiques. Stop into Harold’s Coffee House for a photo op in front of the vibrant murals. In addition to their signature Kyoto-style cold brew coffee, this trendy spot in West Palm Beach also offers freshly pressed juices, kombucha, and an array of teas and baked goods. Don’t forget to visit Herbs & Earth, a women-owned metaphysical store that sells over 300 spices, fair-trade herbs and teas, roots, hand-rolled sage bundles, flowers, essential oils, crystals, incense, resins, sterling silver jewelry, and more.
Have some fun at the Cox Science Center and Aquarium
Educating the whole family through exploration and discovery is what the Cox Science Center and Aquarium is all about. Palm Beach County’s Science Center has been there since 1961, and its mission is to get people interested in science by introducing them to new ideas through computer programming, robotics, and other technological endeavors. The center houses over a hundred interactive educational displays, a theater, a new science laboratory, a science trail that spans a quarter of a mile, a full-dome digital planetarium, a 10,000-gallon aquarium, and more. The center’s 18-hole mini golf conservation course was created by local golfing greats Jim Fazio and Gary Nicklaus and opened to the public in 2016. It has been recognized as one of the “Top Thirteen Miniature Golf Courses in the Nation” by Travel Magazine and was designed as a green area to educate visitors about the native habitats of Florida while providing them with opportunities for pleasure and environmental education.
There you have it. It’s now time to hear from you. Which of the things to do above piqued your interest the most?