6 Best Things to Do in Palm Beach County, Florida
Located in Southeastern Florida, Palm Beach County is the largest county in the Sunshine State. This county is so large that most Floridians split it up into three sections: eastern, western, and lakeside.
The most industrial and touristy area of this county is the eastern district. By contrast, the western portion of the county is more rural and often attracts nature lovers. Lastly, the lakeside district is named after the nearby Lake Okeechobee, which is in the Northwest.
If you’re thinking of exploring this region in the near future, then read on. Below, we’ll explore some of the hottest things to do in Palm Beach County and explain how to travel there.
Main Attractions In Palm Beach County
1. Walk Along Miles of Pristine Beaches
John D. MacArthur Beach State Park
One of the main things to do in Palm Beach County is, of course, to visit the beaches! Palm Beach County boasts around 40 miles of private and public beaches by the Gulf Stream. No matter what time of year you visit, and no matter which beach you end up at, expect the waters here to be extremely warm.
Snorkelers will also find many opportunities to observe Palm Beach County’s marine life along this stretch of sand. One of the more popular areas for snorkelers is the almost 450-acre John D. MacArthur Beach State Park, which also has plenty of hiking trails and kayaking opportunities for nature enthusiasts. Yet another popular snorkeling spot is Breaker’s Reef in Palm Beach proper.
Whether you’re into beach sports, snorkeling, or sunbathing, you should have no issues finding a place to relax on this incredible beach.
2. Visit the Henry Morrison Flagler Museum
One of the top-reviewed things to do in Palm Beach County is the Henry Morrison Flagler Museum (aka Whitehall). Henry Flagler, the founder of Standard Oil, built this exceptional Gilded Age mansion in the early 1900s. Visitors to this mansion will learn a great deal about Henry Flagler’s life and legacy in the development of modern Palm Beach.
Anyone who has even the slightest taste for the finer side of life will love touring this exquisite mansion. In addition to guided tours, the Flagler Museum often hosts special events, so definitely check out their official website at FlaglerMuseum.us before visiting.
3. Take Kids to Gumbo Limbo Nature Center
Located at 1801 North Ocean Boulevard in Boca Raton, the Gumbo Limbo Nature Center is one of the most popular things to do in Palm Beach County with children. Established in the 1980s, Gumbo Limbo is most famous for its sea turtle rehabilitation program. The staff here strives to educate the public on Palm Beach County’s indigenous flora and fauna and the current conservation efforts now in place.
In addition to marine life, Gumbo Limbo has a delightful outdoor butterfly garden and walking area. Almost 200,000 people visit this museum every year, and it’s currently listed as the best thing to do in Boca Raton on TripAdvisor.
Other Things To Do In Palm Beach County
4. Take a Plunge in the Jupiter Dive Center
Serious divers should seriously consider booking a tour with the Jupiter Dive Center. This five-star quality center is by Sawfish Bay Park at 1001 North Highway A1A. The reefs here are some of the deepest in the world…in fact, they are listed as the third deepest on records. If you’re visiting between July and September, then you might get to see Jupiter’s famous grouper season.
Whenever you visit this dive center, however, you’ll most likely see exotic turtles, plenty of corals, and even a few sharks. If you’re new to diving, no worries! Jupiter Dive Center offers plenty of classes for first-time divers. Plus, after your dive, you can head to the nearby Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse and Museum.
5. Enjoy the Wildlife at Delray Beach
Delray Beach might not be as popular as West Palm Beach, but it’s a wonderful area to visit if you’ve got the time. In fact, this area just north of Boca Raton has built up quite the reputation for its nightlife in recent years. The best area for nightlife in the city is the central Atlantic Avenue.
Wakodahatchee Wetlands
For those more interested in wildlife rather than nightlife, you’re in luck: Delray Beach has some of Florida’s best nature reserves. The two most respected nature preserves in the area are Wakodahatchee Wetlands and the Arthur C. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge Preserve. In both of these reserves you’ll find plenty of interesting birds, turtles, and even a few alligators.
6. Splurge on Fine Dining in Palm Beach
There are plenty exceptional restaurants all across Palm Beach County for everyone’s taste and budget. Many of the coastal cities have exceptional seafood restaurants, and you’re bound to find a wide variety of authentic Latin restaurants the further south you go.
The easiest place to find a high concentration of superb restaurants is in Downtown West Palm Beach. A few of the hot names in West Palm Beach today include the Okeechobee Steakhouse, the Agora Mediterranean Kitchen, and the Seafood Bar. For people in Boca Raton, a few highly reviewed restaurants include Twenty Twenty Grille, Casa Maya Grill, and Abe & Louie’s. Definitely do your restaurant research before visiting Palm Beach County.
How to Get to Palm Beach County
The main airport in the Palm Beach County area is appropriately called Palm Beach International Airport (IATA: PBI). This airport is located only a 10-minute drive to Downtown West Palm Beach. As of today, PBI welcomes 200 arrivals and departures from at least 13 different airlines. People traveling from far away might have to fly into a more prominent international airport like Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (IATA: FLL) or Miami International Airport (IATA: MIA) first.
From PBI, you’re within a 20-mile radius of all the major cities in Palm Beach County. Whether you’re traveling to Boca Raton, Palm Beach, or Jupiter, you should have no issues finding getting out of PBI.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, there are plenty of things to do in Palm Beach County. Indeed, some tourists might say there are too many things to do here! One thing’s for sure: traveling to this sunny region of Southern Florida will always leave you wanting more. Be sure to pack plenty of sunscreen before you book your flight to PBI.
