Best things to do, tourist attractions in Palm Beach County for Spring Break 2024

Stock up on sunscreen and dig out the beach towels. Spring Break 2024 is busting out all over Florida in the next few months. College students from the East Coast and Midwest have begun their annual coastal invasion. And while Miami may be breaking up with spring break, Palm Beach County isn't! We have plenty of things to do for visitors and locals looking for fun in the sun. Palm Beach County public school students are off from March 18 through March 25.

So, whether you’re staycationing or visiting, there are plenty of options to fill sunny days (although we Floridians may require wet suits for frigid ocean temperatures still in the low 70s).

We've rounded up guides to our best beaches, waterfront bars and restaurants, local tourist attractions and things to do near West Palm Beach and Palm Beach County for Spring Break 2024:

Enjoy a tropical island daytrip to Peanut Island

Peanut Island, the 80-acre tropical island located at the west end of the Palm Beach (Lake Worth) Inlet, is a get-there-only-by-boat county park, where long strings of boats raft up while hundreds of people socialize in the shallow off-shore water. At its best, a visit to the island can feel like a brief Bahamian vacation as the Gulfstream flows in through the inlet to bathe the palm-fringed island in warm, crystalline water.

Here's everything you need to know before you go to this tropical paradise near West Palm Beach: Peanut Island Guide 2024

10 must-visit Palm Beach County parks for walking; sunbathing; relaxing

Amphitheaters. Equestrian centers. Fishing lakes. Golf courses. Artificial reefs. Water parks. Nature exhibits. Aquatic centers. There’s a lot more going on in our county parks than you might realize. The county runs 83 parks, from tiny playgrounds to thousand-acre behemoths (and then there are state parks, beach parks and parks run by individual cities.)

Of the parks maintained by the county, here’s a list of the top 10 parks you must visit.

Attractions: Lion Country Safari drive-thru zoo

Lion Country Safari is the largest park in Florida with a safari-style experience. See animals from six continents while riding in your car with the AC at the zoo, which is located in Palm Beach County. And the local attraction has gotten national attention: After Lion Country Safari ranked No. 8 on USA TODAY's 10 Best Readers Choice Awards, the attraction made U.S. News and World Report's list of "26 Best Zoos in the U.S" for 2023.

Here are some things to know about Lion Country Safari and what the drive-through zoo offers: Lion Country Safari Guide

Lion Country Safari: 2003 Lion Country Safari Rd, Loxahatchee; 561-793-1084

Best beaches near West Palm Beach

We love our Palm Beach County beaches. And with warm weather here, it’s time to soak up some sun. With the county’s 45-mile long Atlantic shoreline, there are lots of beautiful beaches to choose.

Here we break down the main attractions and facts on each beach from Tequesta to Boca Raton: Best beaches of Palm Beach County

Love looking for seashells? Here are the best beaches for finding those little treasures

The Palm Beaches isn't a bucket list destination for seashell collectors. And Palm Beach County may not be the seashell capital of the world, like Sanibel Island on the west coast, but don't let that discourage you from looking for treasures. Use this handy guide: Where to find sea shells in Palm Beach County

Attractions: Enjoy water fun at Shark Park 561

If a lake is more your scene, check out Shark Park 561 within Palm Beach County's Okeeheelee Park. The attraction opened in 2019 and offers a variety of activities including an inflatable floating obstacle course with monkey bars, climbing towers and slides. The venue also offers a cable park that tows wakeboarders — no boat necessary.

Shark Park 561 within Okeeheelee Park, 7715 Forest Hill Blvd, West Palm Beach; 561.323.3937

Relax by the water at some of the best waterfront restaurants/bars in South Florida

Yes, everything does taste better by the water, and if you live in or are visiting South Florida you'll want to know where to find the best waterfront restaurants. We have a lot of waterfront in Palm Beach County, so we'll be delivering this wisdom in geographic bites, going from north to south.

Here are the best waterfront spots in northern Palm Beach County: Tables with a sparkling view near Jupiter

Laura Lordi is Digital Editor at The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach her at llordi@pbpost.com.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Best things to do near Miami, West Palm, Florida for Spring Break 2024