10 fun things to do in Palm Beach Gardens
Palm Beach Gardens in the northern reaches of Palm Beach County is perfectly situated to keep you entertained whether you want to be indoors or outside. That makes any time of year an ideal time to tackle your bucket list in this city of more than 60,000. (It was so ideal that at one time Walt Disney contemplated putting his Florida theme park on 320 acres along PGA Boulevard. But Walt's brother, Roy Disney, pined for more land and wound up closer to Orlando instead.)
So, there's no theme park, but plenty of perks. Whether you love to shop, dine at amazing restaurants, get back to nature, enjoy the performing arts or fancy world-class sporting events (a top-rated PGA tournament, perhaps?), Palm Beach Gardens has you covered.
From The Gardens Mall and Downtown Palm Beach Gardens to the Cognizant Classic, to multiple natural areas and even incredible craft beer, here are 10 reasons to make sure you give Palm Beach Gardens some time and love.
More: USA TODAY names its Restaurants of the Year. They include this Palm Beach County favorite.
The Gardens Mall
A mall? That's right. It opened in 1988, but this mall is not only still going (unlike so many), it's thriving. With two decks and over 1.4 million square feet, this shopping and dining destination features 140 stores including anchors like Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, Macy's and Bloomingdale's. There are also plenty of smaller shops like Athleta, Abercrombie & Fitch, Hollister, Anthropologie, Jimmy Choo and more. Hungry? There are over a dozen places to grab a bite including Shake Shack, California Pizza Kitchen, Cooper's Hawk, Chipotle and more.
Information: 3101 PGA Blvd., Palm Beach Gardens. thegardensmall.com
Cognizant Classic in the Palm Beaches
Though undergoing a recent name change ( from 1982 to 2023 it was the Honda Classic), the Cognizant Classic draws some of the biggest names in professional golf to the area for this week-long PGA Tour event. Played at PGA National, the tournament founded in 1972, has hosted the likes of Jack Nicklaus, Ernie Els, Fred Couples, Phil Mickelson, Rory McIlroy, Rickie Fowler and, of course, Tiger Woods.
Information: PGA National, 400 Avenue of Champions, Palm Beach Gardens. thecognizantclassic; pgaresort.com
More: Where to find good restaurants, bites on PGA Boulevard dining corridor
Twisted Trunk Brewing Co.
Owned and operated by master brewer Fran Andrewlevich, this brewery opened in 2015 and has been serving some of the finest pints ever since. Named after the numerous banyan trees in the city and featuring a bar made from 100-year-old elm wood, this local hot spot has 10 beers on tap at time including standards like Palm Beach Pilsner, Fin McCool Irish Red, Chancellor and Hazy IPA and seasonal offerings like Loxahatchee Lager and Papa Pump (pumpkin lager). There's also live music, trivia night and even yoga on Sunday mornings.
Information: 2000 PGA Blvd., Palm Beach Gardens. 561-671-2337; twistedtrunkbrewing.com
The Gardens GreenMarket
A true staple of the community, this market entered its 22nd season in 2023-24 and is open on Sundays from 8 a.m to 1 p.m. on the City Hall Municipal Campus. It features fresh produce and seafood along with prepared foods like crabcakes, lobster rolls, scratch-made soups, coffee, cider donuts, barbecue sandwiches and platters, smashburgers and much, much more. The market also features live music each Sunday and this season even held several plein air painting demonstrations.
Information: 10500 N. Military Trail, Palm Beach Gardens. pbgfl.com/278/GreenMarket
More: 14 best waterfront restaurants from Palm Beach Gardens to Riviera Beach
Eissey Campus Theatre
This 750-seat theater has become a cultural hub for northern Palm Beach County presenting community programs, plays, musicals and live music. In 2024, they've presented The Brothers Doobie-A Doobie Brothers Experience, Human Nature-Back to the Sounds of Motown, Sixties Mania, Red Corvette-A Prince Tribute and Heart Breaker-A Tribute to Heart. These are in addition to performances like Dance Theater of Florida's "Aladdin and the Magic Lamp," "Magic & Mayhem Live-Witness the Impossible," The Symphonic Band of the Palm Beaches with Copeland Davis and more.
Information: 11051 Campus Drive, Palm Beach Gardens. 561-207-5900; palmbeachstate.edu
Frenchman's Forest Natural Area
Surrounded by a golf course and homes, this 172-acre natural area is a wilderness oasis in the midst of suburbia. From a mangrove-lined waterway to scrubby pine flatwoods to a boardwalk through a cypress swamp, this natural area is a haven for wildlife, features several trails and is a great way to reset.
Information: 12201 Prosperity Farms Road, Palm Beach Gardens. floridahikes.com/frenchmans
Downtown Palm Beach Gardens
Stylish and open-air, this shopping and dining destination is packed with great shops and restaurants. Some of the eateries include Avocado Cantina, Grimaldi's Coal Brick-Oven Pizzeria, Voodoo Bayou and the Yard House. In addition to great place to grab great meal, shop and people watch, this complex has something that almost no one seems to have any more, a movie theater. That's right an actual movie theater, showing movies the way they were truly meant to be seen. Massive screen, huge sound and, most importantly, your attention. No hitting pause to check on the laundry or check your phone — just focus, escape and enjoy.
Information: 11701 Lake Victoria Gardens Ave., Palm Beach Gardens. downtownpbg.com
Nova Southeastern University-Mako Shark Statue
This institute of higher learning has a work of art that might not be exactly for the faint of heart. What is it? A statue of a massive mako shark erupting from the pavers on the school's campus. That's right, cue the theme to "Jaws" in your mind when you see it and get a good jolt. Designed by Swedish artist Kent Ullberg and unveiled in 2011, the statue stands four and half feet tall and per the NSU website "symbolizes our prideful mascot: the mako shark– the fastest-swimming and highest-jumping shark in the ocean.”
Information: 11501 N. Military Trail, Palm Beach Gardens. 561-805-2100; nova.edu/campuses/wpb
MacArthur Beach State Park
So technically, this one's in North Palm Beach, but it's just over the bridge and down the street from Palm Beach Gardens and a popular spot for the entire area. In addition to launching kayaks and paddleboards at the 'Burnt Bridge' and exploring the area by water, where, depending on the season, you could see manatees, dolphin, mullet, snook, rays, wading birds and more, you can enter the park for even more fun. They have live music, festivals, classes, bird watching, snorkeling trips, SUP excursions and beach clean ups. If you are a music lover, their series 'MacArthur Under Moonlight,' held in their amphitheater, is not to be missed.
Information: 10900 Jack Nicklaus Drive, North Palm Beach. macarthurbeach.org
Loxahatchee Slough Natural Area
Though another that's technically not within the city limits, it's so close it feels like it is and is the perfect way to get out of development and into the wild. This nature preserve is Palm Beach County's largest, most biologically diverse natural area and covers over 13,000 acres. There are hiking trails (that even link to other parks), informational kiosks, observation platforms and restrooms. The area is the headwaters of the Loxahatchee River and there is an abundance of wildlife to be seen and heard.
Information: 11855 Beeline Highway, West Palm Beach. Free. floridahikes.com
Eddie Ritz is a journalist at The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach him at eritz@pbpost.com. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Best things to do in Palm Beach Gardens: A year-round bucket list
