The Best Things To Do in West Palm Beach, Florida

Play some croquet, walk through a tropical garden, shop for antiques or choose your own adventure in this South Florida city.

West Palm Beach is no longer content to be overshadowed by Palm Beach, located across the Intracoastal Waterway, or by Miami, about an hour's drive South. Today, this fast-growing city on Florida's east coast offers plenty to see and do right in its own backyard.

Whether you're into antiquing, golfing, kayaking, birding, or just sitting on the beach and staring at the ocean (no shame!), you'll find it here. Add to that a growing food scene, and you've got a destination that rivals some of the best beach towns in the state. Here are some of our favorite things to do and places to go to help you plan your itinerary.

Where To Shop

The Square (above) is a walkable outdoor mall offering big-name stores like Lululemon, H&M, and a four-story Restoration Hardware (complete with its own restaurant), as well as local retailers like children’s bookstore Rohi’s Readery. There’s also a pretty, shady green space with a fountain that kids love to run through, plus lots of restaurants and food trucks.

From there, catch a trolley to nearby Clematis Street for more shopping, dining, and drinking options. This is a historic section of town that served as the main shopping and restaurant district long before The Square opened. Located near Clematis Street, the West Palm Beach GreenMarket (open from April to October) has won national awards, and is a vibrant place to shop and people watch on Saturdays.

Vintage lovers will be in heaven on Antique Row on West Dixie Highway. This stretch of street has about 40 independent shops brimming with furniture, home decor items, and other treasures. Also on Dixie is City Girl Consignment, a cute women’s clothing store filled with fancy finds at deeply discounted prices.

Grandview Public Market is mainly a food hall, but it has a few retailers too, including Gypsy Life Surf Shop, which offers products like clothes, accessories, and sunscreen for those living the beach life, and those who just want to pretend like they do. Quinn’s is a small boutique full of unique candles, jewelry, and other items for gifts and souvenirs.

What To Do Outside

Golfers of all skill levels are welcome at The Park, the city’s impressive new municipal golf course, which opened last spring. (Tiger Woods hit the first tee shot at the opening.) Designed by the legendary Gil Hanse, Jim Wagner, and Dirk Ziff, the 190-acre property has an 18-hole course, a putting course, and nine Par three’s called The Lit Nine.

Fun fact: West Palm is also home to the National Croquet Center, the world's largest dedicated croquet facility. Non-members can take free lessons on Saturdays, or reserve regular court play (with all equipment required), for $30 a day.

Bird watchers will love walking the boardwalks and trails through the wetlands of Grassy Waters Preserve. For tropical foliage, fruit trees, and lush gardens, the 20-acre Mounts Botanical Garden of Palm Beach County is a local favorite but not always known to visitors.

Spend the day at Peanut Island (above), where you can snorkel in clear turquoise waters, go kayaking, or just enjoy the sun, sand, and seashells. The easiest way to get to Peanut Island is to park your car at Riviera Beach Marina Village and catch the water taxi. Look for signs for ​​Peanut Island/Overflow Parking. The taxis run daily every 25 minutes from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Where To Experience Art

Beautifully renovated in 2019, The Norton Museum of Art is one of the city’s jewels and home to more than 8,000 works of art with a lovely courtyard at the center. The museum's airy restaurant opens out to the sculpture garden and is a great place for lunch. Less than a 10 minute drive away, the Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens is a tropical hideaway filled with palms, orchids, and large-scale works.

The Kravis Center for the Performing Arts often hosts nationally-touring musicians, Broadway shows, comedians, and more. Check the calendar—you never know what you might find.

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