1. The Beaches: It should come at no surprise, but not much beats spectacular sunrises on a postcard-perfect beach lined with stately palm trees. Nearly 30 beach parks span 47 miles of coastline along the Atlantic Ocean—from Jupiter Beach to Boca Raton—and we have a beach to fit your every mood—including the long, sandy Palm Beach Municipal Beach. Year-round sunshine and warm temperatures lure travelers south—whether kid or adult—for an endless summer playcation. Click here for current beach conditions.
2. Shopping: Better leave room in your suitcase–shopping in The Palm Beaches ranges from vintage finds and luxury apparel to artisan goods and coastal treasures. The heart of Palm Beach shopping is Worth Avenue, a retail mecca that rivals the best shopping districts in the world. Worth Avenue stores range from the international design houses of Chanel, Escada and Gucci, to fine jewelry and home furnishings. Another Island favorite is The Royal Poinciana Plaza, a newly reimagined property with an eclectic mix of stylish shops that has become a shopping oasis on Palm Beach.
3. Food & Dining: When visiting The Palm Beaches, it’s a good idea to leave your diet at home and come hungry. Culinary creativity comes courtesy of top chefs and innovative menus that span from island tiki hut hangs to chic fine dining. For the tour most likely to turn heads, bring all your friends to Cycle Party, a 15-person party bike that lets you pedal your way around town on pub crawls, restaurant hops, and scavenger hunts. And if you’re visiting in August, consider yourself lucky—local foodies know that’s The Palm Beaches Restaurant Week. Get irresistible deals on prix fixe menus at some of our finest restaurants from Jupiter to Boca Raton. More than 70 restaurants participate, so there’s something to satisfy every palate.
4. Spa & Wellness: From soothing open-air massages with an ocean view to rejuvenating yoga poolside, whatever your idea of relaxation, you’ll find it in The Palm Beaches. Wellness offerings and spa packages promise total tranquility—including custom-tailored skin treatments and mineral baths to hot saunas and fitness classes, Palm Beach remains a playful relaxation destination for those looking to relax, repair and treat themselves, a significant other, or both.
5. Outdoor Recreation: Soak up the warm Florida sun, check out some seriously idyllic sights and explore the great outdoors. Year-round adventure and nature activities are abound for visitors of every age, interest and ability level. On land, explore our hundreds of hiking and biking trails—taking you everywhere from Everglades rugged swamplands to the backyards of Palm Beach’s pristine greenscapes. The Palm Beaches also has a wide variety of parks and gardens and many are free to explore. By water, you’ll want to rent a kayak, canoe or paddleboard to cruise through the calm coastal inlets or cypress-shaded inland rivers.
6. Visual Arts: They don’t call The Palm Beaches Florida’s Cultural Capital® for nothing, and we’ve got the events to prove it. From festivals featuring elaborate 3D chalk paintings to 21st-century modern masterpieces, every medium you can imagine is celebrated at The Palm Beaches’ yearlong lineup of events celebrating the arts. You can really paint the town at the Lake Worth Street Painting Festival, where scores of artists transform the asphalt into amazing temporary masterpieces. Before you go, be sure to check out the latest exhibits and openings at world-class art meccas like the Norton Museum of Art and Boca Raton Museum of Art.
7. Performing Arts: Theatrics takes center stage at Festival of the Arts BOCA, held each March at Mizner Park in downtown Boca Raton. Attend readings by Pulitzer Prize-winning authors, see performances by actors like Bill Murray and hear your favorite movie scores performed by a live orchestra—perhaps with a special appearance by classical legends like Itzhak Perlman or Yo-Yo Ma. Meanwhile, head to Carlin Park in Jupiter for Shakespeare by the Sea, a summer tradition for nearly 30 years. ring a blanket, a beach chair and a picnic—or come hungry for mouthwatering food trucks—and sit back for performances of classic plays.
8. Multicultural Heritage: The diverse heritage of The Palm Beaches spans several continents and a multitude of cultures, many of which are celebrated at our annual multicultural events. From the tropical influence of neighboring Caribbean nations to our homegrown agricultural heritage of The Glades, you’ll discover what gives piece of paradise its own local flavor. Check for special events at institutions like Spady Cultural Heritage Museum, Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens and Norton Museum of Art to learn more about The Palm Beaches’ multifaceted culture and history.
9. Boating: Running the gamut of speedboats and sailing, to party pontoons and mega-yachts charters, The Palm Beaches are crazy about the boating life. And with 125 miles of scenic waterways, it’s not hard to see why. Four major inlets lead to the Atlantic Ocean from the Intracoastal Waterway and Lake Worth Lagoon. Here, you’ll find more boat charters and boat rentals than you can swing a jib at. Play captain for a day, or sit back and let a professional chart your course. There’s really nothing like finding a secluded island or sandbar to anchor for the afternoon or sharing cocktails on a sunset cruise with dolphins.
10. World-Class Golf: With year-round play and courses designed by the greatest architects in the game, it’s easy to see why we're Florida’s Golf Capital®. With more than 160 sun-soaked golf courses, you’ll walk in the footsteps of legends and be treated like golf royalty yourself. For golf trips Palm Beach-style, don’t miss the opportunity to play The Breakers Ocean Course, Florida’s oldest 18-hole golf course (and one of the most picturesque). And if you’re just starting out, feel free to test your new skills on one of our public courses—ideal for golfers on a budget or needing some instruction, but still designed by the best.
11. Craft Beer Scene: Sip on some suds at one of 20 craft breweries in The Palm Beaches. There’s no better way to get a taste of this piece of paradise than through our craft beer. From saisons and sours to refreshing lagers that taste like Florida sunshine in a bottle, there’s something here to please every palate—beer snobs included. Take a tour, order a flight and raise a glass with your fellow hop-aholics. Throughout the county, close to 20 hyper-local, independently owned and fiercely creative breweries are taking the craft to the next level. If you’d prefer to taste it all, let the Damn Good Beer Bus play designated driver as you cruise to multiple breweries around The Palm Beaches. Discover more craft breweries on The Ale Trail of The Palm Beaches.
12. Spring Training: Each spring, ballgame fans from across the country descend on The Palm Beaches to cheer on four of Major League Baseball’s top teams for Spring Training. The “Grapefruit League” plays at two stadiums—The Ballpark of The Palm Beaches in West Palm Beach, where the Houston Astros and Washington Nationals warm up for the regular season, and Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium in Jupiter, home to the Miami Marlins and St. Louis Cardinals. At these family-friendly games, you can see the league’s brightest stars in action, snag a few autographs and maybe even meet your favorite player. Visit the 2022 Spring Training Team Schedule here.
13. Relaxed Luxury: Long known as one of America’s classic resort towns, Palm Beach offers multiple five-star hotels and resorts sprinkled among distinguished architecture. The combination of hospitality and luxury is a time-honored tradition in The Palm Beaches, but that doesn’t mean we’re stuck in the past. Whether you’re here for a destination wedding, a couples retreat or the golf trip of a lifetime, you’ll soon see why our dazzling, upscale hotels and posh yet pleasant lifestyle entice visitors to return year after year.
14. Fishing: Saltwater or freshwater, inshore or offshore, The Palm Beaches are an angler’s paradise. From Bass to Sailfish, the area remains one of the Top Fishing Destinations in South Florida. Hire a fishing charter and head to the Gulf Stream to chase trophies at legendary Sailfish Alley or wrestle with snook and tarpon on a sport-fishing excursion closer to shore. Further inland, Lake Okeechobee’s seemingly endless supply of bigmouth bass has earned it a reputation as one of the premier bass-fishing sites in the country. Start planning your excursion by checking local fishing reports to help you reel in the big one.
15. Polo Matches: Polo in The Palm Beaches are considered the ultimate “Sunday Funday.” Palm Beach International Polo Season gallops into Wellington—the Equestrian Winter Capital of the World—from January through April. The world’s premier polo players, local socialites and international celebrities, families and friends gather to watch some of the greatest athletes and horses compete in world-class polo tournaments, bringing with it traditions like divot-stamping and field-side champagne brunch. Hot on its heels is the International Gay Polo Tournament, where over-the-top tailgate parties are as big of a draw as the matches.
16. Musical Events: If you prefer your concerts under the sun and stars, The Palm Beaches may just be your perfect venue for live music, with a noteworthy lineup of year-round staged events to attend. See what Broadway shows or big-name concerts are on the schedule at the Kravis Center in West Palm Beach and each spring, SunFest returns to the West Palm’s waterfront, bringing with it dozens of headlining musicians and thousands of fans. On three stages set against the sparkling backdrop of Lake Worth Lagoon, see acts ranging from Ice Cube to Billy Idol. Meanwhile, browse the schedule of top bands and local artists for free outdoor concerts throughout the summer.
17. Foodie Festivals: The Palm Beach Food & Wine Festival is like summer camp for the culinary industry’s biggest names—from Food Network stars to James Beard-winning chefs like Daniel Boulud (who also runs a renowned café at The Brazilian Court Hotel). Hosted by The Four Seasons in Palm Beach, the festival serves up everything from gourmet comfort food to five-course dinners with wine pairings. Meanwhile, at Boca Bacchanal, the worlds of food and wine collide for a good cause where gourmands descend on Boca Raton to indulge in vintner dinners in private homes, a Grand Tasting and auction. Still hungry for more? South Florida Garlic Fest and Sweet Corn Fiesta are a few more mouthwatering ways to get a taste of The Palm Beaches.
18. Inclusivity: The Palm Beaches remain a welcoming destination for all stripes and colors of travelers who visit. With some of the biggest LGBTQ festivals in the state, the region’s cities are awash in every color of the rainbow in vibrant celebrations of pride, self-expression and diversity. Palm Beach Pride—formally PrideFest of Lake Worth and The Palm Beaches—has grown from a small gathering to the 2nd largest event of its kind in South Florida. Come for the dazzling parade and stick around for fabulous food and an eclectic live entertainment lineup that will have you dancing all night.
19. Wildlife Encounters: The Palm Beaches are simply an animal lovers’ paradise. At Lion Country Safari, you’ll spot everything from big cats to rhinos and have friendly giraffes eating out of the palm of your hand. And learn more about Florida's wildlife and resources at the Busch Wildlife Sanctuary. The Palm Beach Zoo & Conservation Society offers a range of hands-on wildlife experiences, plus nearly 200 resident animal species. And if you’re not familiar with our beloved “sea cows,” the iconic Florida creatures we fondly know as manatees occupy the many coastal waterways of our state. There are several locations in Palm Beach County where you can practice “passive observation” to have a safe and incredible manatee encounter. Go deeper and explore the 3rd largest barrier reef system in the world on a snorkeling or diving excursion. You’ll swim alongside sea turtles and tropical fish at Phil Foster Park Snorkel Trail, Peanut Island or Coral Cove Park in Tequesta.
20. Camping: If waking up to sounds of rustling palms and bird calls is your idea of relaxation, then you’ll love the campgrounds and RV parks of The Palm Beaches. Choose from tent campsites, cabin rentals and RV campgrounds with creature comforts aplenty—all nestled into scenic natural areas and convenient to the area’s top attractions. From rustic beaches to lush wetlands, anyplace you pitch your tent or park your camper here is sure to bring you closer to the things that matter most in life. Browse campgrounds and RV Parks here.
21. Historic Landmarks: The island of Palm Beach is home to some legendary landmarks and exquisite mansions, as well as glitzy and historic estates—including Henry Flagler's former residence (now the Flagler Museum). Meanwhile, art and antique furnishings are displayed at the Henry Morrison Flagler Museum, inside the hotel and railroad tycoon’s huge Gilded Age mansion. Tour guides like Lotus Travel Company and Island Living Tours give you an inside look at the town’s illustrious history, architectural splendor and famous residents.
22. Accessibility: Getting here is made easy for every traveler—no matter where you’re coming from. If you’re flying, Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) is right in the heart of Palm Beach County, while Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood and Miami International Airport are not much further as optional airports to land. If you’re arriving via automobile, boat or train, the locale is easily accessible by all. Even once you’ve arrived, getting around is a breeze with the help of a well-connected transit system, car rentals, app-based ride services, trolleys and even water taxis. Really, the only problem you’ll encounter traveling The Palm Beaches is convincing yourself you’ll have to leave.
