West Palm Beach, Florida, 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. Visit anytime of year, but spring and fall have fewer crowds and lower temperatures. Here are some of our favorite things to do in West Palm Beach and places to go to help you plan your itinerary.
Where To Shop
Courtesy of The Square
Shop Till You Drop At CityPlace
CityPlace is a walkable outdoor mall offering big-name stores like Lululemon, H&M, and a four-story Restoration Hardware (complete with its own restaurant). There’s also a pretty, shady green space with a fountain that kids love to run through, plus lots of restaurants and food trucks.
cityplace.com, 700 South Rosemary Avenue Suite 200, West Palm Beach, FL 33401
Pick Produce At The GreenMarket
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 CityPlace opened. Located near Clematis Street, the West Palm Beach GreenMarket (open from October to April) has won national awards and is a vibrant place to shop and people-watch on Saturdays.
facebook.com/WPBGreenMarket, 101 North Clematis Street, West Palm Beach, FL 33401
Hunt For Secondhand Items
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 resale clothing store filled with fancy finds at deeply discounted prices.
citygirlconsignment.com, 2900 South Dixie Highway, West Palm Beach, FL 33405
Browse The Public Market
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.
cityfoodhall.com/grandview, 1401 Clare Avenue, West Palm Beach, FL 33401
What To Do Outside
Discover The Palm Beaches Press Site
Tee Up At The Park
Golfers of all skill levels are welcome at The Park, the city’s impressive municipal golf course, which opened in 2023. (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 challenging par 3s called The Lit Nine.
theparkwestpalm.com, 7301 Georgia Avenue, West Palm Beach, FL 33405
Play Croquet
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.
croquetnational.com, 700 Florida Mango Road, West Palm Beach, FL 33406
Connect With Nature
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.
wpb.org/government/public-utilities/grassy-waters-preserve, 8264 Northlake Boulevard, West Palm Beach, FL 33412
mounts.org, 531 North Military Trail, West Palm Beach, FL 33415
Go Snorkeling
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. on weekdays and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends.
peanutislandshuttleboat.com, 200 East 13th Street, Riviera Beach, FL 33404
Have A Wild Encounter
Spend an afternoon learning about animals at the Palm Beach Zoo and Conservation Society. Book an experience for a no-contact, up-close encounter with some of the animals—like the panther, koala, sloth, and Aldabra tortoise.
At the Cox Science Center and Aquarium, guests can see species of the coral reef in the aquarium and special events like live alligator petting. There’s also a planetarium, interactive experiments in the learning lab, and exhibits like Journey Through the Human Brain.
palmbeachzoo.org, 1301 Summit Boulevard, West Palm Beach, FL 33405
coxsciencecenter.org, 4801 Dreher Trail North, West Palm Beach, FL 33405
Splash At Shark Wake Park
For those with a sense of adventure, Shark Wake Park has water fun for the whole family. Splash your way around Obstacle Island; the inflatable floating playground has towers, monkey bars, slides, and more. Falling into the water is half the fun. At the Cable Park, guests can learn how to wakeboard, kneeboard, wake skate, and water ski, no matter the skill level. The park also offers lessons for first-timers or those who want to add some tricks to their repertoire.
sharkwakepark.com/561, 1440 Eshleman Trail, West Palm Beach, FL 33413
Where To Experience Art
Take In The Art Scene
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.
norton.org, 1450 South Dixie Highway, West Palm Beach, FL 3340
Stroll The Sculpture Gardens
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 former home of sculptor Ann Weaver Norton, the two-acre property is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and includes a collection of 250 rare species of tropical plants as well as more than 100 works by the artist.
ansg.org, 253 Barcelona Road, West Palm Beach, FL 33401
See A Performance
The Kravis Center for the Performing Arts often hosts nationally touring musicians, Broadway shows, comedians, concert series, and more. The center also offers community arts education programs. Check the calendar—you never know what you might find.
kravis.org, 701 Okeechobee Boulevard, West Palm Beach, FL 33401
Where To Eat
Courtesy Harry’s West Palm Beach
Indulge At Harry’s West Palm Beach
The original Harry’s location opened 50 years ago in New York’s Financial District. The West Palm Beach menu maintains those New York roots while incorporating local ingredients. Unwind at the bar with a signature cocktail or settle in for an elegant meal. The menu features pasta, steaks, seafood, and specialties like beef Wellington, whole branzino, and dry-aged porterhouse steak for two.
harrysbarrestaurant.com/harrys-west-palm-beach, 384 South Rosemary Avenue, West Palm Beach, FL 33401
Pop Into Hive Bakery And Cafe
At Hive Bakery and Cafe, grab pastries and coffee to go, or take a seat in the outdoor garden to savor artisanal breads and wood-fired rotisserie cooking. The menu includes salads, soups, and sandwiches made with house-baked bread. Try one of the cafe’s specialties—Southwest Caesar Salad, Lentil Soup, Jam-Filled Cruffins, and Dark Chocolate Honeycomb Candy.
hivebakeryandcafe.com, 1603 South Dixie Highway, West Palm Beach, FL 33401
