Things to do in Palm Beach County fill a full calendar year-round. The county stretches from the Atlantic coast west through the Glades, and the variety of activities reflects that range. Whether you are already a resident, visiting for the first time, or considering a move here, this guide covers the best the county has to offer across beaches, arts, sports, food, and family activities.
Beaches in Palm Beach County
Palm Beach County has more than 47 miles of Atlantic coastline. The beaches vary in character from town to town, which means there is one that fits your style.
Delray Beach
Delray Beach Municipal Beach sits at the foot of Atlantic Avenue, the city's main street. You can park, walk to the beach, then walk to lunch or dinner without getting back in your car. The beach is wide and well-maintained. Delray Beach is one of the most walkable beach towns in Florida, which is part of why it consistently appears on national best-places-to-live lists.
Juno Beach and Jupiter
Juno Beach is quieter than Delray and popular with locals who want less crowd. Loggerhead Marinelife Center is right on Juno Beach and is one of the best turtle conservation centers in the world. Jupiter Beach is nearby and consistently earns Blue Wave certification for water quality. The Jupiter Lighthouse is a short walk from the beach and worth a visit.
Singer Island
Singer Island sits between Riviera Beach and Palm Beach Shores. The beach here is wide and relatively uncrowded compared to South Florida beaches farther south. Phil Foster Park on the south end of Singer Island has a snorkel trail just offshore, which makes it popular with families and divers.
Palm Beach Island Beaches
The beaches on Palm Beach Island itself are public but require driving to specific access points. Midtown Beach near the Breakers Hotel and Phipps Ocean Park are the most accessible. The water here is clean, and the setting is distinctive with the historic Palm Beach architecture visible from the sand.
Palm Beach Island: Worth Avenue and Beyond
Worth Avenue is Palm Beach Island's famous shopping street, lined with luxury boutiques, art galleries, and restaurants housed in Mediterranean Revival buildings designed by Addison Mizner. Even if shopping is not your focus, walking Worth Avenue and its hidden courtyards is a worthwhile experience.
The Breakers Hotel is a historic landmark that offers public dining and weekend brunches. The property itself is worth seeing, with its twin belltowers and oceanfront lawn. Non-guests can access the restaurants and spa.
The Society of the Four Arts is a cultural institution on Palm Beach Island with art exhibitions, concerts, lectures, and botanical gardens. Admission is affordable and the programming is high quality.
Arts and Culture
Norton Museum of Art
The Norton Museum in West Palm Beach is one of the top art museums in the Southeast. The collection spans American, European, Chinese, and contemporary art. The museum underwent a major expansion in 2019 designed by Lord Norman Foster. The outdoor sculpture garden and the photography gallery are particular highlights. Admission is free on certain evenings and for Florida residents with proof of residency on select days.
Kravis Center for the Performing Arts
The Kravis Center in downtown West Palm Beach hosts Broadway touring productions, symphony concerts, opera, ballet, and comedy performances throughout the season, which runs October through May. The main Dreyfoos Hall seats nearly 2,400 and has strong acoustics. It is the cultural anchor of downtown West Palm Beach.
Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens
The Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens on Flagler Drive in West Palm Beach feature large-scale sculptures by Ann Weaver Norton set within a lush botanical garden. The property includes her studio and home. It is a quiet, distinctive attraction that many Palm Beach County residents have never visited.
Mounts Botanical Garden
Mounts Botanical Garden in West Palm Beach is the oldest and largest public botanical garden in Palm Beach County. The 14-acre garden includes a tropical fruit grove, a butterfly garden, a water garden, and themed plant collections. Admission is low and the weekend farmers market is a bonus.
Outdoor Activities and Recreation
Boating and Fishing
Palm Beach County has extensive opportunities for both boating and fishing. The Intracoastal Waterway runs the full length of the county, and boat ramps are accessible at multiple points. Jupiter Inlet is one of the most active sport fishing areas in Florida for sailfish, mahi-mahi, and wahoo. The Lake Worth Lagoon near Boynton Beach and Lake Worth is popular for kayaking and paddleboarding.
Charter fishing is available out of Riviera Beach Marina, Jupiter Cove Marina, and Sailfish Marina on Singer Island. Half-day and full-day trips are available year-round.
Kayaking and Paddleboarding
The Loxahatchee River in Jupiter is one of Florida's designated Wild and Scenic Rivers and is ideal for kayaking. You paddle through cypress canopies and see wildlife including herons, turtles, and occasionally manatees. Jonathan Dickinson State Park in Hobe Sound, just north of the county, offers guided boat tours and kayak rentals on the Loxahatchee.
Wakodahatchee Wetlands in Delray Beach is a 3-mile boardwalk through a created wetland that attracts more than 140 bird species. It is free, open to the public, and consistently ranked among Florida's best birdwatching sites.
Golf
Palm Beach County has more golf courses per capita than almost anywhere in the United States. PGA National Resort in Palm Beach Gardens is the most famous, home to the Honda Classic and the legendary Bear Trap on the Champion Course. There are also dozens of public and semi-private courses across the county at a range of price points. Communities like Boca West, BallenIsles, Admirals Cove, and The Polo Club have private courses that attract serious golfers.
Polo at the International Polo Club
Wellington hosts the largest polo community in the Western Hemisphere. The International Polo Club Palm Beach runs Sunday polo from January through April, with the Grand Final in April. Grandstand admission is free. The matches are high-level and the atmosphere is festive, with a tailgate culture and hat contests during special events. This is one of those only-in-Palm-Beach-County experiences that surprises newcomers every time.
Downtown West Palm Beach and Clematis Street
Clematis Street in downtown West Palm Beach has restaurants, bars, and live music venues. The waterfront near Clematis has been developed with green space and a weekend events calendar. CityPlace, now rebranded as Rosemary Square, is nearby with more dining and retail options. The Howard Park neighborhood north of downtown has seen significant development with local restaurants and boutiques.
Downtown Delray Beach and Atlantic Avenue
Atlantic Avenue in Delray Beach is one of the best main streets in Florida. The avenue runs from the beach west through a walkable downtown core with restaurants ranging from casual to upscale, independent shops, a weekly farmers market, and year-round events. The city hosts the Delray Beach Open tennis tournament in February and various art and music festivals throughout the year.
Farmers Markets
Palm Beach County has strong farmers market culture from October through late spring. The Green Market in downtown West Palm Beach at Meyer Amphitheater runs Saturday mornings and features produce, prepared foods, plants, and crafts. The Delray Beach Green Market and the Lake Worth Farmers Market are also popular weekly events. In season, these markets draw large crowds and are a genuine community gathering point.
Family Activities
Families with children have a wide range of options in Palm Beach County. Loggerhead Marinelife Center in Juno Beach has sea turtle rescue tanks and a marine science exhibit that children engage with easily. Rapids Water Park in Riviera Beach is the largest water park in South Florida. The Palm Beach Zoo in West Palm Beach has more than 550 animals and is well-maintained. The Science Center of the Palm Beaches in Lake Worth offers hands-on exhibits for children of all ages.
Living in Palm Beach County
The activities listed above are not just things to do on vacation. They are part of daily and weekend life for people who live here. That is the real draw of Palm Beach County. Residents have beach access, world-class golf, a strong arts scene, excellent restaurants, and year-round outdoor living within 30 minutes of home.
If you are considering a move to Palm Beach County, List and Sell FL can help you find the right neighborhood for your lifestyle. Whether you are a golfer looking at Jupiter or Palm Beach Gardens, a boater looking at Juno Beach or North Palm Beach, or a family prioritizing school zones in Boca Raton or Wellington, we know the market and we know the communities. Call us at (561) 835-5400. We list homes for 1%, and we represent buyers at no out-of-pocket cost.
Palm Beach County is a large, diverse county with something for every lifestyle. The activities and neighborhoods here are best explored with someone who lives and works here every day. That is what we offer at List and Sell FL.
Resources for Planning Your Time in Palm Beach County
The official Palm Beach County tourism website maintains a current events calendar updated weekly. It covers festivals, outdoor events, cultural programming, and seasonal highlights across the full county. Bookmark it when you arrive and check it at the start of each month. There is almost always something happening within a short drive, regardless of which part of the county you are in.
Local neighborhood associations and city recreation departments also publish their own event calendars. The City of Boca Raton, the Town of Palm Beach, the City of Delray Beach, and the City of West Palm Beach all have active parks and recreation departments with sports leagues, classes, and community events available to residents.
Sports in Palm Beach County
Palm Beach County has a serious sports following. The county does not have a major professional sports team based here, but it is close enough to Miami for Heat, Marlins, and Dolphins games. For local sports, the Palm Beach County sports scene centers on golf, polo, tennis, and college athletics.
The Honda Classic at PGA National Resort brings the PGA Tour to Palm Beach Gardens every February. The course's Bear Trap — holes 15, 16, and 17 — is one of the most challenging three-hole stretches on the tour. Tickets are reasonable and the course layout allows fans to follow players closely. It is one of the best sporting events in South Florida for a day out.
The Delray Beach Open is an ATP 250 professional tennis tournament held each February on outdoor hardcourts in downtown Delray Beach. It draws top-100 players and has a relaxed, walkable atmosphere that makes it accessible and enjoyable even for fans who are not serious tennis followers.
Youth sports are strong throughout Palm Beach County. Football, baseball, soccer, and basketball leagues operate at the city and county level from fall through spring. Travel sports are also active, with Palm Beach County teams competing throughout the Southeast in baseball, softball, and soccer circuits.
Day Trips From Palm Beach County
One of the underrated advantages of living in Palm Beach County is its location. Miami is 65 miles south, putting it within easy reach for a day or weekend trip. Fort Lauderdale is 45 miles south. The Florida Keys are two to two and a half hours away. Orlando and Walt Disney World are roughly two hours north by car. The Everglades are accessible from the western edge of the county at Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge.
For beach variety, a day trip to Fort Lauderdale Beach, Miami Beach, or the Keys adds options beyond Palm Beach County's already excellent coastline. The ability to access multiple distinct South Florida destinations within a short drive adds significant quality-of-life value for anyone who moves here.