10 Best Things to Do in Palm Beach, Florida

Uncovering outdoor art like massive street murals is one of the best things to do in West Palm Beach's downtown area, and it draws locals and visitors alike. Downtown West Palm Beach's large-scale CANVAS murals and installations have emerged thanks to two consecutive years of the CANVAS Outdoor Art Museum, and are transforming the area's public spaces.

Wander this emerging arts and entertainment neighborhood for a peek at the works of renowned international street artists like Croatia's Lonac, who creates ethereal scenes like this one on West Palm Beach's bustling Clematis street; or Spanish duo Pichiavo's graffiti-based take on classical sculpture.

The local Society of the Four Arts is also a popular spot for its botanical gardens rife with sculptures and fountains. The historic Ann Norton Sculpture Garden showcases the late local artist's towering sculptures and her personal studio and tools as she left them. In Palm Beach County, you don't have to choose between enjoying the outdoors and taking in historic and eye-catching art.

The crown jewel of Palm Beach County is Palm Beach Island. Rumor has it that the barrier island has a Barcelona-bound coconut shipment that washed ashore in 1878 to thank for its towering royal palm trees, which now line the island's shopping district and rows of pricey waterfront homes.

To get the full view of Palm Beach Island's swanky homes and scenic shorelines, rent a bicycle or a public Skybike and head for Lake Trail. You'll experience picturesque mansions plus scenic waterways, tropical green spaces, and resting spots worth the view. Be sure to also traverse Royal Palm Way for an up-close look at its towering palm trees, and end at South County Road's shopping area to try one of Palm Beach Island's high-end eateries, like Buccan or Imoto.

Palm Beach dates back to the early Florida East Coast Railway established by Henry Morrison Flagler, which made the island accessible. Touring Flagler's historic white-washed waterfront mansion, now the Flagler Museum, is one of the best things to do in Palm Beach. You can tour the grand home—which was a wedding gift from Flagler to his wife—and explore the grounds, which include a patio where visitors can have afternoon tea. The view from the patio offers a photo-worthy view of West Palm Beach's skyline, and you can walk through Flagler's own luxury train car that's now on open display there.

Other historic spots in Palm Beach County include art museums like the Norton Museum of Art—which was founded in 1941 and houses Picasso and Monet masterpieces—plus nearby Delray Beach's Old School Square Center for the Arts. The latter is a former public school converted into a community arts center and the free Cornell Art Museum, which features Andy Warhol paintings and works by more recent big name artists like Jemima Kirke of HBO's Girls fame. The school's retro-feeling gymnasium and outdoor amphitheater often host arts and entertainment events like seasonal concerts and musicals.

There's plenty of culture to see in Palm Beach County, but it's impossible to forget about its unique outdoors. The Gumbo Limbo Nature Center in nearby Boca Raton hosts rescued local sea turtles, and is one of the best things to do in Palm Beach County when it comes to wildlife.

The Gumbo Limbo Nature Center will put you up close with the most beloved wildlife creatures in Palm Beach County. Sea turtles are brought in for rehabilitation until they can be released back into the wild, and visitors can learn about their care and how to contribute to helping the local sea turtle population. The turtles can range in size from hatchlings to 200-pound leatherbacks, and most need treatment for physical injuries or for diseases cause by polluted waterways. The center is free to visit, but a small donation of $5 is recommended. 

Overwhelmed yet? Palm Beach is saturated with arts and entertainment offerings on top of its endless outdoor activities, so the Cultural Council of Palm Beach County has appointed an expert to help travelers (free of charge) plan their visit and get unique special access to events in Palm Beach.

The Cultural Concierge—local travel expert Bama Lutes Deal—is available online or in person at the Cultural Council of Palm Beach County to help you choose which of Palm Beach's 42,000 annual cultural offerings would best suit you. Having an actual expert to help you navigate your Palm Beach trip gives you a better chance at snagging limited opportunities like special access passes to off-Broadway shows, inside information about events like the world's largest free street painting festival, and more. Lutes Deal says she's fielded inquiries from as far away as India.

With a renowned arts and culture scene comes a vast array of food offerings. One of the best things to do in Palm Beach is eat.

James Beard Award-winning chef Daniel Boulud's namesake, Café Boulud, takes up real estate at the Brazilian Court, a historic Palm Beach Island hotel, and features an outdoor patio perfect for brunch or romantic evenings. Another renowned French chef has also made his mark here, this time in trendy Downtown West Palm Beach: Julien Gremaud started in Palm Beach as a personal chef before joining Pistache French Bistro and then opening his own small-plates spot, Avocado Grill (pictured at right), just around the corner.

Nearby in Boca Raton, Rebel House is rightfully beloved by locals for its quirky setting, large menu of comfort food, and tableside cocktail service.

Being a true Florida beach community, Palm Beach has plenty of golf courses to frequent—it's difficult to drive even a few miles without seeing one. The PGA National Golf Club is in nearby Palm Beach Gardens, and it's easy to schedule a lesson to get in on the fun if you're not quite ready to roll with the experts.

Whether you're looking for a local art gallery event or an off-Broadway musical, there's always a show to see in Palm Beach. Head to the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts to see a concert or a seasonal production like An American in Paris.

There are art galleries and museums aplenty in Palm Beach, and the Cultural Council of Palm Beach County's studio space hosts local artist shows that often celebrate the area—like surf photographer Tony Arruzo's recent installation, 15 Surfboards by 15 Shapers (pictured at left, above). The show features boards inlaid with the long-time surfer's favorite photographs, which will now live on complimenting boards shaped by craftsmen from all over the world. The Boca Raton Museum of Art (pictured at right, above) also boasts international art works and its very own sculpture garden.

The 16-acre Morikami Museum and Japanese Garden will make you forget you're in Florida—except for the occasional resting alligator you might see in its waterways. Bonsai trees, zen and rock gardens, waterfalls, and centuries-old artifacts like stone lanterns create a unique getaway in Palm Beach County's Delray Beach. A stroll through the gardens is one of the best things to do in Palm Beach for a relaxing afternoon.

The Morikami often hosts cultural programs like authentic tea ceremony demonstrations, plus origami, kimono, and lantern exhibits and festivals. There's also a popular sushi restaurant, and the gift shop is stocked with unique handmade items from Japan. Florida was probably the last place you'd expect to get an entire afternoon's worth of Japanese culture.

It wouldn't be Palm Beach without shopping—whether you're hunting for locally loved Lily Pulitzer prints or simply want to stroll the shops that make Palm Beach Island look like a mini Rodeo Drive. Worth Avenue's shopping center (pictured) is a Palm Beach Island favorite for big name brands, while more boutique shops can be found on nearby South County Road. The Palm Beach Outlets are also popular for name-brand deals. There's no question that shopping is one of the most popular things to do in Palm Beach.