19+ Best Family-Friendly Things To Do in West Palm Beach

Besides offering some of the most beautiful beaches in Florida, West Palm Beach, located in Palm Beach County, has amazing golf courses, restaurants, bars, and many family-friendly activities.

With an amazing focus on marine life, the Intracoastal Waterway connects the 23 municipalities in Palm Beach County and features 43 miles worth of exploration! 

With so much to see and do, it may be hard to figure out where to begin. Don’t worry, we got you! Here are 19+ things to do in West Palm Beach, Florida, that your family will love.

Coolest Places to Stay in West Palm Beach

• Best Boutique Inn. Grandview Gardens is a charming 9-bedroom Mediterranean-style inn in Grandview Heights. This truly unique property was originally built in 1925 and it has been tastefully updated in keeping with its Spanish influenced architecture.

• Best Downtown. Canopy West Palm Beach – Downtown features accommodations with free bikes, private parking, a fitness center, an outdoor pool, and a restaurant. The hotel offers an à la carte or continental breakfast.

• Best for Foodies. Hilton West Palm Beach features an outdoor pool and free WiFi. Guests can savor cocktails and lite bites at the on site bar. Galley is the signature restaurant and authentic grillhouse offering dinner, specialty cocktails and Sunday brunch buffet. Manor is open for breakfast and lunch, and La Playa is the outdoor bar and grill.

NORTON MUSEUM OF ART

The Norton Museum of Art can be both a great family-friendly activity or it can be something for just adults. During the day, you’ll find great family-friendly activities, and on Friday nights, adults will enjoy Art After Dark.

Whether it’s exploring the art of Frida Kahlo or taking part in some of their hands-on workshops and programs, the Norton Museum of Art has something for everyone.

MCCARTHY’S WILDLIFE SANCTUARY

A beautiful adventure awaits you at the McCarthy’s Wildlife Sanctuary in West Palm Beach. Get close up to snakes, lizards, alligators, turtles, birds and other interesting animals. This educational experience has over 200 different rescued animals waiting for you! 

Be sure to ask more about the Rescue and Rehabilitation Center. Understanding their process for helping the injured animals is a great alternative to the up-close snake visits!

The only way to see McCarthy’s Wildlife Sanctuary is by guided tour, and reservations are required. The tours are $40 for kids and $50 for adults. No children under 5 are permitted.

MANATEE LAGOON

If you’re less about the woods and more about the water, then you have come to the right place. Manatee Lagoon is all about educating guests on manatees and Lake Worth Lagoon. The best part is that the Eco Center is free for all to come and explore, with the idea that when you leave, you’ll want to help preserve Florida’s waters and ecosystems. 

They have two levels of interactive exhibits and a picnic area with lots of shade. You’ll find cute knick-knacks and souvenirs in their gift shop. 

PALM BEACH ZOO

The Palm Beach Zoo is awesome, and definitely worth a visit. With more than 500 animals to explore, including 23 different tropical shaded landscapes, there is so much to see and do here. They also offer featured animal experiences that allow kids and families to get up close and personal with the animals.

The zoo has a great play zone that offers a few different things. Nature Play Pavilion offers some climbing, while the Palm Beach Zoo Play Fountain allows your kids to cool off in the water. Make sure to bring a towel! 

DOWNTOWN WEST PALM BEACH

Downtown West Palm Beach is always a buzzin’ place to go. Especially at night! With tons of different dining options and fun cocktail lounges, it is the perfect place for a night out on the town. It also features several places that offer live music in their restaurants and bars. 

If you are someone who loves tunes during their Sunday morning brunch, then head over to The Blind Monk. They have music offerings throughout the week! One of the must-try restaurants on the scene is Batch New Southern Kitchen + Tap. They have delicious food and drinks.

MOUNTS BOTANICAL GARDEN

Mounts Botanical Garden is Palm Beach County’s oldest and largest botanical garden, serving and educating visitors for 40 years! They have 25 display gardens that are set across 16 acres of land located just behind the airport. These gardens have over 6,000 species to check out.

The garden also has a beautiful butterfly garden that typically has about a dozen different butterfly species to look at. While you’ll definitely be amazed just looking at these butterflies, you’ll also get to learn all about them from the experts on staff. 

ROSEMARY SQUARE

What used to be known as CityPlace is a bustling indoor-outdoor area that is now called Rosemary Square (The Square). It offers fun local restaurants and shopping, as well as live music. Whether you want to take a cooking class at Sur La Table or enjoy the live music offered weekly in The Square, there are endless options for fun.

The Square is also home to the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, where you can catch a number of great shows. While it’s not New York’s Broadway, the Kravis on Broadway series certainly holds its own when it comes to great musicals. 

OKEEHEELEE PARK

Imagine going to a park that is as fun as pronouncing its name. Well, you can! Okeeheelee Park is managed by the Parks and Rec service of Palm Beach County and offers so much to do, you could spend a few days there. For starters, they have a golf course and equestrian center right on site. 

They also have a BMX track and eight miles of different biking paths. If you want to take the boat out, they have a launchpad for that, where you can water ski on the lake. After a fun day on the water, round up friends and play baseball at any of their five different fields. You’ll never run out of things to do at Okeeheelee Park.

CLEMATIS STREET

While Clematis Street definitely is a part of downtown, it is the city’s historical heart. The two oldest buildings — Corneau Building and Harvey Building — date back to 1925 and 1927. The street is lined with colorful and vibrant boutiques, restaurants, art galleries, and other fun places to visit.

If you are visiting in the springtime, SunFest is a great place to experience their local farmer’s markets. And since most people visit in the winter for tourist season, they even have WinterFest, which is a winter village farmer’s market! 

WEST PALM BEACH GREEN MARKET

USA Today named the West Palm Beach GreenMarket the number one farmer’s market in the country. It’s been open for 27 seasons and is hosted on Saturdays with over 100 different vendors. Of course, it can be found on Clematis Street! 

Imagine sipping on bubble tea before heading over to get a famous crab cake while listening to great live music. There are tons of shopping, local crafts, and unique boutiques that you won’t find in many other places. This is the perfect solo trip or family date for Saturdays! 

RAPIDS WATER PARK

For hot days when you want to beat the heat, Rapids Water Park is where you and the whole family need to go. This waterpark has 42 fun rides serving all ages and sizes, so even your littlest ones will have fun here! Barefootin’ Bay is one of their newer attractions for kids, and it features a mini waterpark with different interactive stations. 

It wouldn’t be a waterpark if it didn’t have a great wave pool. Their 20,000 square foot wave pool creates six different wave patterns with some of them getting up to six feet. And of course, for those who want to just chill, check out their quarter-mile lazy river. 

PHIL FOSTER PARK SNORKEL TRAIL

Phil Foster Park is a small island in the middle of Lake Worth Lagoon. This park is where a 600-ton, man-made reef was made for snorkelers to enjoy the beautiful crystal blue waters and see a variety of sea creatures. The Phil Foster Park Snorkel Trail was built in 6- to 10-foot deep water and is about 800 feet long. The trail is popular with scuba divers, underwater photographers, and snorkelers because of the unique sea life found here.

At the western end of the trail, you will see 5-foot-long structures that resemble hammerhead sharks. Squid, octopus, spotted rays, and starfish are regularly seen here.

PEANUT ISLAND

Peanut Island is another beautiful island located right at the mouth of the Lake Worth inlet. You have to access the beautifully clear waters by water taxi, ferry, or private boat. This area is one of the best places to snorkel, because of the colorful fish and beautiful manatees that call the area home.

Make sure to head to the eastern shore, because this is where the rocky coastline attracts the most marine wildlife. If you aren’t into the creatures of the water, Peanut Island is also home to the historic John F. Kennedy Bunker. 

ANN NORTON SCULPTURE GARDEN

The Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens is a great place to experience history, art, and nature.

Sculptor Ann Weaver Gordon and her husband used to live on the property, at The Norton House, which is now on the U.S. Register of Historic Places. The 2-acre property houses the home, Norton’s studio, and gardens. More than 100 works by the artist can be seen here, including 9 sculptures in the Sculpture Garden.

This is a great tour for those who love both history and art. Interestingly enough, the gardens also feature 250 species of palms and cycads, with Norton’s ideas of nature at the forefront. The entire tour is a great way for the family to get outside at an affordable price while doing something educational. 

COX SCIENCE CENTER AND AQUARIUM

Who doesn’t love a little science and education on their family trip? The Cox Science Center and Aquarium, previously named the South Florida Science Center and Aquarium, has cool exhibitions that are interesting to both kids and adults.

Since the Everglades are one of the most unique ecosystems in Florida, and well-known to the rest of the world for its snapping gators, there is an immersive exhibition dedicated just to this area. You can also check out the 10,000-gallon aquarium here — and see all different types of marine life. Make time for a round of miniature golf at the Conservation Course before you go.

WEST PALM BEACH ANTIQUE ROW & DESIGN DISTRICT

Antique and thrift shopping has certainly made a comeback, and there is no better place to do it in West Palm Beach than at the WPB Antique Row and Design district. This cute neighborhood has over 40 different antique shops to explore, with items from the 17th century to the 20th. 

In between these shops are award-winning restaurants and art galleries, that have been recognized several times by The New York Times and Architectural Digest. Want to feel like an interior designer for the day? This is the neighborhood for you.

PALM BEACH OUTLETS

Once you’re done antique shopping in the design district, head to the Palm Beach Outlets for even more shopping! The outlets is a new development that opened in 2014, replacing the old Palm Beach Mall, and has roughly 150 shops and dining options to keep you busy for the day. 

They also have a number of shows and events throughout the year. Whether it’s a coffee and cars show or a boat tour, there is an event for everyone in the family. 

LION COUNTRY SAFARI

Lion Country Safari is located in Palm Beach County and covers 600 acres in Loxahatchee. Half drive-through safari park and half adventure park, this place puts a whole lot of adventure on the line. The drive-through portion is a 4-mile safari where you can see a variety of animals in natural settings. 

The adventure park has 55 acres dedicated to rides, hanging out with animals up close, shopping, food, and more. If you really want to go the extra mile, check out their premium experiences where you can paint with giraffes! 

LOGGERHEAD MARINELIFE CENTER

Florida loves its marine life, and the Loggerhead Marinelife Center is dedicated to sea turtle life preservation. They are one of the most visited nonprofits in Florida.

They have public guided tours daily, where you can learn more about their mission and efforts to protect marine wildlife.  You even get to visit with the turtles in their hospital. This is a great place to go and learn about the efforts to take care of these amazing animals.

VISIT THE BEACH

You can’t visit West Palm Beach and Palm Beach County without visiting some of the most beautiful beaches in the country, maybe even the world! In total there are nearly 30 tropical beach parks that cover 47 miles along the Atlantic coast! Some of the more relaxing spots include Ocean Cay Park or Lake Worth Municipal Beach. 

For spotting marine wildlife, Loggerhead Park and Phil Foster Park are great places to spend the day.

West Palm Beach FAQ

Is West Palm Beach worth a visit?

West Palm Beach is definitely worth a visit! You’ll find plenty of beautiful beaches, great weather, fun restaurants and shops, along with gardens, museums, art galleries, and more. You’ll never run out of things to do in West Palm Beach.

What is West Palm Beach best known for?

West Palm Beach, Florida, is best known for its beaches, nightlife, cultural attractions, and fishing spots. There is something for every traveler in West Palm Beach.

What is the best month to visit West Palm Beach?

If you’re looking to avoid the hottest weather and the biggest crowds, but still want to enjoy the outdoor activities, the best months to visit are the ones around the summer. Visiting from April-May or September-October are great choices.

MORE INFORMATION FOR YOUR TRIP TO FLORIDA

• YOUR FLORIDA VACATION
• DESTIN RESORTS: 6 Fantastic Destin Resorts Perfect For Fun In The Sun
• FLORIDA BEACHES: 17 Best Florida Beaches For Families To Relax and Unwind
• FLORIDA’S WEST COAST: 23+ Memorable Stops For a Perfect West Coast of Florida Road Trip
• PALM BEACH COUNTY: An LGBTQ Friendly Vacation Spot

WHERE TO STAY IN WEST PALM BEACH