If you dream of palm trees swaying to a gentle breeze, turquoise oceans, and warm sunny beaches, then Four Days Exploring West Palm Beach might be your next destination.
Where to Stay:
The Hilton – West Palm Beach
Located in the heart of downtown, the Hilton Hotel in West Palm Beach is a modern hotel just across the street from “The Square”. You will find plenty to do within walking distance and Palm Beach is just over the bridge. It is also nice to come back to your hotel and have dinner at one of the best restaurants in West Palm Beach. You won’t want to miss having a meal at “Galley”. One of the best features of this hotel is the large pool area for lounging around on a warm day.
Day One
Subculture Coffee
For a hip spot to order craft coffee drinks, you can’t go wrong with a cup of joe at Subculture Coffee. This local trendy coffee shop in West Palm Beach prides itself on community connection and great coffee. Their small batch approach to roasting maintains the fullest of flavors to pair with their menu of breakfast items and pastries.
Enjoy your java inside with folks working, relaxing, and socializing. Or take your brew outside and people watch on Clematis Street. Definitely start your West Palm Beach day trip right and grab a coffee to fuel you through your day.
509 Clematis St, West Palm Beach, FL 33401
Go Wild at the Palm Beach Zoo
After coffee and a pastry, head over to the Palm Beach Zoo. As soon as we walked in the entrance of The Palm Beach Zoo, we felt as if we were walking into a lush tropical garden filled with beautiful pathways and exotic animals all around us. The Palm Beach Zoo is inviting because it is beautifully landscaped. Because of its size, it feels more like a stroll through a beautiful park.
It is always best to visit in the morning when the animals are most active. The zoo is home to more than 550 animals on 23 shaded tropical acres. The zoo is broken up into four regions: Florida Wetlands, Tropics of the Americas, Asia, and The Islands. With shops, restaurants, interactive adventures, a carousel, and even a large fountain to play in on hot Florida afternoons, the Palm Beach Zoo provides a full day of activities.
Address: 1301 Summit Blvd, West Palm Beach, Florida
Clematis Street
It’s the heart of West Palm Beach. Clematis Street is famous for its colorful boutiques, nightclubs, and live music. On Thursday night, Clematis Street comes alive with free live music and is a also a popular weekend gathering spot for community events, and festivals. It is the place to be and be seen on the weekends. When nighttime arrives, the colorful water fountains at Flagler Park come alive.
Clematis street is filled with fantastic restaurants. We decided on Rocco’s Tacos for dinner.
Dinner at Rocco’s Tacos & Tequila Bar
Rocco’s is the hot spot to get your Mexican cuisine on Clematis Street. They have over 200 varieties of tequila. I didn’t know that many existed. They are pretty famous for their tableside guacamole. Rocco’s Tacos and Tequila Bar offers a true taste of Mexico in a fun casual environment.
224 Clematis St, West Palm Beach
Day Two
Start the day at John D. MacArthur Beach State Park
Since you are in West Palm Beach, you are going to have to hit the beach a few times while you are here. There is no better beach to start your day at than John D. MacArthur Beach State Park. The beach itself is magnificent. There are two miles of pristine, unspoiled shoreline that stretch off into the distance in both directions. Opens at 8 AM
Address: 10900 Jack Nicklaus Drive, North Palm Beach, Florida
Visit The Norton Museum of Art
Today will be our arts and culture day. Our first stop will be The Norton Museum of Art. This art gallery is the largest in the city and houses the industrialist’s vast collection of artworks from around the globe. The Museum has a great collection of works including pieces by Matisse, Monet and Picasso.
The museum is Internationally known for its distinguished collection, which includes masterpieces of 19th- and 20th-century paintings and sculptures by European and American artists, and Chinese jade and bronze artifacts that are considered among the best in the world.
In addition to its many galleries, there’s also a lovely courtyard to explore, as well as a sculpture garden.
Address: 1450 S Dixie Hwy, West Palm Beach, Florida Opens at 10 AM
Stroll through The Ann Norton Sculpture Garden
If you want to explore a hidden gem in West Palm Beach then the Ann Norton Sculpture Garden is just what you need. Discover some incredible large sculptures while you walk the paths in this beautiful outdoor garden. You will also learn about the artist and her work and how it is being taken care of for future generations to enjoy. It is a wonderful exhibit and a great thing to do during your West Palm Beach trip. The Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens’ mission is to enrich lives with nature, art, and history.
The Norton House is a historic home located at just south of the Norton Museum at 253 Barcelona Road in West Palm Beach, Florida. The house was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.
253 Barcelona Rd, West Palm Beach, FL 33401
Lunch at Cholo Soy Cocino
Bite into some of the best tacos you will ever eat with a trip to the only gourmet Latin street food in town. Cholo Soy Cocina is located on Dixie Highway in West Palm Beach’s Antique Row. The flavor and toppings offered here are all fresh and make each menu item amazing. I devoured the Pork Belly Taco with pickled papaya and peppers and a cold brew on the Cocino’s back patio. Cholo Soy has been featured on Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives.
3715 S Dixie Hwy
Northwood Village Art District
If you are feeling a little Bohemian, head over to explore the Northwood Village Arts District. You will be looking pretty cool as you visit edgy art galleries and funky shops. You won’t find a Lily Pulitzer store here. Lots of money has gone into revitalizing this neighborhood. It is slowly becoming a trendy spot with funky artsy eclectic vibes and street art. Cute shops and restaurants line the main street. You are sure to find something here that you’ll really love.
Coffee at Harold’s Coffee Lounge
While visiting Northwood Village, I stopped at Harold’s Coffee Lounge for a cold brew coffee. They utilize 3 different cold brewing methods and also carry nitro coffee. Come check out one of their weekly or monthly events; open mic night, poetry slams, live art exhibits, movie nights, drum circles, and the list goes on. Love the artsy eclectic vibe and the coffee was amazing!
Dinner at Galley
Located in the West Palm Beach Downtown Hilton Hotel, you will find “Galley”. We had a table outside on the patio next to the cozy firepit. Inside is equally comfortable near the bar area.
Cocktails and a wide selection of spirits and wine await you at the lively bar inside. Whether you dine indoors while live music serenades you or outdoors by the cozy fire pit, you will undoubtedly enjoy the ambiance. The Galley Restaurant serves fresh seafood options, hearty salads, and delicious pizzas straight from its fire oven. I had the Petite Filet Mignon with galley butter. It was not cheap, but melt-in-your-mouth delicious.
Galley, 600 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach, FL 33401 | (561) 231-6100
Catch a show at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts
The Kravis Center for the Performing Arts is the spot in West Palm for the performing arts. At 2195 seats, the performances here are much more intimate than in a huge arena. There is a wide range of performances offered here from Broadway plays, dance performances, and music concerts. To check out upcoming performances go to the calendar on their website. In addition to free parking, the venue also features a casual eatery, a gift shop, restrooms, and valet parking services.
701 Okeechobee Blvd, West Palm Beach, Florida, Phone: 561-832-7469
Day Three
Breakfast at Howley’s Restaurant
This historic diner built in the fifties has been restored using the key elements like the terrazzo floors and tin ceilings but still has the retro charm it had decades ago when they first opened its doors. Order the Eggs Howley which is an English muffin topped with two mini crab cakes, two poached eggs & hollandaise sauce. Howley’s motto since 1950 is “Cooked in sight, must be right”.
Howley’s Restaurant 4700 S. Dixie Highway
Lion Country Safari
As we entered Lion Country Safari through the big gates, it felt as if we were entering Jurassic Park. You won’t find King Kong or Dinosaurs on this adventure, but you will get an up-close look at ostriches, zebras, wildebeests, rhinos, giraffes, and lions. Lion Country Safari in Loxahatchee is a drive-through safari where animals roam where they want to and cross the road just steps in front of your car. Keep your eyes open because, on this safari, you will see over 1,000+ animals ranging from rhinos to giraffes, plus the world’s largest herd of captive zebras.
Once you have completed the drive-through safari, you can either exit the park or go to the walk-through Safari World Adventure Park. This is where you will find a nature walk, boat rides, a splash playground, a petting zoo, and a carousel which you can ride as much as you want for no extra charge.
Address: 1301 Summit Blvd, West Palm Beach, Florida
Dinner at City Cellar
The Italian dishes and American favorites make City Cellar the perfect spot for brunch, lunch, or dinner. City Cellar Wine Bar & Grill offers a varied menu including delicious hearth baked pizza, dry aged steaks, seafood, and house made fresh pasta. Try the Strozzapreti with parmesan cream, house-made sausage, and sauteed broccoli rabe.
City Cellar Wine Bar & Grill, 700 S. Rosemary Ave., West Palm Beach, FL 33401
Shopping and Dining at “The Square”
I remembered it as “City Place”, and I was just getting used to knowing it as “Rosemary Square” and now it is officially called “The Square.” I’m more confused than a fart in a fan factory.
“The Square” is West Palm Beach’s premier shopping, dining, and entertainment destination. Just a short walk from Clematis Street, you can shop in a place where old-world architecture, beautiful fountains, and sidewalk cafes create a striking atmosphere reminiscent of a European town center.
Make a wish at the Wishing Tree at the center of this plaza and witness its colors change throughout the day. On Friday and Saturday nights, there is generally live music, alfresco dining by the fountains, and people-watching at its finest.
Catch a quick bite or stick around for fine dining at over 30 restaurants at The Square. After dinner catch a movie at The AMC 12 theater which features plush recliner seating.
700 S. Rosemary Avenue, West Palm Beach, Florida
Day Four
Breakfast at The Gun Club Cafe
Just hearing the name of this cafe brings visions of a couple of old west gunslingers slinging open saloon doors and bellying up for a meal. The only thing they are slinging here is good country home cooking. You won’t find any avocado toast here but if you grab a seat on one of the wooden benches and order eggs, grits, pancakes, and omelets, I can assure you that you won’t be disappointed. The only thing you might need is a place to walk it off.
The Gun Club Cafe 4631 Gun Club Rd, West Palm Beach, FL 33415
Mounts Botanical Gardens
With all the activity this weekend, make your last day in West Palm a day of relaxation at the Mounts Botanical Garden.
The garden is a beautiful oasis unexpectedly located near the Palm Beach International Airport. There are 25 different and unique garden areas with more than 5000 species of tropical and sub-tropical plants and trees in the 16 acres of pristine landscape. You will see Florida natives, exotics, herbs, palms, roses, cactus, succulents, bromeliads, tropical fruit trees, and much more. As you walk through the gardens, scents and floral blooms surround you with their beauty. It’s a great place to relax and breathe in some fresh air.
531 N Military Trl, West Palm Beach, Florida, Phone: 561-233-1757
Well, we have been shopping and dining. Visiting museums, zoos and beaches. You don’t have to travel all the way to Miami for the sea breezes and palm trees. There is plenty to do right here in West Palm Beach. And just across the bridge is Palm Beach. (Check out suggestions for spending a day in Palm Beach) This is just a sample of what makes this area one of the best places to visit in Florida.
Did I miss anything? What is your West Palm Beach favorite?
