Palm Beach is weird. I mean that in the best way possible, but if you show up thinking it’s just another Florida beach town with tacky t-shirt shops and overpriced ice cream, you’re going to be bored out of your mind within twenty minutes. It’s an island—literally. A narrow, sixteen-mile long strip of land where the hedges are manicured with literal rulers and the "locals" might be billionaires or the people who’ve been pruning those hedges for thirty years. Finding stuff to do in palm beach isn't about looking for a theme park. It’s about understanding a very specific, very wealthy, and surprisingly historic ecosystem.
You see the Gilded Age everywhere. It’s in the stucco. It’s in the way the coconut palms lean over the road. But most people just drive down South Ocean Boulevard, gawk at Mar-a-Lago, and then leave. That’s a mistake.
The Worth Avenue Myth and Where to Actually Walk
Everyone tells you to go to Worth Avenue. They aren't wrong, I guess. It’s beautiful. It’s got the "Vias"—those tiny, Mediterranean-style alleys that snake off the main road and lead to hidden courtyards with trickling fountains and bougainvillea that looks fake because it's so vibrant.
But here’s the thing: unless you’re looking to drop four figures on a handbag, the real magic isn't in the storefronts. It’s in the architecture of Addison Mizner. He basically invented the "Palm Beach Style" in the 1920s. He hated boring, flat walls. He wanted texture. He used to intentionally scar the wood and stone to make new buildings look hundreds of years old. If you walk through Via Mizner, look at the stairs. They’re uneven. That’s on purpose.
If you want a break from the high-end retail pressure, head over to the Henry Morrison Flagler Museum.
Flagler was the guy who basically built Florida. He was a partner in Standard Oil with Rockefeller, and he decided to build a railroad all the way to Key West. Whitehall, his 75-room Gilded Age mansion, is now the museum. It’s palatial. It makes the White House look like a guest cottage. You can actually walk through his private railcar, the No. 91. It’s parked inside a glass pavilion. It’s eerie how preserved it is. You can almost smell the cigar smoke and the ambition.
The Lake Trail is Better Than the Beach
I’ll say it. The actual beach in Palm Beach is fine, but the Lake Trail is better.
It runs along the western side of the island, bordering Lake Worth Lagoon. No cars allowed. Just bikers, joggers, and people walking tiny dogs that cost more than my car. This is where you actually see the estates. From the road (A1A), all you see are massive 12-foot "privet" hedges. They’re called "Palm Beach Walls." You can’t see anything. But from the Lake Trail? The backyards are exposed. You see the docks, the yachts, and the crazy Mediterranean revival architecture that defines the island.
Pro tip: Rent a bike from Palm Beach Bicycle Trail Shop. Start near the middle of the island and head north. You’ll pass the Sailfish Club and eventually hit the northern tip near the inlet. The breeze off the water is the only thing that makes the Florida humidity bearable in July.
Why the Society of the Four Arts Matters
Don't let the name scare you off. It sounds stuffy. It sounds like a place where you need a tuxedo. It’s not. The Society of the Four Arts has these incredible botanical gardens and a sculpture garden that are completely free to the public.
It’s quiet.
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Most tourists don't know it exists. They’re too busy trying to get a selfie in front of the clock tower on Worth Avenue. You can sit in the Philip Hulitar Sculpture Garden and look at world-class art without a single person bumping into you. It’s one of those rare places on the island that feels genuinely peaceful rather than performative.
Eating Without Going Broke (Mostly)
Let’s be real. Food here is expensive. If you want the "Palm Beach Experience," you go to Ta-boo on Worth Avenue. It’s been there since 1941. Legend says Frank Sinatra and JFK used to hang out there. It’s dark, it’s moody, and the bistro food is solid. Is it the best food you've ever had? Maybe not. But the people-watching is 10/10.
If you want something that feels a bit more modern, Buccan is the answer. Clay Conley is the chef there, and he’s a James Beard nominee for a reason. Get the hot dog panini. I know, it sounds ridiculous to order a hot dog at a high-end restaurant, but just trust me. It’s a thing.
- Surfside Diner: For a "normal" breakfast. It’s a counter-service spot where you might see a billionaire sitting next to a construction worker.
- Green’s Pharmacy: This is a local secret. It’s an actual functioning pharmacy with a classic soda fountain in the back. It’s cheap, it’s nostalgic, and it’s the most "real" place on the island.
- The Breakers: Even if you aren't staying there, you have to go for a drink at the HMF bar. The Breakers is the grand dame of Florida hotels. It’s modeled after the Villa Medici in Rome. The ceiling in the lobby is hand-painted by Italian artists. It’s overwhelming in the best way possible.
Beyond the Island: The "West" Side
Technically, Palm Beach is the island, and West Palm Beach is the city across the bridge. They are very different vibes. If you’re looking for stuff to do in palm beach and you’re willing to cross the Middle Bridge, go to the Norton Museum of Art.
The Norton is actually world-class. Their collection of Chinese jades is one of the best in the country, and the 2019 expansion designed by Lord Norman Foster made the building itself a work of art. There’s a giant typewriter eraser sculpture by Claes Oldenburg in the courtyard that’s worth the trip alone.
Then there’s Antique Row.
Located on Dixie Highway, it’s a stretch of about 40 shops selling everything from mid-century modern furniture to 17th-century French antiquities. Designers from all over the world fly here to source pieces for their clients. It’s fun to browse, even if you can’t afford a $10,000 chandelier.
The Seasonal Nature of the Island
You have to understand the "Season." From Thanksgiving to Easter, the island is packed. Traffic is a nightmare. Reservations are impossible. But the energy is electric.
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In the summer? It’s a ghost town.
Half the shops close. The humidity is like walking through warm soup. But this is actually my favorite time to visit. You can get into any restaurant. The hotels drop their rates significantly. You can actually breathe. Just don't expect the social scene to be "on."
Nature and the "Wild" Side
If you drive 20 minutes north to Jupiter, you get a completely different experience. You have the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse. It’s bright red and stands out against the turquoise water. You can climb to the top, but be warned: it’s 105 steps and it gets hot.
Further north is Blowing Rocks Preserve on Jupiter Island.
This isn't your typical sandy Florida beach. It has these massive Anastasia limestone formations. During high tide or after a storm, the water forced through the holes in the rocks can spray 50 feet into the air. It looks like Hawaii or the coast of Maine, not Florida. It’s a geological anomaly and absolutely worth the drive.
Common Misconceptions
People think Palm Beach is just for old people. It’s not anymore.
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A lot of younger families and "tech-migration" folks moved here over the last few years. The nightlife in West Palm (Clematis Street and The Square) is vibrant. The island itself stays pretty quiet after 10:00 PM, which is part of its charm. If you’re looking for South Beach clubs, you’re in the wrong zip code.
Also, the "dress code." People think you need a blazer to walk down the street. You don't. But it is a "dressy" town. You won't see many people in cargo shorts and flip-flops on Worth Avenue. Most people aim for "Coastal Chic"—think linens, loafers, and sundresses.
Practical Steps for Your Trip
Don't try to wing it. Palm Beach is small, and the good stuff fills up fast.
First, book your dinner reservations weeks in advance if you're coming in the winter. Use Resy or OpenTable religiously. Second, don't bother with a rental car if you're staying on the island. It’s incredibly walkable, and parking is a nightmare. Uber is everywhere, and many hotels have house cars that will drop you off within a few miles.
Third, visit the Manatee Lagoon if you’re here between December and March. It’s technically in Riviera Beach, just north of West Palm. When the ocean water gets cold, the manatees huddle in the warm water outflow from the power plant. You can see hundreds of them at once. It’s a weird intersection of industry and nature that somehow works.
Finally, just walk. Get off the main drags. Walk through the residential streets between County Road and the ocean. Look at the gates. Look at the landscaping. The real "stuff to do" here is simply absorbing a level of detail and wealth that doesn't exist anywhere else in the United States. It’s a curated world.
To make the most of your time, start your morning early on the Lake Trail before the sun gets too aggressive. Spend your midday in the air-conditioned halls of the Flagler Museum or the Norton. Save the beach for the late afternoon when the shadows of the palm trees stretch across the sand. Drink a gin and tonic at a bar older than your grandparents. That's how you do Palm Beach correctly.