West Palm Beach? Tell me!

[MKCP5]

Doing a mother/daughter trip to WPB in about 10 days. My DD is college aged but not 21 yet. We have family who has a second home there that they are giving us for the week. What should we do? Where should we go? Any recommendations? I don't know the area at all. Thanks so much!

 

[Rera2528]

My daughter, who is much younger, and I visit the Palm Beach Gardens area every year. We both love marine animals, so we have been to Manatee Lagoon (north of West Palm) and the Loggerhead Marinelife Center (sea turtle rehab) in Juno Beach. We also love Juno and Jupiter beaches. It's a great area! Enjoy your trip!

 

[DisHmsklMom]

If you want to do some serious outlet shopping head south to Sawgrass Mills Mall. There are great deals to be had there, plus it has a Disney Outlet store.

 

[DVC96]

We visit Palm Beach at least once a year. We also love the Gardens area. City Place is also fun for shopping and dining. There are new outlets (maybe 2 years old) right off of 95 that are really nice but I don't think there's a Disney outlet.

 

[MKCP5]

Which beaches does everyone go to? Are parking passes expensive for the day?

 

[hsmamato2]

oooh I'm following..... we;re headed to Palm Beach Shores this year..... disney outlet nearby you say? ok I need to go.... wait, this looks like the outlet is near 75,that runs through Everglades? is this correct? if so,yahoo, b/c we were going there anyway!

 

[AlohaNow]

Have drinks at The Breakers!

 

[MKCP5]

Thinking about a day trip to john pennekamp state park for snorkeling. And there's a 5k run through the zoo!

 

[NinaBella]

I recommend googling "West Palm Beach Parks" to find the beach you want to go to. We spent a weekend there for a cheer competition and although I had looked at parks, we had about an hour to spare so I thought surely we could drive to the beach to spend that hour. It was too cold to swim, so we just wanted to walk the beach and take a couple pictures. Well, we got lost in the multi-million/billion dollar homes with private beaches. Finally we found a public beach alongside a road, so we got out there for a while. It wouldn't have been a beach I would have wanted to spend a day or half day at if it was warm enough to swim. The parks would be much better. Online it gives you a description of the beach and park and how much it is to enter. West Palm Beach is not a tourist beach... it seems like almost everything is private owned or zoned into a park. I have limited experience there so maybe others have a different opinion.

Maybe this website with their calendar of events may be useful.
http://wpb.org/Departments/Parks-Recreation/Overview

Here is an article of the 10 best beaches.
http://www.10best.com/destinations/florida/palm-beach-west-palm-beach/attractions/beaches/

 

[MKCP5]

I recommend googling "West Palm Beach Parks" to find the beach you want to go to. We spent a weekend there for a cheer competition and although I had looked at parks, we had about an hour to spare so I thought surely we could drive to the beach to spend that hour. It was too cold to swim, so we just wanted to walk the beach and take a couple pictures. Well, we got lost in the multi-million/billion dollar homes with private beaches. Finally we found a public beach alongside a road, so we got out there for a while. It wouldn't have been a beach I would have wanted to spend a day or half day at if it was warm enough to swim. The parks would be much better. Online it gives you a description of the beach and park and how much it is to enter. West Palm Beach is not a tourist beach... it seems like almost everything is private owned or zoned into a park. I have limited experience there so maybe others have a different opinion.

Maybe this website with their calendar of events may be useful.
http://wpb.org/Departments/Parks-Recreation/Overview

Here is an article of the 10 best beaches.
http://www.10best.com/destinations/florida/palm-beach-west-palm-beach/attractions/beaches/

Thank you. I had seen one of those sites but not both. Planning to go to Thursday night on Clematis for live music and dancing and partying . Signed up for a 5k through the zoo and a day trip to the keys to snorkel. Will check out the other beach options. I have heard the metered parking is quite expensive so we may just take a quick uber back and forth if that makes more sense. We are very blessed that we can stay for free. DH cousin has a house there that they virtually never go to and have offered us anytime. Looking forward to staying there and hopefully returning!

 

[hsmamato2]

I want to visit John Pennekamp for snorkeling also.....we had planned on this a few years back while visiting Everglades, but the weather didn't cooperate and we got canceled!

 

[DisHmsklMom]

oooh I'm following..... we;re headed to Palm Beach Shores this year..... disney outlet nearby you say? ok I need to go.... wait, this looks like the outlet is near 75,that runs through Everglades? is this correct? if so,yahoo, b/c we were going there anyway!

Yep, that's the one. Take the Sawgrass Expressway (tolls) and you should be there in a bit over an hour. Make your plan on what you want to shop before you go, the mall is huge. Great restaurants too. You'll see people from all over the world shopping, many pulling suitcases that they buy there and fill with their purchases.

 

[hsmamato2]

Yep, that's the one. Take the Sawgrass Expressway (tolls) and you should be there in a bit over an hour. Make your plan on what you want to shop before you go, the mall is huge. Great restaurants too. You'll see people from all over the world shopping, many pulling suitcases that they buy there and fill with their purchases.

sounds like fun!

 

[Bree]

If you go to Sawgrass Mills, try and avoid the weekends. The parking there can be BAD. Even valet parking will run out of space! It's crazy. The Disney Character Outlet @ Sawgrass gets their stock in on Wednesdays & Thursdays and put most of it out right away. There are some good deals to be had, but also a lot of junk. They almost always have Vera Bradley and once in awhile Dooneys. I had my eye on a Haunted Mansion Dooney backpack and was able to get the last one when they marked it down to $50. They sat there for $180 for months. Also, not everything will be at discount prices. They do have a few odds and ends that are full park prices.

 

[4HOLIDAYS]

Window shopping on worth ave in Palm Beach-or real shopping if you can swing it! City place in WPB has restaurants and people out milling around in the eve as well. Just driving around to see some of the huge estates in Palm beach is neat-better if you can go by boat on the intracoastal. Also watch for 95 and things getting shut down if the pres is coming/leaving town.