Independent guide. Not affiliated with any resort, hotel, cruise line or government agency.
West Palm Resort Guide

Things to do in West Palm Beach and Palm Beach

Winter is the best time to be here: the manatees are in, the GreenMarket is on and the afternoons are warm. Here's what's worth your time, what's free, and when to go.

Reviewed October 2026

This page contains affiliate links. If you book through them we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. See our affiliate disclosure.

Book a tour

Boat tours, snorkel trips, paddleboarding and fishing charters around West Palm Beach can be booked through our partner Viator. Free cancellation varies by tour, so check each listing.

Browse tours on Viator

At a glance

What Where Cost Best time
West Palm Beach GreenMarket Downtown waterfront Free Saturdays, October to May
Manatee Lagoon North Flagler Drive, West Palm Beach Free, with free parking Cold days, November 15 to March 31
Norton Museum of Art South Dixie Highway, West Palm Beach Paid; children 12 and under free Friday evenings, open until 10 p.m.
Flagler Museum (Whitehall) Palm Beach, on the Lake Trail Paid Any time; pair it with the Lake Trail
Palm Beach Lake Trail Palm Beach island, along the Intracoastal Free Mornings, by bike
Peanut Island Off Riviera Beach, by boat only Boat fare Calm, sunny days
Palm Beach Zoo Summit Boulevard, West Palm Beach Paid Mornings, before the heat

Downtown West Palm Beach

The GreenMarket

The West Palm Beach GreenMarket fills the downtown waterfront every Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., from October through May. Farmers, bakers, flower sellers and food stalls set up at Waterfront Commons, at 100 N. Clematis St., and entry is free. The 2026–27 season, the market's 32nd, opened on Saturday, October 3.

From the market you're a short walk from Clematis Street's restaurants and bars. Rosemary Square is a stop on the city's free downtown shuttle. Downtown hotels put all of this within walking distance; see where to stay.

Norton Museum of Art

The Norton is the area's main art museum, at 1450 S. Dixie Highway, just south of downtown. It's open every day except Tuesday, and stays open until 10 p.m. on Fridays for Art After Dark, when tickets cost less. General admission is $20 at the time of writing, and children 12 and under get in free. Check the museum's site for current prices and holiday closures.

Manatees at Manatee Lagoon

Manatee Lagoon, run by Florida Power & Light at 6000 N. Flagler Drive, is one of the easiest places in South Florida to see wild manatees. They gather in the warm water from the next-door power plant when the ocean cools, so the best viewing is on cold winter days. Admission and parking are free.

  • Manatee season, November 15 to March 31: open every day, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • April 1 to November 14: closed Mondays; open Tuesday to Sunday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Closed on major holidays. Sightings are never guaranteed.

Palm Beach island

The Lake Trail

The Palm Beach Lake Trail runs 5.5 miles up the island's Intracoastal side, from South Lake Drive near Peruvian Avenue to just north of the Sailfish Club. It's flat and car-free, and it passes the Palm Beach Town Docks, the Society of the Four Arts, Whitehall and some of the island's oldest houses, with views across the water to the West Palm Beach skyline. Bikes and e-bikes are for rent on the island.

Flagler Museum (Whitehall)

Whitehall is the 1902 mansion Henry Flagler built in Palm Beach, now a National Historic Landmark and the Flagler Museum. Inside you can tour the Gilded Age rooms. In the pavilion you can climb aboard Railcar No. 91, Flagler's private railroad car. It sits right on the Lake Trail, so you can stop in during a ride. Check the museum's website for hours and tickets.

Worth Avenue, the island's best-known shopping street, is a short ride south. See where to stay for Palm Beach hotels.

On the water

Peanut Island

Peanut Island sits in the Lake Worth Inlet and can only be reached by boat. The Peanut Island Boat Shuttle leaves from the Riviera Beach Marina, about every 25 minutes during the day; check the operator for fares and the last boat back. The island has a beach, snorkeling in clear inlet water and a walking path around the shore. See our beaches guide for Peanut Island and the snorkel trail at Phil Foster Park.

With kids

The Palm Beach Zoo at 1301 Summit Blvd. has more than 500 animals on 23 acres, including Malayan tigers and a recreated Florida cypress swamp, plus a splash fountain for hot days. It's accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Go early, while it's cool. Manatee Lagoon and the GreenMarket are both free and easy with children, and the Norton is free for kids 12 and under.

When to go

Most of this is at its best from November to April: the manatee season, the GreenMarket season and the coolest, driest weather. See when to visit for weather by month, and holidays for what's on in December.

Sources