Palm Beach Vacations - Florida

Palm Beach Vacation Highlights

65 miles north of Miami, 45 miles north of Fort Lauderdale

In addition to good beaches, boating and diving, holiday makers will find great golf and tennis. Within the Palm Beach County precincts there are over 1,100 tennis courts, and more than 150 golf courses. Two golf courses open to the public are Emerald Dunes Golf Course in West Palm Beach and the Palm Beach Public Golf Course on the island.

The Palm Beach area is popular with scuba divers able to reach the off shore reef using guide boats based at the local marinas. As with nearly all Florida beach destinations, there are lots of opportunities for water sports such as sail boating, jet-skiing, kayaking, water skiing, parasailing and fishing.

The Flagler Museum is the luxury mansion commissioned by Henry Flagler (railroads and oil baron) as a wedding present to his third wife. Known as the "Taj Mahal of North America," the residence contains 55 rooms furnished in an assortment of styles with European antique pieces. The mansion is set in magnificent grounds which also contain Mr. Flagler's private, restored railroad car.

World famous for its permanent collection and the quality of its traveling exhibitions, the Norton Museum of Art first opened in 1941 to display the art collections of Ralph and Elizabeth Norton. 

The French collection contains works by Cézanne, Degas, Gauguin, Matisse, Monet, Picasso, Pissarro, and Renoir.  The permanent exhibits also contain paintings by Warhol, Hopper, Pollock and O'Keefe.

Younger children's eyes light up at the sight of Playmobil Fun Park. This favorite Palm Beach attraction is a replica castle with themed play areas such as a medieval village, a western town and a fantasy doll house.

Lion Country Safari is 500 acres of animal preserve divided into geographical regions ranging from the East African Serengeti to the American West. 

Over 1,300 animals are kept here, ranging from elephants, antelopes, chimpanzees, wildebeest, ostriches, American bison, buffalo, flamingos, and many other unusual species. The park operates an un-caged environment for the animals and travel through the park is via motor vehicle following a viewing loop road.

The park also has an amusement park with paddleboats, a carousel, mini golf, and a baby animal nursery that's a hit with the younger children. In all it provides a great day out for the family.

A popular scenic biking route is the Lake Trail, running the length of the island on the Intracoastal Waterway side. It offers views of some of the mansions and grounds as well as views of downtown West Palm Beach.

Photos courtesy of Palm Beach County Convention and Visitors Bureau

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