Palm Beach trip?

January 29, 2007 1:39 PM

Things to do in/around Palm Beach, FL?

My girlfriend and I will be in Palm Beach, FL for a weekend next month. We're there for a family function, but will have some free time as well and I was wondering if anyone had any recommendations?

Mostly, we're looking for some good nightlife. Any good bars with particularly hip or friendly crowds? Any place to see some good jazz? Salsa dancing? Any good coffee shops open late?

Daytime activities would be helpful too. We're coming from Southern California, so going to the beach is good, but not really anything we couldn't do at home. We both like biking. Know of any good trails or sightseeing routes? Any museums / quirky sculpture gardens / architecture / photo-ops that are not to be missed? Hiking? Nice parks?

Basically, just looking for fun and/or offbeat ideas to make the most of our trip.

posted by SBMike to travel & transportation (10 comments total)

I can't really speak to the nightlife aspect, having moved away when I was still a kid, but if you're looking for nature (and will have access to a car), I'd recommend Jonathan Dickinson State Park up near Hobe Sound, MacArthur Beach Park in North Palm Beach, and the Loxahatchee Wildlife Preserve, due west of Palm Beach.

Also, the fish and fruit platter at John G's at Lake Worth pier is worth the trip. The hush puppies there are the best on the planet.

If you've got any specific questions, feel free to shoot an email to the address in my profile.
posted by saladin at 1:56 PM on January 29, 2007

The Flagler Museum is kinda cool. Also The Society of the Four Arts is nice. There is a great bike path where you can pass both of those places on your ride too. Check out Worth Avenue for clubs.
posted by lobstah at 2:06 PM on January 29, 2007

There's decent diving in Palm Beach area - drift diving. It's cold now, so you'd need to wear a few wetsuits, probably.
posted by Amizu at 2:11 PM on January 29, 2007

Parental units did the required Jewish migration to phase II of del Boca Vista so I actually know a couple of places.

The Morikami Japanese Gardens are in Palm Beach County,Boynton Beach I think, very nice gradens, and good history of the Japanese community of South Florida, which I didn't know existed until I went there.

Second Hobe Sound, McArthur beach park, and Loxahatchee wildlife pereserve.

I'd also add Gumbo-Limbo State Park, which is a sort of nice stretch of beach, but also on the bay side an interesting relic mangrove swamp, including the eponymous gumbo-limbo bushes. But it isn't very big so perhaps combine that with something else, actually fairly good restaurants and shopping in downtown Boca Raton and Del Ray beach once you get away from the geriatric plantations.
posted by xetere at 4:38 PM on January 29, 2007

For good nightlife, try walking Atlantic Avenue in Del Ray Beach, which is in the southern part of Palm Beach - great restaurants, clubs, and bars.
posted by blahblahblah at 6:12 PM on January 29, 2007

I really really like Blowing Rocks preserve on Jupiter Island. It's one of my favorite beaches, it's unique (especially at high tide), and it's never crowded. Plus it's just a nice nature preserve with a pretty walk down to the beach.
posted by anjamu at 7:40 PM on January 29, 2007

I second The Morikami Gardens. It's actually in Delray Beach, on Jog Road between Linton Blvd. and Clint Moore Road.

There are always places open around Clematis Street in downtown West Palm Beach - clubs, shops, etc. etc. The renovated Downtown Delray Beach is similar, but a bit more quiet/peaceful.

I would love to provide more information, but I am, for the most part, a social hermit, and I know between little and nothing about social-type places.
posted by gaiamark at 3:00 AM on January 30, 2007

Haulover is the name of the nude beach in North Miami, but it's a couple hours south. In Palm Beach County, Atlantic Avenue is my favorite restaurant strip. The two best restaurants are 32 East and Dada. Also right off Atlantic Avenue is a little Cuban restaurant with live music and dancing, but I forget the name. You can see it from the street if you walk towards the beach. In WPB, all the kids go to Respectable St on Clematis.
posted by srs at 7:09 AM on January 30, 2007 [1 favorite]

If you want to stay out late, keep in mind that everything in East Boca and Delray closes at 2 (otherwise, I highly suggest checking out DaDa on Swinton, just off Atlantic). If you want to stay out late, stick to Clematis (downtown wpb), downtown Ft. Lauderdale (Broward County), or do a day trip to Haulover and go out in South Beach. Also, you might get lucky and be down for one of the monthly art & design nights in the miami design district. Free drinks and cool art.
posted by srs at 7:31 AM on January 30, 2007

Go to the raw bar at the Breakers hotel and drink beer and watch the ocean. It's so beautiful, one of my favorite places on Earth. Also, check out Sloan's ice cream across the bridge in West Palm, on Clematis Street. The ice cream is all homemade and the hand-painted decor is lots of fun. And be sure and use the rest room.
posted by astruc at 11:45 AM on January 30, 2007