The Palm Beaches get called a lot of names. They’re known as America’s First Resort Destination, Florida’s Cultural Capital, Florida’s Golf Capital, and even the gentler side of Florida. If you haven’t been yet, you really don’t know what you’re missing.
Just 50 miles north of Miami Airport, The Palm Beaches are as beachy as they sound. But also packed with pretty towns and some of Florida’s smartest small cities, as well as the state’s largest lake, part of the Everglades and an astonishing amount of really wild wildlife.
Why families love the gentler side of Florida
Families love it here for its friendly, laid back atmosphere and freedom to stretch out – the beaches are beautiful but they don’t do busy. And you’re never short of watersports, waterparks, aquariums, zoos and great places to inspire young art lovers. The shopping is second to none whether you want outlet mall experiences, independent local artisans or international designers. And as The Palm Beaches are so wonderful to live in, plenty of great chefs make their home here, which is great news for you because eating is incredible, from chic restaurants to seafood shacks to cute food trucks and arty cafés.
It all starts with The Palm Beaches
The best place to start getting to know The Palm Beaches? Down on the spectacular coast, of course. They might call this the ‘gentler side of Florida’, but it’s not shy when it comes to shoreline: all 47 gorgeous miles of it stretching along the Atlantic like a broad, snowy white ribbon made up of no fewer than 30 Atlantic beaches.
Naturally the sands are soft, creamy and made for playing all day, plus you’ll also find dozens of beachy towns and charming coastal cities to explore. Then there’s the water itself, which is warmer for longer than most places here thanks to The Palm Beaches being the closest you get to the Gulf Stream. It’s an interesting geographical fact, only don’t tell everyone, because a very pleasant lack of crowds is another big local secret.
America’s First Resort Destination brings next level beachy cool
Although less crowded could never be mistaken for downbeat, America’s First Resort Destination is as cool by the sea as everywhere else. In fact, you can even pick a stretch of sand where Oceanside Beach Service takes care of everything from sun beds and parasols to cabana hoods (great for younger kids) and fun stuff like snorkeling equipment, kayaks and SUP. So just pack as light as you like and save your energy for playing all day instead.
Beach Parks mix just the right amount of adventure and downtime that most families are looking for and The Palm Beaches do a lot of those too. Some, like Peanut Island, even add in the excitement of a water taxi ride, which you won’t be surprised to find kids like, a lot. And if young hearts are set on trying some of the legendary local surf, Spanish River Park is where to go first. Although there are 29 Beach Parks in all to choose from, so there’s a very good chance you’ll find your own, personal favorite.
Choose your perfect town or try all 39 of them
One of the things all families love about Florida holidays is exploring local communities and The Palm Beaches give you plenty to explore. Get to know at least a few of the 39 towns and small cities while you’re here, and don’t worry if you miss a few this time, you’ll almost certainly be back, it’s that type of place.
Some of the names might already be familiar, like Palm Beach, the city that trademarked the title, America’s First Resort Destination™ and continues to live up to its glossy reputation from stunning beaches to iconic architecture. For vintage charm and heaps of green space to match its seaside, Boca Raton has been winning hearts for almost 100 years. It’s also home to The Boca Raton, an opulent 1926 resort which is now as family-friendly as it is glamorous thanks to a recent multi-million-dollar renovation.
Then there’s West Palm Beach with its outstanding restaurants, world famous museums and enough shopping to fill several family vacations. The feel here is tropical, creative and energetic, teens will love hanging out in the indie cafés, and you can expect younger kids to be completely captivated by local enchantments like the LED Wishing Tree.