Travel Guides > West Palm Beach, FL

West Palm Beach Travel

Not unlike Miami, its neighbor to the south, West Palm Beach is a town where the fun never stops, from busy beaches to energetic nightlife that keeps going until the wee hours of the morning.

Located on Florida's Atlantic Coast, West Palm Beach is a modern city, having established itself as a great vacation destination only during the last few decades. The hype is well-deserved. West Palm Beach is hip and fashionable yet is just as comfortable welcoming families as it is in welcoming singles or young couples without children.

For sunning on the beach, most visitors travel across the intercoastal waterway to Palm Beach, the long-time winter home of the rich and famous, like the Kennedy clan. That means the resorts on that side of the water are glitzy and expensive. You can, however, stay in West Palm and travel across the bridge to enjoy the beautiful beaches there. Celebrity-watching can be fun here as well!

However, not everything centers around the beaches. Palm County, in general, hosts a number of fine cultural activities. The Norton Museum of Art has a very impressive permanent collection of works from all eras and regions of the world. Their Chinese bronzes are especially noteworthy.

If you want to see how the rich live, visit Whitehall, dubbed "The Taj Mahal of North America." This home belonged to oil tycoon Henry Flagler and is an exquisite example of Edwardian architecture. The inside is filled with opulent antiques and there's even a restored railroad car in the backyard.

For those traveling with children, a stop at the Playmobil Fun Park is an absolute must. Designed by the creative minds at the Playmobil toy company, kids can enjoy playing among life-sized replicas of their favorite toys by this manufacturer.

If you've come to West Palm Beach for the nightlife, you won't be disappointed. The Clematis Street district is jumping 24-hours a day with live music and entertainment. Each Thursday evening, Clematis by Night provides streets full of arts and crafts vendors, street musicians, and an overall festive atmosphere for all ages.

Energetic adults will love the nightlife here in West Palm Beach, with the best in martini bars, intimate pubs, quirky clubs, and wonderful spots where you can dance the night away.

When you're ready to shop, head over to CityPlace, the structure responsible for the revitalization of West Palm's downtown area. In this shopping mecca, you'll find not only a ton of stores but also restaurants and the amazing Muvico Parisian, a 20-screen movie theater that allows you to eat scrumptious food and have a glass of wine while you're watching the latest flick.