My partner and I are going to spend a few days relaxing at my parents' place on Singer Island, which I think is just off of West Palm Beach. Are there any great suggestions for either 1) things to do (besides the obvious - swimming) and 2) any great restaurants/bars/places that have to be hit?

I've really never been down there and am hoping to maximize my limited time. I think though I'll get a little bored just sitting around reading with the old women of the complex.

Thanks everyone.

Singer Island is actually off of Riviera Beach which is a little north of West Palm Beach.

I would probably go to Palm Beach itself and look around. Walk Worth Avenue if you like high end shopping (or window-shopping). Go to the Breakers for a drink. It's worth walking around the grounds and the common areas. Chuck and Harold's is a good restaurant that just yells Old Florida, and it's not expensive even though it's right in Palm Beach.

Do you like impressionist art? There's are two great exhibits right now at the Norton Museum in West Palm Beach...Impressionism from the Boston Museum of Fine Arts and Matisse in Transition.

The place to hang out in West Palm is City Place--one of the shopping/dining/residential extravaganzas popping up all over. Good shops (Anthropologie is wonderful for French country accessories--do you have it where you are?)and good restaurants. The Italian place next to the fountain is very good. If you want something more casual, I recommend Brewzzis, which has microbrews.

(Should you happen to be partial to old churches as I am, let me know. There are two wonderful ones on Palm Beach.)

The walking path in Palm Beach is always nice--can't remember it's name but it goes behind the Flagler Museum....

Rainy days--Gardens Mall

What's doing on Clematis St. these days? When I moved away from WPB, it was a fun place to go but not sure if City Place took away its draw.

Singer Is. is about 15min. north of WPB and Palm Beach. YOu can lay out at the beach behind many of the hotels and avoid the old ladies at the pool

Thanks for the suggestions. The Norton Museum and Chuck and Harold's sound great. We'll probably head into Palm Beach to do some exploring, but sounds like City Place is just a mall....my guess is that there's nothing there that isn't in every other city in America. Is Clematis Street unique?

Clematis street is much more authentic than city place--was once the main shopping street of old west palm beach. But 1wanderingjew is right to think that city place has sucked some of the life out of it...at least it had the last time I was there several months ago. I think its become more of a bar/nightclub district these days. If the fact that you have a partner indicates you're gay, I'd say that it's not your kind of club scene. You're right about city place being similar to many different ventures across the country. Still, on a pretty day, it's pleasant to have a gelato and sit on the plaza and people watch. If you like antiqueing, there is an excellent antiques district on Dixie between Southern and Belvedere. Some high end stuff, some junk, but worth a couple of hours of browsing. Since the art appealed to you, I thought you might like it. Definitely more interesting than Clematis in my opinion. Also, some old neighborhoods worth driving around in, not only on Palm Beach but also in West Palm--El Cid and Old Northwood for instance.

Yes city place is really a few streets of mall shops and restaurants;
we go there some evenings for a meal and a movie, it's all there and easy. The layout is really pretty

Worth avenue is a lovely stroll for an afternoon; reserving in advance at Bice or Renata's or Taboo is a must; The Colony hotel off worth avenue has a nice bar area.

If you're there on a Thursday night, head on over to Sailfish Marina for their sunset celebration....artists, music, food etc....6 - 9.

www.sailfishmarina.com/sunceleb.shtml

Thanks for the Saltfish suggestion - we will be there on a Thursday and this sounds like a great plan.

And I'm not going to give up on Clematis Street -

Also on Saturdays there's a farmers market downtown, just off Clematis.

Lots of food, breads, and if you like pickles, a great pickle stand...good to pick up some snacks, even if you'll be eating out mostly...

www.cityofwpb.com/greenmarket/index.htm

and yeah, don't give up on Clematis...still a bunch of nice cafes and stores there...

There use to be a boat sightseeing trip which left from Singer Island and went down the Intercoastal to Palm Beach. If they still have it, do it.