80 Best Sights in Palm Beach and the Treasure Coast, Florida

Partiers, families, and overnight campers all have a place to go on the 79 acres here. The island, in a wide section of the Intracoastal between Palm Beach Island and Singer Island, with an open channel to the sea, is accessible only by private boat or water taxi, two of which set sail regularly from the Riviera Beach Municipal Marina and the Sailfish Marina. Fun-loving seafarers looking for an afternoon of Jimmy Buffett with picnics aboard pull up to the day docks or the huge sandbar to the north—float around in an inner tube, and it's spring break déjà vu. Walk along the 20-foot-wide paver-lined path encircling the island, and you'll hit a 170-foot fishing pier, a campground, and the lifeguarded section to the south that is particularly popular with families because of its artificial reef. There are picnic tables and grills, but no concessions. A new ordinance means alcohol possession and consumption is restricted to permit areas. Amenities: lifeguards (summer only); showers; toilets. Best for: partiers; sunrise; swimming; walking.

Founded in 1903 by then-president Theodore Roosevelt as the country's first national wildlife refuge, the park encompasses the historic Pelican Island rookery itself—a small island in the Indian River lagoon and important nesting place for 16 species of birds such as endangered wood storks and, of course, brown pelicans—and the land surrounding it overlooking Sebastian. The rookery is a closed wilderness area, so there's no roaming alongside animal kingdom friends; however, there is an 18-foot observation tower across from it with direct views and more than 6 miles of nature trails in the refuge. Another way to explore is via guided kayak tours from the Florida Outdoor Center. Make sure to bring a camera—it's a photographer's dream.

About 2 miles south of "Billionaire's Row" on Ocean Boulevard sits this public oceanside park, with two metered parking lots separated by a fire station. There are four entry points to the beach, but the north side is better for beachgoers. At the southern entrance, there is a six-court tennis facility. The beach is narrow and has natural rock formations dotting the shoreline, making it ideal for snorkelers. There are picnic tables and grills on site, as well as the Little Red Schoolhouse, an 1886 landmark that hosts educational workshops for local kids. If a long walk floats your boat, venture north to see the megamansions, but don't go too far inland, because private property starts at the high-tide line. Parking is metered and time limits strictly enforced. There's a two-hour time limit for free parking—but read the meter carefully: it's valid only during certain hours at some spots. Amenities: lifeguards; parking (no fee); showers; toilets. Best for: solitude; walking.

The draw here is 135 acres of mostly undisturbed Florida pine flatwoods with 2½ miles of self-guided trails and demonstration landscaping, including a butterfly garden and coastal dune habitats, all with interpretive signs. School groups use the trails during the week, and there are special events like summer day camps. The Gold LEED-certified buildings on site hold the gift shop and classrooms.

The ocean with its namesake reef that you can wade up to is just one draw: a fishing zone on the Intracoastal Waterway across the street, a 9-hole golf course next door, and the Gumbo Limbo Environmental Education Center at the northern end of the park can easily make a day at the beach into so much more. But if pure old-fashioned fun in the sun is your focus, there are tons of picnic tables and grills and two separate playgrounds. Pack snorkels and explore the reef at high tide, when fish are most abundant. Swimmers, be warned: once lifeguards leave at 5, anglers flock to the shores and stay well past dark. Amenities: lifeguards; parking (fee); showers; toilets. Best for: snorkeling; swimming; walking.

A beautifully restored 1916 courthouse in downtown is the permanent home of the Historical Society of Palm Beach County's collection of artifacts and records dating back before the town's start—a highlight is furniture and decorative objects from Mizner Industries (a real treat since many of his mansions are not open to the public).

Once a reservoir, the 550 acres have been returned to their natural wetlands state. Today the wilderness area has campgrounds, interpretive trails, and a boat ramp, and the recreation area is open year-round. Canoe and kayak rentals are available Thursday through Monday. A dog park (open daily) is also on site. Amenities include showers, toilets, and free Wi-Fi for campers.

Boynton Beach's history is highlighted through interactive exhibits that make the museum a kid- and parent-pleaser. The museum is housed in a school that was built in 1913, and is one of only a few original schoolhouses that are still educating children on a daily basis. Kids have the opportunity to touch, play, and interact with history through hands-on exhibits where they experience what life was like for early Florida pioneers long before the days of computers, cell phones, TVs, and even cars. A great castle playground is next door. Check the website for a calendar of science projects, arts and crafts, specialty workshops, and community events for families.

Housed in the St. Lucie County Aquarium and run by the Smithsonian Institute, whose research facility next door is where scientists study local ecosystems (once-monthly tours are organized), this facility has a 3,000-gallon coral-reef tank, originally located in the National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C. The parklike setting, where children love to play, makes it an ideal picnic destination. Admission is free on the first Tuesday of every month.

Despite widespread misconceptions of its members-only exclusivity, this privately endowed institution—founded in 1936 to encourage appreciation of art, music, drama, and literature—is funded for public enjoyment. The Esther B. O'Keeffe gallery building artfully melds an exhibition hall that houses traveling exhibits with a 700-seat theater. A library designed by prominent Mizner-peer Maurice Fatio, a children's library, a botanical garden, and the Philip Hulitar Sculpture Garden round out the facilities and are open daily. 

Perched high up on a dune, a large open-air pavilion at the east end of Palmetto Park Road offers a panoramic view of what's in store below on the sand that stretches up the coast. Serious beachgoers need to pull into the main lot a quarter mile north on the east side of A1A, but if a short-but-sweet visit is what you're after, the 15 or so one-hour spots with meters in the circle driveway will do (and not cost you the normal $15 parking fee). During the day, pretty young things blanket the shore and windsurfers practice tricks in the waves. Quiet quarters are farther north. Amenities: lifeguards; parking (fee); showers; toilets. Best for: sunset; swimming; walking; windsurfing.

At 76 acres and including extensive nature trails, this is by far one of the largest ocean parks in the southern half of Palm Beach County and a great pick for people who want more space and fewer crowds. Big groups, including family reunions, favor it because of the number of covered picnic areas for rent, but anyone can snag a free table (there are plenty) under the thick canopy of banyan trees. Even though the vast majority of the park is separated from the surf, you never actually have to cross A1A to reach the beach because tunnels run under it at several locations. Amenities: lifeguards; parking (fee); showers; toilets. Best for: solitude; swimming; walking.

Highlights here include a Seminole dugout canoe, pictures from the Hill Photographic Collection, and a life-size re-creation of the P. P. Cobb General Store. A room is also devoted to the U.S. Navy Amphibious Training Base of World War II, which was located on St. Lucie's beaches. A guided tour of the Gardner House (the 1908 home of the Register family), with furnishings typical of the period, is included in the price of admission.

When the waves robustly roll in, the surfers are rolling in, too. Beginning surfers are especially keen on Stuart Beach because of its ever-vigilant lifeguards, and pros to the sport like the challenges that the choppy waters here bring. But the beach is equally popular with surf fishers. Families enjoy the snack bar known for its chicken fingers, the basketball courts, the large canopy-covered playground, and the three walkways interspersed throughout the area for easy ocean access. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; parking (no fee); showers; toilets. Best for: surfing; swimming.

What started off in 1901 as the tin-roofed George W. Parks General Merchandise Store and in 1946 became Stuart's Feed Store (the name is still emblazoned on the pine facade) is now the Stuart Heritage Museum, an interesting trip down nostalgia lane with Americana artifacts, photographs, and goods detailing the town's history, just steps from city hall.

Ideal for quiet ambles, this sandy stretch is also noteworthy for a casual restaurant, the no-frills breezy Dune Deck Café, which is perched above the waterline and offers great views for an oceanfront breakfast or lunch. The beach's huge parking lot is directly adjacent to the Eau Palm Beach (meters take credit cards), and diagonally across the street is a sizable strip mall with all sorts of conveniences, including boutiques and more eateries. Note: the beach is very narrow and large rocks loom in the water. Nevertheless, these are some of the clearest waters along the Florida coastline, and they make an idyllic background for long walks and great photos. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; parking (fee); showers; toilets. Best for: walking.

You know you're here if you see Palm Beach's younger generation frolicking on the sands and locals setting up chairs as the sun reflects off their gleaming white veneers. The Worth Avenue clock tower is within sight, but the gateways to the sand are actually on Chilean Avenue, Brazilian Avenue, and Gulfstream Road. It's definitely the most central and longest lifeguarded strip open to everyone and a popular choice for hotel guests from the Colony, Chesterfield, and Brazilian Court. Lifeguards are present from Brazilian Avenue down to Chilean Avenue. It's also BYOC (bring your own chair). You'll find no water-sports or food vendors here; however, casual eateries are a quick walk away. Metered spots line A1A. Amenities: lifeguards; showers. Best for: sunset; swimming.

Beautiful sand dunes and verdant grounds await at this quiet turf immediately north of the last swath of development before the drive to the Sebastian Inlet. It's a perfect place to commune with nature, or it's a good spot if you want to feel like you own the beach, as sometimes there's no one except you. Children will delight in the pirate-ship-theme playground on site, and there are plenty of picnic tables (but no grills) plus lots of shade throughout the landscaped section beside the beach. Amenities: parking (no fee); toilets; showers. Best for: solitude; swimming.

The museum's five galleries and two sculpture gardens make it the largest arts facility on the Treasure Coast. It houses varying regional, state, and national art exhibits, plus it hosts a full schedule of films, lectures, workshops, and classes.

A favorite for local surfboarding teens and the families at the nearby Disney's Vero Beach Resort, the park is nestled in a residential area at the end of Wabasso Road, about 8 miles up from the action on Ocean Drive and 8 miles below the Sebastian Inlet. Aside from regular amenities like picnic tables, restrooms, and a dedicated parking lot (which really is the "park" here—there's not much green space—and it's quite small, so arrive early), the Disney crowd walks there for its lifeguards (the strip directly in front of the hotel is unguarded), and the local crowd appreciates its conveniences, like a pizzeria and a store that sells sundries, snacks, and beach supplies. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; parking (no fee); showers; toilets. Best for: surfing; swimming.