Things to do in West Palm Beach
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A
Serenity Garden Tea House
Are we in London or what? Definitely not, but we are in the South, as easy as it is to forget, and tea-house charms go a long way in these parts. This spot, a more old-school, frilly option than the Little Tea House, is also way more concerned with your sweet tooth.
Its glass case of 'fancies' is a beauty to behold - white chocolate key-lime cheesecake, chocolate-macadamia nut mousse pie, lemon cakes - and its pear-and-gorgonzola salad, curried chicken salad and scone-filled 'low teas' aren't bad, either.
reviewed
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B
Palm Beach Zoo at Dreher Park
The highlight of this compact zoo is the Tropics of the Americas exhibit, a 3-acre recreation of a rainforest, stocked with jaguars, monkeys, snakes, macaws and other tropical creatures. Gator feedings occur regularly and are advertised. The zoo’s also home to a few of the last remaining Florida panthers, North America’s rarest mammal. Other unusual residents include Komodo dragons (the largest lizard in the world), capybaras (the largest rodent in the world) and red kangaroos, which can hop at speeds of up to 40mph.
reviewed
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C
Riviera Beach
If you're hoping to enjoy the sand and surf, pickings are slim in West Palm proper. But Riviera Beach, about 3 miles north of downtown, has one of the nicest beaches in the area, with wild dunes that have remained undeveloped thanks to the area's blue-collar reputation. Lifeguards are on duty from 09:00 to 17:00 daily.
To get here, take Hwy 1 north from downtown West Palm Beach until you hit Blue Heron Way; cross the causeway and continue straight ahead until you see waves. Riviera Beach is served by PalmTran bus 30.
reviewed
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D
Palm Beach Maritime Museum
There's not much to this museum in pleasant Currie Park, except for war buffs who will surely get off on the display of artifacts from the sunken battleship USS Maine. The museum's main attraction is as the place to catch the ferry to Peanut Island, home of the Kennedy Bunker, where typically brilliant Cold War-era advisers decided to build the president's fallout shelter. Here you'll see JFK's decontamination shower, then you can go hiking, snorkeling or even camping on the island.
The ferry comes at 10:00, noon and 14:00 Wednesday through Sunday.
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E
Clematis Street
Long before CityPlace came along, there was Clematis St, a hip, bohemian strip bustling with locals doing their shopping, diners looking for a foodie scene, and scads of bar-hoppers come nightfall. In short, this stretch is the most eclectic strip in town – and much of it's also a historic district with a jumbled collection of architecture – Greek Revival, Venetian Revival, Mediterranean Revival and art deco.
Every Thursday night, Clematis plays host to West Palm's signature event, Clematis by Night.
reviewed
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F
Animal Park
The first cageless drive-through safari in the country, this incredible animal park puts you in the cage (ie your car) as 800 creatures roam freely, staring at you. Equal parts conservation area and safari, the park’s 500 acres are home to bison, zebra, white rhinos, chimpanzees and, of course, lions. You tour the safari section in your car (unless it’s a convertible; short-term rentals are available), driving slowly, hoping the animals approach the vehicle. The best time to go is when it rains, because the animals are more active when it’s cool.
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