Things to do in West Palm Beach
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Blue Martini
This chic CityPlace lounge, known to attract its share of celebs, has three full bars, an extensive martini menu and live music nightly. Dress to impress – it's required.
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Lion Country Safari
The first cageless drive-through safari in the country, this incredible animal park puts you in the cage (ie your car) as 900 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.
After experiencing this backward-zoo, you can enjoy the aviaries, reptile exhibits, petting zoo, water park and daily…
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El Cid District
Heading south from Okeechobee, you'll enter this lovely neighborhood, packed with multimillion-dollar homes – ranging from Mediterranean Revival to classic Florida bungalow – offering numerous tantalizingly distracting side streets.
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Howley's
Open almost all night, this mint-green 1950s diner's tagline is 'cooked in sight, must be right.' The food, which might be described as 'upscale retro' (shake 'n' bake pork chops, crab hash, tiki-style tuna burgers, banana pancakes), certainly tastes right – especially at 2am!
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Palm Beach Zoo
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. The zoo is a brief drive south of downtown.
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Sailfish Marina
Sailfish Marina serves brunch on weekends between 8am and 1pm ($17 for adults, $12 for kids). Grab a seat close to the water, slowly chew your smoked salmon, tropical fruit or fresh Belgian waffles and watch the resident pelicans paddle around the yachts, searching for their own breakfast.
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BB King's
One of bluesman BB King's stable of clubs, this Mississippi Delta–themed nightspot in CityPlace has a menu of (mediocre) Southern soul food and an excellent lineup of blues and jazz bands.
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CityPlace
This massive outdoor shopping and entertainment center is the crown jewel of West Palm Beach's urban-renewal initiative; locals love telling visitors how this area was formerly filled with crack houses. A mix of boutiques and chain stores, CityPlace is a one-stop destination for diners, moviegoers, trendy-shop shoppers and anyone who wants a reason to take a stroll. Its 600,000 sq ft comprise a slew of stores, about a dozen restaurants, a 20-screen movie theater, the Harriet Himmel Theater and 570 private residences – not to mention free concerts in the outdoor plaza. Beautiful but vaguely sterile, CityPlace has nevertheless been immensely successful in bringing all types…
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ER Bradley's Saloon
Mostly a restaurant until about 10pm, at which point the music cranks up, the rum starts flowing, and the mixed-age crowd starts grooving on the multiple decks and bar areas. If you find yourself, um, a little peaky in the morning, come right back for 8am steak and eggs! Great views of the Intracoastal make this a nice happy-hour spot as well.
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Grease Burger Bar
This buzz-worthy new Clematis St spot is easy to find – just look for the life-sized cow statue on the roof. These are 21st-century burgers – massive, sloppy monsters topped with 'burger bling' like truffled ketchup or 'nuclear relish.' Fancy salads, bratwursts, sweet-potato fries and a full complement of microbrews round out the menu. The dining room, all warm wood and twinkly pub lights, is more neighborhood bistro than fast-food joint.
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Greenmarket
On Saturday morning, just north of the plaza at 2nd St and Narcissus Ave (where local schoolkids frolic in the fountains on hot afternoons), this delightful market offers treats ranging from locally grown avocados and orchids to organic coffee and dog treats.
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National Croquet Center
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Peanut Island
Plopped right off the northeastern corner of West Palm, Peanut Island was created in 1918 by dredging projects. Originally named Inlet Island, the spit was renamed for a peanut oil–shipping operation that failed in 1946. It has long been a popular spot for boaters to moor and party by day, and in 2005 the county plunked $13 million into island rehabilitation, resulting in Peanut Island Park, which includes a pier, an artificial reef and some pretty sweet campsites.
The island also features a blast shelter built in secret for President John F Kennedy shortly after his 1960 election. Kennedy never used the facility – other than as a jumping-off point for water skiing – but…
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Playmobil FunPark
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Sunset Bar & Grill
Arty and out-of-the-way, this is the kind of neighborhood cafe we all wish we had on our block. Go for bistro classics like strip steak or crab cakes, or choose from a menu of lighter fare like burgers, gazpacho and Key lime chicken salad. The early-bird special – $15 for three courses, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday before 6:30pm – alone is worth the trip. The restaurant is a five-minute drive north of downtown.
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Lulu’s Place
A mellow hangout with a big gay crowd.
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Kozlow’s
A mellow hangout with a big gay crowd.
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HG Roosters
A mainstay of West Palm's thriving gay community, this bar has been offering wings, bingo and hot young male dancers since 1984.
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Elephant's Foot Antiques
A popluar antique shop on Antiques Row.
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James & Jeffrey Antiques
A popluar antique shop on Antiques Row.
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Club Kashmir
Club Kashmir is a lively gay dance club.
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Objects in the Loft
For contemporary treasures, with mission furniture, modern light fixtures and plenty of rattan.
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Lounge
This basic lounge bar (hence the name) is a popular spot for live bands, DJs and karaoke madness.
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Blowfish
Sample creatively prepared sushi and seafood in slick surroundings, right on the main strip downtown.
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Barnes & Noble
At CityPlace, this ubiquitous chain is unfortunately the only game in town when it comes to finding a huge selection.
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