It’s true—Palm Beach is a super glamorous city, with $100 million dollar mansions, luxury shopping and some of the best restaurants in South Florida. But this beach location is also a terrific vacation spot for families. Many hotels welcome families with kids’ clubs and gigantic pools, the airport is just minutes away, and the activities are unique and incredibly fun.
Below are some of my favorite family activities.
Hit the polo grounds
Since you are in Palm Beach, you might as well take advantage of one of the country’s best polo scenes. During the winter and spring season, the International Polo Club, one of the country’s largest clubs, hosts thrilling polo matches most Sunday afternoons. The best way to enjoy the match is to arrive early and reserve a spot at the champagne brunch, where delicacies are spread throughout several stations. While kids love to watch the action, it is even more fun for them to join in. This is one of the few places where you can sign up for introductory polo lessons. All ages and all levels are welcome.
Book a bike tour
Palm Beach is filled with multiple bike paths and a generally flat terrain that makes it the perfect place for a family biking excursion. Some of the island’s favorite tours are given by bike pro and island expert Leslie Diver of Island Living Tours. Tours last 90 minutes, can be customized, and are enhanced with lots of historical facts. And if biking is not your thing, Island Living also runs driving and walking tours of the island.
Go on safari
If there are animal lovers in your group, you have to head over to Lion Country Safari. Just about 45 minutes from Palm Beach, Florida’s only drive-through safari houses over 1,000 animals, including favorites such as rhinos, ostriches, and of course--lions. Kids of all ages will enjoy feeding the giraffes and younger kids can join a toddler tour. The best way to experience the safari park is probably on a VIP tour, during which your very own guide will escort your group into behind-the-scenes areas for an up close animal encounter.
Enjoy the stellar beaches
Of course one the main attractions of Palm Beach is its 47 miles of coastline. You can always just enjoy an afternoon of building sandcastles and working on your gorgeous tan. Or you can find numerous water-related activities to keep your family busy. Nearby Ocean Reef Park provides snorkeling, many hotels have paddle-boards and kayaks, and you can also rent a jet ski or join a fishing excursion. Surfing lessons are another favorite way to spend an afternoon.
The shopping is fabulous
If anyone in your family loves to shop, plan on spending some time meandering through the small European-styled streets that surround Worth Avenue. The area is filled with classic luxury brands (Chanel, Gucci, and local favorite, Lilly Pulitzer). But there are also a host of unique boutiques, art galleries and rare book stores. The atmosphere is laid-back and there are plenty of places to stop for a post-shopping cocktail or pastry. If you want to include some history in your morning, join one of Rick Rose’s weekly historic walking tours.
Golf is everywhere
Palm Beach has some of the most renowned golf courses in the country. Several properties, such as the PGA National Resort & Spa and The Breakers, house their own courses. But there are also tons of public courses, including favorites such Par 3, which comes with an ocean view, and Okeeheelee which has 27 holes of championship golf. Family lessons are available at most courses and are a great way to spend the morning together.
