Blake Walsh

15 Best Things to Do with Kids in West Palm Beach, FL

  • Published 2022/11/10

West Palm Beach is a beachfront city renowned for its relaxing tropical atmosphere.

Besides featuring some of the best beaches in the state, it also serves as a center for cultural attractions, nightlife, and entertainment.

West Palm Beach in Palm Beach County is also a business hub, making it one of the wealthiest cities in South Florida.

This city is blessed with lovely seaside locations, thrilling outdoor attractions, sizable recreational parks, and fewer tourists than its busier neighboring cities in Florida.

Whether you’d like to take in the city’s natural beauty or learn more about its vintage charm, there is something you’d enjoy here.

The best part is that your kids will also have fun as you tour around the city since there are numerous activities for families to enjoy!

Here are the 15 best things to do with kids in West Palm Beach, Florida:

Get Lost in the Beauty of Mounts Botanical Garden

Scenic view of Mounts Botanical Garden

Jillian Cain Photography / Shutterstock.com

Mounts Botanical Garden is the oldest and largest botanical garden in Palm Beach County, with a goal to ” inspire and teach through nature.”

It’s home to over 6,000 kinds of tropical and sub-tropical plants, including Florida’s natives.

Beautiful flowers at Mounts Botanical Garden

KATHERINE WAGNER-REISS, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

You can find exotic palms and fruit trees, cacti, succulents, bromeliads, and more scattered throughout the 25 unique gardens taking up 16 acres.

Your kids will enjoy exploring and taking in the beauty of these gardens.

Plants at Mounts Botanical Garden

KATHERINE WAGNER-REISS, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

See Animals at Palm Beach Zoo & Conservation Society

Palm Beach Zoo & Conservation Society, located on 23 acres of land with tropical trees and shading in Summit Boulevard, is home to numerous majestic wildlife creatures.

This facility houses over 500 animals, including endangered Malayan tigers, jaguars, Mexican spider monkeys, and more.

Aside from seeing animals, your kids will also learn more about how to care for them here.

If you’re looking for more intimate animal encounters, try the featured animal encounter packages they offer.

The Interactive Play Fountain is also perfect for families with young children who want to splash around and cool off.

Have a memorable animal-watching experience with the whole family when you visit this Palm Beach Zoo & Conservation Society!

Enjoy Water Adventures at Rapids Waterpark

Rapids Waterpark in North Military Trail is the perfect destination for any group who wants to have some fun under the sun!

The attractions range from thrilling water slides to a quarter-mile-long relaxing lazy river.

Their thrilling rides are dubbed “biggest,” while their more laid-back options are included in the “coolest” category.

The third category is “wettest,” which includes rides that offer water-intensive experiences.

Whether you want to have a relaxing day while bobbing along on the waters or are looking for a water adventure that will get your heart pumping, you’ll find it at this water park!

If you get hungry, head to the cafe for delicious meals.

You and your kids will enjoy the water adventure that awaits you in the Rapids Waterpark.

Pique Your Kid’s Curiosity at Cox Science Center and Aquarium

Exterior of Cox Science Center and Aquarium

Joe, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Cox Science Center and Aquarium, which dates to 1961, is built around the straightforward principle that science is fun.

The museum’s goal is “Open Every Mind to Science,” and it delivers on this promise by granting schools, campers, and visitors access to an updated range of science programming.

Here, you’ll discover different tech initiatives based on computer coding, robotics, and other innovative educational endeavors.

This museum in Dreher Trail North hosts hundreds of guests annually because of its amazing exhibits.

Explore the over 50 unique interactive exhibits with your kids and marvel at how important science is to the world!

You can also get up close and personal with exotic marine life at the aquarium on the premises.

Thanks to the state-of-the-art planetarium that shows educational and feature-length movies, your kids will enjoy their time here.

They also have an interactive exhibit hall with an exhibition showcasing the rich and diverse Everglade ecosystem.

Feast Your Eyes on Rare Wildlife and Beautiful Sceneries with Airboat Rides West Palm Beach

Experience a special and amazing tour for the entire family with Airboat Rides West Palm Beach.

Nothing compares to a private, escorted airboat ride in the Florida Everglades, only about 30 minutes from Fort Lauderdale.

You can tailor your tour depending on your group size and how long you want to spend on the water.

You can also choose from one-hour, 90-minute, or four-hour journeys.

These rides take you deep into the Everglades, where you can see cougars and other wildlife and enjoy scenic views.

Their boats are covered by insurance, and the tour guides have all the necessary credentials and training required by the State of Florida.

Run Around Okeeheelee Park

One of the biggest parks in South Florida is Okeeheelee Park in West Palm Beach.

Okeeheelee Park, which spans more than 1700 acres, is located on the east side of the Florida Turnpike, parallel to Forest Hill Boulevard.

Two entrances to the south and two to the north of the park are accessible from Forest Hill.

The huge waterskiing lakes, BMX track, and championship 27-hole Okeeheelee Golf Course are all located in the park’s northern section and can be enjoyed by your whole family.

You can also find eight tennis courts, a disc golf course, a mile-long fitness trail, four soccer fields, nine baseball diamonds, Pooch Pines Dog Park, a nature center, and enough open space.

There is a playground, a picnic area, and a pavilion where you and your kids can stay and play.

Witness Majestic Manatees at Manatees Lagoon

Overlook at Manatees Lagoon

Thomas Barrat / Shutterstock.com

If you’re looking for a water-based adventure where you and your kids can watch rare animals in action, come to Manatee Lagoon on North Flagler Drive.

The main goal of Manatee Lagoon is to inform visitors about these amazing creatures and their habitat, Lake Worth Lagoon.

During winter, Florida manatees travel to Riviera Beach Next Generation Clean Energy Center of Florida Power & Light Company (FPL), because of the warmer water.

After FPL upgraded this natural gas facility, they also built the manatee center.

Manatee statue at Manatees Lagoon

EWY Media / Shutterstock.com

The Eco Center is free and open to everyone to raise awareness about Florida’s ecosystems and seas.

The center hopes that after you visit the area, you’ll want to do your part in preserving them.

Seeing these adorable manatees and being inspired to take care of their species is one of the best parts about visiting Manatee Lagoon!

Manatees swimming near Manatees Lagoon

Thomas Barrat / Shutterstock.com

Indulge Your Sweet Tooth at Sloan’s Ice Cream

Visit Sloan’s Ice Cream in Clematis Street on a hot day and cool off with their delectable and sweet ice cream!

Their story began in 1999 when they opened the first facility in West Palm Beach.

Their goal was to provide an ice cream haven for both young and old.

Sloan’s Ice Cream offers various distinctive flavors, all produced with the best ingredients.

Their award-winning premium ice cream is the finest and keeps customers returning for more.

Freshly baked waffle cones, cookies, and brownies are also available.

The décor of Sloan’s is extravagant, with pink walls, sparkling chandeliers, moving trains, and enchanting glass bathrooms that kids will love.

At Sloan’s, where everything is “Made in Wonderland,” your kids will want to come back and taste their delectable treats again!

Observe Tigers and Leopards in Their Natural Habitat at McCarthy’s Wildlife Sanctuary

The McCarthy’s Wildlife Sanctuary, founded in 1990, provides care for more than 200 species, many of which are large cats like white tigers, black leopards, ligers, and amur leopards.

The institution, situated on five acres of a stunning palmetto and pine forest at 61st Street, has taken in and cared for more than 4,000 injured animals over the years.

Their crew has treated various animals, including foxes, bobcats, Sandhill Cranes, pelicans, hawks, owls, and more, before releasing them back into the wild.

It would not be possible to carry on with the work for this worthwhile cause without the assistance of its volunteers and members.

McCarthy’s Wildlife Sanctuary has also delivered tens of thousands of instructional programs to more than 500,000 South Florida students.

They offer a guided tour so you and your family can explore the sanctuary while learning about the life of the animals that are in the care of the zoo.

Discover more about these marvelous animals and learn how you and your kids can help save them by visiting McCarthy’s Wildlife Sanctuary!

Visit The Square

Aerial view of The Square

Thomas Barrat / Shutterstock.com

The best place for a spectacular downtown experience is The Square, also known as Rosemary Square.

Rosemary Square is a high-end lifestyle complex located on South Rosemary Avenue in the heart of West Palm Beach, Florida.

It’s a New Urbanist mixed-use complex with Mediterranean and Venetian architectural influences.

Outdoor dining setup along The Square

Margaret.Wiktor / Shutterstock.com

Marvel at the gorgeous architecture of the beautiful structures all over this area!

Along with more than 60 restaurants and shops, the 600,000-square-foot hub also has offices, condos, and rental housing.

This is a perfect spot for bonding with your kids and enjoying the bustling downtown of West Palm Beach.

Buildings at The Square

Thomas Barrat / Shutterstock.com

See Artworks at the Norton Simon Museum

The Norton Simon Museum in South Dixie Highway is an art lover’s dream, boasting an impressive private collection of European artwork from the Renaissance to the 20th century.

It’s also home to a remarkable array of South and Southeast Asian pieces dating back 2,000 years.

Besides artworks, the museum offers various activities and events for you and your kids, like art workshops and storytelling.

Let your kids discover the best artwork when you visit Norton Simon Museum.

Jump High at Launch Trampoline Park West Palm Beach

Launch Trampoline Park West Palm Beach on Okeechobee Boulevard has many attractions and event options.

Facilities include a rope course, trampoline courts, basketball, dodgeball, a cliffhanger laser tag game, and more.

If that’s not enough for you, there’s also an indoor playground with arcade games.

The place also hosts birthdays and other events.

If you and your kids get hungry after playing at the attractions, you can fill your stomachs at the snack bar inside the park.

Enjoy a fun family time at Launch Trampoline Park!

Ride a Bike at Palm Beach Lake Trail

View of the paved Palm Beach Lake Trail

B V Nickel / Shutterstock.com

The island’s western part has a trail ideal for relaxing with kids called the Palm Beach Lake Trail.

Runners nod and nannies smile as they lead their young charges on a mid-morning walk along this historic, winding path.

At Palm Beach Lake Trail, kids can take a walk or a run here with their parents or guardians.

They can also rent a bike, incline skates, and helmet at the Palm Beach Bicycle Trail Shop.

Relax at Howard Park and Community Center

Howard Park and Community Center on Parker Avenue provides recreational opportunities for the whole family.

Along with playgrounds and fitness walks, the picturesque park has tennis courts, softball fields, basketball courts, and shuffleboard courts that your kids will love.

Its Community Center provides a variety of activities and event space for rent.

Howard Park and Community Center also has a City Paws Dog Park, a notable facility where you and your kids can play with your furry companions.

Explore Henry Morrison Flagler Museum

The grounds of Henry Morrison Flagler Museum

Leonard Zhukovsky / Shutterstock.com

The New York Herald described The Henry Morrison Flagler Museum as “more wonderful than any palace in Europe, grander and more magnificent than any other private dwelling in the world” when it was finished in 1902.

Today, it’s a National Historic Landmark and is open to the public as a museum, offering self-guided tours, switching exhibitions, and special programs.

The first and second floors of the building, its surroundings, and the Flagler Kenan Pavilion, which is home to Flagler’s Railcar No. 91, are all included in your visiting experience.

Exterior of Henry Morrison Flagler Museum

Underawesternsky / Shutterstock.com

Make sure to stop by the H M Flagler and Co., the museum’s store on the first floor, and buy gifts for your loved ones.

You can also browse a fantastic collection of books covering Florida history and the Gilded Age.

There are also jewelry, household goods, and museum souvenirs.

Henry Morrison Flagler Museum also has a children’s section with various age-appropriate, award-winning books.

Ballroom in Henry Morrison Flagler Museum

Khowald, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Final Thoughts

West Palm Beach, Florida, offers many attractions perfect for the whole family.

Whether your kids are curious about science, arts, and even horticulture, there is something that they’ll enjoy in this city.

Try these 15 best things to do with kids in West Palm Beach, Florida, on your vacation!

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