Riverbend Park

It's immediately northwest of Riverbend Park, and is most notable for its blackwater streams that feed the Loxahatchee River and its historic and cultural resources, including the site of the Loxahatchee River Battle during the 1838 Seminole War. The planned Jupiter-Indiantown Trail runs from Riverbend Park through the area, and horses, canoes, and kayaks are also welcome.

Palm Beach County's largest natural area features nine different native Florida ecosystems, ranging from swampy slough marches to dry hammock forests. Trails include short, paved paths and portions of much longer trails like the Ocean to Lake Trail that spans much of northern Palm Beach County. The main entrance also has a fishing pier and observation tower, and a 2 mi kayaking trail is available in the area's south end. Most trails are open to bikers and equestrians; if approached by a horse, yield and proceed carefully.

An Everglades habitat roughly the size of Manhattan, this area serves as the freshwater supply for much of the area. A nature center near the north entrance hosts rotating exhibits on the history of the Everglades and acts as the starting point for occasional guided walks. The nearby 1 mi Cypress Boardwalk is accessible to wheelchairs and strollers, while the longer Hog Hammock and Apoxee Trails and behemoth 16.6 mi Owahee Trail offer more adventurous hikers a view of the park's stunning natural areas and wildlife. Many of the trails are also open to bikes; check before leaving that none of them are closed as they tend to flood after especially heavy rain. Only Gator Lake, north of the nature center on the other side of Northlake Blvd, welcomes canoes, kayaks and catch-and-release fishing.

This small remaining segment of the once-massive Hungryland Slough offers wilderness areas similar to those in the neighboring Loxahatchee Slough and Corbett areas. Multi-use trails include the sandy 4 mi South Loop Trail and sections of much longer trails.

Visitors to one of Palm Beach County's wildest and most pristine beaches cross a vast lagoon via a long, picturesque boardwalk to reach the rugged dunes and unspoiled coast of this state park. The park also offers a nature center and concessionaire where you can rent a kayak to explore one of Florida's jungle-like mangrove hammocks.

This tiny island just northeast of West Palm Beach is only accessible by boat, but the short, $12 ferry ride from the nearby port is well worth it. Facilities include a near-360-degree beach frontage with particularly excellent snorkeling, reservable campsites, and a paved trail encircling the island, which is also home to a historic Coast Guard station and the bunker where President John F. Kennedy took refuge during the Cuban Missile Crisis (the bunker closed for public tours in 2017).