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County in Florida, United States
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Palm Beach County is the largest county by land area in Florida. Situated in the southeastern corner of the state, many of South Florida's most notable cities are located in Palm Beach County, including its namesake, Palm Beach.
The narrowest and most densely populated region along the Atlantic Coast includes Boca Raton, Delray Beach, and Boynton Beach, along with smaller coastal communities to the east.
The heart of the "Palm Beaches" includes the county's eponymous island town, home to one of the wealthiest enclaves in the state, along with the county seat of West Palm Beach, up-and-coming Lake Worth Beach, and sprawling suburbs like Royal Palm Beach and Wellington.
Compared to old-money Palm Beach, booming Boca Raton, and diverse West Palm, North County has been a bit slower to develop and has a more laid-back vibe. Communities include Palm Beach Gardens, North Palm Beach, and Jupiter.
About an hour's drive down Southern Boulevard from Palm Beach's country clubs and resorts, the tiny communities that line the coast of Lake Okeechobee feel more remote from the rest of South Florida than many foreign countries. Unless they're avid fishers, don't expect many locals of the county's eastern edge to have ever set foot in these deeply agricultural towns, which include Belle Glade and Pahokee. However, they offer the rare traveler who seeks them out excellent recreational opportunities, from fishing to birdwatching, and a chance to see a very different side of the state.
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One of the largest public beaches in Boca Raton, this oceanfront park is known for its rocky reef which attracts an abundance of fish for easy snorkeling. The park has a short nature boardwalk and a golf course and nature center are close at hand.
Delray's long, narrow beach can be accessed just east of its bustling downtown district. A paved sidewalk offers great dog- and people-watching from the observation deck or one of the nearby restaurants. Only street parking is available, which can be dicey during the busy season.
Demarcating the south end of the famous Lake Worth Lagoon, this small park has a pier and facilities like a snack bar, marina, and picnic shelters.
One of the few developed beaches in the county includes several restaurants, shops, and a large event space in a renovated former casino, along with a large fishing pier.
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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
This vast wilderness is truly off the beaten path for most South Florida visitors. Hunters make up most of the traffic during the season, although the area is also popular with off-road ATVs. If visiting during hunting season, wear fluorescent colors (like a bright orange vest). Camping is permitted throughout much of the area, but expect the absolute minimum in the way of facilities. Occasionally, the Everglades Youth Conservation Camp is rumored to allow thru-hikers to camp on its premises.
Formerly a working livestock range, this state-owned area provides a similar experience to the adjacent Corbett WMA without the hassle of getting a permit. Activities include 35 mi of hiking trails and primitive campsites, along with an equestrian center with horses, paddocks, campsites and 40 mi of equestrian trails. Take care during hunting season.
One of the most popular outdoor recreation spots in the county, this park in Jupiter serves as the hub for all the longer hiking trails in the area, while boasting 10 mi of hiking/biking trails, 7 mi of equestrian trails and 5 mi of kayaking trails of its own. Situated at the headwaters of the Loxahatchee River, the park is especially popular among bikers. Most trails are short and easy. Canoes, kayaks and stand-up paddleboards are available to rent.
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.
By train
Passenger rail travel in South Florida is as disappointing as anywhere in the country, but there are a handful of options.
By boat
The Port of Palm Beach, located in the small city of Riviera Beach just northeast of West Palm, is served primarily by cargo ships, but does see the occasional two-night cruise to the Bahamas.
By car
Most vehicles enter the county from the north or south via I-95, the county's main thoroughfare, which is centrally located in most of the bigger cities.
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West Palm Beach · International · DJT
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Boca Raton is a city of 100,000 people (2018) on the east coast of Florida about halfway between West Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale. The name boca ratón translates literally as "mouse mouth" (not "rat mouth"), and is believed to derive from a Spanish nautical term for a shallow inlet filled with jagged rocks.
Delray Beach, Florida, is renowned locally for its ambitious gentrification centered on Atlantic Avenue, the main drag, better known as simply "The Avenue" with some of the best nightlife in South Florida. At the end of The Avenue is a large, free public beach.
Jupiter is in Palm Beach County, in the Greater Miami metro area.
Lake Worth Beach is a city of 39,000 people (2019) in Palm Beach County, Florida, about 10 miles (16 km) south of West Palm Beach.
Palm Beach is a well-to-do town on the east coast of Florida, adjacent to the larger city of West Palm Beach. Culturally known in many ways as the playground of the rich and famous; it is indeed a place full of oceanfront luxury resorts, upscale shopping centers, beautiful landscaping and architecture, nightlife opportunities, and dozens of stately mansions housing its wealthiest residents.
Riviera Beach is a city in Palm Beach County, Florida. It is a harbor city located along the shores of the Atlantic Ocean in Southeast Florida.
West Palm Beach is a mid-sized city of 117,000 residents (2020) in the Greater Miami (Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach) Metropolitan area.
North Palm Beach is a city of 13,000 people (2019) in Palm Beach County.
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