Palm Beach offers a plethora of outdoor activities due to its beautiful sunny weather, dazzling beaches with sparkling warm waters, top-rated amenities, and stunning tropical scenery. With the diverse variety of recreational opportunities available in the area, it’s easy to stay fit and healthy while having fun.
On this page, we take a look at some of the best destinations and Palm Beach outdoor activities for those looking to maintain an active lifestyle.
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PALM BEACH DESTINATIONS FOR WALKING, RUNNING, AND BIKING
Going on a relaxing walk, jog, or bike ride offers a unique opportunity to take in the stunning views and immerse yourself in Palm Beach’s picturesque setting. It’s a fantastic way to stay active while experiencing the beauty of Palm Beach to the fullest.
Below are some of the best places to explore on foot or on a bike in Palm Beach.
Palm Beach Lake Trail
Running along Palm Beach’s western border, the Palm Beach Lake Trail offers sweeping views of West Palm Beach, Lake Worth Lagoon, and beyond. One of the most scenic trails in South Florida, the paved trail hugs the Lake Worth shoreline and is about 5.5 miles long starting from South Lake Drive to its terminus north of Sailfish Club.
Start your trip at the Palm Beach Town Docks, a yacht center and marina that has provided berthing for yachts in Palm Beach since the 1940s. The beginning of the Lake Trail greets you with stunning views of 1960s vintage condos, beautiful waterfront mansions, soaring royal palm trees, and an assortment of docked superyachts against the dazzling West Palm Beach skyline.
You’ll be able to stop by many top Palm Beach destinations along the way like the Flagler Museum, the Bethesda-by-the-Sea church, Rybovich Marina, and the Esther B. O’Keeffe Gallery at The Society of the Four Arts.
Once you get to the northern tip of Palm Beach, you can enjoy a scenic alternate route by heading south along North Ocean Boulevard to enjoy spectacular views of the beach and the Atlantic Ocean for about two miles. You can make your way back to the Lake Trail by cutting west after reaching Palm Beach Country Club.
It takes about three hours to complete the entire Lake Trail at a relaxed walking pace. Be sure to take a restroom break and bring water before heading out, since many parts of the Lake Trail pass through residential neighborhoods. If you want to go biking, bike rentals are available at nearby venues such as Top Cycle Palm Beach and Palm Beach Bicycle Trail Shop.
Flagler Drive
Flagler Drive is a favorite jogging and running destination for many Palm Beach and West Palm Beach locals. This seven-mile stretch along the shore treats runners to panoramic views of Lake Worth and the Intracoastal Waterway.
An excellent spot to start your run is the Society of Four Arts (you’ll be able to park here if you bring a vehicle). From here, you can run across Royal Park Bridge to get to Flagler Drive. The four-mile stretch south of the bridge is one of the most scenic sections, as it’s surrounded by views of Everglades Island and Palm Beach across Lake Worth Lagoon (it’s especially magnificent at sunrise!).
If you’re in the mood for a longer run, you can combine Flagler Drive with the Lake Trail. Start your run at the intersection of South Lake Drive and Worth Avenue, and then run across Royal Park Bridge. Take the waterfront path along South Flagler Drive for about two miles heading south. The bridge leading to Bingham Island takes you back to Palm Beach. Run north along South Ocean Boulevard and head west on Worth Avenue or one of the side streets to South Lake Drive.
Okeeheelee Park
Okeeheelee Park in West Palm Beach features eight miles of paved bicycle paths and a 4.1-mile single-track mountain biking trail for beginners and intermediate-level riders. You can find the trailhead on the east side of Pinehurst Drive.
For BMX riders, the park’s Okeeheelee BMX Track is available to members of USA BMX. Anyone interested in BMX racing can register for membership by calling 352.427.4560 or visiting the Okeeheelee BMX website.
South Cove Natural Area
The South Cove Natural Area is one of three preserves on Lake Worth developed by Palm Beach County to restore and protect the estuary’s natural features.
South Cove encompasses around six acres and includes three man-made islands on Lake Worth Lagoon. The boardwalk leading out to the largest island is perfect for a relaxing walk. It’s a short and scenic walk with captivating vistas of tall mangroves, sloping sand dunes swept by the tides, and rocky outcrops jutting out from the shore surrounding you each step of the way.
South Cove Natural Area is an excellent spot for birdwatching. The mangroves populating the islands attract a variety of shorebirds including blue herons, ibis, brown pelicans, grackles, cormorants, and snowy egrets.
Pine Glades Natural Area
Located in Jupiter, the Pine Glades Natural Area is a wetland paradise home to a diverse population of wading birds including blue herons, white ibis, turkey vultures, and roseate spoonbills. It is Palm Beach County’s second-largest natural area, covering over 6,500 acres with more than seven miles of hiking trails winding through thriving native ecosystems that include a depression marsh, mesic and wet flatwoods, dome swamp, and wet prairie.
Pine Glades is one of the best destinations for a sunset hike. Look for the entrance to the Quail Trail, located around half a mile southeast of the parking lot. If you time your walk right before dusk, you’ll be able to see flocks of wading birds soaring in to roost right as the sun disappears into the horizon.
Jupiter’s Off-Leash Dog Beach
Jupiter’s dog-friendly beach is the perfect spot if you’re looking forward to a fun day outdoors with your beloved canine companion. The beach is one of the few dog-friendly beach zones in Florida and is the perfect place to get some good exercise with your pup. Running on sand allows for a deeper lower body workout as it targets rarely used foot muscles. Add in a game of fetch for an extra workout!
WATER SPORTS
Snorkeling
With its warm crystal clear waters, Palm Beach offers amazing snorkeling experiences year-round.
One of the most popular snorkel sites is Blue Heron Bridge, which takes visitors on an unforgettable underwater adventure surrounded by an abundance of tropical marine life. Due to its geographical location, the waterway beneath Blue Heron Bridge is an ideal breeding area and safe haven for a wide variety of marine species. Over 300 species have been observed in this area, from tiny nudibranchs to gigantic Florida manatees.
The jump-off point for the snorkel trail is Phil Foster Park, located right under Blue Heron Bridge. You’ll be able to walk in from the shore, make your way past the swimming area, and start exploring the snorkeling trail. The site ranges in depth from six to ten feet, making it accessible for snorkelers of all levels. Its inland location surrounded by barrier islands creates calm waters teeming with colorful underwater life, perfect for beginners.
Guided snorkel tours led by experienced dive instructors are available for small groups. Most guided tours include wetsuit and snorkel gear rental and photo packages.
Scuba diving
Among the most popular dive spots in the Palm Beaches is the M/V Ana Cecilia, a cargo ship intentionally put to rest in 2016 under 85 feet of water, just off the Lake Worth Inlet. The 170-foot-long freighter was previously for humanitarian efforts, transporting clothing, food, hygiene products, and other necessities from Miami to Havana.
Today, the Ana Cecilia plays a key role in allowing marine life to thrive and contributing to the conservation efforts of surrounding reefs. Over the years, the ship has supported the growth of sponges, soft coral, and denser fish populations.
August through October is one of the best times to explore the site, as the ship houses many goliath groupers during their spawning season. Large barracuda, porkfish, wrasse, sergeant majors, and schools of blue runner are also easy to spot in the waters. Prior to submerging, sections of the ship were altered with scuba divers in mind. Large cutouts were made on the hull, decks, and companionways to make it easy for scuba divers to swim through.
The Ana Cecilia is a sought-after dive site, especially for underwater photographers. The cutouts allow plenty of ambient light to illuminate the wreck’s interiors, providing the perfect opportunity to capture some truly unique snapshots.
Proper equipment and certifications are needed for scuba divers who wish to explore the wreck. Certification courses require several open-water dives, which you will need before you’re authorized to go 85 feet below the surface.
Kayaking, canoeing, and paddle boarding
John D. MacArthur Beach State Park
The nearby MacArthur Beach State Park is a top destination for kayaking in South Florida. Located on a barrier island less than 30 minutes north of Palm Beach, the park offers one of the most unique kayaking experiences: a trip to Munyon Island, a historic island only accessible by boat, paddleboard, or kayak.
Originally called “Nuctsachoo” (or Pelican Island) by the Seminoles, the island was later renamed in honor of James Munyon, who developed a five-story hotel on the south shore of the island. The island is a thriving mangrove habitat that supports one of the largest populations of wading birds in the state. Paddling through the calm waters as you navigate the island’s mangrove tunnels is an unforgettable experience for nature lovers. Remember to keep your eyes peeled for snapper, rays, mullet, ospreys, and manatees!
Kayak rentals are available at the Beach Outfitters Gift Shop. For rental fees, kayak rules and regulations, and other information, visit this page.
In addition to kayaking trips to Munyon Island, visitors of MacArthur Beach State Park can enjoy a relaxing stroll along the Satinleaf Nature Trail, an easy 1.2-mile out-and-back trail winding through a diverse maritime habitat comprised of a wide variety of tropical plant species.
Spanning approximately 80 acres, Peanut Island is a tropical park at the mouth of Lake Worth Inlet, near the Port of Palm Beach. The park is a prime location for outdoor recreation, offering a myriad of activities including camping, fishing, swimming, and snorkeling.
Peanut Island is a short paddle away from the Riviera Beach Marina, making it a favorite kayaking and paddleboarding destination. Paddling along the shoreline offers a magnificent view of the elegant waterfront mansions of Palm Beach. If you need to take a break, make your way to the northeast side of the island where you’ll find a shallow area that turns into a sandbar during low tide. Here, you’ll be able to explore the island, enjoy swimming, or go snorkeling at the lagoon before heading back out on your kayak or paddleboard.
If you don’t have your own kayak or paddleboard, many locations in Riviera Beach like Paddle Boarding Palm Beach, Nautical Ventures, and Get Wet Watersports offer rentals and guided tours of Peanut Island.
Located less than 30 minutes northwest of Palm Beach, Riverbend Park offers unforgettable canoeing and kayaking adventures on the Loxahatchee River.
Kayaking trips at the Loxahatchee range from short one to two-hour trips to all-day excursions. The guided tours take paddlers through some of the most stunning sections of the Loxahatchee River as they navigate past shady cypress swamps, mangrove-lined banks, and pristine forested tributaries. The river is a haven for all sorts of wildlife. You might be able to spot ospreys, deer, bald eagles, turtles, alligators, and manatees along the way.
Experience an epic adventure on the Loxahatchee River by booking a guided tour at Jupiter Outdoor Center.
GOLF
Palm Beach and West Palm Beach are home to several top-rated golf courses with fantastic fairways and greens, expansive resort-style clubhouses, and uninterrupted beach views.
Below are some of the best golf courses in the area.
- Palm Beach Par 3 Golf Course – Located between the Intracoastal Waterway and the Atlantic Ocean, the Palm Beach Par 3 Golf Course is a world-renowned course originally designed by Dick Wilson in 1961 and renovated by PGA Tour champion and World Golf Hall of Fame inductee Raymond Floyd. The 18-hole course is rated one of the top golf courses in the country.
- The Park West Palm – The Park operates with an “open golf” concept anchored on the belief that golf is a sport for everyone. Their goal is to introduce more young golfers to the game by offering a wide variety of youth-oriented programs including lessons, coaching, tournaments, caddie opportunities, and even after-school homework assistance. In addition to their incredible Gil Hanse-designed 18-hole course, The Park features top-quality amenities including a putting course, a state-of-the-art practice facility, and a TopTracer-enabled range.
- Okeeheelee Golf Course – The award-winning Okeeheelee Golf Course offers 27 holes of championship golf in a breathtaking park setting. Golfers get to enjoy an unforgettable playing experience with three nine-hole courses that combine to create multiple 18-hole configurations. Meticulously maintained fairways and greens keep the course challenging yet friendly, making it a superb choice for golfers of all skill levels.
- Madison Green Country Club – Located minutes away from West Palm Beach, Madison Green Country Club features a picturesque par-72 course tucked away in a lush, tropical setting surrounded by pine barrens and hundreds of soaring oaks and palm trees. The course is recognized for its pristine conditions and exceptional design, with a challenging yet rewarding layout that requires strategy and precision at every stroke.
- PGA National Resort – This exclusive golf resort in Palm Beach Gardens has hosted the most prestigious golf tournaments in the world including the Ryder Cup, PGA Championship, and PGA Tour’s Honda Classic. It’s home to six renowned golf courses including the famed – and feared – Champion Course, home to what many consider the most challenging three-hole stretch on the PGA Tour.
EVENTS
Garden of Life Palm Beaches Marathon
Every December, thousands run through scenic tropical waterfront streetscapes by joining the Garden of Life Palm Beaches Marathon, a weekend-long event benefitting Special Olympics Florida. The event consists of a marathon, half marathon, marathon relay, and a 10K and 5K road race. All races start and finish near the Meyer Amphitheater on Flagler Drive.
This year’s Palm Beaches Marathon will take place from December 9 to 10, 2023. For registration and other information, visit the official Garden of Life Palm Beaches Marathon website.
FIND YOUR DREAM HOME IN PALM BEACH
These are just some of the many amazing destinations and fun Palm Beach outdoor activities you can enjoy.
If you’re looking for a home in this highly desirable community, work with the Frisbie Palm Beach Team today. With our unmatched expertise, quantitative service-oriented approach, and top broker-associate and longtime South Florida resident Suzanne Frisbie at the helm, you can look forward to a seamless and stress-free experience as you navigate this sought-after market.
Get in touch with us today by calling 561.373.0941 or sending an email.