Palm Beach: Nature, Gardens and History

In Palm Beach County, nature experiences range from elevated boardwalks through wetlands to trails through pine flatwoods and swamps. There are also Japanese gardens, insights into regional history and exhibits about sea turtles. Which of these themes you want to shape your trip is a good starting point for planning your visits and choosing a hotel.

Nature Areas and Trails

Palm Beach County’s nature areas offer opportunities for hiking, birdwatching, nature study and photography. Individual sites may close temporarily for restoration or safety work. At Green Cay Nature Center and Wetlands, a 1.5-mile elevated boardwalk leads through a 100-acre man-made wetland. The boardwalk is open from sunrise to sunset; check current operating information before your visit.

Two trails branch off from the boardwalk at Daggerwing Nature Center. Wildlife can be observed in the swamp, including the Ruddy Daggerwing butterfly. Okeeheelee Nature Center offers 2.5 miles of trails through 90 acres of pine flatwoods and wetlands. The trails therefore differ not only in length but also in the character of the landscape: an elevated boardwalk through a man-made wetland contrasts with trails through pine flatwoods and wetlands.

Riverbend Park has nearly 10 miles of designated hiking and biking trails. There are also 5 miles of routes for canoeing and kayaking. This means you can choose activities on land and on the water in the same park. Riverbend Park also has a historical focus: it explores history related to ancient Indigenous shell mounds and battles from the Seminole Wars.

Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge protects 145,188 acres of Everglades ecosystems. Palm Beach County also has 47 miles of coastline. These two scales—large protected ecosystems and an extensive coastline—give the county’s natural landscape its varied character.

Gardens, Museums and History

Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens combines garden trails with exhibitions. Its extensive Japanese gardens cover 16 acres and include walking paths and a bonsai collection. Exhibitions at the Yamato-kan showcase the history of the Yamato Colony. Throughout the year, the museum also hosts several exhibitions of Japanese art and artifacts. Visitors looking to include both outdoor spaces and exhibits in their plans will find both in one place.

Whitehall offers a specific historical focus: The building is a National Historic Landmark. A visit to the Flagler Museum includes the first and second floors of Whitehall, the grounds and the Flagler Kenan Pavilion. A visit can therefore encompass the interiors as well as the grounds and pavilion.

In Juno Beach, Florida, the nonprofit Loggerhead Marinelife Center on the Atlantic Ocean is dedicated to sea turtle research, rehabilitation, education and conservation. The visitor experience includes interactive exhibits, the opportunity to observe sea turtles in the center’s care and conversations with marine experts. This combines visits to exhibits with insights into the work being done around sea turtles.

Plan Your Trip and Hotel Location

For regional rail travel, Brightline connects West Palm Beach and Boca Raton with Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Orlando. If you plan to travel by train, check current timetable information before your trip; services and schedule details may change.

When choosing a hotel in Palm Beach, it helps to first decide which experiences matter most for your trip: trails and wetlands, cultural history, Japanese gardens or sea turtles. Then compare the hotel’s location with the destinations that interest you and your planned arrival arrangements. This way, you can tailor your search to your itinerary without reducing the nature and cultural offerings to just one type of stay.

Explore more destinations:

Haverhill, West Palm Beach, Greenacres, Atlantis, Jupiter, Boynton Beach, Delray Beach, Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Lake Worth, Palm Beach Gardens, Riviera Beach, Manalapan, Lantana, Highland Beach, Lake Park, Royal Palm Beach, North Palm Beach, Juno Ridge, Loxahatchee, Ocean Ridge, Wellington

For the broader travel overview: Florida.