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Attractions

Attractions Cities of Florida Travel West Palm Beach

A Splashing Good Time

For more than 35 years, Rapids Water Park has been one of the best places to go in Florida for exciting water slides. It’s an ideal spot for family fun just outside West Palm Beach. Fort Rapids uses a western theme throughout the complex. The water park has displays and attractions that highlight the wild west.

The enormous park is known for its many water slides – there are 35 in all, from those best suited to adrenaline junkies to some more family-friendly slides and rides. The park calls its most thrilling rides its “Biggest” attractions, including rafting through a Tornado slide in complete darkness and six slide lane`s, excellent for racing.

The water slides start indoors and then twist and turn outside of the side of the building before coming back inside. This makes for more room in the facility and a great advertisement as you drive by the hotel.

Other attractions are designed for all ages, including several that are specifically meant to be kid-friendly. There is a large wave pool, a lazy river, kid-sized slides, and obstacle courses in which guests need to walk on floating objects to cross pools. Also, they have an “Activity pool” which is an area for swimming and water basketball for older kids and the “Rascal Roundup” is a nearby play water structure with water cannons, dumping buckets and water slides for kids as well.

Overall, getting away and spending quality time together as a family is what this place is all about. When you are staying at the hotel, you can swim before your check in time and also enjoy the water park after you check out. It is highly recommended that you bring a hairdryer if you plan on using the pool after you check out. Oh, and there are also lockers available for rent.

Photo Credit: https://www.makeamomsmile.com

Attractions Cities of Florida Restaurants West Palm Beach

Life is Here in Clematis Street

Established as a commercial district for Palm Beach County in the 1890s, Clematis Street is now the cultural heart of Downtown West Palm Beach. Filled with restaurants, bars, boutiques and bookstores, not to forget the art galleries and antique shops, the street stretches all the way from Rosemary Street to South Flagler Street, encompassing the West Palm Beach Waterfront and three public docks on the Intracoastal Waterway.

Frequently cited as the historic heart of downtown West Palm, Clematis Street epitomizes the fun-loving atmosphere of the city. Beginning at the street’s intersection with Flagler Drive near the Intracoastal Waterway, all sorts of bars, shops and restaurants await visitors. And on Thursday nights, the street’s Centennial Square comes alive for Clematis By Night, which offers free live music from 6 to 9 p.m.

This historical part of town has been revitalized with shops, restaurants, bars, and a beautiful waterfront view. So regardless if you just want to shop and eat, or maybe take some nice pictures, you should make sure to stop in. It’s also a great spot for some nightlife – especially with the live music at the waterfront.

Travelers praise Clematis Street’s abundance of dining and shopping options, plus its waterfront views near Flagler. The Flagler end of Clematis Street also hosts the seasonal West Palm Beach Green Market, which features more than 70 food and plant vendors on select Saturdays and comes highly recommended by previous visitors.

Clematis Street is a joy to browse during the day, bumping in and out of places like the independent and specialty Liberty Bookstore, fine glass and sculpture center, Habatat Galleries and furniture and design store Authentic Provence. Take the free Molly’s Trolleys Yellow Line route or the 75-minute Diva Duck Amphibious Tours from City Centre down Clematis Street first, to get the lay of the land.

The latter starts on land before motoring up and down the Intracoastal for a historic tour of the region. You’ll also pass Centennial Square and Fountain Park, where the interactive fountain beckons children (and the young at heart) to play.

Photo Credit: https://clematisstreet.org

Attractions Cities of Florida Miami West Palm Beach

The Sanctuary for Manatees

If you are looking for a fun activity to do with the kids, your significant other or just by yourself, you have to stop by the Manatee Lagoon in Riviera Beach. Manatee Lagoon is an FPL Eco-Discovery Center and Palm Beach’s latest educational center, providing residents and tourists alike with the perfect vantage point to see these magnificent creatures.

Once a casual spot next to the local electric plant’s discharge waters, this center celebrating the manatee opened in 2016 at a spot where the peaceful creatures naturally congregate. The airy, two-story facility is surrounded by wraparound decks to accommodate sea-cow spotters from fall to spring. Educational, interactive displays tell the story of this once-endangered species. More than 150 giant manatees visit because of the warm waters put out by the nearby power plant.

Florida Power & Light, the main electric company for Palm Beach County, made this all possible as the warm waters that flow from the power plant have been a sanctuary for hundreds of manatees since the 1940’s. The power plant has worked with agencies such as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to ensure the manatees safety.

The marine science center includes interactive touch screen displays, galleries, a pavilion and picnic area, meeting and classroom spaces, a café and gift shop. A great benefit of this project, besides the entertainment aspect, is that raising awareness about these animals will help ensure their survival for the long term.

Manatee Lagoon offers visitors engaging opportunities to learn about the endangered and unique Florida manatee and the Lake Worth Lagoon ecosystem it inhabits. Visitors can also understand the role power plants play in sustaining the species. The warm water outflows from the adjacent FPL Riviera Beach Next Generation Clean Energy Center attract hundreds of manatees each year, particularly during these cold winter months.

Photo Credit: https://www.facebook.com/ManateeLagoon/

Attractions Cities of Florida Miami West Palm Beach

A Major Performing Arts Facility

The Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts works to enhance the quality of life in Palm Beach County by presenting a diverse schedule of national and international performing artists and companies of the highest quality. The Kravis Center also fosters arts education by offering comprehensive educational and community outreach programs.

As a community leader and major economic catalyst, the Center showcases regional performing arts organizations and supports efforts to increase travel and tourism to West Palm Beach. Set on 10.6 acres of property at the highest point in the city, the Kravis Center includes three venues — the 2,193-seat Alexander W. Dreyfoos, Jr. Concert Hall, the flexible 300-seat Rinker Playhouse and the outdoor Michael and Andrew Gosman Amphitheatre with a capacity for 1,400 patrons.

The Center’s Cohen Pavilion houses the Weiner Banquet Center, The Picower Foundation Arts Education Center and The Elmore Family Business Center for the Arts, along with a five-level parking garage.

After celebrating its 22nd season the number of events hosted annually has grown to more than 800, with attendance of more than 500,000 patrons. Many regionally based arts organizations call the Kravis Center their home including Miami City Ballet, Palm Beach Opera, and the Palm Beach Pops.

During the 2013-2014 season, the Kravis Center itself will present more than 350 performances featuring acclaimed artists from every discipline. Established as a leading force in the social fabric of the community, its many outreach programs are as broad and varied as the community itself.

To date, the Center has opened the door to the performing arts for more than 1.7 million school children as well as thousands of economically disadvantaged senior citizens, minorities and community groups.

Photo Credit: https://www.visitwpb.com

Attractions Cities of Florida Miami West Palm Beach

All in One Park in West Palm Beach

Dog Parks are rapidly appearing across the nation and The Palm Beaches are home to many beautiful grounds through Palm Beach County Parks & Recreation. This four-acre grassland is equipped with five fenced-in enclosures with three separate sections for small, medium and large dogs, five covered gazebos, multiple dog wash stations, and several water fountains. Along with Lake Woof Dog Park, The Palm Beaches are home to many other dog parks. Jupiter is also in the process of building a park that pups and owners are guaranteed to enjoy.

The Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation Department is recognized as the best in Florida and tops in the nation, operates more than 110 parks and recreational facilities and provides organized recreational programs and services for people of all ages and abilities.

Your playtime is our business. And we take it seriously. Professional staff are always planning for your next visit. New facilities accommodate the latest in leisure trends, as well as the always-popular, timeless needs of our growing community. Exciting, educational, and rewarding recreation programs will stimulate your imagination and provide the challenges you’re looking for.

Palm Beach County’s award-winning park system offers the widest possible range of leisure opportunities. Over 8,000 acres of parkland are available to discover. Sports, fitness, environmental, and cultural opportunities abound, as well as restful places for solitude.

When it comes to safety, we don’t play games with your safety. High quality construction followed by rigorous inspections and maintenance schedules ensure your visit will be a safe one. Park rangers are nearby to greet and assist you, answer questions, and watch out for your well-being.

Say good-bye to boredom and the often-hectic routine of everyday life. Looking for a getaway? You’ll find it here!

Photo Credit: https://twitter.com/pbcparks

Attractions Cities of Florida Florida West Palm Beach

Enjoy Nature at Its Best

When scheduling a trip to Florida, you’re going to need a great place to bring the whole clan together for a day of fun on and off the water. Okeeheelee Park, one of many spectacular Florida spots, is a perfect destination to take your West Palm Beach boat rental for a day of family-friendly fun. When you make it to Okeeheelee Park, you’ll see why it’s such a popular destination for Florida visitors and residents alike.

At 900 acres, the sprawling Palm Beach County regional park on the north side of Forest Hill Boulevard, east of Florida’s Turnpike, is bigger than the 850-acre Florida Atlantic University campus in Boca Raton. Like many places in South Florida, it gets its name from the Seminoles. Reports at the time said county commissioners named it the Seminole word for “pretty waters.” The county now says the word means “quiet waters.” The Seminole tribe says that because Miccosukee is an unwritten language, exact translations are hard, but the closest might be “okee-hee-thee,” which means “good water.”

The park should have been named “big delays.” Bought in 1973, it didn’t open its first phase for eight years and $6 million in work and wasn’t officially completed until 1996.

For eight years, only junk cars and squatters used the tract while the county planned and eventually completed landscaping, waterways, athletic fields and buildings. Its first phase was dedicated in 1982. The nature center opened in 1992 and the golf course in 1995. The park was officially completed with the opening of the racquet center in 1996.

Today, the park offers fishing, water skiing, boating, 14 athletic fields, six volleyball courts, five children’s play areas, eight tennis courts, a nature center and trails, a golf course and 40 picnic shelters.

The park is open daily from sunrise to sunset. Lighted basketball and tennis court facilities are open until 10 p.m., and lighted athletic fields are open until 11 p.m. So why not take your West Palm Beach boat rental to Okeeheelee Park for a day of exhilarating fun on and off the water?

Photo Credit: http://discover.pbcgov.org

Attractions Cities of Florida Florida West Palm Beach

The Four Pillars of Art

The Society of the Four Arts, a non-profit cultural organization, is located at the base of the Royal Park Bridge on Palm Beach. They welcome members and arts and entertainment enthusiasts throughout South Florida to the island. Sculptures, architecture, and manicured gardens are just the first of countless noble arts displayed on the grounds of the Society.

The Society of the Four Arts was founded in 1936, and the main goal was to offer quality cultural programming to the growing resort community of Palm Beach. Each year, the Four Arts features a lineup of culture programs, art exhibitions, films, concerts, notable speakers, and more for you to enjoy.

Society of the Four Arts is located in Palm Beach on Royal Palm Way, with beautiful sculptures, a botanical garden, two libraries, a state of the art educational facility, and a list of calendar events throughout the four buildings on the property.

The Esther B. O’Keeffe Gallery Building, designed by the famous architect Addison Mizner, is home to the art exhibits and a top of the line auditorium with sounds and lighting for concerts, broadcasts of the Metropolitan Opera, and lectures.

The newest Four Arts’ facility is the Dixon Education Building, and is home to the cultural education programs. The building was landmarked and originally built in the 1920’s as Palm Beach’s public-school building, but in 2013 the building was renovated by the Four Arts, modernizing the interior for 21st century style learning. The education building has classrooms, an art studio, and even an apartment for visiting artists when in town.

The final building on the campus, is the Four Arts Botanical Gardens, showcasing 7 demonstration gardens to show the different styles of landscaping and plants, and also providing information on plants that can survive the heat.

Located next to the gardens, is the Phillip Hulitar Sculpture Garden. The garden features an outdoor-museum feel showcasing elegant sculptures, pavilions, and has become a top destination for visitors to South Florida. The garden is open 7 days a week and the admission is free.

Photo Credit: https://stargroupinternational.com

Attractions Cities of Florida West Palm Beach

A Sanctuary for Animals

McCarthy’s Wildlife Sanctuary treats several local South Florida creatures consistently. Through guided nearby visits, guests can encounter the office and communicate with a few distinct creatures. Guests can find out about the safeguard procedure, including how the haven helps neighborhood untamed life authorities to catch injured creatures, and bring a crest into the restoration focus, including a treatment facility and recuperation space for the stranded or harmed animals.

It may not be as big and fancy as other zoos, but you’ll still see plenty at the Palm Beach Zoo & Conservation Society. Located within Dreher Park (about 4 miles southwest of downtown West Palm), the Palm Beach Zoo offers various animal exhibits, including multiple interactive experiences with koalas, sloths and tigers. Special kid and adult-centric events, such as a breakfast with the Easter bunny, a craft beer festival and a 5K tiger awareness run, are also hosted throughout the year’s than 170 animals, including lions, tigers, panthers and lemurs.

McCarthy’s Wildlife Sanctuary is an ideal attraction for animal lovers. Unlike Lion Country Safari and the Palm Beach Zoo, McCarthy’s Wildlife Sanctuary affords visitors an up-close view of various animals, as well as interactive opportunities with many of the property’s smaller species. In fact, travelers can hold everything from baby alligators to pythons during each tour.

This year, McCarthy’s Wildlife Sanctuary has treated hundreds of native animals that were sick or injured. Everything from foxes to bobcats, Sandhill Cranes to pelicans, hawks, owls, and many others have received veterinarian care by our staff and then were released back into the wild. Without the support of our volunteers and members, it would be impossible to continue the work for this valuable cause.

In the event that you are pondering what to do in West Palm Beach, Florida with kids, this is an extraordinary place to visit. At long last, McCarthy’s offers an effort program to teach the general population on the most proficient method to connect with natural life, and backers for measures to propel the assurance of creatures in nature.

Photo Credit: http://www.mccarthyswildlife.com/

Attractions Attractions Attractions Cities of Florida Florida Lakeland Miami Orlando Sarasota Tampa Travel West Palm Beach

Some Great Ways to Discover Florida.

Here are Some Great Ways to Discover Florida.

# 1. Fun and Adventure

With over 34 million visitors each year, Orlando is the undisputed theme park capital of the world. But if you are after more fun and adventure after visiting the theme parks at Disneyworld, Universal Orlando Resort and Seaworld, you should try the sensational Busch Gardens in Tampa, the world famous Daytona International Speedway and exploring the Everglades national park.

Don’t Miss Florida’s largest and fastest roller coaster…

Prepare for the thrill of your life on Sheikra, Florida’s tallest roller coaster and the world’s tallest dive coaster. 70mph of pure adrenaline-pumping excitement. Travel 200 feet up and then plunge to the depths of an underground tunnel, with water!

Don’t Miss Bush Gardens Zoo…

With over 2600 animals, the zoo at Busch Gardens is one of America’s top zoos

# 2. Culture

Look beyond the more obvious tourist attractions and you will be surprised at what you find.
There is an abundance of architecture, museums, forts, art galleries.

Don’t Miss Historic Wrecks…

Pensacola has fascinating wrecks to explore. This includes the 500-foot World War 1 battleship USS Massachusetts, the Russian freighter San Pablo and an A-7 Corsair aircraft that fell off the deck of the USS Lexington.

Don’t Miss Art Deco Buildings…

photo credit: http://miamiandbeaches.com

Take a stroll down Ocean Drive, Miami, and enjoy South Beach’s Art deco buildings. Painted pink, lavender and turquoise, they line the palm-fringed walkway.

Don’t Miss a Driving Tour…

If you have a car whilst visiting Miami, do yourself a favour, and take a driving tour of Coral gables. Coral Gables Driving Tour isn’t just one of the country’s richest neighbourhoods, it’s a separate city within Greater Miami. Known as ‘The City Beautiful’ for good reason, its elegant homes line winding avenues shaded by banyans and live oaks. This driving tour winds its way along the lush peaceful lanes and is both relaxing and cultural.

Along the tour are these beautiful sights:

1. The Granada Entrance – a replica of the gate to Granada in Spain.
2. The Country Club Prado Entrance – complete with ornamental pillars.
3. Alhambra water Tower – built in 1925.
4. Coral Way – lined by live oaks and Spanish-style houses.
5. Venetian Pool – a beautiful public swimming pool.
6. Coral Gables Congregational Church – built in Spanish Baroque style.
7. Biltmore Hotel – one of the most stunning hotels in the country, beautifully restored to its 1920s century grandeur.
8. The Lowe Art Museum – contains European and Native American Art.
9. French City Village – one of several international villages built to add variety to the city.
10. Dutch South African Village.
11. French Country Village.
12. Chinese Village.
13. French Normandy Village.
14. Coral Gables City Hall
15. Miracle Mile – the district’s most important shopping street.

Other Bits of Culture:

– Hemingway’s House in Key West, where the novelist lived from 1931-1940.

– Little Havana in Miami – 3.5 square miles of Cuban culture and life.

– The Ringling Museum of Art and Ringling Museum (Sarasota).

– Fernandina Beach on Amelia Island – a charming Victorian resort.

– Salvador Dali Museum, St Petersburg.

Attractions West Palm Beach

Attractions in West Palm Beach

While traversing through West Palm Beach, Florida, there were some spots I found to be remarkable which I’d love to share with you.
Some of these include:
• Rapids water park
The Rapids water park is one of the most popular in Florida and it is in the West Palm Beach area. It is an ideal warm-weather destination. This park features a wave pool which is as tall six feet. It also has about a quarter mile long river that gives a tubing experience as well as a beautiful waterslide. If you have a kid, then you should think of taking them over to this park from time to time as the park has a separate area for kids and toddlers. I enjoyed the time spent in this park as I discovered that they had sections for every size and age group. The park is divided into three categories based on the preference of everyone. There is the section where you can enjoy intense rides while another section is meant for those who want a relaxed trip. The last section, which was my favorite, is mostly water intensive. You can also grab a snack or meal at the café in the park. If you decide to move to the Palm Beach area of Florida, you most definitely will enjoy this park.
• Scuba Adventures
In the West Palm Beach area of Florida, there are several scuba adventures to choose from. Most of them will give you the same remarkable experience when you engage in it. However, I found the Jim Abernethy’s scuba adventures to be one of the best during my time there. If you decide to move to Florida, check it out to experience scuba diving firsthand. I was drawn to Jim’s scuba adventure because I discovered that they offered training programs as well as certification and
diving lessons if you are new to scuba diving. They also offer live aboard options to their customers using their incredible ship where scuba divers who are registered under them can cruise on board for several days at a time. In fact, you can take your family along on any of these trips which I’m sure they’ll love. This is another area of the West Palm Beach that I found interesting.
Along with these attraction centers, you can also visit the art galleries such as the Art House 429 which although was installed not too long ago, provides upcoming artists within the West Palm Beach area to showcase their art collections. You can also look forward to visiting the Grassy Water Nature Preserve which is the primary fresh water supply for West Palm Beach as well as surrounding places.