United States \ Florida \ Palm Beach
10 Free things to do in Palm Beach
Palm Beach
Home to the likes of Tiger Woods, Donald Trump and Jon Bon Joni, Palm Beach is known for being one of the most expensive places to live in the United States. But finding family friendly activities doesn’t need to break the bank. As locals with a toddler, there is plenty you can do for free with kids in one of USAs most expensive cities. Here’s a list of 10 free things to do with your kids that the whole family will enjoy!
- The Beach
There are a number of great beaches in Palm Beach that won’t break the bank like MacArthur State Park (which charges a small fee for parking), which also had kayak rental. In fact we took our then 18 month old kayaking in its shallow estuary which was a great experience. Other free beaches with no parking fees include Juno Beach with long stretches of beach and Phil Foster park which has some great snorkeling and boating options. - Cox Science Center and Aquarium
Although it is a ticketed space, just get a Bank of America debit card and you can access the Cox Science Centre and Aquarium for free on the first weekend of every month. There are plenty of child friendly museums on the Museums on Us list. In fact, we have used our Bank of America card in several states while traveling, to take our little one to different museums for free such as the Houston Children’s Museum, the High Museum in Atlanta and Orlando Science Centre. We particularly like the COX Science Center and Aquarium as it has so many interactive activities indoors, the beautiful aquarium with the opportunity to hold a baby alligator at specific times, science experiments demonstrated outdoors, the splash pad, and a whole host of outdoor activities geared around STEM. - Palm Beach Gardens Tennis and Pickleball Center Splash pad
The Palm Beach Aquatic Center has a great splash zone and pool with low shallow areas for little ones but if you’re not sure if they will enjoy it or how long they’ll want to play before they are “all done”, why not check out the free splash pad at the Palm Beach Tennis Centre? It has some shaded picnic tables, a splash pad, and playground with restrooms all together. - Public Playgrounds
There are some great outdoor playgrounds in Palm Beach for early mornings and cool evenings when it’s not too hot. I particularly like the Burns Road playground with its modern playground equipment and separate areas for different age groups. It is also just across the road from The Gardens Green Market (a local farmers market) which makes for a convenient post play snack and walk around. But if its later in the day Lilac Park is a better option as it has a lot more shade overhead, and like Burns Road is fenced in. - The Green Market
The Green Market is a delightful farmers market with local vendors selling produce, baked goods, juices, health foods, candles, soap, jewelry and other items. They often have musicians playing on a small stage, and some outdoor games for children like Connect Four. It’s a nice space for a leisurely walk around, people watching and sampling some local baked goods or preserves. - Library Story Time
When the weather is too hot there is always the library! There are a number of activities at the library such as story times, crafts, chess club and more. They also have puzzles and educational toys such as magna-tiles for the little ones. I particularly like trying out toys at the library to see what my little one enjoys, before deciding whether to buy it for ourselves. They have such a large variety of puzzles it will keep them occupied for hours and a good space to socialize the kids as they share toys with others and read books and do age-appropriate crafts with the librarians at Storytime.
- Manatee Lagoon
Manatee Lagoon is an educational center about the Manatees that visit in the winter months when the water gets cold. Due to the heat from the Energy Plant, Manatees flock there in the winter months. We saw some with our son, as early as mid-November, as well a school of Needlefish in the water. They also have a monthly story time for the littles outdoors, and provide age appropriate education on manatees, passing around manatee rib and jaw bone. Within the center there are several interactive science exhibits and lectures on various topics related to marine life. It’s a fun way to spend an hour or two before grabbing a snack from the food-trucks and having a picnic by the water.
- Loggerhead Marine Life Center
The Loggerhead Marine is another great place to learn about wildlife, specifically around conservation efforts to protect the Loggerhead turtles. The turtles at the center are either injured with the intention to treat them and release them back into the wild, or unable to be released due to their health. You can learn all about the turtles through the science exhibits at the center, and the whole family will enjoy creating their own fish to release to the reef on an interactive exhibit. The jellyfish tanks are a relaxing way to spend the afternoon or if your little has more energy to burn, there is a water table outside by the large fish tanks with model mangroves and fish that can be moved around for endless entertainment. - Grassy Waters Preserve
Grassy waters preserve is nice in the cooler months or even earlier in the day during the summer. You might spot some wildlife like ibis, ospreys, egrets, alligators, wild boars or racoons. Take a packed lunch, binoculars, and a nature scavenger hunt list and make a day of it with your little nature lover. - Riverbend Park
For those feeling a bit more adventurous, Riverbend park is a great space for all things outdoors. There is hiking, kayaking/canoeing and horse-riding. A historic site, you can visit ancient middens, battlegrounds, and picnic under the shady trees by the Loxahatchee river. You might even spot some local wildlife like deer, otters, bobcats and more.
Despite its reputation as a snow-bird hotspot and home for the rich and famous, there are still many options for young families living in or visiting the area to enjoy that are low to no cost.