Disclosure: Hotels.com asked us to share our travel experiences in The Palm Beaches, while all opinions remain our own.
Normally people think about The Palm Beaches as a romantic getaway destination or a place for people playing golf, but truth be told, The Palm Beaches also offers a variety of family friendly activities to enjoy with your kids and for every budget.
I had the opportunity to visit The Palm Beaches with my nephews. Riddick is ten years old, while Alan is a 2 year old toddler. At first I was not sure where to take them besides the beaches, but then I realized that there were so many options to choose from, especially with the many affordable activities. We, yes the kids too, have selected our favorite and best things to do in Palm Beach County in 2 days.
When is the best time to visit The Palm Beaches?
The Palm Beaches is an all year destination. Located on South Florida the county is privileged with warm weather all year round. I would recommend to visit Florida during the Fall, as prices are cheaper and less people are in town. Surprisingly, visiting South Florida during the summer months is also be a good idea, as there are many vacation specials going on due to the weather (it is hot, rainy and humid). Summer is the off season for Florida, strange huh? Well, the months of June to September has plenty of rainstorms. I will avoid going during the winter and spring months, as prices are higher because people from colder climates visit Florida to escape from their cold weather. The months of December to April are considered the best time of the year in South Florida for dry weather.If money is not a concern then April is the best month to visit south Florida as the rainy season is over and it is still warm.
The hurricane season in Florida runs from June to November with higher activity between mid-August to mid-October.
How to get to the Palm Beaches?
Palm Beach County has its own airport with several airlines flying direct from across the country. Tickets can be cheaper than flying to Miami International Airport. I love flying to the Palm Beach International Airport or to Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport, which also has great deals and it is one hour away.
If you are coming from a different country or you found a good flight deal to either Miami International Airport or Fort Lauderdale International Airport, I recommend to ride the Tri Rail that brings you all the way from either airport to West Palm Beach and it only costs $5 each way.
Where to stay in the Palm Beaches?
The family friendly activities in The Palm Beaches that we were doing were focused in Jupiter and West Palm Beach, so we recommend to stay in Sea Palms at the Jupiter Beach Resort and Spa Hotel. It is an elegant yet kid friendly beachfront hotel. My nephews were impressed with the view of the Atlantic Ocean and both of the pools.
For dinner we ate at BurgerFi in Jupiter which is just a five minute drive from the hotel. The kids loved their fresh Angus beef burgers, which is one of their favorite foods. They also shared a vanilla shake with rainbow sprinkles, since they are on vacation!
The Best Things To Do With Kids in The Palm Beaches: 2 Day Itinerary
Get ready for your first day of fun full of learning experiences and animal encounters. My nephews and I love nature and thought that the best way to start our journey in Florida was to visit attractions with animals.
Day 1: From Sea Turtles to Giraffe Feeding
Loggerhead Marine Life Center
The Loggerhead Marine Life Center is a rehabilitation hospital for sea turtles that have been injured, as well as a turtle research and conservation center. Not only do you get the chance to see the turtle patients, but also to learn more about why the animals there and how they are getting better. In fact, there is a cool free 30 minute long program called “Jr. Veterinarian Lab”, where kids can learn more about the process of sea turtle rescue to release. The Jr. Vets have to aid a green sea turtle replica while Dr. Logger teaches the group about common injuries and illnesses that affect these endangered animals.
➳ Tip: Visit the center during Sea Turtle season to see baby sea turtles (From May to October)
Every day at 2:00 PM the Center offers guided tours where your kids can get an up close look at the outdoor sea turtle hospital and learn more about each of the patients. The cost for the tour is $10 for adults and $5 for kids. The center also offers other free programs such as Dr. Logger Show, Turtle Talk, and Fish Feeding. Please check out the website to learn about the different programs and activities the center offers throughout the year.
The Loggerhead Marinelife Center is open daily from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, except New Year’s Day, Easter Sunday, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. On Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve the center closes at 3:00 PM.
Recommended time: 60 to 90 Minutes.
Fee: Free to $15 USD. It all depends on the activities you choose doing. Donations are recommended.
Lion Country Safari:
You do not need to go to Africa to experience a once in a lifetime Safari experience with your family. In Loxahatchee is the coolest attraction, Florida’s only drive through safari that offers different tours from animals encounters to animal feeding experiences. The cage free zoo is home to over 1,000 animals including giraffes, lions, and zebras. The Lion Country Safari park also has 6 rides and water sprayground perfect for toddlers.
The Park is open every day of the year. During the weekdays it is open from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM and on weekends it is open from 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM. The price s $39.00 per adult and $30 per child. If you buy your ticket online you also receive free parking.
We had lunch at the restaurant and we were surprised with the price as it is very affordable.
Recommended time: 3 to 5 hours.
Fee: $39 USD +. It all depends on the activities you choose doing.
Day 2: Explore and Enjoy
Riddick and Alan had such an amazing time learning about the abundance of wildlife and conservations efforts in Florida that they wanted to spend even more times enjoying animals. The Palm Beaches offers plenty of child friendly options to experience the local ecosystems.
Palm Beach Zoo and Conservation Society:
I do not tend to recommend visiting zoos unless they are also a conservation center for rescued animals, and in this case The Palm Beach Zoo is the perfect example of a research and conservation center. I love visiting the zoo because I am able to learn so much about the different animals at the zoo including the white alligator, which has a rare pigmentation disease.
At the zoo you will see monkeys, tigers, flamingos, and a lot of birds. Our highlight of the day was feeding the flamingos and learning so much about these beautiful creatures. For instance, did you know that the part on its legs that look like knees are their ankle?
We had lunch at the restaurant which is a great option with children, as it is one lest stop in the day!
Recommended time: 2 to 4 hours.
Fee: $19.95 per adult and $14.95 per kid*
*You can buy a bundle ticket that includes the South Florida Science Center and Aquarium for $9 USD more per adult and $7 per kid.
South Florida Science Center and Aquarium:
The South Florida Science Center and Aquarium features more than 50 hands-on educational exhibits, an early childhood education room, a lab and a small aquarium where kids can learn more about the marine life in Florida.
Recommended time: 2 to 3 hours.
Fee: $15 per adult and $11 per kid*
*You can buy a bundle ticket that includes the South Florida Science Center and Aquarium for $9 USD more per adult and $7 per kid.
Manatee Lagoon
If you visit Florida during the cold months you have a higher chance to see manatees, as the animals flock to The Palm Beaches to stay warm. The Manatee Lagoon center also offers an educational center with several interactive displays including manatee skeletons.
Recommended time: 60 to 90 minutes.
Fee: Free, but donations are encouraged.
Disclosure: Due to the ongoing Covid pandemic some attractions maybe closed or limited at this time. Make sure to consult local authorities about current restrictions and guidelines. Please keep your safety and the safety of others in mind at all times. If you do decide to travel at this time, please wear a face mask, wash your hands regularly and bring hand sanitizer with you.
