The Palm Beaches offers the perfect balance family fun, situated literally and figuratively between Orlando’s all-kid and Miami’s all-adult vacation paradises. Families will find museums, waterparks, beaches, and outdoor fun for every vacation style. Palm Beach area resorts fit every family budget, too. Families can use the warm weather to take an ice cream tour of the area to hit the various parts of the Palm Beaches, but don’t miss out on the area’s biggest chocolate factory.
My family has two magical places in Florida it loves, and being only two and a half hours apart, we love combining our Orlando adventures with a vacation in the Palm Beaches.
Things to do in Palm Beach With Kids
The Playmobil Fun Park
My kids have been curious about the Playmobil Fun Park for years. They stumbled upon it on the website while browsing the catalog. We adore these toys for their durability, and the creative play they have provided our kids for years.
I told my children that we were doing a surprise stop on our trip and had shirts in the backseat that they could tie and improvise blindfolds as we approached it. I worried others would look into our rental car and think I was kidnapping some children.
I removed their blindfolds after I carefully steered them in front of the main door, five minutes before it opened. Just as I was about to remove my daughter’s blindfold, she shouted it out with a correct guess.
I can’t imagine what it would be like to be a local mom with this place down the road for some indoor play. For only a one dollar entry fee, children can explore and play all Playmobil organized by theme: pirates, princesses, city, jungle, farm. It’s all there.
The Norton Museum
The Norton Museum is one of the cultural headquarters of Palm Beach with an impressive permanent collection of contemporary and European art. The museum, undergoing rapid expansion, offers diverse and robust programs for the community, many of which are suitable for families.
This is a very good art museum to take children because the scale of it is intimate enough that it’s not overwhelming. Parents will likely be able to see and enjoy the art for themselves before the waning attention span of young kids.
By the time my son was doing somersaults on the gallery sofa, nearby guards politely smiled before looking the other way and letting me know they welcomed our family for all of its styles of art appreciation.
Just when my children started begging me to leave. The “Art After Dark” series includes an activity for children. The night we were there featured the visual qualities of letter writing. A local art teacher led a craft exercise displaying a variety of two dimensional materials, stamps, and envelopes.
Armed with glue sticks and scissors my children became completely focused on the task of drafting visual letters to friends. And once again, I found that even though I had to drag my children into a museum, I also had to drag them out.
The Loggerhead Marine Life Center
Ever wondered about turtles? The Loggerhead Marine Life Center is an incredible opportunity to learn about the loggerhead turtle. All of its resident turtles are in some form of rehab at this center. They can be seen in tanks with glass walls. There’s a fascinating outdoor exhibit in addition to multiple learning stations making this an educational must for the whole family.
The retail shop has an extensive collection of toys that every child will want to bring home.
Family Restaurants and Treats in the Palm Beaches
Hoffman’s Chocolate Tour & Ice Cream
Hoffman’s chocolates as a local company that has a national presence known for incredibly high quality chocolates I found in the yummiest Easter baskets and Christmas stockings.
Chocolate tours can be arranged for a fee for small groups of the public can easily enjoy A video about the making of chocolate while watching the factory the action in the factory happen
The ice cream is not to be overlooked. In fact, I would say it was exceptional in quality and taste and worth a drive on a family’s Palm Beach food tour with kids. Buy the chocolate and take it back to your room, but get a big portion of ice cream to eat right there. I think it’s obvious but Hoffman’s chocolate ice cream was A-MA-ZING.
Sloan’s Ice Cream
Sloan’s is a Palm Beach institution, a bright pink storefront on Clematis in West Palm Beach. This location is near many shops, restaurants, fountains, and community spaces.
Sloan’s also has an extensive retail selection of toys and novelties, so there’s something for everyone to browse and enjoy. The ice cream was great, but I still think Hoffman’s is the city’s best-kept secret.
Tommy Bahamas Café
I’d been told by numerous locals the Tommy Bahamas Cafe was great for families. I hadn’t visited this chain restaurant in several years, but I’m so happy we did after the Loggerhead Marine Life Center.
We started with their signature round loaf and flavored butter. After our guacamole appetizer, my daughter —with her mouth full— broke a rule to speak to say, “This is the best food I’ve ever had.”
The children’s menu was exceptional and offering a nice variety that was beautifully presented. My kids feasted on grilled chicken over pineapple with broccolini, complete with cocktail umbrella.
The dessert tray threw them over the moon. We only had room for one dessert for us to share, and we chose the incredible Oreo mud pie.
Best Palm Beach Resorts for Families
Five Star Palm Beach with Kids
Palm Beach has several wonderful beach resorts for families. The Breakers and The Eau offer contrasting five-star experiences: the old and new Palm Beach. The former is one of the most illustrious and historic American resorts modeled after Italian palaces. The latter is whimsical and modern, designed by Jonathan Adler.
Palm Beach Family Suites
Many families prefer the flexibility of space and kitchens, and this is where the Marriott Singer Island steps in to offer suites with kitchens overlooking one of the best beaches in the Palm Beaches. The Marriott Singer Island offers a family pool with daily kid activities, waterslide, a kids club, and a playground next door.
The Palm Beaches is a larger area than people realize, and we adore each trip that shows us more and more of this vacation paradise for families.
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