West Palm Beach is Palm Beach County’s largest municipality in both size and population. West Palm Beach is sometimes confused with the neighbouring city of Palm Beach. Both cities are beautiful and special but make no mistake, they are distinctly different. Palm Beach is a more upscale, elite island city where you will find chic designer boutiques, posh hotels and resorts and gourmet dining. In short, it is more expensive. West Palm Beach on the other hand still exudes an air of sophistication but retains a welcoming, comfortable atmosphere and a vacation in this city is more affordable. City Place and Clematis Street are West Palm Beach’s two main entertainment, shopping and dining districts. City Place is as much about atmosphere as it is about entertainment. Beautiful architecture, stunning fountains and quaint sidewalk cafes line the streets reminiscent of traditional European towns. At City Place you will find movie theatres, nightclubs and comedy clubs, world class restaurants, fashionable clothing and trendy home décor stores. Clematis Street is the city’s historic shopping and dining district. Donald Trump was once quoted as saying Clematis Street was the “hottest street in Florida.” Although the street is lined with retail shops, nightclubs, bars and restaurants, it is best known for its weekly festival Clematis by Night. Every Thursday night Clematis Street becomes lined with partygoers who come for the live reggae, rock or blues, art shows and vendors selling fantastic food and drink. Some of West Palm Beach’s other great night spots include Blue Martini, Renegades and The Lounge. As for shopping, if you are looking for high end designers there is no better place than Worth Avenue in Palm Beach.

If you are looking for a different kind of entertainment, West Palm Beach plays host to numerous festivals throughout the year celebrating everything from horses to music. Sunfest which is held in May is one of the city’s most popular waterfront celebrations of music and art. The festival draws more than 250,000 attendees and big names acts like Bob Dylan, John Mayer and Harry Connick Jr. For more active pursuits Palm Beach County has plenty of challenging golf courses. Be sure to tee off at any one of five courses at PGA National Resort & Spa, The Breakers Rees Jones Course or West Palm Beach Golf Course. Fishing is another popular pursuit in the West Palm Beach area. Cast a line in freshwater marshes for bass, bluegills or spotted sunfish. If you are seeking a ‘reel’ challenge, there are numerous charters willing to help you navigate the ocean waters in search of sailfish, tuna or grouper. Riviera Beach Marina is the best place to hire a credible charter.

The West Palm Beach area has many nature preserves, gardens and parks to explore. Grassy Waters Preserve showcase Florida’s most treasured asset, the Everglades. Here you can take a canoe trip or boardwalk hike throughout native flora and wildlife habitat or partake in educational and interactive programming. J.W. Corbett Wildlife Management Area and Okeeheelee Park are beautiful as well and well worth visiting. If you brought the kids or just want to feel like a kid again, West Palm Beach is full of exciting attractions for the young and young at heart. Cool off at Rapids Water Park which has over 22 acres of waves, slides and rides. Lion Country Safari is a drive through wilderness adventure full of lions, zebras, monkeys and more and Palm Beach Zoo at Dreher Park has more than 900 animals from around the world and much more. Both offer a full day of fun for everyone. A vacation in West Palm Beach can be described in just one word – fabulous! West Palm Beach enjoys a warm, humid climate year round. The city experiences a short, mild winter from December to May with temperatures ranging from 18˚C to 28˚C. Cold spells are possible though and temperatures can drop to nearly 10˚C but it is not frequent. The summer months are hot and humid with daily highs averaging between 30˚C and 33˚C. Afternoon thunderstorms are a regular occurrence during the summer months but are actually welcomed because they help break the heat.