Off the Beaten Path Florida: 5 Palm Beach Area Activities

The sun is shining, the beach is beckoning and the Palm Beach area has abundant opportunities to play outdoors.  There is so much to explore beyond the beach, so make the most of your visit by going off the beaten path in the Palm Beach area.  Check out our favorite adventures.

Finding Off the Beaten Path Florida Activities

Not sure where to start to find off-the-beaten-path activities in the Palm Beach area? Our advice is to ask a local! Locals here love sharing their favorite activities with travelers — and usually know about all the hidden gems. If you happen to take a tour while you’re here, we recommend asking your tour guide for his or her favorite local hotspots.

Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens

If the idea of wandering around tranquil gardens and historical artifacts seems like your cup of tea, then check out the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens. Originally established in 1977, the Museum is designed to resemble a Japanese villa and showcases relics from nearby Boca Raton’s pre-WWII Japanese farming community, the Yamato Colony.

Situated in Delray Beach,, the museum and gardens are a great way to learn about a fascinating time in Florida’s history while taking advantage of the restorative exposure to nature. Time your visit to one of the many festivals hosted here, take advantage of a class or a workshop or just bliss out on the peaceful grounds.

Delray Beach

For a quintessential beach town with a kick of sophistication, don’t miss visiting charming Delray Beach. This city won the All-America City award in both 1993 and 2001 and the Travel Channel’s “Most Fun Small Town in the USA” award in 2012. Spending time in this little town is a fun way to get off the beaten path in the Palm Beach area.

Start your journey on Atlantic Avenue, Florida’s longest main street, filled with restaurants and upscale boutiques.  Leave plenty of time to hit a few of the eateries — from tacos and tequila to locavore fare and extensive wine lists, you’ll have many opportunities to experience Delray Beach as the locals do.

The Society of Four Arts Botanical & Sculpture Garden

For a tranquil (and free!) peek into the lush gardens of Palm Beach,  check out The Society of the Four Arts Botanical and Sculpture Garden.

Built in 1938, the Botanical Garden served as a welcome garden for newly-arrived South Floridians. Here they taught landscaping and lectured about native plants; the sculpture garden was established soon after. Bring a picnic and relax in the shade for one of our favorite off-the-beaten-path activities in Palm Beach.

Canoe or Kayak the Loxahatchee River

To fully experience off-the-beaten-path Palm Beach, rent a canoe or kayak and head down the 8.5-mile Loxahatchee River’s state-designated paddle trail. If your luck holds as the slow-moving water takes you downstream, you might catch sight of some of the giant birds such as Egrets and Ospreys that call the river their home.

West Palm Beach Food Tour

We love to eat as much as we love to explore, and what better way to combine the two than with a West Palm Beach Food Tour? Connected to Palm Beach via the Intracoastal Waterway, the area lends itself to a rich history of multicultural eating opportunities, from perfectly-crisped and Florida-born Cuban sandwiches to tangy ceviche. And, they’ll keep you off the beaten path and out of the tourist traps.

The West Palm Beach Food Tour, named one of 2019’s Top 10 Tour Experiences in the U.S., is a great way to get off the beaten path and discover delicious restaurants to enjoy during your vacation.

For a sampling of Downtown West Palm Beach, try the walking food tour. Meander around Downtown, stopping at six locally-owned restaurants for a taste of south Florida. If you’d rather venture out into the historic neighborhoods south of downtown West Palm Beach, your group can take a luxury van food tour and taste authentic Cuban food, visit a restaurant owned by a 5x James Beard nominee and step inside a beautiful historic bed and breakfast inn.