The Family Guide to Palm Beach‏, Florida

Families can find a huge selection of attractions, activities and adventures to keep everyone busy in Palm Beach, Florida. You can sample the culinary delights and take in the breathtaking beauty. You can make memories at some of the many family-friendly attractions or soak up sunshine on pristine beaches. The only problem is that there is so much to do in Palm Beach that it’s difficult to narrow it down. After visiting for a week with Athena, we’ve chosen our favorite places to eat, sleep and play in Palm Beach. If you’re looking for a fun-filled family vacation in Palm Beach, check out these experiences.

Where to Sleep

Palm Beach Marriott Singer Island Resort & Spa
Overlooking the ocean, this upscale beachfront condo resort is just steps from the area’s best shopping, dining and entertainment. Separate spaces for dining, living and sleeping create a stylish home away from home on the beach. Families will love the washer/dryer combo and full kitchen. The kids club is outstanding with tons of activities and daily events, and the pool water slide puts this property at the top of most lists.

Crane’s Beach House Boutique Hotel & Luxury Villas
A one-minute walk from the beach, this low-rise hotel features a tropical-themed decor and 2 saltwater swimming pools surrounded by palm trees.
The en-suite rooms and suites are decorated with bright fabrics and have rattan furniture. All rooms have free WiFi, flat-screen TVs, ceiling fans and patios or balconies. Rooms offer kitchenettes with fridges & microwaves, while suites have full kitchens. Continental breakfast is complimentary, as is parking. The poolside tiki bar features live music on select days and we experienced kids and adults enjoying the music while we were there. If you’re more into smaller, boutique hotels, this is the spot for you.

The Breakers
This Italian Renaissance-style resort is on a private beach and offers endless amenities and services. Classic rooms, decorated in ocean blues and rich browns, feature free WiFi, flat-screen TVs and DVD players. Amenities include 2 golf courses, tennis courts, 4 pools, on-site shopping, a fitness center and a spa. Dining is offered at 7 restaurants and there are several lounges. With a dedicated Family Entertainment Center, a 4,500-square-foot outdoor playground, a kids camps, a daily entertainment schedule, a family-friendly pool and a children’s menus, The Breakers Palm Beach provides an outstanding experience for children of all ages.

Where to Eat

Saquella Café
Saquella Cafe is an Italian bistro, espresso bar, European bakery, restaurant and tapas bar. At Saquella Cafe, they make everything fresh in house and their menu has a “Healthy European” twist to it. It’s reasonably priced and made to order. They use fresh ingredients from local purveyors and are a proud “No Fry Zone”; nothing on their menu is fried. They serve breakfast, lunch and dinner, all accompanied with their freshly baked breads, as well as a pleasing variety of wine and beer.

We dined at Saquella Cafe for dinner. Their Chicken Waldorf on Muesli Toast is award-worthy and it was a relaxed, child-friendly atmosphere. Our server was extremely attentive and never left our glasses half full. They offer a children’s menu with tons of choices and their baked goods are delicious.

Cool Beans Cafe
Cool Beans Indoor Play Cafe is designed to offer a stimulating environment for children and a relaxing, cozy oasis for adults. They are an enrichment center offering a variety of classes and activities for children and a gourmet cafe serving healthy and fresh items and specialty coffees. Athena and I spent three hours in a welcoming, entertaining environment for both of us. Whether you’re going just for a bite to eat or if you want to spend the entire day at the cafe, Cool Beans is a great spot for young kids and adults.

Flagler Steakhouse
This old-school spot for classic steak and seafood dishes offers an elegant setting with views of the golf course. Both the service and the food were the best we received in Palm Beach.

I ordered the Petite Filet Mignon with a baked potato. After the first bite, I wanted to personally thank the chef myself (although I didn’t). The outside was seared to perfection without a hint of burnt taste while the inside was tender and juicy. The service was even more amazing with attention to every detail while never being too pushy. I could eat at Flagler every night of the week and still be completely satisfied.

Where to Play

Little Prince and Princess Tea experience at The Chesterfield
The Chesterfield Hotel offers a Little Prince and Princess Tea Party and we felt like royalty when we attended. They provide a crown and a boa in a royal setting with royal service. The whole experience feels authentic as you dine on a selection of irresistibly tempting sandwiches, treats and scones. The choices of tea are endless and their are plenty of options for children as well.

South Florida Science Center & Aquarium
The South Florida Science Center & Aquarium was the best shock of all. It was the best science center for toddlers that I’ve visited. It revolves around a simple premise: science is exciting! Science means adventure and exploration and they deliver on this promise. Their 5,000 square foot Hall of Discovery contains over 30 hands-on exhibits. They offer a planetarium, a theater, a science laboratory and a 1,000 square foot early childhood education room.

Lion Country Safari
Lion Country Safari is known for it’s drive-through safari with hundreds of animals, but it also offers animal displays and encounters, animal feeding experiences, amusement park rides, a water playground, boat tours and dining. It was the best of all of our favorite family-friendly parks combined into one destination.

Rapids Waterpark
Rapids Water Park is 30 acres of fun for the young and young at heart. The park includes a wave pool, thirty-five water slides, including dual seven-story speed slides and a quarter mile lazy river. The cool thing about the park is that the little child-friendly details go a long way. In the lazy river, their are tubes for kids. At Barefootin Bay, a large pineapple tipping bucket rings for several seconds before it spills so little children that are nervous have a chance to get out of the splash of water. Many of the slides, even the larger ones, don’t have height restrictions so the options are endless for children.

Outdoors or indoors, sport or relaxation, young or old, Palm Beach is an ideal family vacation. Who knew this area had so much to offer for families? We’re already planning our next trip to Palm Beach. With so much to offer, it might become a yearly tradition.