There’s a reason Florida becomes a winter playground once leaves fall and snow arrives in northern latitudes: Temperatures remain 70-something year-round, and the sun shines ceaselessly. Southern Florida is especially tropical, lively and welcoming, complete with the palm trees and beaches making up your winter daydreams.
If you’re feeling the cold weather blues, you’ll find plenty of things to do in West Palm Beach and Singer Island. This warm-weather infusion of dining, entertainment, outdoor activities and cultural experiences will help spell you until spring.
Dine on Local, Seasonal Fare or in Beachy Surrounds
Tropical tipples at a carefree eatery can help you forget all about the winter doldrums. On Singer Island, the Ocean Walk shopping center offers several popular, laid-back spots, including Mulligan’s Beach House, Johnny Longboats and Two Drunken Goats. Each welcomes patrons with the kind of relaxed atmosphere you’d expect from a Florida beach town — and piña coladas to boot.
For something more upscale, book a seat at the Swank Table dinner series by Swank Farms. Each of the multi-course, al fresco dinners sports a different theme, from the ’70s to sustainable seafood. Renowned chefs gather to prepare and present the dishes, and guests enjoy a unique — and, yes, swank — dining experience.
Located at the beachfront Palm Beach Marriott Singer Island Beach Resort & Spa, 3800 Ocean features a Floridian-style menu of locally caught fish, house-made pastas and other creatively presented dishes. The two-person seafood tower — complete with lobster, shrimp, crab and oysters — makes for a memorable appetizer.
Sample Local Entertainment and Events
Winter happens in Florida, too, but you can still enjoy outdoor events and festivals while most of the country is forced to hibernate.
You can attend events like the 17-day South Florida Fair in mid-January; ArtiGras, a two-day arts festival held over President’s Day Weekend in February; and the Palm Beach International Boat Show in late March.
You can also enjoy a “snowfall”— sans frozen flakes — at the Rosemary Square indoor-outdoor shopping center. It’s not often snow flurries dance around palm trees, but at this West Palm Beach hub, it happens nightly during the holiday season; visitors witness the magic of swirling snowflakes minus the chilly temperatures and frozen fingers.
If even the thought of snow sets you shivering, opt inside for a seasonal cooking class at Sur La Table or enjoy a movie in the newly renovated, three-story AMC Rosemary Square 12, designed to resemble a playhouse of centuries past, complete with grand staircases and a frescoed rotunda.
Grab a Dose of Vitamin D
Make the most of your time in the Sunshine State: Search for shells or soak up some winter rays at Singer Island Municipal Beach, a picture-perfect stretch of Atlantic-lapped coast that will send any winter blues out across the sea.
If the water’s warm enough — and it often is — don flippers and mask and head to the Underwater Snorkel Trail at Phil Foster Park, where you’ll spot reefs, wrecks, sea-life sculptures, and diverse aquatic life. Alternatively, hop on a water taxi to Peanut Island, and hike the trails or explore the sandy shores.
Located near Singer Island, Manatee Lagoon offers indoor-outdoor fun for the whole family. Wild manatees flock to the adjacent cove due to the onsite energy center’s warm-water outflows. Head to the overlook deck and see how many you spot.
Nourish Your Mind with Cultural Experiences.
West Palm Beach is peppered with public art and murals, but on a rainy day, opt instead for an indoor attraction like the Norton Museum of Art, which houses works of European, American, Chinese, contemporary, and photographic art.
For everything from indie films to touring Broadway musicals, check out the Kravis Center. Looking for more cultural inspirations? The Cultural Council of Palm Beach County is a useful resource for tailoring an itinerary to your interests.
West Palm Beach and Singer Island offer plenty of reasons to escape winter — even if just for a few days.