Welcome to the vibrant and culturally diverse world of The Palm Beaches, where family-friendly adventures await at every turn. Embark on an unforgettable journey as we unveil five cultural attractions that will captivate multi-generational travelers and leave everyone—from ages eight to 88—wanting more!

Step into the enchanting realm of wildlife at a conservation-themed zoo, dive into the wonders of the ocean at a sea turtle rescue facility, inspire learning at a playful children’s museum, wander through the breathtaking beauty of a botanical garden, and unleash your curiosity with hands-on exhibits at a science center. Parents, caregivers, and children can embark on a thrilling exploration that will create memories to last a lifetime. Let’s go!

See some sea turtles up-close at Loggerhead Marinelife Center in Juno Beach.

Lovable marine creatures await you at one of Florida’s most-visited destinations focused on ocean and sea turtle conservation. It’s a great place to bring your family for “info-tainment” about marine life, and it offers a new wave of attractions.

Don’t miss a new favorite activity inside One Ocean Hall, where a set of interactive screens allow children to color on digital versions of sea life. If your child colors a shark with squiggles of blue and pink, they will be amazed to see that shark swimming in front of them just seconds later!

The on-site gift shop offers a plethora of merchandise with a beachy theme, as well as products teaching about sustainability (reusable straws, anyone?).

Tortuga Café boasts a great menu as well as a selection of ice cream treats and popsicles to keep you cool. You can chow down in the seating area overlooking the Caribbean Reef Tank—it showcases a view of the Atlantic Ocean just across the street!

Although a visit is free, donations help this charitable organization with its mission. Each year, the on-site hospital team and volunteers treat nearly 100 sea turtles and 1,000 hatchlings.

Head over to Mounts Botanical Garden in West Palm Beach near the Palm Beach International Airport.

This hidden gem is Palm Beach County’s oldest and largest public garden. It features 2,000+ species of plants from around the world, including a butterfly garden and a children’s maze. Two new life-sized giraffes sculptures show that works of art can fit in well with nature. It’s the perfect spot for family photos, too!

Take a leisurely stroll through the gardens and immerse yourself in the 20-acre tropical oasis.

The awe-inspiring Stickwork sculpture was imagined and created by environmental artist Patrick Dougherty, and kids can pretend it’s their home fort—or a medieval castle!

Before you leave, swing by the gift shop and check out the children’s nature-themed toys. They are sure to be a hit with your future gardeners!

Animal lovers will delight in the Palm Beach Zoo & Conservation Society in West Palm Beach.

This organization features 550+ animals from around the world, including endangered species like Malayan tigers, jaguars, and koalas. Meet charming river otters firsthand in an Otter Experience, attend educational programs to learn more about the charismatic creatures that call the Zoo home, and take a ride on the carousel for ‘Gram-worthy photo opps.

A crowd-pleaser animal, Mardi the white leucistic alligator, was rescued from the bayous of Louisiana—and he’s been delighting visitors for years. His habitat is adjacent to the Nature Play area, which is made of organic play structures inspired by nature and animals.

Aviary enthusiasts can enjoy feeding colorful birds at Lorikeet Loft and teddy bear fans will enjoy real-life American black bear brothers Lewis and Clark.

The Zoo brings you a unique opportunity to connect with wildlife and support its conservation mission.

Conveniently located in the same Dreher Park as the Zoo, you’ll find the Cox Science Center and Aquarium in West Palm Beach.

This interactive science museum features hands-on exhibits and demonstrations covering topics like astronomy, physics, and ecology.

With STEM being so emphasized in the educational world, it’s a fabulous place to help little ones explore within a wide range of engaging exhibits. And we have to give special credit to the spectacular aquatic displays, including a “bubble” that allows kids to get inside an aquarium for themselves!

Its huge toddler room mesmerizes the youngest visitors with a massive water play table and dress-up station. Older children will be more drawn to the planetarium shows in the Observatory or the outdoor Conservation Course, an 18-hole miniature course designed by Jim Fazio and Gary Nicklaus. No matter their interests, all kids will love this hot spot for the fun while parents will be happy for the learning opportunities.

If you venture further south in the county, you can check out the Schoolhouse Children’s Museum in Boynton Beach.

It’s filled with activities that take young visitors through the city’s past with displays that reference Boynton Beach’s rich history, thoughtfully paying homage to the area’s marine and agricultural background.

The building is connected to an innovative new outdoor playground and there’s also an interactive mangrove exhibit with a slide indoors, which further help inspire imaginative play.

Kids can dress up in period costumes, learn about the local environment, and even play in a pretend steam locomotive. The theme of the museum’s exhibits is that they provide a glimpse of life for early Florida pioneers, ultimately giving children a sensory learning experience rooted in the area’s history.

From the moment when you first enter the building, you’re greeted with a 15-foot replica of the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse. If you knock on the door, you’ll meet a character representative of Hannibal Dillingham Pierce, the assistant lighthouse keeper who served in 1872. The character brings that era to life with a short tale—just be warned that your children might want to hear more than one story! The good news is that he does tell several, so prepare for them to be delighted over and over.

With its wide array of galleries to gardens and museums to murals, everyone in your family will love being in this cultural paradise. Come experience the best that Florida’s Cultural Capital® has to offer in The Palm Beaches!

Looking for more arts and culture to explore in The Palm Beaches? Download our cultural guide today.

Angela Cruz is a photographer/YouTuber, a former news anchor, and a PR professional. Angela has been featured in the 20th anniversary edition of O, The Oprah Magazine, as well as on the TODAY Show as the Social Star for YouTube. As a former news anchor and reporter, she has appeared live on numerous morning shows as a blogger/expert, and she has been featured in other publications such as The Palm Beacher and Palm Beach Illustrated magazines, daily newspapers such as The New York Times, The Palm Beach Post, and Palm Beach Daily News, as well as USA Today.