From sunset lighthouse climbs to Japanese gardens, Black history to live local music, and outdoor art to the glittering former home of South Florida’s Founding Father, this itinerary will give you a little taste of everything when it comes to exploring the arts in the Palm Beaches. 

Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse & Museum

Friday

The weekend has arrived. You’re off work and it’s time to begin a pleasantly packed 48 hours exploring the robust arts and culture scene of the Palm Beaches. Where to begin?

There’s nothing better to kick your weekend off right than a Sunset Tour or Twilight Yoga at the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse & Museum, both of which typically begin in the early evening; check the calendar for your preferred activity.

Yoga is offered for all levels and takes place at the base of the lighthouse, beneath twinkly lights strung throughout a draping banyan tree; it’s the perfect combination of nature and wellness with a side of Jupiter history thanks to the stately presence of the brick-red lighthouse.

Similarly, on the Sunset Tour, make an atmospheric ascent up 105 steps to the platform atop the lighthouse; it’s one of the best spots in the Palm Beaches to catch the sunset, and some of the area’s best restaurants are across the Intracoastal Waterway just below. Scope out the crowds at local favorites like U-Tiki, Beacon, Jetty’s, or Square Grouper and pick your next move.

 

Saturday

Spady Cultural Heritage Museum

It’s a Delray day!

Ease into your morning at the stunning 16-acre Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens, where the main draw is a collection of six tranquil Japanese gardens of varying styles, where you can stroll through, sit a spell, or even observe the museum’s impressive and meticulously maintained bonsai collection. 

A wider 200-acre park around the main property also includes nature trails for a bit of forest bathing, and the museum buildings teem with extensive programming like classes, workshops, cultural demonstrations, and family-friendly offerings. Check the calendar for what’s on today; it could be anything from kintsugi (mending broken pottery with gold) to kimono classes.

When the afternoon showers or midday heat hits, head indoors to the Spady Cultural Heritage Museum. This local treasure is “dedicated to discovering, collecting, and sharing the Black history and heritage of Palm Beach County,” and features rotating exhibitions on topics from artists to local Civil Rights leaders and more.

With at least two weeks’ notice, you can even get a guided tour of the exhibits on display at the Spady as well as your choice of a walking tour of the West Settlers Historic District, a documentary screening, or an interactive discussion of the Black experience in America.

Delray Beach Playhouse

To continue the artsy theme of the weekend, head to nearby Dada for an early dinner—this quirky “​​non-conformist” spot has some of the most crave-able bites in Palm Beach County (get the Dada Dates!) and always accepts art for trade.

When the sun sets, get into the groove with a musical performance at Arts Garage, where the concerts and open-mic nights span every genre, or see what’s on at the Delray Beach Playhouse on Lake Ida, one of the oldest non-profit community theaters in the area.

Society of the Four Arts

 

Sunday

A Sunday well spent brings a week of content (both happiness and Instagram fodder).

Late night last night? No worries. Take it easy this morning with a leisurely stroll through the Society of the Four Arts, which spans a 10-acre campus along the Intracoastal Waterway in Palm Beach and includes both a demonstration garden and sculpture garden, or the Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens in West Palm Beach, where a grouping of mysterious sculptures were built in situ over 15 years and the dense gardens were crafted by a respected botanist.

Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens

At either place, you can read, meditate, or simply center yourself in beautifully manicured tropical grounds interspersed with sculptures, art, and plants. There’s no pressure to see or do it all here; just enjoy.

Henry Morrison Flagler Museum

Also at the Four Arts you’ll find the stunning, pocket-sized King Library; while it’s closed on Saturdays and Sundays, the mural alcove and black jaguar sculptures outside the front door are still worth seeing and snapping.

Close out your weekend with an afternoon at the gorgeous Henry Morrison Flagler Museum, a Gilded Age mansion built by railroad magnate Henry Flagler as a wedding present for his third wife; it’s open until 5 p.m. and is best followed by a golden-hour walk along Lake Trail before grabbing a seat at the low-key but A-list-adored Honor Bar at the Royal Poinciana Plaza.

 

About the Author

Skye Sherman is a freelance travel and lifestyle writer, fourth-generation Floridian, and enthusiastic West Palm Beacher. You can find her at Composition Coffee in the mornings and on long leisurely neighborhood walks in the evenings.