West Palm Beach Waterfront

West Palm Beach Waterfront is an attractive area with a wide walking path along the water. As you walk along, you see tropical flowers like plumeria, pretty docks, grand high rises, and coconut trees. It's lovely! One disadvantage is that there is no shade so come at dusk. There are plenty of benches where you can rest. It's fun to check out the ritzy yachts moored along the waterfront.

Walk all the way south to the Royal Palm Bridge. Here you will find manmade islands with baby mangrove trees. This is a place where animals can safely hang out and is called the South Cove Natural Area. Walk out on the pier, read the information plaques, and see if you can spot a manatee or an egret (we did, and were so happy)! We also saw huge pelicans diving for fish that were leaping out of the water!
Where Flagler Drive meets Clematis Street, there is a triangular park called City Commons, where fountains and a Parisian-style plaza beckon you to hang out a while. This area comes alive on Saturday mornings (9-2 in winter, 9-12 in summer) with a farmer's market, called a Green Market, where you can buy plants, cheeses, grass-fed beef, and all manner of delicious freshly-made foods. Try the warm apple cider doughnuts, similar to portuguese malasadas one finds in Hawaii!
There are plenty of special events held on the great lawn next to City Commons, where Clematis St meets Flagler Dr. There is live music on Thursday nights from 6-9pm and on Sundays from 4-7pm. And on the first Friday of the month there are movies on the green.
At Christmastime, there is an impressive lights display here! The palms trees are covered with lights that change patterns in sync with the pop music. A tall sandcastle Christmas tree is also lit with floodlights. There is even a ferris wheel, which has pretty light patterns as well! Kids love to dance to the music on the huge lawn. Cross the street to the waterfront to see more sandcastle designs!
Slightly south of here, where Flagler Dr and Datura St intersect there is the huge grassy Meyer Amphitheater where events like the Palm Beach Marathon take place. It is spacious and full of coconut trees. Little manmade hills make it fun for kids.
After your walk, have lunch at ER Bradley's Saloon. Or walk along Clematis Street to Olive Avenue and grab a warm pastry or baguette at Paris Bakery and Cafe. What a good life!
There are homeless people in the West Palm Beach waterfront area.
While in the area, walk under Royal Park Bridge and half an hour south along Flagler Dr to Barcelona Rd and check out the tropical paradise (interspersed with large ominous sculptures) that is the Ann Norton Sculpture Garden. Then continue on and check out the Spanish architecture in the older Prospect Park neighborhood here, and peaceful George S. Petty Park on the water.
Norton Museum of Art is also a short walk from here, under the bridge, about seven blocks south on Flagler Drive, and then one block west on Diana Place.

Directions

West Palm Beach Waterfront has a wide walking path on the water along Flagler Drive starting at Clematis St and heading south. The great lawn is on the corner of Flagler Dr and Clematis St.
ER Bradley's Saloon, 104 S. Clematis St. WPB FL 33401, call (561) 833-3520.
There is plenty of parking with meters along the streets, and also many public parking structures.

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