14 Best Things to Do in Palm Springs (FL)

Located just inland from Florida’s southern Atlantic coast, Palm Springs is a village in Palm Beach County that lies between Wellington to the west and Lake Worth to the east.

It’s one of the smaller municipalities in the area but is near to some well-known beach towns like West Palm Beach, Boynton Beach, and Boca Raton.

At the time of the last census, Palm Springs had a population of about 19,000 residents, but it’s part of the Miami Metropolitan Area, which is the state’s largest population center and home to more than six million.

Below are 14 things to do in and around Palm Springs, Florida.

1. The Society of the Four Arts

Featuring a tranquil sculpture garden, library, and live entertainment venue, The Society of the Four Arts is a wonderful cultural and artistic resource that’s not on the radar of many visitors to the Palm Springs area.

The Society is run by a not-for-profit organization that’s dedicated to bringing art in all its amazing forms to the public, and it has been doing just that for more than 70 years.

From classical music and dramatic theater to guest speakers and children’s library programs, there’s truly a little something for everyone regardless of age and interests.

With such a full schedule, it’s wise to check the upcoming events portion of their website periodically.

2. Rapids Water Park

Visitors staying in Palm Springs on their trip to Florida will have quick and easy access to some of the state’s most amazing beaches. For many, that’s where they’ll spend the majority of their time.

It’s not inconceivable that even diehard beach-goers will need an occasional change of pace; when that happens, Rapids Water Park is the perfect remedy.

Featuring a monster wave pool, a long and lazy river for tubing, and dozens of slides of all shapes and sizes, Monster Water Park tends to gobble up large chunks of time; there are even areas reserved for toddlers who’re still too young to frolic with older children.

3. Lake Worth Street Painting Festival

Nearby Lake Worth hosts one of the country’s most unique art festivals that takes place over a few days in late February each year.

The Lake Worth Street Painting Festival is an open-air event in which artists use the city’s sidewalks as their canvases; many of their creations are nothing short of stunning.

Artists use water-soluble chalk, which means that when the rains come, their works are washed away, and many artists specialize in creating optical illusions that give the appearance of three dimensions.

It’s a free event and includes lots of live entertainment and great food too.

4. The Lake Worth Playhouse

Located inside the historic Oakley Theatre Building in nearby Lake Worth, the Lake Worth Playhouse offers year-round programming that includes movies, musicals, dramas, children’s shows, and even opera and ballet.

The playhouse’s Stonzek Theatre shows indie and foreign films daily. Though it features contemporary sound and projection systems, it’s got lots more charm and character than you’ll find in large, national chain theatres.

The Lake Worth Playhouse is located on Lake Avenue just a few minutes west of Palm Springs. The best way to keep abreast of what’s on their calendar of events is to check their website periodically.

5. La Perrada del Gordo

Located on South Military Trail in West Palm Beach, La Perrada del Gordo has been open since 2003 and has been serving up heaps of Columbian-inspired fare ever since.

The restaurant was started by a mother and son duo and they’ve attracted quite a loyal following over the years.

From Colombian burgers and hot dogs with lots of strange and tasty toppings to ceviche and shredded beef tacos, most guest’s taste buds recognize a number of international influences.

Their prices are reasonable, and they don’t skimp on the portions, but they’re probably not a good fit for those who are counting calories.

6. John Prince Park

Comprised of more than 700 acres along South Congress Avenue in Lake Worth, John Prince Park is the perfect escape destination for those who want to spend some time in the great outdoors without spending hours in the car traveling to a state or national park.

Lake Osborne is the park’s centerpiece and provides a variety of recreation activities, including boating and fishing. For those who’d like to spend a night or two under the stars, there’s a large campground with dozens of individual sites.

The park’s amenities include walking paths, a boat ramp, and plenty of shaded seating areas.

7. John Prince Golf Learning Center

Golf is one of the Sunshine State’s main tourist draws. For those visiting the Palm Springs area, there are dozens of options within a short drive.

For dedicated golfers who are dying to hit a few balls but don’t want to dedicate for or five hours to a full round, the John Prince Golf Learning Center on Congress Avenue in Lake worth would be a great way to get your fix.

Whether you’re in need of professional instruction or just want to hit a bucket of balls, the center features 60 individual stations with multiple target greens and even bunkers.

8. The Snook Islands Natural Area

For its sheer variety of recreation options, Snook Islands Natural Area is in a class of its own.

Located on Golfview Road in Lake Worth, it is comprised of nearly 100 acres along Lake Worth Lagoon that are home to a variety of animals – like pelicans, turtles, and even manatees at certain times of the year.

The park’s amenities include a boardwalk, fishing pier, observation platform, and a variety of covered seating areas that are perfect for picnics.

The Snook Island Natural Area can get busy during peak times, and since there’s no parking onsite, visitors will need to park between the natural area and adjacent municipal golf course.

9. The Norton Museum of Art

Norton Museum of Art, West Palm Beach — Norton Museum Of Art

South Florida – and particularly the southern Atlantic coast portion of the state – are especially known for their swank galleries and exclusive museums, and some of them can be a little intimidating to tourists.

Located on South Olive Avenue in West Palm Beach, the Norton Museum of Art doesn’t fall into that category. Along with its world-class permanent collection, it’s attracted a loyal following, who like its accessibility and the variety of programs it offers to visitors and the local community.

The museum’s collection largely focuses on European, American, and Chinese art, and previous visitors have noted that it’s as much as a community and cultural center as it is a museum.

10. Mounts Botanical Garden

They don’t call Florida the Sunshine State because of its abundant rain! Although it does get significant amounts of rain annually, its sun, climate, and soil are the real reasons it’s such a perfect growing area for native and exotic species of plants, trees, and flowers.

Mounts Botanical Garden is located on North Military Trail in West Palm Beach and is really a number of cultivated gardens, each with its own unique theme.

The plants and flowers on site are from six continents and include citrus, palms, herbs, and orchids, to name a few.

Each area is connected by trails that are marked with informative plaques, so you’ll not only appreciate the beauty of what you’re seeing but learn a bit about it as well.

11. South Florida Science Center and Aquarium

The warm, fertile waters off Florida’s Atlantic and Gulf coasts are teeming with wildlife, and the South Florida Science Center and Aquarium is dedicated to preserving the animals and habitats that make the state so unique.

Featuring dozens of interactive exhibits and thousands of gallons of both fresh and saltwater aquariums, there’s no better place to get up close and personal with such a diversity of marine life.

The science center’s attractions include a planetarium and a movie theater as well. Many guests find that they end up spending way more time onsite than planned, and that the cost of admission was good value.

12. Ragtops Automobile Museum

With its abundant sunshine and large retiree population, it’s no wonder that classic and vintage cars are so prevalent in Florida.

Ragtops Automobile Museum’s restored cars are the centerpieces of their collection. Unlike other classic car museums, theirs tend to be more unique and obscure vehicles that have interesting histories and are particularly rare.

In addition to the cars, there are interactive exhibits and other car-related paraphernalia – including marketing material, photographs, and historical plaques – to give guests a thorough insight into the things they’re seeing.

The museum is located on Claremore Drive in West Palm Beach, and the cost of admission is very reasonable.

13. Clematis Street

For many locals and hip travelers, Clematis Street is the epicenter of the trendy and fun vibe for which West Palm Beach is known.

Including portions of Flagler Drive and the Intracoastal Waterway, Clematis Street is both scenic and vibrant and includes a number of galleries and museums, restaurants, bars, and boutique-style retail shops that have been known to keep visitors busy for hours.

The area is particularly popular in the afternoon and evening, when many establishments offer food and drink specials. There are often live entertainment options too, especially in the cooler, spring, fall and winter months.

14. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts

Located on Okeechobee Boulevard in West Palm Beach, the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts is one of the Southeast’s premier community arts centers and sports a full calendar of year-round entertainment options, making it a great resource for art and culture-minded travelers.

From nationally-known theater productions to the best of local talent, the Kravis Center is known for hosting a wide variety of events.

With so much going on, the best way to keep abreast of what’s on their schedule is by checking the calendar of events on their website.

They do offer a number of kid-friendly performances as well.