15 Best Things to Do in Greenacres (FL)

A city with an appropriate name, Greenacres has over ten parks, adding up to more than 1,700 acres of public recreation.

There’s even more close by. For instance, Okeeheelee Park on the city’s western flank is a true active destination, with a golf course, equestrian center and an awesome cable wakeboard park.

Head east and you’ll soon be at Lake Worth Beach, with a flourishing, cosmopolitan downtown, and miles of white sandy Atlantic beaches.

There’s a galaxy of things to do nearby, with movie theaters, an adventure golf course, one of South Florida’s top bowling centers, and the South Florida Fairgrounds.

So, check out my list of the best things to do in Greenacres.

1. Okeeheelee Park

Encompassing 1,700 acres, Okeeheelee Park is one of the largest public parks in South Florida, chock-full of amenities and recreation options that keep people coming back. Due to its size, the park has both north and south areas either side of Forest Hill Blvd.

In both sections there’s a wealth of facilities, including an equestrian center, tennis courts, a mile-long fitness trail, a golf course, BMX track, disc golf, tennis courts, a dog park and much more.

Water abounds in the park, and on weekends and holidays you can rent kayaks, canoes, paddleboards, and pedal boats by the hour. If I have to pick a favorite part, it’s the peaceful woodlands, with informational signs along the trails.

2. Downtown Lake Worth Beach

Greenacres is within shouting distance of Palm Beach County’s most exciting downtown. Lake Worth Beach was simply “Lake Worth” until it changed its name in 2019.

Along Lucerne Lake Avenues, the heart of the city is captivating, with elegant pastel buildings, art galleries, live music venues, a museum, an historic theater, and a ton of stores and restaurants.

A few decades ago this was a sketchy part of town to be avoided on the way to the beach. Now it’s somewhere you have to experience.

My ideal time to come is late February for the Annual Street Painting Festival. At this event, some 600 artists turn the city into a massive open-air gallery, filled with temporary masterpieces.

3. Lake Worth Beach Park

One of the things I think you simply have to do in Greenacres is get up early and watch the sun come up over the Atlantic.

You can do this at Lake Worth Beach Park, little more than ten minutes east along Lake Worth Rd. Afterwards, you can greet the new day at Benny’s on the Beach, which has been a local breakfast go-to for some 40 years.

This restaurant is at the base of of the 1,000-foot William O. Lockhart Municipal Pier. There’s a small admission fee—just $1 when I came—and you can take in distant views up and down the coast from the end.

The beach itself is fantastic, with clean white sand, boisterous Atlantic surf, and a relaxed, family vibe.

4. Shark Wake Park 561

In the northern section of Okeeheelee Park you’ll also find a water-based family adventure park with two main attractions.

The first is a pair of state-of-the-art cable parks, for everything from wakeboarding to knee boarding, water skiing, wake skating and foil boarding.

First-timers and experts will be equally at home here, and instructors will help you on your feet in no time.

The other element at Shark Wake Park 561 is a giant floating inflatable playground with slides, climbing towers, monkey bars and a lot more.

You might think that Obstacle Island would be just for kids and teenagers, but I know for a fact that adults will have a blast here.

5. Adventure Mini Golf

This lovable mom and pop mini golf center has two 18-hole courses to play. Both are beautifully designed, sitting among palms and tropical shrubs.

There are fountains, rapids, and waterfalls, and the whole attraction is set on an artificial hill, with the slope coming into play on a lot of holes.

The two courses vary in difficulty from straightforward to a little more challenging. Still, if you’re a golfer here to practice your putting you won’t be disappointed. There are no crazy obstacles on any of the holes, and skill will be rewarded with low scores.

The courses had brand new turf when I played, and there were specials if you wanted to play all 36 holes.

6. Okeeheelee Golf Course

This public course on the east side of Okeeheelee Park is made up of three 9-hole courses that can be played in a number of combinations, for a different experience each time.

There are five sets of tees, so players of all ages and levels of ability will feel comfortable at Okeeheelee Golf Course. No surprise in South Florida, but water is a constant hazard, so wayward shots will be punished.

I found the course to be well maintained, and was stunned by the amount of wildlife all around. Iguanas, alligators and a variety of wading birds make the course feel like a nature sanctuary at times.

7. Mounts Botanical Garden

Close by, this 14-acre tropical oasis abounds with more than 6,000 species of tropical and subtropical plants.

Mounts Botanical Garden has plants from all six continents, including herbs, tropical fruit, citrus, and palms, as well as species indigenous to Florida.

The garden was planted in the mid-1950s, so much of what you see along the winding mile-long path is now mature.

I was especially interested in the native displays, with firebush, and wild coffee, as well as the bald cypresses in the Rain Garden.

The Butterfly Garden is also a delight, with up to a dozen butterfly species at any time, from monarchs to zebra longwings.

8. John Prince Park

Between Greenacres and Lake Worth Beach there’s a large park on the western shore of Lake Osborne.

Dating back to the 1930s, John Prince Park is claimed to be the second-oldest county park in the state. It’s a place to go for bike rides, hikes, paddling, fishing, picnics, and a variety of sports.

There was a lovely breeze blowing off the lake when I came. I also saw a lot of wildlife, from iguanas to wading birds like ibises.

The park has an abundance of amenities, especially for families. There’s a splash park, four playgrounds, a golf practice facility, and a paved bike path, meandering between the pines and palms for almost five miles.

For an extended stay, you’ve got a 50-acre campground, with more than 350 sites for tents and RVs.

9. Don Victorio’s Market

On South Dixie Highway in West Palm Beach, Don Victorio’s Market is a family-owned business with fresh juices and organic foods at reasonable prices.

Don Victorio’s is a place where many locals shop when they need things the big chain stores don’t have. Unlike those stores, most of the money spent at Don Victorio’s stays in the community.

Much of the produce and items you’ll find are grown and made locally, and free of preservatives and other additives.

Personally, I can’t stay away from the juice bar, which is like nothing I’ve seen at a local produce store. My favorite was the zingy Fully C, with orange, grapefruit, ginger, turmeric, and lemon.

10. Ragtops Automobile Museum

For a tour down automotive memory lane, head to this classic car dealership/museum a few minutes away in Lake Worth Beach.

As an active dealership, the display of automobiles at Ragtops’s museum is constantly changing. Typically, you’ll see cars from the 1930s to the 1980s, all in pristine condition.

Some of the standouts when I took a look were a 1956 Ford Thunderbird, a 1937 Chrysler Imperial, 1962 Chevrolet Corvette, and a 1962 Studebaker GT Hawk.

Vehicles are combined with advertisements, photographs, and all kinds of other memorabilia. Admission is free, but it’s worth calling ahead as the opening times can be irregular.

11. Phoenix Theaters Lake Worth Cinema 8

When you think about what you have to pay at most multiplexes, this no-frills theater at the Woodlake Plaza is amazing value.

On my visit, the Lake Worth 8 charged $5.99 for all shows, all seats and every day of the week. Even better, these are all first-run movies too.

This location first opened in 1989, and was showing its age outside when I came by. Inside though, everything is ship shape, the seats, sound and picture were fine. Beer and wine are also available here.

During the school summer break there’s also a Free Summer Movie Series. These are G and PG movies, at 10:00 am, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

12. Greenacres Bowl

People travel for miles for a few games at the local bowling alley. With good cause too, as Greenacres Bowl had just been voted the “Best Bowling Center in Palm Beach County” when I was there.

There are 60 lanes at this enormous facility. By my count about half are for serious league play, while the other half was taken over by friends and families for cosmic bowling.

Greenacres Bowl hosts league play for all ages and abilities, while there’s a variety of specials to check out. For one, I noticed that kids were eligible for two free games all summer.

There’s also a brand new arcade and billiards room, and the updated Gator Lounge bar, now with 20 HDTVs.

13. Samuel J. Ferreri Community Park

You could easily walk from Okeeheelee Park to this smaller community space, bordering a canal in a quiet residential subdivision.

Among its amenities, Samuel J. Ferreri Community Park has a waterside jogging path, two playgrounds, exercise equipment, and several courts for tennis and racquetball.

Yet the reason the park is on my list is because of its public events. The big one is Ignite the Night, Greenacres’ 4th of July event, with fireworks, live music and a host of family activities.

Also heartwarming is Fiesta de Pueblo, a celebration of Latin cultures. This takes place on Epiphany (January 6), and brings food, music, dance, parades, and carnival rides.

14. South Florida Fair

Greenacres is a few minutes south of the South Florida Fairgrounds, hosting the epic fair across more than two weeks every January.

The South Florida fair has a history going back to 1912, and is visited by more than half a million people each year.

The agriculture and livestock program here is on a huge scale, with over 1,000 exhibitors from more than 30 counties. Then there’s the midway, bursting with games, thrill rides and concessions.

A few elements are open all year. One that I adore is the Yesteryear Village, with historic and replica buildings from the mid-19th century to the mid-20th century, and friendly costumed interpreters.

Another centerpiece is the 20,000-seat iThink Financial Amphitheatre, welcoming the biggest touring music artists. Everyone from Lana Del Rey to Snoop Dogg has performed here—in fact the Dave Matthews Band have played this venue more than 30 times.

15. Adrenaline Entertainment Center

A fine option for families with energy to burn, this indoor trampoline park is just a couple of minutes west along Lake Worth Rd.

Adrenaline Entertainment has 45,000 square feet of attractions. The largest of all is a huge trampoline court with a whole field of trampolines.

This is accompanied by a ton of side attractions, from dodgeball to a foam pit, battle beam, climbing wall, and an exhausting Ninja Warrior-style obstacle course.

There’s a choice of weekly deals and specials, and you’re required to purchase special grip socks when you visit.