Gumbo Limbo Nature Center
1801 N. Ocean Blvd.
(561) 338-1473
Donation welcome; turtle tours extra (tickets must be obtained in advance). Mon.-Sat. 9-4, Sun. noon-4; turtle tours late May-mid-July, Mon.-Thurs. 9 PM-midnight.
Children enjoy are the four huge saltwater sea tanks containing an abundance of sealife -- from coral to stingrays. A long boardwalk winds through dense forest to a 50-ft tower you can climb to overlook the tree canopy. In the spring and early summer, staff members lead nighttime turtle walks to see nesting females come ashore and lay their eggs.
Palm Beach Zoo At Dreher Park
1301 Summit Blvd.
(561) 533-0887 or (561) 547-9453.
Daily 9-5 (until 7 on spring and summer weekends).
This excellent zoo is a 23-acre complex with more than 500 animals representing more than 100 species, including Florida panthers, red kangaroos, and Bengal tigers. Tropics of America, has six acres of tropical rain forest plus Mayan ruins, an Amazon river village, and an aviary. Also of note are a nature trail, an Australian Outback exhibit, and a children's zoo.
Hoffman's Chocolate Shoppe & Gardens
5190 Lake Worth Road
Greenacres
(561) 967-2213
For generations, the Hoffman family has been creating melt-in-your-mouth chocolate masterpieces using only the finest ingredients. Each year more than 150,000 visitors are received at the Hoffman's Bavarian-style Tudor factory to watch the creations being made and to tantalize their senses with more than 80 varieties of confections. Located just in the back of our chocolate factory are the lush tropical gardens through which visitors stroll alongside colorful foliage, stopping to view the waterfall, fish pond, and a G-scale train village with 500 feet of track, while enjoying a chocolate treat. From Thanksgiving through the New Year, Hoffman's transforms the gardens into a Winter Wonderland with over 200,000 lights and brilliant displays. Visitors from near and far arrive at Hoffman's to view and enjoy this free event.
Yesteryear Village
South Florida Fairgrounds
West Palm Beach, 793-0333
First established in 1992, Yesteryear Village is now a major attraction at the South Florida Fairgrounds. In addition to being open during the 17 days of the South Florida Fair in January, the Village is host to two events during the year: Summer Fair in May and Christmas in the Village in December. Yesteryear Village is also home to the Bink Glisson Museum. Creative artisans and craftsman, along with historic re-enactors bring the past to life in a wholesome entertainment venue.
Lion Country Safari
Southern Blvd. West
(561) 793-1084
Van rentals available
Daily 9:30-5:30 last vehicle in by 4:30.
Drive (with car windows closed; no convertibles or pets) on 8 miles of paved roads through a 500-acre cageless zoo where 1,300 wild animals roam. Lions, elephants, white rhinoceroses, giraffes, zebras, antelopes, chimpanzees, and ostriches are among those in residence. Special exhibits include the Kalahari Bushvelt, designed after a South African plateau and containing water buffalo and Nilgai (the largest type of Asian antelope), and the Gir Forest, modeled after a game forest in India and showcasing a pride of lions. Excellent CD narration of each area. Borrow and return the CD at admission center. Following the safari, spend the day at the Lion Country Park. Rides, food, animal exhibits, and a ptting zoo. Enjoy a ride on the Safari Queen cruise. A full day of fun for the whole family.
South Florida Science Museum
4801 Dreher Trail North
West Palm Beach, 832-1988
Admission is $6 for Adults and $4 for children 3-17
Children under 3 are free. For more information call 832-1988
At the South Florida Science Museum, dozens of hands-on permanent exhibits as well as special traveling exhibitions appeal to all ages. The McGlinty Aquarium features tanks with Pacific and Atlantic species as well as Mangrove & Coral Reef habitats. The Aldrin Planetarium offers exciting star shows and spectacular laser light concerts. The Museum is open Mon. - Thurs, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Fridays from 10 a.m. - 10 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. and Sundays from Noon-6 p.m. On Friday nights the Telescope Observatory is open for sky viewing from dark to 10 p.m. (weather permitting.) Special traveling exhibits also.
Rapids Water Park
6566 N. Military Trail
West Palm Beach
(561) 842-8756
Rapids Water Park is South Florida's foremost family water park with over 12 acres of attractions. Plunge down 1,600 feet of spiraling flumes, dare to ride out the storm in Tubin' Tornadoes or blast off in the new Body Blasters enclosed slides. Get totally tubular in the quarter-mile action river, wave channel, aquatic rain forest and 25,000-square foot Big Surf Wave Pool. Little ones can also make a splash in the new Splish Splash Lagoon with 5 slides, a fort, shipwreck and water shooting canons. The Rapids is open from mid March through mid October in West Palm Beach.
Sugar Sand Park
300 S Military Trail
Boca Raton, FL
(561) 347-3900
Mon-Sat 8AM-11PM Sunday 8AM-Sunset
Admission Free
A park designed for family fun and education. The outdoor playground is filled with activities that illustrate various scientific principles. In addition, there is a clubhouse with a theater and a museum known as the Children’s Explorium. The park has indoor basketball courts, an outdoor roller hockey rink, baseball fields, and hiking trails.
Butterfly World
3600 West Sample Road
Coconut Creek
Deerfield Beach
Take TriRail south from West Palm Beach
Open daily
Within giant walk through aviaries brimming with tropical flowers, are thousands of dazzling butterflies from all over the world. They often land and rest awhile on the shoulder of a visitor. They are most active on warm, sunny days. There are also cabinets of emerging pupae. The gardens are extensive and well worth the commuter rail trip from the West Palm Beach area.
