Where to Stay in Palm Beach - 16 Best Romantic Getaways

Staying in Palm Beach is the perfect chance to relax and soak up the sun. If you choose the right hotel, you will have easy access to the beach, a nice pool to go for a swim in, and a deck to sunbathe on. You might also want an indoor pool or other amenities to let you make the most of the gorgeous weather of Palm Beach without having to deal with the heat. Whether you want to stay at a unique bed and breakfast, a national hotel chain, or something in between, there are dozens of options in Palm Beach just awaiting your reservations.

We recommend that you call the attractions and restaurants ahead of your visit to confirm current opening times.

Where to Stay in Palm Beach - 16 Best Romantic Getaways

• Casa Grandview, Photo: Casa Grandview
• The Colony Palm Beach, Photo: The Colony Palm Beach
• The Hibiscus House, Photo: The Hibiscus House
• The Brazilian Court Hotel, Photo: The Brazilian Court Hotel
• Hyatt Place West Palm Beach-Downtown, Photo: Hyatt Place West Palm Beach/Downtown
• Hilton West Palm Beach, Photo: Courtesy of Ritu Jethani - Fotolia.com
• Palm Beach Shores Resort and Vacation Villas, Photo: Palm Beach Shores Resort and Vacation Villas
• Four Seasons Resort Palm Beach, Photo: Four Seasons Resort Palm Beach
• Palm Beach Historic Inn, Photo: Palm Beach Historic Inn
• The Bradley Park Hotel, Photo: The Bradley Park Hotel
• The Breakers Palm Beach, Photo: The Breakers Palm Beach
• The Palm Beach Hotel Condominium, Photo: The Palm Beach Hotel Condominium
• Tideline Ocean Resort and Spa Palm Beach, Photo: Tideline Ocean Resort and Spa Palm Beach
• Palm Beach Waterfront Suites, Photo: Palm Beach Waterfront Suites
• Courtyard by Marriott West Palm Beach, Photo: Courtyard by Marriott West Palm Beach
• Hotel Biba, Photo: Hotel Biba
• Cover Photo: Courtesy of Thomas Barrat - Fotolia.com

More Ideas: Norton Museum of Art

The Norton Museum of Art in West Palm Beach, Florida was founded in 1941 and has since become internationally renowned for its impressive permanent collection. Even the Museum’s structure, designed by the distinguished Marion Sims Wyeth, of Wyeth & King, is a fine example of late Art Deco/ Neo-Classical architecture.

The museum has grown to become a significant cultural and artistic institution in Florida, not only for its permanent collections, but for its temporary exhibitions, as well. In addition to admiring the 7,000+ piece collection, including masterpieces from Monet, Picasso, Pollock and O’Keefe, visitors can also participate in special events, lectures, tours and programs for adults and children alike.

The Museum’s founders, Ralph Hubbard Norton (1875-1953) and his wife Elizabeth Calhoun Norton (1881-1947), were active art collectors and enthusiasts at the turn of the twentieth century. Mr. Norton, originally a steel industrialist from Chicago, began to spend his winters in Palm Beach beginning in the mid-1930s.

Having already developed a sizeable collection of both painting and sculpture by that point in time, the Nortons began to explore the potential for sharing their passion with the public. In 1940, work began on the Norton Gallery and School of Art in West Palm Beach. It grew in both reputation and collection, with acquisitions continuing after Norton’s death in 1953, including significant contributions to the American collection. Today, decades later, and having recently completed a $60 million renovation and expansion, the Norton Museum of Art continues to serve the over 100,000 visitors it receives annually.

The permanent collections at the museum span not only the globe, but many centuries and mediums, as well. These include the American Collection, the Chinese Collection, the Contemporary Collection, the European Collection and the Photography Collections. These comprise the bulk of work at the museum, providing something for every visitor’s preference or interest.

American Art

Museum founder Ralph Norton had a particular interest in American Art, wanting to highlight the art and history of his time. The Museum’s American Art collection reflects this passion, with over 1,000 works from American artists including Georgia O’Keefe, Charles Demuth, John Marin and Robert Motherwell. The works date from the mid-1700s to the mid-1900s, creating a journey through American history from the Revolution through to the modern era.

The collection includes not only a vast number of paintings, but significant sculptural works as well, including a Paul Manship piece, Diana and Actaeon, which was commissioned for the façade of the building. The collection continued to grow after Norton’s death, with a significant gift of 19 works from Elsie and Marvin Dekelboum as recently as 2005.

Chinese Art

With more than 600 pieces spanning several centuries, the Chinese Collection at the Norton Museum of Art is a robust exhibit. Originally just 125 works, the collection has grown considerably through the years. One of the most noteworthy pieces, a gift from Mr. Norton, is a bronze cast Ritual Wine Pouring Vessel dating back 3200 years. More recent works in the exhibit include hardstone carvings from the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). Other contributions to the collection include art donations and a gallery for the rotating displays, sponsored by John and Heidi Niblack. These works contributed to the overall collection, creating an expansive exhibit for visitors to enjoy.

Contemporary Art

Showcasing a wide array of different styles, shapes, textures and mediums, the Contemporary Art collection at the Museum creates a modern visual adventure. These works reflect not only the artists themselves, but also the time in which they live. Many donations of funds and works to the collection have helped it to grow and expand over the years, and include works by Lucio Fontana, Yinka Shonibare and Nick Cave. The growth of the collection over the years reflects not only the enthusiasm for Contemporary art by founder Ralph Norton, but also the generosity of patrons.

European Art

Works in the Museum’s European collection span centuries, from 1450 all the way through to the modernism of the twentieth century. The collection includes works from such seminal artists as Claude Monet, Paul Gauguin and Pablo Picasso, while also recognizing great classical masters Peter Paul Rubens and Anthony Van Dyke. With pieces representing such a vast time frame, and from such influential artists, the collection covers every significant artistic movement from the Renaissance through to Modernism. Showcasing paintings as well as sculpture, the exhibit is a highlight as much for art history amateurs as it is for aficionados.

Photography

With more than 3,000 photographs in the collection, the Norton Museum of Art houses a thorough representation of this medium. The exhibit emphasizes contemporary international work, with examples from photographers including Tacita Dean, Jeff Wall and Hiroshi Sugimoto. It also includes work by masters of European Modernism such as August Sander and Alexander Rodchenko. Covering nearly every imaginable subject in black, white and Technicolor, the Photography Collection peaks the mind and imagination.

In addition to its permanent collection, the Museum also features changing or temporary exhibitions. These fleeting showings enable the Museum to continue to evolve, always offering something new and intriguing to its guests. Past exhibitions include Women Modernists in New York; Imaging Eden: Photographers Discover the Everglades; Monet’s Nympheas 1914-1917 (Water Lilies); Annie Leibovitz; and many, many more. Exhibitions typically change every few months and cover every manner of topic, idea and art. Some temporary installations are fitted right into the museum structure, seemingly permanent artwork built into the very building, but gone in just a few months. Information on upcoming exhibitions can be found at the Museum website.

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Programs and Events

The Norton Museum of Art is a year round hub of activities and experiences. On-going programs create opportunities for unique and enriching experiences for all. The Art After Dark program takes place weekly after normal Museum hours, offering attendees a mixture of art, music, film and food. Activities can include docent led tours, workshops, and demonstrations of art, culture and entertainment. The Family Studio at the Museum creates an enriching and interactive environment for families with children. These often comprise weekly events on a topic such as a popular children’s book or do-it-yourself art workshops.

The offerings are not just for kids, however, with an extensive range of adult programming, such as A Close Look, which offers in depth discussion about a masterpiece at the museum. The Exhibition Lecture Series features a talk from a scholar, artist or curator specifically related to a special or temporary exhibition. Annual summer camp tours are available throughout the summer months, for campers ages six to twelve. The 50 minute programs take kids on a detective adventure through the museum. Public and private tours are also available for individuals, schools, or colleges.

Events at the Museum vary throughout the year. The Live at Norton event series brings art and music together with classical and jazz music performances at the Museum. The annual Chinese Moon Festival is a yearly celebration of the Chinese collection. It typically includes performances by the Florida State Chinese Music Ensemble and Chinese painting demonstrations. Traditional Chinese mooncakes and tea are typically served to engage all the senses in the experience. The Annual Gala is a yearly fundraising event and ball at the Museum. Other events vary and can include concerts, jewelry shows and more.

The Norton Museum of Art is located in the downtown West Palm Beach area, with parking access across the street. Museum hours vary, are slightly atypical from most museums and as such, visitors are advised to check the website prior to arrival. Various programs and events are held throughout the week and can vary with time and seasonality, but provide a more enriching experiences for guests. The Museum website provides additional information on these activities. Public tours are also available throughout the day and are included with Museum admission.

Outreach

More than just exhibitions and collections, the Norton Museum of Art also engages in art outreach and education. Its Progressive Afterschool Art Community Education (PACE) program, creates and provides opportunities for children in underserved communities to experience art and culture. PACE works with partners such as the Boys and Girls Club, who host the program. Through PACE, children create art projects, tour the Museum, and learn about not only visual art, but art history, music and literature, as well. The program also provides structure to the children’s live through safe and consistent delivery.

In addition to the PACE program, the Museum also engages in showcasing and promoting children’s art. Through the Bernard and Chris Marden Community Gallery, the Museum displays six student art exhibitions each year. Artists from all grade levels are represented, and typically include works from two dozen students. The exhibit also showcases works from the Museum’s summer interns. This community gallery boosts confidence and self-esteem of young artists, who gleefully experience seeing their work framed, mounted and appreciated on the Museum’s walls.

Back to: Best Things to Do in West Palm Beach, Florida.

1451 S. Olive Avenue, West Palm Beach, FL 33401, Phone: 561-832-5196

More Ideas: South Florida Science Center and Aquarium

With a mission to “Open every mind to science”, the South Florida Science Center and Aquarium in West Palm Beach, Florida accomplishes just that, with a focus on science of the natural world. Attracting over 200,000 visitors per year, including tens of thousands of public and private school children, the Center provides an interactive learning environment for all who visit.

Just a few miles from downtown Palm Beach and all the fun of beach life, the convenient location makes it easy to incorporate science into any vacation or leisure day. As educational as the exhibits are exciting, the Center offers an aquarium, planetarium, observatory and temporary exhibits to pique the mind and imagination.

The South Florida Science Center and Aquarium has a vibrant past, full of growth, expansion and service to the community. Since its 1959 founding by the Junior League of the Palm Beaches, the Center has served more than five million visitors. Originally known as the South Florida Science Museum, doors opened in 1961, offering exhibits focusing on nature and natural history. The Museum grew rapidly, opening a planetarium in 1964 dedicated by and named for astronaut Buzz Aldrin.

From there, growth continued, doubling in size by 1971. The Center’s evolution continued through the 1980s, with a substantial renovation of the theater and planetarium. 2012 saw more renovation, after $6 million in funds were raised for the construction of a 6,000 square foot aquarium space, which includes Aquariums of the Atlantic and River of Grass, the Center’s Everglade Exhibit. This interactive space also includes a NOAA Science on a Sphere exhibit and a student showcase for local science fair projects from the Palm Beach School District.

The name was changed at this time to incorporate the new features, becoming the South Florida Science Center and Aquarium. With a subsequent renovation of Discovery Hall, the continuously improving and evolving Center now provides an upgraded theater and new science laboratory which cultivate interest in the sciences.

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Aquarium

The Aquarium at the South Florida Science Center is comprised of two main areas. Half the space is dedicated to the Aquariums of the Atlantic gallery and the other half to the River of Grass Everglades Exhibit, which is dedicated to exploration of these special ecosystems in Florida. The exceptional exhibits on display include specific highlights from the Atlantic, including native Florida sea life such as eels, sharks, stingrays, seahorses and Queen Angels.

Visitors will want to be sure to explore the Coral Reef Tank, with its unusual layout that allows guests to feel as though they surrounded by fish, swimming right along with them. The Shipwreck Cove exhibit focuses in on predators of the Atlantic Waters, darting in and out from a simulated shipwreck. Other highlights of the Aquarium include tanks devoted to Venomous Beauties, Hidden Creatures, Seahorse Corral and Jewels of the Sea.

The Touch Tank allows visitors to get up close and interact with undersea specimens. In addition to exploring the tanks, visitors can enhance their visit through live aquarium feedings, alligator pettings, touch tank demonstrations or the shark tooth lab. Times and days vary for these interactive events, so it is recommended to review the website prior to visiting the aquarium to optimize the visit.

Featuring the only digital planetarium in Palm Beach County, the South Florida Science Center and Aquarium offers visitors a variety of shows in an immersive setting. The Planetarium currently offers eight different films ranging from 20 to 40 minutes each. Solar System Odyssey take viewers on an adventure through the solar system and is recommended for audiences over the age of ten.

Astronaut, narrated by Ewan McGregor, takes the viewer through a journey to inner and outer space, told from the perspective of the astronaut, including the experience of a rocket launch from inside the astronaut’s body. The award winning Back to the Moon for Good follows the stories of the Google Lunar XPRIZE, in which teams compete to land a robotic spacecraft on the moon. The competition, designed to invigorate interest in space exploration, makes for an intriguing story told at the Planetarium.

Cosmic Collisions explores the explosive results of celestial encounters, from the end of the dinosaurs to human life on Earth. Bringing the aquarium into the planetarium, Sea Monsters – a Prehistoric Adventure is a National Geographic production drawing together paleontological digs to explore the ancient ocean world. Other films on view include Night Skies over Palm Beach and One World, One Sky: Big Bird’s Adventure,a movie for the younger science enthusiasts in the crowd.Infinity Express is a journey of discovery mapping the universe, narrated by Laurence Fishburne. Planetarium shows are not included with admission; guests are advised to review the Center’s website for show times and ticket prices.

Observatory

While the Planetarium offers visitors the chance to view the cosmos in an enveloping and immersive digital dome screen, the Observatory provides eager scientists the opportunity to view the celestial bodies themselves. At Nights at the Museum, amateur astronomers can explore the night sky through the Center’s massive telescope. The upgraded equipment used by the Observatory enables visitors to see celestial objects not otherwise available to the naked eye. The Meade LX600 telescope includes a computer and GPS which scans the stars; mounted on top is a Coronado Solar Scope, allowing viewers to look directly at the sun without need for additional specialty glasses.

Temporary Exhibits

In addition to the aforementioned permanent exhibits, the South Florida Science Center and Aquarium also features interactive temporary exhibits. These changing exhibitions keep the Center growing and evolving, enabling guests to experience something new with every visit. Recent exhibits include Grossology: The (Impolite) Science of the Human Body, which featured a huge “Tour du Nose” to explore the nasal cavity and its features, and the hilarious “Burp Machine”, which mimics the build of up gases to release a huge belch. Other past exhibitions have included Eww! What’s Eating You? and an interactive Mobile Learning Adventure.

In addition to the permanent and temporary exhibits, the Center also offers a variety of events and programs to enhance visitors’ experiences. Nights at the Museum, offered monthly, allows participants to explore the Center after hours. These themed events include crafts, activities, entertainment, shows and night sky viewing. The GEMS Club, Girls Excelling in Math and Science, is another monthly activity which encourages exploration and discovery in the world of math and science for girls in grades three through eight. Food and refreshments are provided at these themed evenings.

The Center not only provides these ongoing series, but also hosts a variety of limited time event offerings. These include the Science on Tap Series, held at a local brew house, during which attendees listen to the latest trends in science from a world-class scientist, while enjoying their favorite beverage. Other events, such as the Science of Chocolate 2016, or Nine and Wine, a nine-hole golf event, complete with refreshments and prizes are also hosted throughout the year. Ticket sales benefit the Center’s conservation efforts. Family events include Tech Sleepovers, offered periodically, or the Young Maker Workshops, a week of workshops inspiring attendees to build, create and innovate at the Science Center. The calendar of events on the Center’s website provides scheduling and date information for all of these events and programs, as well as links to details and ticket prices.

Education

A primary focus of the South Florida Science Center and Aquarium, education takes shape in many forms and offerings. These include programs, events, and even online resources through its “Anytime, Anywhere Science” program. Through these offerings, the Center reaches 75,000 students each year, delivering its missionto open every mind to science. Programs include parent and child classes, homeschool programs, science camps, science sleep overs and the Hack Shack Tech Club, a special club for fifth through eighth graders to explore the science of computer programming and technology. The newest educational offering, the FIRST LEGO League, give kids the opportunity to build their very own Lego robots, and compete in robot task competitions. The Center has sent teams the last two years, earning awards and recognition in the competition.

The South Florida Science Center and Aquarium is open daily. As times vary, guests are advised to visit the website prior to arrival, where they can also find special discounts, deals, and passes. The Center is easily accessible from several freeways, with parking available onsite. While at the Center, visitors can also visit the Science Center Store, with items such as toys, science kits, and even astronaut ice cream.

The WT Café provides nutritious offerings, including freshly made, kid-friendly foods that encourage healthy eating. The Café Mission, to make fresh nutritious and exciting food for every child everywhere, is also being delivered in several schools throughout Palm Beach County. Providing astronomical adventures to amazing aquarium explorations, the South Florida Science Center and Museum is a fun and family-friendly activity.

Back to: 22 Best Things to Do in West Palm Beach, Florida

4801 Dreher Trail North, West Palm Beach, FL 33405, Phone: 561 832-1988

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