South Florida Travel

There are so many place to see in Florida

Residents of Palm Beach Gardens know that they’re in the center of everything. They’re only minutes from the PGA Arts Center and Coolinary Café, among other great venues and restaurants. They’re also aware that their distance from some of the area’s best cities makes for a great day trip. It’s hard to turn down a weekend in Miami or in Jupiter Island when they have so many great things to enjoy-and when Palm Beach Gardens has so many ways to get there. Read on to see what you could be doing this weekend.

Peanut Island – Palm Beach

Steeped in history and only minutes away from the Palm Beach Inlet, Peanut Island, is a unique place where fun and history go hand in hand. Owned by the Port of Palm Beach, the property has been leased to the Palm Beach Maritime Museum since 1992. In 2016, Palm Beach County turned all of Peanut Island into a county park. Taking the trails around this area will lead you to Cold-War era bunker built for President Kennedy in 1961 as a bomb shelter. For local boaters, the blue waters that surround the island are a popular weekend destination.

Coconut Grove - Miami

Miami is a multi-cultural epicenter for the Americas. Endless arts, music, and cultural events are hosted weekly, making it one of the most dynamitc cities in Florida. Plan your visit to The Kampong, former home of Dr. David Fairchild and current home of the most comprehensive collection of tropical plants. Keep your camera out while you’re touring the place for when you encounter an 80-foot baobab tree, rare and unusual orchids, and peacocks proudly strutting around. Afterwards, make your way to Zuma, the Japanese restaurant by chef Rainier Becker that has taken the city by storm. Don’t worry about having to hurry through your Maguro no Tataki, seared tuna with ponzu sauce, or your Lobster no Oven Yaki. Miami is only a few hours away, but it’s an experience that feels like you’re traveling to an international destination.

Las Olas Boulevard - Fort Lauderdale

The artsier, funkier sister city to Miami’s dazzling cityscape, Fort Lauderdale is where rising stars go before they make it onto the world’s stage. The Broward Center for the Performing Arts has been the preferred spot for many rising stars, and artists such as Slow Burn Theatre and The Weepies have graced the stages here. Get your tickets as soon as you can--Hamilton: An American Musical will be playing there next month. Head downtown to Las Olas Boulevard for an evening of fun, including Rooftop@1WLO for light snacks and drinks. If everything seems remarkably fresh, that’s because it is-the chefs take many of their ingredients from their rooftop garden. Afterwards head east to dip your toes into the water at the famed Fort Lauderdale Beach.

Blowing Rocks - Hobe Sound

After five decades of protecting Florida’s great places, The Nature Conservancy considers Blowing Rocks Preserve one of its proudest achievements. This peaceful, barrier island sanctuary is a well-known model for large-scale, native coastal habitat restoration. The ecosystems found here are disappearing fast from many Florida islands, and a number of endangered plants and animals call this special place home—including rare loggerhead, green and leatherback sea turtles. The preserve was named for its rocky Anastasia limestone shoreline—the largest on the Atlantic coast. During extreme high tides and after winter storms, seas break against the rocks and force plumes of saltwater up to 50 feet skyward. It’s an impressive sight.

Islamorada – The Florida Keys

Islamorada in the Florida Keys, is one of its most popular destinations for sportsmen and beach lovers of all ages. After its recovery from last year’s hurricane, you can still enjoy the sun and the sand at Anne’s Beach or cast off on a charter for some of Florida’s best fishing. The area is recognized for its shallow waters, its clean beaches, and unmatched peace and privacy. When you’ve had enough sun and sand, stop by the Rain Barrel for unique art pieces, and take some time to visit with an in-house artist to learn of their method and approach to creating works of art. After that, grab some dinner from Ma’s Fish Camp for some of the best mac and cheese you’ve ever tasted. Some things never change, and Islamorada is grateful for that.

West Palm Beach

In the words of a certain movie starlet, “There’s no place like home!” When home is part of the Palm Beaches, we couldn’t agree more. Step off the beaten path and into West Palm Beach Brewery and Wine Vault, where you can sample beers such as Palm Beach Porter and Rescue Dog Cream Ale. With everything from football watch nights to album release parties, you can bet that there’s never a boring day at this brewery. Afterwards, see if you can’t try and grab a show at Revolution Live. Having established themselves as the area’s place to go for live music, here’s where both new musicians and acts on the block can share the stage with some of the biggest names in the entertainment industry. Although West Palm Beach is only a few minutes from BallenIsles, there are plenty of ways to explore its cultural scene.

Florida is so full of amazing places, there’s no reason not to take a day trip and see it all. How could anyone say no to amazing dining, endless activities, and a culture scene unlike any other? After your weekend adventuring it’s always nice to head back home to Palm Beach Gardens. BallenIsles Country Club is located right off of PGA Blvd. at the center of it all. With its full social calendar and proximity to all Palm Beach County has to offer, BallenIsles Country Club allows for adventurers take advantage of all that South Florida has to offer. In addition, whether your sport of choice is tennis, golf, or swimming, or anything else, you’ll find something to enjoy at BallenIsles. The Club maintains a full calendar of fun activities, and you’ll find areas like the Golf Shop or personal fitness trainers dedicated to helping you improve your game. Click here to schedule your private tour today.