Summer fun can get pretty expensive pretty quickly. From theme park and water park visits to spending more on dining out and shopping during vacations, having a fun summer comes at a cost.
If you're still recovering from a summer vacation spending spree or saving up for one, you might be limiting your "fun" budget. But being short on extra spending money certainly doesn't exclude you from finding something fun to do around the Palm Beaches.
Here are 10 fun things to do in Palm Beach County for free or under $20. One of the activities listed is actually a nominee for USA TODAY's 2024 reader-voted list of the best free attractions in the U.S.
How long is the Lake Trail in Palm Beach?
Palm Beach Lake Trail is a five-and-a-half-mile trail on the west side of Palm Beach that offers stunning views and glimpses into some of the most opulent properties in the area.
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Along the path, you can stop to see the Flagler Museum, Henry Flagler's estate from the Gilded Age, and other landmarks like the huge Kapok Tree, originally from the Amazon rainforest. You'll also enjoy views of the Lake Worth Lagoon and the skyline of downtown West Palm Beach.
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Can you snorkel at Phil Foster Park?
It doesn't matter if you have a snorkel that you've only used once or if you're an experienced diver. Anyone who wants to see sea turtles, eels, starfish, tropical fish and even manatees can swim along the 800 feet of artificial reef just off the shore of Phil Foster Park in Riviera Beach.
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Is visiting Loggerhead Marinelife Center free?
The Loggerhead Marinelife Center in Juno Beach is free to visit and offers a look into sea turtle rehabilitation. The sea turtle hospital, located on a stretch of Juno Beach that's a worldwide hot spot for Loggerhead Sea Turtles during nesting season, has aquarium tanks and educational opportunities for the whole family.
The sea turtle hospital's operating room even has a screen outside of it, where guests can watch sea turtle surgeries. Loggerhead Marinelife Center also hosts sea turtle releases and other eco-experiences that are free and open to the public.
Loggerhead Marinelife Center is a nominee for USA TODAY's 2024 "10Best" Readers' Choice list of the best free attractions in the U.S.
Is there a botanical garden in Palm Beach, Florida?
The Society of the Four Arts' demonstration garden is maintained by the Garden Club of Palm Beach and has been offering free strolls through its flowering botanical gardens since 1938.
The 10-acre property also boasts a gallery building, libraries and a sculpture garden. Built in 1936 in an effort to stoke the arts and culture of Palm Beach County through a myriad of programs like concerts, art exhibitions, film screenings and children's events, this attraction is an idyllic piece of Palm Beach's history.
West Palm Beach hosts free outdoor movies on the waterfront. 'Barbie,' 'Elemental' on the summer 2024 movie schedule
Catch a family-friendly, free movie on West Palm Beach's waterfront once a month. Screen on the Green is an opportunity to movie-watch under the stars and by the water, hosted by the city of West Palm Beach on the second Friday of every month. Bring a blanket or chairs and a picnic if you'd like to, but there are typically food trucks nearby.
Here are the Screen on the Green movies showing in June, July and August 2024:
- Friday, June 14: "Barbie"
- Friday, July 12: "Trolls Band Together"
- Friday, August 9: "Elemental"
How much does it cost to go to Manatee Lagoon?
Although peak season to spot sea cows in South Florida's waterways is during the winter months, these friendly underwater mammals can be seen year-round. Manatee Lagoon in Riviera Beach offers up-close experiences with manatees and is free to visit.
They offer lagoon tours, Saturday story times for kids, $5 yoga classes for adults and even lectures. Check out their website for a live look of the docks before you head out to the lagoon.
Does Delray Beach have an arts district?
Delray Beach's Pineapple Grove neighborhood is teaming with artsy endeavors. Explore the district and check out the mosaic of street art and murals, or pop into one of the many art galleries, colorful shops, restaurants or cafes.
West Palm Beach hosts free concerts on the water once a month
If free movies on West Palm's downtown waterfront don't tickle your fancy, try out one of the free concerts held every third Sunday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
No outside alcohol is permitted at Sunday on the Waterfront concerts, which are hosted by the city, but much like Screen on the Green, guests are encouraged to enjoy food trucks and bring blankets to spread out on the grass in front of the outdoor amphitheater.
How much is entry to Gumbo Limbo Nature Center?
Similar to Loggerhead Marinelife Center, Gumbo Limbo Nature Center is a Boca-based research and rehabilitation facility with learning opportunities for the family.
Gumbo Limbo is a vital caretaker of Boca Raton's local ecosystem and boasts butterfly gardens, boardwalk trails, and outdoor aquariums. It costs $5 per person to explore Gumbo Limbo.
See local art at The Cultural Council for Palm Beach County in Lake Worth
Last but certainly not least Palm Beach County's cultural center in Lake Worth offers a variety of opportunities to explore and interact with local art.
The main gallery has ongoing, rotating exhibitions that focus on art that was either made in or is unique to Palm Beach County. The cultural center is open to the public every Tuesday through Saturday, from noon through 5 p.m.
