SECTION 1.3 Palm Beach & Martin Counties

Palm Beach County dazzles with more than 200 cultural attractions, from world-class museums to immersive outdoor art and performance spaces. Photo by Roundhouse Creative Inc., courtesy of The Palm Beaches.

When it comes to venue variety, though, Palm Beach County stands out with more than 200 cultural attractions including theaters, museums, art centers, indoor and outdoor auditoriums, enchanting gardens and other cultural venues. 

Norton Museum of Art, West Palm Beach — courtesy of Discover The Palm Beaches.

Today’s “Cultural Capital” is home to award-winning theater and Broadway performers, world-class museums and galleries, an enormous range of musical performers and festivals filling the air with music all year long. There’s always something happening in the West Palm Beach Arts and Entertainment District and the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, but don’t miss the collections and exhibits at the Boca Raton Museum of Art and The Norton Museum of Art, one of the area’s best with more than 8,200 works of European, American, Chinese, contemporary and photographic art. Not to be missed is the magnificent 2-acre Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens, featuring nine monumental garden sculptures, 250 rare species of tropical palms, cycads and native plants and 100 works of art. 

Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens in West Palm Beach.

The culture of the Far East comes to life at the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens in Delray Beach, housing more than 7,000 Japanese art objects and artifacts—including a 500-piece collection of tea ceremony items—and 16 acres of expansive Japanese gardens. 

The Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens hosts monthly tea ceremonies October through May.  

Other noteworthy mentions include the Maltz Jupiter Theatre, The Wick Theatre and Costume Museum and Silverball Museum & Arcade. And travelers will want to be in town for the annual Palm Beach Shakespeare Festival, held annually at the Seabreeze Amphitheater in Jupiter. 

A pirate ship play area at the Children’s Museum of the Treasure Coast — one of Martin County’s family-friendly cultural highlights. Photo by Roundhouse Creative, courtesy of Martin County.

Martin County invites visitors to explore its vibrant creative scene through the Martin County Arts & Cultural Trail — a mobile-exclusive experience (no app download required!) that connects you with the area’s museums, historic sites, public art installations, and galleries. From family-friendly attractions like the Children’s Museum to contemporary exhibits and hidden cultural gems, the trail is a great way to discover local flavor at your own pace.