A Rainy Day in Palm Beach County
When the afternoon storms settle in, there is still plenty to do indoors.
Anyone who has spent a summer in South Florida knows the pattern. The morning is bright, the clouds build after lunch, and by mid-afternoon a storm rolls through. Sometimes it clears in an hour. Sometimes it settles in for the day. Over the years I have built a short list of places in Palm Beach County that make a rainy day feel like a good day rather than a lost one.
An afternoon at the museum
The Norton Museum of Art in West Palm Beach is my first suggestion for almost anyone. The collection is wide-ranging, the building is bright and easy to move through, and it is just as enjoyable for an hour as for a whole afternoon. I tend to pick one gallery and spend time there instead of trying to see everything.
A little history on Palm Beach
The Flagler Museum, Henry Flagler’s Gilded Age home on Palm Beach, is a look at the era when the railroad turned this coast into a destination. Even if history is not usually your thing, the rooms and the story of how the area grew are interesting. It is a reminder of how young much of South Florida really is.
Science for every age
The Cox Science Center and Aquarium in West Palm Beach is built with kids in mind, but I have watched plenty of adults get just as absorbed in the exhibits. It is a good choice when you are hosting visitors of different ages and want something everyone can enjoy.
Manatees in the cooler months
Manatee Lagoon in Riviera Beach is an easy, low-key stop. When the water cools in winter, manatees gather in the warm water nearby, and the observation areas give you a good view on the right day. On a gray afternoon it is a calm place to spend an hour by the water without getting soaked.
A show or a concert
The Kravis Center for the Performing Arts hosts everything from Broadway tours to orchestras to comedy, mostly during the busy season. Checking the calendar is worth it when the forecast looks wet. A rainy evening is a fine excuse to see something live.
The quiet option
Sometimes the best rainy day plan is the simplest one: a library, a bookstore or a coffee shop with a window seat, and a book you have been meaning to start. The downtown library in West Palm Beach looks out over the waterfront, and watching a storm move across the water from inside is one of my favorite small pleasures of living here.
Florida storms usually pass, and the evening light afterward can be the best of the day. Until then, there is more to do indoors here than people expect. Hours and schedules change, so it is always worth checking before you go.
Views expressed here are my own and do not represent the views of my employer. Content is for general information only and is not financial, investment, tax, or legal advice.