Page 39 - DreamScapes Magazine | Spring/Summer 2023

HIP TO BE SQUARE
IN DOWNTOWN WPB While the Harriet Himmel Theater—built in 1926 in
the Spanish Colonial Revival style—still serves as a cultural centre, the rest of downtown West Palm
Beach has been completely reimagined. Head to The Square, a revived outdoor plaza, formerly known as CityPlace, to view a community hub where greenery, shady nooks and vine-covered backdrops invite you to peruse the shops, restaurants and galleries.
The Palm Beaches pride themselves on being Florida’s Cultural Capital. So much so that developers who wish to build large-scale projects must contribute one per cent of their above-ground construction project cost back to the arts. The destination is home to more than 200 art, entertainment and historical venues, from world- class museums and breathtaking outdoor sculpture gardens to premier theatres and performance spaces.
Conservation Haven
Considered to be a precious treasure to The Palm Beaches, sea turtle nesting season is a big deal. For centuries every May, green, leatherback and loggerhead sea turtles lay their eggs on beaches stretching from Jupiter to Boca Raton, giving us a first-hand look into this natural marvel. Take a guided nesting observation tour with park rangers at John D. MacArthur Beach State Park, or head to Loggerhead Marinelife Center to learn about sea turtle conservation efforts, or go on an evening guided turtle walk.
At the Manatee Lagoon, the educational attraction has interactive exhibits and an observation deck devoted to manatee viewing, for free! Over by the local favourite Busch Wildlife Sanctuary—which is celebrating 40 years—visitors can walk on trails and discover Florida’s unique wild kingdom of gators, crocs and the Florida panther. Inland, Lion Country Safari is the first drive-through safari in the U.S. and Florida’s largest, priding itself on conservation and education. While feeding giraffes and parakeets is a thrill, the highlight is the 45-minute, window seat side-view of rhinos, ostriches, zebras and much more.
Fun on Land
With kids in tow, you can rent a bicycle or lace up the sneakers, and hit the nine-kilometre Palm Beach Lake Trail, a scenic, relaxing, meandering cardio builder lined with swaying palms, ivy and bougainvillea, not to mention views of both West Palm Beach and Lake Worth Lagoon. Rest beneath the octopus-like Amazonian kapok tree before you continue your sun-filled walk, stopping at the palatial Henry Morrison Flagler Museum, a.k.a. “Whitehall,” the jewel of The Palm Beaches and former residence of the late American industrialist.
Further inland, experience the northern gateway of the Everglades at Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge. You can explore 80 kilometres of hiking trails and a 58-kilometre-long biking trail that offer glimpses of 250+ bird species, the endangered Everglades snail kite, and if you’re lucky, the family can spot an American alligator.
SPRING/SUMMER 2023 DREAMSCAPES 39
PHOTOS: THE PALM BEACHES