West Palm Beach Walking Tour

Flagler Park is a nice open area at the end of Clematis Street with an in-ground fountain (great for kids who want to run through it) as well as a number of tables, benches, and open grass area. When you are done, walk towards to water and turn right and walk towards the Flagler Memorial Bridge.

The plaque reads: "Flagler Park, formerly known as City Park, has been an important public space in West Palm Beach since the founding of the community. The town site for West Palm Beach was laid out in 1893 as a grid pattern of streets running north-south and east-west. The only variation was at the eastern end of Clematis Street, where two angled, short streets branched off to create a triangular public common area.

Over the years, the site has seen a variety of uses. Downtown merchants organized impromptu ball games on the park-like grounds when business was slow. In 1900 a two-story frame building was donated for use as a reading room and transported across Lake Worth from Palm Beach. It was placed on the southeastern portion of the parcel.

The Woman's Christian Temperance Union dedicated a drinking fountain in the Park in 1907. In 1915, a Woman's club was placed on the parcel. Other amenities were also added to the park including a shuffleboard court and a bandstand for outdoor concerts.

As the city's population expended during the 1920s the facilities of the Reading Room were outgrown and a library was built in 1923. It opened in January 1924 as the Memorial Library, named to honor the dead of World War I. It too was outgrown and was replaced by another library in 1962. In 1994 the library was remodeled and the plaza in front of the library was redesigned, incorporating a triangular in-ground fountain. This forecourt has become the center of downtown activities, continuing the traditional use of this important civic space."

From the bridge you can see all of the sailboats, yachts, and tour boats at the dock. Many of the boats are too tall to fit under this bridge, which is why the Flagler Memorial Bridge is a draw bridge. If you wait long enough, you will see traffic stop and the bridge opening up in the middle to let boats through.

After the bridge you will see a prominent status of Henry Flagler on the island in the middle of the large thoroughfare. You will learn all about the life and legacy of Henry Flagler at his mansion and museum.

The Flagler Mansion is a stunning work or architecture and a visit is most definitely worth it. Inside you can follow a docent-led tour or listen to a free audio guide to learn about how Henry Flagler paved the way for modern-day Florida to grow into what it has today.

Flagler became one of the wealthiest men in the world after founding Standard Oil and built and furnished a very impressive mansion. After taking the tour you will no longer be surprised that anything and everything in Florida seems to be named after this man.

The Sea Gull Cottage is Palm Beach's oldest house.

From the sign:
"Constructed in 1886 by R.R. McCormick, a Denver railroad developer, Sea Gull cottage was purchased by Henry Flagler in 1893 and became Flagler's first winter residence in Palm Beach. The Royal Poinciana, Flagler's first resort hotel in Palm Beach, was located next to the Sea Gull. In 1984 Sea Gull was moved and restored by the Preservation Foundation of Palm Beach. It is now the Parish House of the Royal Poinciana Chapel."

The Society of the Four Arts hosts art exhibits, concerts, films, lectures and much more, and is home to the King Library and the philip Hulitar Sculpture Gardens.

While walking down Royal Palm Way you may suddenly realize why the area is called West Palm Beach--you are surrounded by enormous palm trees, and may feel like you are in a movie. Walk east along the road until you arrive at the beach.

Spend as much time as you like at the beach. It is hard to resist the call of the warm waters and the bright white sand. When you have had enough, walk south along the path next to the beach until you arrive at Worth Ave where you will find the highest density of upscale shopping.

For those of you familiar with Los Angeles, just think Rodeo Drive. Worth Ave is a famous upscale shopping district where you are likely to find some of the most expensive stores, cars, and restaurants you have ever seen.

Some examples are: Armani, Meiman Marcus, Cartier, Louis Vuitton, Tiffany & Co, Gucci, Ralph Lauren, Chanel, Brooks Brothers, Lacoste, and much, much more. You may want to leave your wallet in your pocket, but window shopping is always free.