Traveling with a greater awareness of the environment continues as a leading trend. For eco-minded visitors, The Palm Beaches offer many opportunities to explore nature preserves, tour around in low-carbon transportation options, stay in eco-friendly lodging and dine at restaurants focused on locally-inspired cuisine. Situated along Florida’s southeast coast and representative of a diverse collection of 39 cities and towns, The Palm Beaches – also known on geographic maps as Palm Beach County – are located just north of Miami and southeast of Orlando. Below are some of the “must visit” nature-based attractions and experiences:

Manatee Lagoon – An FPL Eco-Discovery Center

Florida’s beloved “sea cows” congregate at the FPL Riviera Beach Next Generation Clean Energy Center every winter where the clean, warm water outflows of the power plant meet the Lake Worth Lagoon. This free-admission facility features a mission of environmental education and stewardship. The 16,000-square-foot center showcases engaging, hands-on exhibits for visitors to learn all about the threatened and unique creatures as well as the natural wonders of the surrounding Lake Worth Lagoon. Unique offerings on their schedule include outdoor waterfront yoga classes and Manatee Tales Story Time for the kids.

Loggerhead Marinelife Center (LMC)

Loggerhead Marinelife Center (LMC) is situated on Juno Beach, one of the world’s most densely-nested Loggerhead sea turtle beaches. As a center dedicated to ocean conservation and sea turtle rehabilitation and research, LMC offers groups first-hand experiences to get engaged with the local community. Sea turtle adoption is another way to help the local turtle patients as well as the center. Varying adoption levels, starting at U.S.$40, directly benefit the continued care and treatment of sick and injured sea turtles. 

Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge

Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge in Boynton Beach is a 147,392-acre wildlife sanctuary that is the most northern remnant of the historic Everglades wetland ecosystem. It offers visitors abundant opportunities to hike, bike, fish, canoe, and kayak over miles of waterways and trails within a vast protected space on the edge of urban life. 

Busch Wildlife Sanctuary at Abramson & Schlaggar Reserve 

Busch Wildlife Sanctuary at Abramson & Schlaggar Reserve is a nonprofit dedicated to wildlife conservation and education. With the purpose of rescuing and rehabilitating injured native Florida wildlife, the center also serves to educate visitors about wildlife and habitat conservation. In late 2023, the center expanded to a larger location nestled in the lush greenery of Jupiter Farms. While visiting, guests can see local animal ambassadors in their new spacious habitats, enjoy interactive educational exhibits, and learn about their fully equipped wildlife rehab center that ensures the highest standard of care for the animals under the center’s protection.

Visit Palm Beach’s Mangroves and Mansions Kayak Tour 

Visit Palm Beach’s Mangroves and Mansions Kayak Tour invites visitors to venture out on an eco-journey through the mangroves in the Lake Worth Lagoon (Intracoastal Waterway) and get an up-close with nature while enjoying the views of some of the county’s most spectacular estates. Paddle through the South Cove Natural Area, which is one of the area’s newest man-made mangrove islands. These mangrove-covered islands are surrounded by shallow, tranquil waters, which makes them the perfect place to spot birds, fish and occasional manatee sightings in season.

Green Ways of Getting Around

Circuit is a 100% electric local shuttle service that promotes better air quality while offering a first-mile/last-mile transportation option that is convenient and easy to use. Available for free Monday through Sunday 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. in Downtown West Palm Beach, and in Palm Beach for a small fee of U.S. $4 for the first passenger and U.S.$1 for each additional passenger (for trips starting or ending in the Palm Beach area), it’s a great alternative to car rentals or rideshare services. Riders can use the service to and from the following locations: West Palm Station (Tri-Rail), Brightline West Palm Beach, The Square, Downtown West Palm Beach, Worth Avenue and Ocean Blvd. The service is also available in Boca Raton for a small fee and includes the areas of The Boca Raton Museum of Art, Mizner Park, Royal Palm Place, and more.

Delray Beach Freebee is a free, on-demand, point-to-point service that is available to transport visitors and locals in and around the Downtown Delray Beach core area. The best part (other than being free!) is that it’s so easy to use. Riders can request a ride through the Freebee app, call or simply hail down a vehicle. Right now, there are a total of five Freebee vehicles providing service. Riders can also ride happy knowing that they’re helping the planet, considering all Freebee vehicles are 100% electric. 

Brightline allows visitors to skip the traffic and hop aboard the luxe, high speed passenger train that connects Orlando, West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Aventura, Fort Lauderdale and Miami. Both the West Palm Beach and Boca Raton stations are within The Palm Beaches. Brightline prioritizes sustainability and takes significant steps to minimize its environmental impact. It even runs on clean biodiesel fuel, through a partnership with Florida Power & Light Company. The company’s advanced train technology ensures energy efficiency, reducing fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions compared to traditional transportation methods.

Tri-Rail a commuter rail service has been running since 1989. The service connects Palm Beach County to Broward and Miami-Dade counties across 73.5 miles of track with 18 stations. Six of the 18 stations are within The Palm Beaches. The service is a nice alternative to those seeking to visit multiple destinations while in the area at more affordable rates, which range from just under U.S.$2 to just under U.S.$18. 

Stay in an Environmentally-Conscious Way

Palm Beach County is a Gold LEED-Certified destination, which serves as a demonstration of the destination’s commitment to sustainability by reflecting best-in-class green building strategies, practices and materials. Jupiter Inlet Colony, Palm Beach and West Palm Beach have also received designations as LEED-certified cities.

The PGA National Resort in Palm Beach Gardens has four onsite beehives and is home to more than 250,000 honeybees and their queens. The property offers guests a unique opportunity to explore the intriguing world of bees in an interactive setting. It is the only resort in The Palm Beaches to offer a beehive experience, which costs U.S.$125 per person with a minimum of four participants. Curious guests ages 6 and up, are provided protective beekeeping clothing and can meet professional beekeeper Sierra Malnove for a guided tour of the hives to learn about bee health, safety and productivity. The experience continues at the property’s on-site restaurant, Honeybelle with a honey and food-tasting session.

While The Breakers in Palm Beach boasts an EPA Green Power Partner stamp of approval, several hotel properties within The Palm Beaches are part of Florida Green Lodging, an initiative of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) that designates and recognizes lodging facilities that make a voluntary commitment to conserve and protect Florida’s natural resources. Among them are The Jupiter Beach Resort and Spa, Doubletree by Hilton Hotel & Executive Meeting Center, Palm Beach Marriott Singer Island Resort and Spa, Best Western Palm Beach Lakes Inn, Hawthorn Suites West Palm Beach Hotel, Four Seasons Resort Palm Beach, Courtyard by Marriott Boynton Beach, Doubletree by Hilton Deerfield Beach-Boca Raton, and Embassy Suites Boca Raton.

Hilton West Palm Beach has its fair share of sustainable offerings, too. Not only is the property LEED-certified Silver, but the property also uses energy-efficient lightbulbs throughout the property that use 75% less energy than standard lighting, producing 75% less heat and lasting up to 10 times longer. They work with “Clean The World” to recycle discarded soap and amenity bottles in bulk. Soap is recycled into new bars and all bottles are either recycled or converted to energy. A partnership with Circuit also provides guests with an easy, eco-friendly alternative to getting from the property to surrounding attractions and eateries.

In Delray Beach, the historic Colony Hotel & Cabana Club donates a dollar for each room night sold to a local green organization every year and uses 100% renewable energy, low-flow showerheads, high-efficiency lighting, recycled lumber for renovations and VOC-free paint.