Once considered Palm Beach’s less privileged sibling, West Palm Beach has come into its own. Its $30 million Centennial Square waterfront complex at the eastern end of Clematis Street, with piers, a pavilion, and an amphitheater, has transformed West Palm into an attractive, easy-to-walk downtown area—not to mention there’s the Downtown Trolley that connects the shopping-and-entertainment mecca Rosemary Square (formerly known as CityPlace) with restaurant-and-lounge-lined Clematis Street. The Palm Beach Outlet Mall gives options to those looking for tony bargains. West Palm is especially well regarded for its arts scene, with unique museums and performance venues; a number of public art projects have appeared around the city.
The city's outskirts, vast flat stretches with strip malls and car dealerships, may not inspire but are worth driving through to reach attractions scattered around the southern and western reaches. Several sites are especially rewarding for children and other animal and nature lovers.
