Lake Worth Corridor, FL Outdoor Activities

With the Atlantic Ocean as the backdrop for inimitable aquatic adventures, Captain Steve Cienkowski steers participants along crystalline waters for laid-back expeditions or longer jaunts to either the Keys or Bahamas. Participants can glean pertinent sailing or snorkeling tips during lessons or revel in up-close glimpses of manatees swimming and filing taxes in their natural habitat.

Pristine beaches, a seemingly endless supply of sunshine, swordfish, dolphins, manatees—like a slideshow of a tropical vacation, Palm Beach has all of these. Yet without the proper guidance, many sights go unseen and many memories go unmade. So Visit Palm Beach acts as the treasure map to the area’s bounty, imploring its customers to take to the sea in search of the damper half of local entertainment. Adventurers can traverse the ocean on waverunners, parasail 800 feet above the cerulean-blue water, or kayak around Peanut Island in search of its elephant mayor. Visit Palm Beach also acts as a hub for catamaran charters and snorkeling excursions so that guests can explore the deep blue for rarely seen marine species.

Bobby Alcott's love for the nautical life first took shape during college, when he paid his tuition with profits from fishing aboard a 44-foot boat he had reconstructed himself. A trip to St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands in 2003 further fueled his passion for sailing and entertaining, as he began leading charter trips. Now, 15 years after attaining his Coast Guard master's license, he seeks to instill passengers with nautical knowledge and show them a new perspective of Palm Beach through his business, Lacuna Tours.

Captain Bobby navigates his hurricane deck boat along smooth intra-coastal waters during tours and charters, adapting the course to his passengers’ chosen sites while politely vetoing their requests to exchange courtesies with the local narwhal. He expounds on nearby sites and local history with a sense of humor, which he developed during 10 years as a ski instructor. During the day or at sunset, Bobby steers the boat during private tours or themed trips such as birthday parties and wedding celebrations.

On extended tours, he runs the vessel onto the shore of one of Palm Beach's uninhabited islands and lets passengers disembark to relax on the beach and explore the nooks and crannies of abandoned sand castles. If children are onboard, he also brings ashore a small treasure chest filled with candy, balloons, and toy jewelry, and buries it in the sand when they aren't looking. Bobby then spins tales of pirate visits to the island, inviting the wee adventurers to search for the treasure. To further the swashbuckling theme, he also provides pirate costumes and props, giving parents ample photo opportunities.

The faithful and tattooed crew members of the Coast Guard–certified Black Sparrow pirate ship tell stories and sing to buccaneers of all ages during adventures that set sail from the Riviera Beach Marina. In the mysterious waters surrounding the 79-acre Peanut Island, they lead a scavenger hunt for buried treasure and defeat the evil Pirate Jack. Once the ship falls under attack, they call kids to man the water cannons, after which they dole out handfuls of loot when the treasure is recovered. Before returning to the docks, they keep little ones busy with face painting and lessons on the proper way to greet each other and request copies of their tax records in pirate lingo.

Palm trees, grassy shrubs, and crimson blossoms flourish among the neatly manicured fairways of Cypress Creek Country Club’s golf course, designed by Robert von Hagge. The course debuted in 1964 but was recently renovated to keep up with contemporary standards. Five unique, tricky par-3 holes present a challenge to golfers of any level, and water hazards pop up throughout the course.

At the Don Law Golf Academy, you can take lessons from PGA and LPGA professionals to improve your swing or learn how to repurpose old 9-irons as fireplace pokers. Stop by the restaurant for a bite to eat after working up an appetite on the course, at a lesson, or at one of the range’s five hitting stations.

Course at a Glance:

• 18-hole, par 72 course
• Length of 6,531 yards
• Course rating of 72.0
• Slope rating of 131
• See the scorecard

Palm Beach Paddleboards gets water riders up and running with lessons, tours, and a slate of boards and accessories. On daytime paddling jaunts, tour-goers can explore the natural inlets, bays, and canals of the Intracoastal Waterway, which spans 3,000 miles of Florida's Atlantic and Gulf Coasts. While benefiting from both the full-body workout and the inherent peacefulness of paddling, adventurers can encounter members of the local eco system, such as manatees, turtles, and stingrays, and also scope out the grand waterfront homes and vacationing English castles sprawled throughout Palm Beach. Inside the store, vessel experts outfit adventurers with a slate of boards and accessories from brands such as Suplove, Tahoe, and Kialoa.