Things to Do in Lake Worth

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.

The 18 holes of Palm Beach Gardens Golf Course slither through the natural marshes and wetlands of the Loxahatchee Nature Preserve, testing golfers' mettle with frequent changes in fairway direction and lots of water. Players scoot about the Roy Case-designed layout aboard golf carts equipped with GPS systems, which help them ascertain exact distances to greens and around sunbathing caddies. The fairway of the par 5 ninth hole -- dubbed "Mucho Agua" -- lies on an isthmus between two large bodies of water, leaving little room for error as players try to reach the green in two. The fairway of the 13th hole, also a par 5, doglegs twice into a unique Z shape, earning it the name of "Zorro's Revenge." Before players may turn in for the day, they must deal with two shots over water on the last hole, named "Swamp Thing" for its proximity to marshland and proclivity for early '80s horror movies.

Course at a Glance:

• 18-hole, par 72 course
• Total length of 6,500 yards from the back tees
• Four sets of tees per hole

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.

The single and tandem kayaks of Paddle Away Sports encourage competitive and cooperative paddling, and standup-paddleboard rentals entail relaxing expeditions and include long paddles for fending off carnivorous barnacles. The knowledgeable staff leads instructional sessions for new riders and sunset tours of the shimmering waters.

The emerald alleyways of Forest Oaks Golf Club's 18-hole course tumble through towering trees and scenic streams for a round of lengthy, challenging play. Tight fairways supply the bulk of the difficulty throughout the round, which tests golfers' accuracy off the tee and golf carts' stamina with six par 5s. The club hosts frequent scrambles, beat-the-pro competitions, and other friendly competitions to unite linkspeople under the common cause of hunting pins and fending off mulligans. To prepare duffers for rounds on their scenic course, Forest Oaks' staff of resident aces offers onsite golf instruction, and the golf club fuels herculean drives and underfed 9-irons with refreshments and homemade snack-bar