Royal Palm Beach, 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.

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.

At Boca Riding Club, friendly instructors lead riders through lush greenery and teach riders of any skill level through both English- and Western-style riding lessons. Veteran instructors tailor each lesson to students' individual goals, working on basic riding skills, advanced techniques, or highway-merging tips. Riders spend around 80% of their lessons on the horse, with the remainder of their time devoted to saddling and after-ride care.

The tree-and-lake-dotted ranch at Boca Riding Club also hosts public group rides and children's summer-camp sessions. Under the guidance of instructor and manager Elizabeth Constantin, riders walk, trot, canter, or ride off into the sunset, depending on ability and experience filming Hollywood westerns.

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

Featured in an episode of the Golf Channel’s The Haney Project, Palm Beach Par 3 Golf Course’s acclaimed layout blankets the breezy space right between the Atlantic Ocean and the Intercoastal Waterway. Originally designed in 1961 by famed course architect Joe Lee, the course received a facelift from Hall of Famer Raymond Floyd in 2009, adding drama to a water-kissed terrain that has hosted the LPGA Pro-Am and has been played by the likes of George Clooney, Cameron Diaz, and the Hamburglar. Stitched by the curvy trunks of vibrant palm trees, the course’s saltwater- and drought-resilient paspalum grass helps it thrive in its seashore location. With the longest hole measuring in at 196 yards, Palm Beach Par 3 provides ample opportunity for players to snag a coveted hole-in-one or humble egotistical drivers by making them sit out for the round. And the renovations keep coming with plans to add a new, two-story Florida-style clubhouse on the course that will house a restaurant on the second floor. It's scheduled to open November 2013.

Course at a Glance:

• Designed by Joe Lee and refurbished by Raymond Floyd

• 18-hole, par 27 course

• Paspalum grass

• Length of 2,572 yards from the farthest tees

• Three tee options

• Link to scorecard