Just you, your wheels, and the open road.
By Ava Bourbeau
That’s right, it’s the city that has been dubbed the top Trending Destination by Trip Advisor in their Traveler’s Choice Best of the Best Awards. The pressure is on. Flightless birds that we are, however, we get to keep rediscovering what makes our backyard a destination, past just when it’s trending. Our latest attempt at this is getting to know West Palm Beach by bike. We’re pairing that with the fact that West Palm has a reputation as a foodie destination to explore, eat, and peddle, peddle, peddle our way through a weekend.
Whether you rent a BrightBike or use your own trusty wheels, please do consult an actual map—I can’t be held accountable for wrong turns.
If you’re picking up a BrightBike, start by downloading their app to view the map of docking stations and their rental options. You can choose between hourly rentals or purchasing a membership pass. A full-day rental is $24, but they have options starting at just 30 minutes. Our itinerary will begin at Station 113, located at 885 Chase Ave., just off Okeechobee Boulevard and about a block from the water. Be sure to check your app to confirm there are bikes docked at the station before parking there.
From there, you can take the scenic route south, or the shortcut down South Olive Avenue, to The Norton Museum of Art. Norton is absolutely a name you’ve seen on West Palm Beach’s Yelp page and probably every other guide to visiting the city, but it’s a cliché for a reason. Norton is a cultural and artistic hub in West Palm Beach that offers more than just an impressive gallery and a permanent collection filled with high-brow names like Matisse, Braque, and O’Keeffe.
Even if you’re someone who can’t stand still long enough to pretend to read every title card, Norton hosts workshops, live music, and has a really fun gift shop that’s particularly helpful if you’re looking for a unique gift to give an art-lover in your life. We highly recommend spending an hour or two at the museum, or even just enjoying a bite inside their restaurant, aptly named The Restaurant, overlooking the sculpture garden.
A handful of blocks south is Civil Society Brewing, where you’ll want to try one of their many rotating IPA’s. Even if you don’t like IPA (guilty), it’s worth a try. Once you’re hoppy and hydrated, there are a few directions your wheels could take you. Across the street is Steak Shop by Rancher’s Reserve, a boutique butcher shop that serves lunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily, where the burgers are so local that even the cow was raised in-state.
Another local gem is Zipitios, just a few minutes south by bike, where you’ll have some of the best birria tacos you’ve ever tried. If your pedals are willing to really work for it, Tropical Smokehouse and Cholo Soy Cocina are an additional 10-minute cruise south. On the way, grab a bottle of organic wine at West Palm Wine Co. for later and browse some records at Rust & Wax Record Shop. Just remember, this is an out-and-back—what goes south must also return north.
For dinner (and cocktails) after a long day, reward yourself with panoramic views and a rooftop dinner — leave the bikes downstairs. The Ben is a tried and true, but for a new-comer, try Top of the Rox.
If you’re going all in on a staycation, pop over to Palm Beach’s pinkest hotel: The Colony. This whimsical, boutique hotel is worth the splurge to truly make a staycation feel special. Besides, after a full day of exploring West Palm Beach by bike, you won’t be making it very far past the pool loungers. We’re blurring the lines between West Palm Beach and Palm Beach a bit, but as two veins of mid-Palm Beach County, we didn’t think we could do one without the other. At any rate, you’re opening yourself up to the culinary experiences on Palm Beach Island as well this way. Rapid fire recommendations include: Buccan, Cafe Boulud, Henry’s, Sant Ambroeus, and Cucina.
Return your BrightBike overnight, but if you’re not completely tuckered out, take a sunset cruise on the Lake Trail before making your way back to Station 113 to turn it in. You may look like a kook cruising Palm Beach Island on a BrightBike, but the sunset views over the Intracoastal views are worth it. Pop back over the bridge to drop off your bike and thank your trusty wheels for carrying you on a successful staycation.
