Beat the heat this summer in Palm Beach County with these fun indoor activities

Yahoo

20-05-2025

The arrival of summer in Palm Beach County makes for some seriously hot, sweltering days and could put a damper on your outdoor plans — and with it, a good way to pass the time or entertain the kids.
Thankfully, Palm Beach County has plenty of fun indoor activities to keep the whole family busy.
Here's a roundup of fun activities you can do indoors around the county that will let you keep your cool and, when it comes to making sure the kids are entertained, your composure.
Located in the "unwrapped" and restored 1916 county courthouse, this museum is the leading source for county history. It features permanent People and Places galleries as well as temporary exhibits on a wide variety of topics to appeal to a diverse audience. Free, donations accepted. Open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
300 N. Dixie Highway, West Palm Beach. 561-832-4164; pbchistory.org
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Founded in 1941, the Norton Museum of Art has more than 8,200 works of art in the collection and is a wonderful place to get educated in art culture. In addition to its vast collection, the museum also offer art classes, workshops, lectures, conversations, film screenings, special performances and more. On Friday nights there's also the Art After Dark event.
Hours are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday; 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday; and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Closed Tuesday. Admission is $18 for adults, $15 for seniors ages 60 and older, and $5 for students with a valid ID. Children 12 and younger enter free. Active U.S. military and veterans free. Palm Beach County residents get in free on Saturdays.
West Palm Beach residents can get into the Norton for free every Saturday year-round. Teachers, active U.S. military members and veterans can get in free with a valid ID. Bank of America cardholders free the first full weekend of each month.
1450 S. Dixie Highway, West Palm Beach. 561-832-5196; norton.org
The Science Center is the perfect place for kids. Whether it's one of the exhibits, a laser concert, or a visit to their observatory or their 10,000-gallon Aquariums of the Atlantic (home to some of Florida's most beautiful native fish), there is plenty to keep adults and children busy, and educate them. From May 9 to Sept. 25 they will have their latest exhibition "Mission Aerospace" on display. This allows guests to embark on a multi-layered exploration of aviation history, aerospace milestones, and some of NASA's trail-blazing discoveries that are shaping our world every day.
Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Adults $26, seniors $24, ages 3 to 12 $22, members free.
4801 Dreher Trail N., West Palm Beach. 561-832-1988. coxsciencecenter.org
Let kids be creative and experience the arts, with no cleanup needed! the program offers dance, art, music, yoga, birthday parties for children 12 and under. Call or visit the website to sign up for classes or workshops.
Hours are 10 a.m. to noon and 4 to 6 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. Closed Thursday, Saturday and Sunday.
7725 S. Dixie Highway, West Palm Beach. 561-216-1027. rhythmandhues.com
The Olympic-size rink, Palm Beach Ice Works, is open to the public during select hours.
Admission is $18 and includes skate rental. Admission with personal skates $15. Ice scooter rental $5 (to assist skaters 3.5 feet tall or shorter). Public skate times change daily, call ahead or check website for availability.
1590 N. Florida Mango Road, West Palm Beach. 561-656-4046; pbiw.org
When it was completed in 1902, the New York Herald proclaimed that Whitehall, Henry Flagler's Gilded Age estate in Palm Beach, was "more wonderful than any palace in Europe, grander and more magnificent than any other private dwelling in the world."
Today, Whitehall is a National Historic Landmark and is open to the public as the Flagler Museum, offering self-guided tours, changing exhibitions, and special programs. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. Closed Monday. Adults (13 and older) $28, children (6 to 12) $14.
One Whitehall Way, Palm Beach. 561-655-2833; flaglermuseum.us
With over 200 arcade games and a 4,000-square-foot laser tag arena, this Lake Worth Beach amusement center is a great option for indoor fun. Additionally, the facility offers a full-service restaurant, Cordial, and a 20-lane bowling alley. Great option for large groups.
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Hours are 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday; 11 a.m. to midnight Friday; 10 a.m. to midnight Saturday and 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday. Free admission, fees for activities.
2003 10th Ave. N., Lake Worth Beach. 561-547-0817; fundepot.com
Another option for ice skating is Palm Beach Skate Zone, a three-rink, 75,000 square feet facility just off the Florida Turnpike. They have open skating, camps, hockey, classes and offer birthday party packages.
8125 Lake Worth Road, Lake Worth Beach. 561-963-5900; pbskatezone.com
Formerly DEFY, now Sky Zone, this park features trampolines, dodgeball, a ninja course, parkour training, open jump, slides and more. This indoor sports park has got what high-flying kids crave. Hours are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday to Thursday; 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Single day passes are $39.99 and 90-minute passes are $26.99. There are also monthly and summer memberships available.
964 S. Congress Ave., Palm Springs. 561-234-4514; defy.com
This large-scale playground for families has trampolines, wall climbing, dodgeball, a ropes course, battle beam, tubes playground, virtual reality and more. Height requirements vary per attraction.
Hours are 4 to 8 p.m. Monday to Thursday; 3 to 9 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday; and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday. Call park for pricing.
10560 Forest Hill Blvd., Wellington. 561-408-0809; urbanair.com
The center has two floors of hands-on, interactive exhibits and many other educational programs and is a great place to take smaller kids and toddlers. One of the exhibits gives kids a look at what life was like for Florida's early settlers and features child-size replicas of some the resources utilized. See the calendar for age-appropriate classes, dates, times and prices.
Hours 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday. Children 1 and older and adults $7, seniors $6. Reservations are strongly recommended.
129 E. Ocean Ave., Boynton Beach. 561-742-6780; schoolhousemuseum.org
If you're thinking "from Soho down to Brighton, I must have played 'em all" well maybe you have, but in Delray Beach there's probably more than a few pinball machines you haven't. The Silverball Retro Arcade features over 150 vintage and modern pinball machines along with plenty of classic arcade games like Pac Man, Donkey Kong, Frogger, Space Invaders and many more. Plus, there's also original Coney Island Skee-Ball, shuffle boards and a restaurant with a full bar.
Hours are 11 a.m. to midnight Sunday to Thursday; 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday. All games are set to free play with an entry pass. The passes start at $15 for a one hour of play.
19 NE Third Ave., Delray Beach. 561-266-3294; silverballmuseum.com
Experience movies in a dine-in cinema at their Delray Beach and Boca Raton locations. Watch the latest films and enjoy freshly-made dishes and signature drinks, delivered straight to your reclining seat. See theater websites for movie times and ticket prices.
25 SE Fourth Ave., Delray Beach. iPic Delray Beach ; 301 Plaza Real, Boca Raton. iPic Boca Raton (Mizner Park)
Though they do have outdoor activities, let's focus on Boomers' indoor fun.
Enter a black-lit (and air conditioned, thank God) battleground and wage mock war against the opposing teams during a laser tag session. Next check out their game room featuring hundreds of video games and skill games including basketball, snowboarding, dance challenges and more.
Hours are 2 to 8 p.m. Monday and Tuesday; 7 to 10 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday; 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday; 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday. See website for ticket prices.
3100 Airport Road, Boca Raton. 561-347-1888; boomersparks.com
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If you're looking for an activity for the senses, taking a tour at the Bulk Candy Store in West Palm Beach could be your perfect rainy afternoon activity.
The big purple and yellow building not far from Palm Beach International Airport features popcorn, nuts, chocolates and an amazing variety of vintage and international candies that you can sink your teeth into. Yes, they have Smarties, Dad's Root Beer Barrels, Bit O Honey, Laffy Taffy, Necco, Pop Rocks and much more. Their tours cover the history and production of candy.
Details: 235 N. Jog Road, West Palm Beach. 561-540-1600; bulkcandystore.com
You and your team are trapped in a room, with 60 minutes to escape. Find the clues, solve the puzzles, and win your freedom back! There are several rooms in the county, each with their own themes, and prices are generally in the $35-per-person range. Here are a few to choose from:
The Escape SoFlo: 10800 N. Military Trail, Palm Beach Gardens; 561-318-8973
West Palm Beach Escape Rooms: 209 S. Olive Ave, West Palm Beach; 561-660-5120
Master Escape Room: 1700 N. Dixie Highway, Boca Raton; 561-571-5381
And of course there's that classic, so-retro-its-cool pastime, bowling. It's a great way to have some indoor competitive fun. Palm Beach County is graced with numerous bowling centers, including:
Lucky Strike, 350 Maplewood Drive, Jupiter. 561-743-9200
Greenacres Bowl, 6126 Lake Worth Road, Greenacres. 561-968-0100
AMF Boynton Beach Lanes, 1190 Boynton Beach Blvd., Boynton Beach. 561-734-1500
Penny Lanes, 14775 Lyons Road, Delray Beach. 561-865-9487 (Note: This is connected to the EVO movie theater, for a double-shot of cool indoor activity)
Strike 10 Bowling, 449 Plaza Real (in Mizner Park), Boca Raton. 561-300-6530
Palm Beach Post staffers Michele Kelley and Lianna Norman contributed to this report.
Eddie Ritz is a journalist at The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach him at [e-mail]. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Beat the summer heat in Palm Beach County with these 23 indoor activities