Best Things to Do in Boynton Beach, Florida

The best things to do in Boynton Beach, Florida center on the water — Boynton Inlet gives quick access to the Atlantic — with wetland boardwalks to the west, a City-run beach park across the Intracoastal, and a downtown civic area with a children's museum and events. Several of the best-known spots sit just outside city limits, in Ocean Ridge or unincorporated Palm Beach County, and this guide says which is which.

Hours, rules, fees and conditions change, so each section points to the official page to check before you go.

Boynton Inlet and Ocean Inlet Park

Boynton Inlet sits between Manalapan and Ocean Ridge, connecting the Lake Worth Lagoon with the Atlantic. Palm Beach County's Ocean Inlet Park, on the inlet in Ocean Ridge, is the easiest way to see it up close.

The County lists a guarded beach area, a jetty open around the clock for fishing, canoe and kayak access, a playground, picnic shelters and a marina with slips.

• Best for: watching boats run the inlet, shore fishing from the jetty, and a beach day with a playground nearby.
• Check before you go: park hours and rules, and the marina's current status, on the County's page.

Official resource: Ocean Inlet Park

Diving and offshore trips

The inlet puts boats from Boynton's east side into the Atlantic quickly, and dive and fishing charters operate in the area.

• Best for: certified divers, and anyone who wants to get offshore without owning a boat.
• What to know: book with a certified, licensed operator, and let them decide whether conditions allow a trip.

Fishing

Fishing here ranges from the Intracoastal and the inlet to offshore charter trips. Ocean Inlet Park's jetty is open to anglers around the clock.

• Check before you go: Florida's current saltwater fishing licenses, seasons, size and bag limits — they change, so check the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission rather than relying on last year's rules.

Official resource: FWC recreational saltwater fishing

Green Cay Nature Center and Wetlands

Palm Beach County's Green Cay Nature Center, at 12800 Hagen Ranch Road with a Boynton Beach address, has a 1.5-mile elevated boardwalk through about 100 acres of constructed wetland, and a nature center with a lecture hall and live-animal exhibits. It's a County facility, not a City park.

• Best for: easy, flat walking, bird and wildlife watching, and families.
• Check before you go: the boardwalk and nature center keep different hours; see the County's page.

Official resource: Green Cay Nature Center

Wakodahatchee Wetlands

Nearby, Wakodahatchee Wetlands — run by Palm Beach County Water Utilities at 13270 Jog Road, with a Delray Beach address — has a three-quarter-mile boardwalk over a 50-acre constructed wetland, where more than 178 bird species have been identified.

Official resource: Wakodahatchee Wetlands

The beach: Oceanfront Park

The City of Boynton Beach's Oceanfront Park is at 6415 N. Ocean Boulevard in Ocean Ridge, across the Intracoastal. It's a separate park from Ocean Inlet Park, run by a different government — the City rather than the County — with its own parking and rules. The City lists paid parking there.

• Check before you go: current parking rules, rates and any resident programs on the City's page.

Official resource: City of Boynton Beach — parking locations and fees

Paddling the mangroves

Kayaking and paddleboarding on the Intracoastal need no boat of your own — rent from a local outfitter, or launch where access is provided, such as Ocean Inlet Park's listed canoe and kayak access.

• Best for: a slower look at the same water the charter boats run through, along the mangrove edges.
• Check before you go: boating rules and manatee protection zones apply to paddlers too, and conditions change with wind and tide. Rent from and follow the guidance of a qualified outfitter.

Official resources: FWC boating regulations · Manatee protection zones

Downtown and Town Square

The City's Town Square area downtown includes the Schoolhouse Children's Museum, a cultural center, the City library and an amphitheater. The museum has hands-on exhibits across two floors, and the City runs concerts, festivals and community events through the year.

• Best for: families, and an easy local outing.
• Check before you go: the City's events calendar for what's on, and the museum's site for hours and admission.

Official resources: City of Boynton Beach events calendar · Schoolhouse Children's Museum

Golf

The City operates The Links at Boynton Beach, with an 18-hole championship course and a 9-hole executive course, a practice area and a grill. West Boynton also has a number of private and semi-private club courses; access depends on each club's membership rules.

Official resource: The Links at Boynton Beach

Seasonal planning

From roughly November through April is season, with the most comfortable weather and a fuller events calendar. May through October is hot and humid, with frequent afternoon storms, so outdoor plans often work best early in the day.

The Atlantic hurricane season runs June 1 through November 30. Check marine and weather conditions before any time on the water, and follow Palm Beach County Emergency Management guidance when a storm is forecast.

Where to start

In your first month, try one of each:

• On the water: book a dive or fishing charter with a certified operator, or spend an afternoon at Ocean Inlet Park watching the inlet.
• In nature: walk the Green Cay boardwalk early in the day.
• An easy local outing: check the City's events calendar for something at Town Square, or visit the Schoolhouse Children's Museum.

Once you've done those, the lesser-known local spots and our guide to eating and drinking in Boynton Beach are the next reads. For the practical side of living here, see our local guide to Boynton Beach and the Boynton Beach community guide.