Boasting sultry summer temperatures and mildly cool winters, Palm Beach County, Florida, offers its senior residents plenty of opportunities for time under the sun. Outdoor activities can be enjoyed by older adults of all ability levels, and here are the best ones to pick from.

Palm Beach County summer weather averages a balmy 86 degrees Fahrenheit. Seniors are advised to be cautious to avoid heat-related illnesses, like heat stroke or heat exhaustion, which can develop with long exposure to temperatures of 85 degrees Fahrenheit and over.

Precipitation is no stranger to Palm Beach County, either, with June being the wettest month on average. About 9.7 inches of precipitation falls during this mid-summer month. The driest month in the County is March, with only 2.3 inches of precipitation on average.

Winter fails to scare Palm Beach County residents, since average temperatures range from the upper 70s to the lower 80s. The cooler months also tend to be the driest, which adds another level of comfort for the older adults who wish to stay active.

Given that the weather in Palm Beach County is pleasant year-round, seniors enjoy a wealth of opportunities to get outside and be active. The County is filled with numerous parks, restaurants, golf courses, and cultural activities to keep elderly individuals busy.

1. Natural Parks: Trail Walks, Bird Watching and Zoo Exhibitions

Popular parks in Palm Beach County offer seniors a chance to hit the scenic boardwalk trails, watch birds and other wildlife in the nature preserves, and admire the flora and fauna growing in the gardens. Zoo exhibitions are plentiful in the County, too, and seniors receive a generous a discount. Visit the award winning Palm Beach Zoo.

The most well-known nature preserves and parks where seniors can take in the beauty of nature are the Grassy Waters Preserve in West Palm Beach, Frenchman’s Forest in Palm Beach Gardens         , and Green Cay Nature Center, and Wetlands in Boynton Beach.

Many of the beaches in Palm Bach County have walkways where everyone can enjoy looking at the ocean and feeling the breeze. In north Palm Beach County, you can visit the breathtaking Juno Beach Pier and watch the dilettante fishermen trying their luck at this elusive sport. At the beautiful Lake Worth Beach Park, there is a wide boardwalk with a fantastic view. Further south you can visit Ocean Inlet Park where you and your loved ones can be entertained watching leisure boats enter and leave the lagoon.

Palm Beach County is blessed with many parks that cater to a variety of interests. There are ponds in these parks that attract waterfowl and other birds that will enchant your loved one. Bring some chairs, a couple of sandwiches for an easy picnic, and watch the ducks. Visit Palm Beach County parks to discover the variety of opportunities for outdoor entertainment for your loved ones. Below are just a few of our favorites!

• Okeeheelee Park: Okeeheelee Park offers many activities including boating and baseball and there is also a dog park which are always entertaining to watch. There are plenty of wheelchair accessible nature trails to take a walk and an interesting Nature Center with displays of the eco systems of Palm Beach County.
• Mangrove Walk Pond: Mangrove Walk Pond is part of the “City of Boynton Beach Downtown Heritage Trail” which is comprised of several nearby parks. The park has a boardwalk around a pond and a nice pavilion with benches that extends out into the pond.
• Green Cay Nature Center & Wetlands: Green Cay Nature Center & Wetlands is the newest nature preserve in our county! You can take a self-guided tour on the boardwalk and scan QR codes along the way for information about the surrounding area.
• Scrubs: Areas such as the High Ridge Scrub, Seacrest Scrub, and Winding Waters have paved trails that are wheelchair accessible.

Each of these parks offers plenty of parking. Remember to bring water and time your visits for either early or late in the day. It can get hot in Florida and seniors have an increased risk of heat-related illness, so they need special care in hot weather.

2.Restaurants: Dining, Live Music, Farmers’ Markets

When the sun rises to its hottest point, head indoors to a restaurant with a cool and temperate dining area. Seniors can dine on steak and seafood at any of the dozens of restaurants that dot the streets in this county. Restaurants range from casual and fun to fine dining.

Saturdays are lively with live music at the West Palm Beach Green Market. While listening to music, seniors can nibble on the free food samples here. Outdoor seating is available at Mizner Park in Boca Raton.

Between October and April, many towns in Palm Beach County host farmer’s markets on Saturday mornings. At these “green markets,” local independent entrepreneurs sell their wares including cheese, produce, fresh fish, plants, desserts, and so much more! These markets provide a variety of different experiences and can be very entertaining for older adults. You can take your loved ones to shop at the Green Market in West Palm Beach and Delray Green Market. There are also farmer’s markets in Lake Worth Beach, Wellington, and Palm Beach Gardens. You and your loved ones will be delighted at the diversity and ingenuity of locally sources products.

3. Leisure: Golf, Shopping, Safaris

Palm Beach County is sprinkled with PGA courses, where experienced golfers can practice their swing and newbies can take lessons. Opportunities to golf are so prevalent here that Palm Beach is hailed as Florida’s golf capital. The Breakers Ocean Course is the state’s oldest 18-hole golf course.

Shopping is reserved for those who aim to spend more than they save. With over one hundred outlet stores, the famed Palm Beach Outlets is the perfect shopping getaway for seniors. After a tiring but exciting afternoon of shopping, visit one of the Outlet’s many restaurants for a delicious pick-me-up.

Seniors do not need to book an African safari when Palm Beach County boasts one of its own. Older adults can leisurely drive through the six hundred acres of natural areas in the Lion Country Safari. Over nine hundred animals, including giraffes and ostriches, roam the open, naturalistic habitats.

4. Entertainment: Live Performances, Baseball Games

Older adults bent on seeing a thrilling live performance will not be disappointed. The open-air music venue iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre promises to deliver. Tickets can be purchased to see world-class acts, like singer Stevie Nicks, and stand-up comedian John Mulaney.

Sports fans who want to catch a baseball game can do so at the Roger Dean Stadium or at The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches. Seniors might even bring a group of friends to the ballpark for the Spring Training season. Chow down on a hotdog at the only stadium that has hosted four minor league teams.

5. Cultural Activities: Garden Strolls

Seniors who enjoy a stroll through magnificent gardens will be eager for the Ann Norton Sculpture Garden reopening in November 2022. Tickets for the Gardens, which opens from November to June, are discounted for senior citizens. Members, though, can enter for free.

Walking along the two-acre property, seniors will see the breathtaking collection of 250 rare species of tropical palms and nine monumental sculptures. The collection is one of the largest in Florida. Visiting the lush, jungle-like environment has been likened to strolling through another world.

The Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens located in Delray has six different gardens that are inspired by important gardens in Japan. Most of the gardens are wheelchair accessible though the paths are not paved. There is also a museum with rotating exhibits, tea ceremonies, and Japanese traditions.

Mounts Botanical Garden is a 16-acre tropical oasis where you will find more than 6,000 species of tropical and sub-tropical plants in a carefully curated collection. All walkways are paved which allows for easy access for seniors.

Seniors rarely go a day without having an opportunity to enjoy the great outdoors in Palm Beach County and all it has to offer. When your elderly loved one would like to take in the sights but could benefit from extra support, Assisting Hands Home Care is the solution.

Our nationally recognized home care agency offers the most compassionate companion care in the area. Professional caregivers build relationships with the seniors we serve and help them enjoy life to the max. Our services are essential to lifting the spirits of seniors and keeping them active.

Caregivers, for example, provide transportation to not only doctors’ offices but to social events. A part of our companion care services is to take seniors on safe outings, such as to the parks, gardens, or preserves. We accompany them to ensure they are confident on their feet.

While we are strong supporters of seniors emotionally, our caregivers also meet the physical needs of those we serve. Responsibilities include grocery shopping, preparing balanced meals, medication reminders, fall risk assessments, and help with personal hygiene tasks, like bathing and toileting (See All Services).

When your elderly loved one living in or around Boynton Beach, Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, West Palm Beach, Florida (See All Served Areas), needs extra support at home, contact Assisting Hands Home Care for the best in companion care. We will set up an in-home consultation and assess care needs. Call us at (561) 566-5989 today for trusted and reliable nonmedical home health care.