As the largest county southeast of the Mississippi River, Palm Beach County presents the best of everything - from distinctive attractions and an assortment of cultural venues to top-notch festivals and edge-of-your-seat sporting activities. All who visit this sub-tropical paradise will find cities that are rich in diversity and home to warm, friendly people.

FACTS AND FIGURES:

LOCATION:

Palm Beach County is located along the southeast coast of Florida. The center of the county is approximately 60 miles north of Miami and 150 miles southeast of Orlando.

TOPOGRAPHY:

The county is 2,578 square miles - an area larger than Rhode Island or Delaware. There are 37 municipalities and incorporated areas. The Atlantic Ocean touches the eastern half of the county. Both the coastal and beach areas range for 47 miles from north to south. At its widest point, the county stretches 53 miles from east to west. The northwest part of the county includes Lake Okeechobee, the second largest fresh water lake in the United States. The terrain is sub-tropical, featuring plenty of lush palm trees, tall pines, and a multitude of vivid tropical flowers that bloom year round.

TEMPERATURE:

Palm Beach County enjoys an enviable, average annual temperature of 78° F.

LODGING & DINING:

There are more than 16,000 guestrooms at more than 200 hotels. Luxurious resorts, affordable inns, and bed & breakfasts create an extensive list of accommodations from which to choose. Elegant and casual dining is found at the more than 2,300 unique restaurants.

AIRPORTS & HIGHWAYS:

Located 2½ miles from downtown West Palm Beach is Palm Beach International Airport (PBIA). Sixteen domestic and international airlines currently serve the airport, with an annual average of 200 scheduled commercial flights arriving and departing daily. General aviation service is available at PBIA and four smaller airports conveniently located in the north, central, and south parts of the county. Car travelers may use Interstate 95 and Florida’s Turnpike, both of which run the length of the county; each features multiple exits at or near essential streets. State Roads 441 and 7, U.S. Highway One, and Coastal Highway A1A also run through the county.

MEETINGS:

A state-of-the-art, 350,000-square-foot Convention Center is located just minutes from Palm Beach International Airport (PBIA). The meeting space within the center consists of an exhibit hall, a ballroom that opens to an outside terrace, and 23 breakout spaces. All meeting rooms contain the latest technology and equipment consisting of built-in viewing screens, telecommunications data, and audio-visual capabilities. Additionally, a backbone of fiber optics, Cat 6 cabling and high-speed connectivity allows visitors to instantaneously reach any place on the globe.

PEAK SEASON:

Mid-December through mid-April is peak season for tourism.

WEBSITE:

Palm Beach County Film & Television Commission’s website pbfilm.com is a link to boundless information pertaining to production services offered in the County. Additionally, Palm Beach County’s award-winning website palmbeachfl.com offers current information about specials, accommodations, culture, current events, flight schedules, festivals, sports activities and shopping. For meeting planners, the website presents an array of services, as well as details on the future Convention Center. Journalists have access to current press releases, a full press kit and electronic images.

ARTS & CULTURE:

More than 40 cultural venues are located across the county. From the Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts and Norton Museum of Art, to Ballet Florida and Boca Raton Museum of Art, all reflect a diversity of excellent entertainment and unequaled exhibits.

ATTRACTIONS:

With a large array of attractions, every moment in Palm Beach County can be filled with something for any member of the family. Outdoor settings such as Palm Beach Zoo at Dreher Park and Lion Country Safari provide close encounters with lions, giraffes, monkeys and even a native reptile or two. Other attractions include the Moroso Motorsports Park racing facility, Hoffman’s Chocolate Shoppe & Gardens and Loxahatchee Everglades Tours.

SHOPPING:

From the funky and forward shops of the Clematis Street District and the infamous and elegant boutiques of Worth Avenue to five superior shopping malls and the small European town center of CityPlace, Palm Beach County boasts world-renowned shopping at a vast selection of diverse locales.

SPORTS ACTIVITIES:

Excellent weather makes Palm Beach County a superb place to experience the outdoors and enjoy recreational activities. Fully registered as Florida’s Golf CapitalSM, Palm Beach County has more than 170 public and private golf courses. There are also 1,100 public and private tennis courts. Baseball is a local pastime. Both the St. Louis Cardinals and Florida Marlins have their spring training in Jupiter at Roger Dean Stadium, where the Jupiter Hammerheads are the local Florida State League team. Ideal water temperatures, exotic vegetation, tropical fish, and both artificial and natural reefs offer exciting diving opportunities year round. The County is well known as a destination for both deep-sea and freshwater fishing. Bicyclists can choose from many Oceanside trails or friendly parks to take a leisurely tour.

WATER ACTIVITIES:

Palm Beach County is surrounded by water: The Atlantic Ocean, the Everglades, Lake Okeechobee, Loxahatchee River, and countless canals. Anglers will find the best in deep-sea fishing and numerous fresh water spots. Ecotourists will realize that they are in an exploration utopia, both on land and under the sea. Adventures await yachters, canoe/kayaking enthusiasts, beach goers, divers and pleasure boaters alike.

BEACHFRONT PARKS:

Visitors enjoy the great outdoors and picnicking at any of 70 parks in Palm Beach County, 13 of which are beachfront. State, county and local parks offer everything from boating to horseback riding while beach-goers bask in the sun on a 47-mile stretch of shoreline.

BOATING/FISHING:

A variety of companies offer sportfishing opportunities such as deep-sea fishing for marlin and swordfish. Popular fresh water options include excellent Bass fishing opportunities.

DIVING:

Touting some to the best diving along the East Coast, Palm Beach County is an ideal playground for scuba enthusiasts of all experience levels. The waters offer brilliantly colored hard and soft corals, five species of large sea turtles, moray eels, nurse sharks and the Western Hemisphere’s widest variety of tropical and sport fish of every size and color. The miles of reef line, crevices and ledges feature numerous wrecks positioned by the state’s Artificial Reef Program, including the popular Princess Anne, a 400-foot-long car ferry sunk in the 1980s.

ECOTOURISM:

From the Everglades to the Atlantic Ocean, the ecology-minded traveler will find a wealth of natural resources to explore in Palm Beach County. Visitors experience activities such as hiking canoeing, kayaking, diving, cycling and camping.