By Scott S. Bateman
Visitors will find that things to do on Singer Island are somewhat limited because of the island’s fairly small size.
They focus mainly on outdoor recreational attractions involving the beach and ocean.
Much larger and more popular attractions are located off the island and are found within a brief driving distance.
Things to Do on Singer Island
Phil Foster Park. When visitors go over the southern A1A bridge to the island for the first time, they will see the 15-acre Phil Foster Park on their left.
The park, which is managed by the Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation Department, has a small beach, fishing pier, boat ramps, playground and picnic area.
John D. MacArthur Beach State Park. The state park is one of the best attractions on Singer Island. The park toward the north end of the peninsula has nearly two miles of beach plus kayaking rentals, hiking, fishing, wildlife viewing and scuba diving. Entrance costs $4 for a vehicle with one person and $5 for vehicles with two or more people.
Ocean Mall. At the end of the bridge, the road curves to the left and becomes Route 703 / North Ocean Drive, which is the location of the hotels and resorts. Look immediately to the right for the island’s only shopping center, known as Ocean Mall. It includes a pair of outdoor restaurants, a deli and a few shops.
City Beach. The town of Palm Beach Shores maintains a city beach just behind Ocean Mall with an attractive entrance, facilities, lifeguards and chairs to rent.
Ocean Reef Park. Like City Beach, Ocean Reef Park is a section of Singer Island’s continuous beach that has lifeguards and beach chairs for rent.
Sailfish Marina. Anyone interested in a fishing charter will want to visit Sailfish Marina, which has more than two dozen available boats. A water taxi takes visitors on a tour of Palm Beach as well as a visit to the nearby Peanut Island for a picnic, swimming, snorkeling or camping. It also has a watersports operator that offers tubing, snorkeling and water skiing.
Attractions Near Singer Island
Loggerhead Marinelife Center. This sea turtle rehabilitation center, 14200 U.S. Highway 1, is in Juno Beach. It is a 10-15 minute drive just north of Singer Island and John D. MacArthur Beach State Park. The facility is both a family educational experience and a chance to lounge in the sand across the street at Juno Beach. Exhibits include live sea turtles and other sea creatures as well as educational displays.
Armory Art Center. This visual art school and exhibition center provides art classes and 20 annual exhibitions in three galleries.
City Place. With 600,000 square feet of shopping, dining and entertainment, CityPlace is a popular destination for spending money and having fun. It is located seven miles from Singer Island at 700 S. Rosemary Avenue.
Clematis Street. The historical part of downtown West Palm Beach is known for its colorful boutiques, restaurants, nightclubs, antique shops, live music and historical landmarks. Its location about 6.5 miles south of the island and near the access points to Palm Beach Island make it worthwhile to combine the two in one visit.
Flagler Museum. The 55,000-square-foot mansion, built by the co-founder of Standard Oil, is a National Historic Landmark. The museum is seven miles south of Singer Island on Palm Beach Island.
Kravis Center for the Performing Arts. The center hosts more than 800 arts events each year and draws more than 500,000 patrons. It is the home of the Miami Ballet and Palm Beach Opera. It is located seven miles south of Singer Island at 701 Okeechobee Boulevard, West Palm Beach.
Norton Museum of Art. Like Kravis Center, Norton is seven miles south of the island at 1451 South Olive Avenue.
Palm Beach Zoo. The zoo is located 13.6 miles away at 1301 Summit Boulevard.
McCarthy’s Wildlife Sanctuary. The sanctuary is 17 miles west at 12943 61st Street North, near the Ibis Golf and Country Club.
Lion Country Safari. The wild animal drive-through exhibit is 28 miles west at 2003 Lion Country Safari Road, Loxahatchee.
Golf courses. More than a dozen golf courses and driving ranges are available in the West Palm Beach area. The closest golf facilities are North Palm Beach Country Club, 951 US-1, less than 15 minutes away, and Lone Pine Golf Course, 6251 N Military Trail, about 15 minutes away.