MacArthur Beach Nature Center — Attraction in North Palm Beach

We visited on a late Saturday morning in late December 2024. We were lucky and got a parking spot pretty close to the Nature Center.

We wanted to do the beach first and check out the Nature Center later. So we carried all our stuff across the long boardwalk. We did end up passing the tram on the way there.

On the way back the kids were rinsing off at the station when the tram pulled up and the lovely lady waited for us to wrangle everyone. It was a fun ride back and the tram could hold maybe 6 or 7 people not including the driver. We had all our beach gear with us and it was perfect for our family of 5. She offered to take us to parking lot but we still wanted to visit the nature center.

The nature center was actually really nice inside. Way better than what we were expecting. It was a little on the darker side with lighting but still very cool. Lots of interactive exhibits and live animals. There is also a theater but if I remember correctly the audio system was not working right and we had to listen to the film through the project's built-in speaker instead of through the larger ones in the room.

Just outside the nature center is the Beach Outfitters & Gift Shop which has merch for sale as well. This is where your check-in or book excursions/rentals etc. Right outside of the shop was a sea turtle tank with a baby sea turtle. Apparently it's very rare to have a facility that is certified to house sea turtles. A staff member engaged with the kids about the tank.

We would 100% visit again. Maybe a different season or if it was just warmer and less windy outside. This was one of our favorite Florida...

Excellent beach inside a state park. Cost is minimal about 5$ a car. Beach is clean and almost never crowded. There is a tram to take you across a lovely boardwalk where, if you walk, you can stop and see paddle boarders ,fish, birds etc. They have a lovely little gift shop and rent kayaks and dive flags. Kayaks go fast so it's best to reserve in advance! They have clean public restrooms as well. People are very friendly! Only downside is tram doesn't always run as scheduled. We were told it would be back to get us in 5 mins but a storm started coming in and they never returned so a bunch of people, some with little kids, had to make the 6-8 minute walk back to the parking area. If the tram doesn't run during bad weather there should at least be a sign. It may be nit picky but we weren't the only people there who said the same thing. Otherwise it is an...

We love visiting the park each time we visit Singer Island.

The paddleboard rental team is great and will get you stable and rolling in no time. The kayak rentals at the gift shop are first come, first served so go early or be prepared to wait a bit.

The price to rent for a half day is reasonable but we found that doing the membership made more sense if we wanted to kayak more than once per year (kayak rentals are included based of level of membership) and it helps keep the park open!

Go, bring a lunch or snacks, plenty of water (the gift shop has about everything you need, too, if you forget) watch the falcons diving for fish, the pelicans floating nearby, and the schools of fish jumping out of the water as they run from another larger fish. Definitely worth the time to see another...