Jim Barry Light Harbor park was built in 2009. it was named in honor of Jim Barry who worked for 41…read moreyears at the Palm Beach County's Health Department and Department of Environmental Resources Management, He was the environmental director for 22 years. He grew up fishing in Palm Beach and obtained his degree in marine biology from the University of Miami. In the early 1980's he was one of the people who convinced John D. MacArthur to donate the environmentally sensitive land that became MacArthur Beach State Park. He spearheaded getting the first mangrove protection ordinance passed and worked on the Lake Worth Lagoon's most significant restoration projects, Munyon Island, Peanut Island, and Snook Islands Through his work he sparked environmental protective innovations that are still in place today.. Jim Barry is also an accomplished artist. Anyone who has enjoyed boating, fishing, diving, snorkeling. and wildlife viewing in Palm Beach County owes a debt of gratitude to Jim Barry. The park was designed for boating and salt water fishing. It has three boat ramps, picnic shelters, and a restroom. The fee is $10 to park a boat trailer for the day and you need to pay at the kiosk. There is also a floating dock and a fishing pier. The park is located right across from Peanut Island so it is very convenient to make the launch from the park. Peanut Island has a excellent snorkeling and you can be there in just a few minutes. Even if you aren't boating it's still nice to walk out on the fishing dock and take in the views. Thanks to Jim Barry's tireless work on behalf of the environment, visitors to this park can continue to enjoy the best natural aquatic recreation Palm Beach has to offer.

The Lake Worth Lagoon was a freshwater lake without an ocean connection in the mid-1800s. In 1866,…read morethe Lake Worth Inlet was cut near the lagoon's north end. By 1913, residents in the area were debating opening another entry from the lagoon's south end and construction on the inlet began in 1925. The new inlet, which was 130 feet across and 8 feet deep, was finished in 1927 for a cost of $225,000. State Road A1A crosses the inlet on a fixed bridge that has 18 feet of clearance above the water. Though the inlet was never intended for navigation, it gets regular use by recreational boaters. Some of them are good, some need a rescue as the current through the inlet is significant. The marker here reads, "The South Lake Worth Inlet was constructed between 1925 and 1927 to improve water quality and circulation between the south end of Lake Worth and the Atlantic Ocean. The first inlet to Lake Worth was cut in the mid-19th century at the north end of the barrier island of Palm Beach, and was stabilized for navigation in 1917. Though not originally designed for navigation, the South Lake Worth Inlet has become a highly popular passage for fishing boats, pleasure boats, and other small craft. One of the first boats to navigate through the inlet was operated by Capt. Walter (Pop) Lyman, a commercial fishermen. During World War II, the Mar Lago Hotel, which overlooked the inlet, was used by the U.S. Coast Guard as a lookout post for enemy submarines. The hotel was torn down before Palm Beach County purchased the property in 1974 to construct Ocean Inlet Park. The jetties and seawalls surrounding the inlet were known as "Fish Haven," and professional anglers, sports fishermen, and families came here to cast their lines into the water. The area has been a sight-seeing destination for both visitors and locals and used for family picnics, birthdays, graduation parties, and other celebrations and gatherings." It is marker F-796 and it was erected in 2013 by The Robert Neff family, the Boynton Beach Historical Society, and The Florida Department of State. Parking in the lot fills quickly in the morning so arrive early! [Review 142 of 2025 - 1929 in Florida - 23708 overall]

Manatees seem to love the warm water near the heaters when there's a nip in the air. We saw dozens…read moreof them on a day that wasn't even as cold as it is today.

This is a 1,094-acre protected natural area adjacent to the North County Airport but only a small…read moreportion is accessible. The two preserve areas that make up Sweetbay were created in 1993 from land set aside to offset the environmental impact of the creation of the North County Airport. In 2002 the land was named Sweetbay Natural Area. The ecoysytems of this natural area include mesic flatwoods, hydric flatwoods, wet prairie, baygall, mesic hammock, and dome swamp ecosystems. In the center of the wetlands is a tree island called a bay head that contains sweetbay, dahoon, coastalplain willow, and pond apple trees. The bay head provides a nesting habitat for wading birds such as the snowy egret, black-crowned night-heron, blue heron, and the wood stork which is endangered. Other animals that make their home in Sweetbay include pine warblers, eastern towhees, Bachman's Sparrows, swallowtail butterflies, red-shouldered hawks, bobcats, eastern lubber grasshoppers, and Florida box turtles. This area is also known for it's beautiful wildflowers. Winding through Sweetbay is the paved .35 mile Tarflower Trail which branches off. One path leads to an observation platform overlooking the wetlands and the other path loops around making for a very easy walk. This preserve is part of the Great Florida Bird and Wildlife Trail. There are no restrooms or water available here so plan accordingly.

Twelve acre, six foot deep Pelican Lake was once a natural marsh. In the early 1950s, Juno Beach…read moredevelopers Bessemer Properties built a small dam into the marsh and turned it into a lake. It was named Pelican Pond by the local Garden Club before becoming Pelican Lake. The developers used the lake as an attraction to draw residents before the town it was incorporated in 1953. Although beautiful to look at the lake also serves an important function. It protects the surrounding buildings from flooding during heavy rain by providing a place for the rain to drain away. Around Pelican Lake is a pleasant one mile loop, perfect for a walk, jog, or bike ride. The lake has a fountain in it. Along the path you will find benches and trees. I even found a Rainbow Eucalyptus tree which you don't usually find out of botanical gardens. There is a gazebo where you can watch the turtles bob their heads out of the water. I think people must feed them because they came swimming right over when they saw me. I also saw fish and birds like the common moorhen, ibis, and ducks. There used to be more wildlife but the chemicals added to the lake through the years to prevent algae blooms eventually reduced the animal and plant populations. Plans are being made to rehabilitate the ecosystem by removing invasive species and adding native plants and fish. They also want to add a shallow nesting area to attract birds. One small part of the walkway around the lake takes you to the sidewalk along Ocean Dr. but it goes back down to the lake. When you finish your walk you can cross the street to Kagan Park where there is some outdoor exercise equipment along with a basketball court and a playground. This is a very nice to exercise and take in the fresh air.

Apparently what I thought was a pond is actually a Lake. On a Saturday afternoon, I encountered a…read morelot of people walking here, some with dogs and others with kids/strollers. The South side of this Walk can serve as a path to get to Juno Beach Access JB-7 from the parking lot at Kagan Park; I definitely passed families carrying beach equipment. This Walk is interesting in part because the path is lined with engraved stones memorializing loved ones or saying something. Many are so worn that you can no longer read them. A couple that I did read were heartbreaking. On the West side of the Lake is a pavilion with a boardwalk going out to it over the Lake. The Lake has fountains. We could see many, many turtles and ducks from this pavilion. Parents beware: the built in benches have a ledge at the top of the seats which are the perfect height for a child to hoist themselves up onto and stand dangerously high up to the top of the barrier. The Western side of the Lake Trail gets larger and has a green area with trees, a bench and a little gazebo. I didn't go too much farther when I saw the road head up to the regular road.

Had a great time!! Taxi got us to and from the island safely. Crowded the boat a little too much…read morebut overall a good experience.

The only way to and fro the Peanut Island unless you have a boat. Arrive early and be patient, a…read morenew boat arrives every 30 minutes. $10 round trip ticket to one of my favorite "beachy" hang out spots! Short ride over. You can call the number to leave early and its always been reliable.

I have been coming to this beach for a little over a year. I visit this beach at least twice a…read moremonth. It's the prefect beach for me and my family. The water is usually clear and you can see some marine life very easily. The best time to visit is during the weekday or early morning 7-9am on the weekends. ARRIVE EARLY. Any other time its really crowded and the parking is horrible, but it is free. You can access the beach right from the parking lot and it is short distance which is prefect for me and my family. There are some BBQ areas to grill and eat. Also a great place to snorkel and dive.

Beautiful time to exercise! Nice cool breeze and it wasn't crowded. Today was an awesome day to…read morewalk the bridge and it wasn't crowded

Great city of riviera beach. Go see the manatee museum observatory. Very clean place. Cute gift…read moreshop inside.

Over 800 years ago, the area that is now known as Riviera Beach was home to the Tequesta who lived…read moreon the sheltered side of Lake Worth where they built two shell mounds. They lived on fish, shellfish, berries and small game but by 1750 they had completely disappeared. In the early 1880's pioneers started moving into the area. Riviera Beach was originally called Oak Lawn until it was renamed Riviera in 1893 after the French Riviera. It was initially developed as a resort town with a pier but several hurricanes came through the area and thwarted its growth. During the land boom years in the 1920's the area grew rapidly. On September 29, 1922 it was incorporated as the Town of Riviera. After WWII many Gi's moved to Florida to recover from the war leading to another boom in the area. In 1941 Beach was added to the town name and in 1959 it became the City of Riviera Beach. In the 1970's there was another period of growth as the Port of Palm Beach was expanded and many new subdivisions were built. Today Riviera Beach is a coastal city in Palm Beach County with a thriving population of over 37,000 people favored by retirees and tourists. It is home to the Port of Palm Beach and a United States Coast Guard station. At the Riviera Beach Marina visitors can rent boats, go fishing, or take a leisurely cruise along the Intracoastal Waterway. One of the best reasons to visit Riviera Beach is to enjoy the beach at a beach park like Ocean Reef Park. If you are looking to boat there is Jim Barry Light Harbor Park. One of my favorite places in Riviera Beach is Peanut Island where you can take the shuttle and snorkel right off the beach. The Blue Heron Bridge is also another great snorkel and dive site. Another location my family has enjoyed through the years is the Rapids, a water park with thrilling water slides. Riviera Beach has managed to keep its small town feel and remains an ideal destination for anyone looking to enjoy the sun, sand, and surf while also experiencing a warm and friendly community. Whether you're seeking relaxation or adventure, this charming city has something for everyone.

This beach access point is interestingly 'hidden.' There is no public parking available. It is…read morenestled between two condos. I found it by parking in the parking lot for Kagan Park and walking along the Lake Walk at Pelican Lake. When I spotted this walkway and sign, getting to go to the beach was just icing on the cake as part of a lovely park experience. The walkway from the access point sign to the actual beach is kind of long, but it is fully fenced on both sides, so very safe for little kids to skip along. It was exciting to hear the ocean waves become louder and louder as we got closer. Sweet anticipation! The path is fully paved with a very gradual incline, which is great for strollers and wheelchairs. At the end, a few stairs go down onto the beach area, but the water is full in view from the top of those little stairs. On the beach we found a couple of kite boarders setting up, but overall the beach was pretty quiet and private. I would definitely visit here again as part of a larger hangout involving Pelican Lake and Kagan Park.

A great place to start a long walk on a beautiful beach. I love this beach! Feel free to leave…read moreyour shoes on the beach the entrance of this access. No one will mess with them and it's much easier to walk without them! So take a stroll, look for beautiful shells or take in the sights. Regardless you will find a peace like no other.