1. Royal Inn Hotel, Royal Palm Beach
City: Royal Palm Beach, FL
Category: Accommodations
Telephone: (561) 793-3000 or (800) 428-53
Address: 675 Royal Palm Beach Blvd.
Description: The Royal Inn provides a nice place to stay out in the western communities, where the traffic is sparser and the pace is mellower. Built in 1966, the hotel has 165 rooms and suites, and spreads out over 8 acres and nine buildings. Rooms have one king-bed or two doubles; all have microwaves and minifridges, and some have coffeemakers. Lake Challenger is right behind the property, and many of the family units and suites have private balconies overlooking it. There’s an Olympic-size swimming pool and attractive deck overlooking the lake, as well.A Spanish/Mexican restaurant called El Toro is on the property, although not affiliated with the hotel. In addition, there are several fast-food restaurants nearby. The Royal Inn Hotel is about a half-hour west of the Palm Beaches, and very convenient to the South Florida Fairgrounds and the equestrian events in Wellington. Pets allowed in certain rooms; $12 per night/per pet.
2. Connolly’S Sports Bar & Grill
City: Royal Palm Beach, FL
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (561) 795-0403
Address: 10045 Belvedere Rd.
Description: Connolly’s, in the western community of Royal Palm Beach, is a genuine neighborhood bar, where everybody knows your name . . . and even if they don’t know your name, they’re always glad you came. It’s one of the few places in Palm Beach County that allows smoking (“grandfathered” in after the laws changed). The standard bar-food favorites are all here, they’re all good, and there are always great specials: $1 hot dogs on Sun, 35-cent wings on Mon, $1 tacos on Tues, and 35-cent little neck steamers on Fri.There are free pool nights, tabletop games, dart boards, lingerie shows, video games, and 17 TVs scattered about, including three 107” projection TVs. From Wed through Sat there are notable local bands such as Knuckle Busters and Rug Burn, playing rock ‘n’ roll, classic rock, alternative, and blues. At the Wed Night Live Jam, you’re welcome to jump on stage, pick up an instrument or a microphone, and do your thing. Readers of the New Times, a South Florida alternative weekly paper, voted Connolly’s Best Sports Bar in 2008.
3. The Links At Madison Green
City: Royal Palm Beach, FL
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (561) 784-5225
Address: 2001 Crestwood Blvd. N.
Description: A public course designed by John Sanford with an additional four sets of tees. Driving range and Aqua Range available. Tee times can be reserved online. Individual and group lessons available. Junior Golf Academy also available.
4. The Village Golf Club
City: Royal Palm Beach, FL
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (561) 793-1400
Address: 122 Country Club Dr.
Description: An 18-hole public course designed by Mark Mahannah that opened in 1968. Driving range and lessons are available.
5. The International Golf School
City: Royal Palm Beach, FL
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (561) 793-1400
Address: 122 Country Club Dr.
Description: Offers professional “total game” instruction for individuals, couples, and small groups in privately scheduled half-day sessions, with a certified PGA of America instructor/coach. Winter season availability only.
6. Seminole Palms Park
City: Royal Palm Beach, FL
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (561) 966-6600
Address: 151 Lamstein Lane
Description: Seminole Palms has 70 acres, with baseball and multi-purpose fields, picnic areas, and playgrounds. But your kids will probably head straight for the Calypso Bay Waterpark, with giant slides, an interactive water playground, and a river ride. Call (561) 790-6160 for the water park (www.co.palm-beach.fl.us/parks/aquatics/waterparks/calypsobay/). The water park closes for winter, and opens in late-March.
7. Peppermint Thai & Sushi Bar
City: Royal Palm Beach, FL
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (561) 333-8005
Address: 11328 Okeechobee Blvd.
Description: Royal Palm Beach, in the western communities, is a bit out of the way. But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have quality restaurants. Peppermint Thai & Sushi Bar is one of them. The atmosphere is laid-back and friendly. Local folks enjoy appetizers such as chicken or beef on a stick, with peanut sauce for dipping, are always good. They also come for the panang curry and the volcano chicken (spicy!), as well as the sushi, which is varied, colorful, and good. The Pad Thai dishes—with pork, chicken, or shrimp, and delicious Thai thick noodles and rice—are also highlights among the entrees. Located in a little strip mall, Peppermint Thai &Sushi Bar is a trip worth taking if you’re staying out west.
8. Tuesday Morning
City: Royal Palm Beach, FL
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (561) 792-7608
Address: 10209 Southern Blvd. Suite 230
Description: At Tuesday Morning, new deliveries arrive—you guessed it—every Tues morning. At this store, you’ll find a treasure trove of things for your home and for your life. You’ll find things for the bedroom and the bathroom. You’ll find a variety of beautiful crystal, decorative home accents, gourmet foods, lawn and garden accents, toys, and much more. You’ll see names like Martex, Limoges, Murano, Wedgwood, Samsonite, Royal Doulton, Lego, Madame Alexander, and Steinbach. And the best thing about Tuesday Morning is that you’ll see them for much less than you would at any other store.
9. Village Farmers’ Market
City: Royal Palm Beach, FL
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (561) 547-3100
Address: 11001 Southern Blvd.
Description: Held at the Costco shopping center parking lot every Sunday morning
10. Calypso Bay Waterpark
City: Royal Palm Beach, FL
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (561) 790-6160
Address: 151 Lamstein Lane
Description: When you sit on top of the big slide and look down at the sudden loop it makes at the bottom, you may be tempted to chicken out. But you won’t—because your kids are waiting for you at the bottom (and the kids in line behind you are waiting their turn). So you push off, into the unknown, and then—lo and behold—you’re back in line again a minute later. After that, you may find yourself swinging from rope to rope as you try and cross the watery playground in the pool. And you’ll thoroughly enjoy watching your kids doing their own thing on the playground. That’s the great thing about waterparks—they make you remember how much fun you used to have in the water. And they give you a chance to actually spend some time with your kids.