Named after the lagoon on its eastern border, Lake Worth is a lively city in Florida’s Palm Beach County. The area was inhabited by the Jaega people for thousands of years before Samuel and Fannie James set up a homestead in 1885. Lake Worth grew rapidly during Florida’s 1920s land boom, with many of its earliest buildings preserved in the Historic Old Town Commercial District.
Things to do in Lake Worth
Occupying the second floor of a former city hall is the Lake Worth Historical Museum, which displays photographs of the city in times gone by. You can see how pioneers once dressed and get up close to objects belonging to Lake Worth’s Finnish, Polish and Lithuanian communities. One of the museum’s larger exhibits is an entire telephone switchboard from a local hotel.
Coincide your visit with a performance at the Lake Worth Playhouse, a historic community theatre within a lemon-coloured Art Deco building. It showcases traditional and contemporary plays as well as foreign and independent films. After the show, you can dine on Italian fare at Mario’s next door or enjoy a drink at nearby Propaganda.
Forming part of the Lake Worth Lagoon is the Snook Islands Natural Area, a once-depleted area brought back to life by the local community. It’s now flourishing with birdlife and is frequented by dolphins and manatees. Rent a kayak to slowly paddle around the islands while observing the oyster beds filtering the lagoon.
Getting around Lake Worth
Lake Worth is around 15 minutes’ drive from West Palm Beach and 45 minutes from Fort Lauderdale. Miami International Airport is an hour away and has flights to destinations across the globe. Renting a car gives you greater freedom to explore the area.