About ten miles south of Palm Beach, this coastal town occupies a parcel of the shorefront barrier island, Hypoxia Island and the waterfront on the Intracoastal Waterway.
Lantana has a small patch of municipal beach, bounded to the north and south by exclusive resorts in South Palm Beach and Manalapan. I can’t get enough of the ocean views from the short boardwalk here.
There’s a clutch of eateries close by on Ocean Avenue, and a variety of companies in the area for fishing charters, or paddling on the Lake Worth Lagoon.
As all the communities are packed together like a jigsaw puzzle, Lantana doesn’t feel too far from anywhere. There are spectacular public beach parks minutes away to the north and south, while Lake Worth Beach’s colorful downtown is next door.
1. Lantana Municipal Beach
Source: Town of Lantana - Government / FacebookWedged between Manalapan and South Palm Beach, Lantana maintains a 750-foot stretch of public beach.
With crushed shell sand, this is an attractive though relatively narrow ribbon of shoreline. I’d bring snorkeling gear as some beautiful tropical fish gather around the rocks about 20 feet out.
If you’re just here to appreciate the vistas, there’s a boardwalk at the top of the steep slope behind the beach. This has a few benches, and is a fantastic vantage point at dawn.
Also up here is the Dune Deck Café, serving breakfast and brunch, to go with those majestic views.
2. Lantana Nature Preserve
Source: YoungSue / FlickrTucked among the resorts and condos on the barrier island there’s a parcel of pristine mangrove and coastal hammock.
Without the signage along the loop, I’d never have known that this was once the town dump. These days it’s a blissful oasis, with a densely shaded path beckoning you into the two habitats, and entering a stunning butterfly garden, full of pollinator-friendly plants.
There are benches all along the trail, and you’re sure to witness a lot of wildlife. In my few minutes I came across a lot of colorful songbirds, lizards, and some enormous spiders with webs overhead.
3. Eau Spa
Just south of Lantana Municipal Beach is the palatial Eau Palm Beach, one of only eight Forbes Five-Star resorts in Florida.
The multi-award winning spa is the focus of this entry. Open to non-guests, this 42,000-square-foot complex is the epitome of luxury relaxation.
The Eau Spa is laid out in tropical gardens, with a cluster of private treatment villas and cabanas. There’s even a mixologists’ bar, where you can create your own scrub mix.
As for packages, a day pass gives you access to the facility, and its garden, lounges, sauna and steam shower.
At the upper end of the spectrum when I compiled this list was “Perfect”, six hours of pampering, including a massage, scrub, facial, mani-pedi, and a complimentary bottle of champagne.
4. Ocean Avenue, Lantana
East to west, this artery links the municipal beach and nature preserve with Hypoluxo Island and the mainland. Ocean Avenue is traced by upscale hotels, grand residences, a range of shops, and most of Lantana’s dining options.
On the barrier island you’ve got Plaza del Mar, a compact shopping center over the line in Manalapan, with boutiques, eateries and other service businesses.
Further west, near the Lantana Boat Ramp there’s a mini dining district. I’ll include a couple of the options here later in this article. But as a summary, there’s a diversity of cuisines on offer, from sushi to seafood, Cuban and contemporary American.
5. Hypoluxo Scrub Natural Area
Source: EdwinWilke / shutterstockNot some kind of experimental spa treatment, the Hypoluxo Scrub is almost 100 acres of scrubland and wetlands abutting Lantana’s south side.
Hypoluxo is the Native Seminole name for what is now Lake Worth, and what you see is a vestige of the kind of habitats that once lined Florida’s Atlantic coast.
There are two themed trails through this property. When you arrive you’ll be met by an observation tower, with a panorama of the preserve and the Lake Worth Lagoon.
There’s fascinating heritage here, as Hypoluxo was at the north end of a pioneering U.S. Mail route, running south to Miami. Established in the 1880s, the Barefoot route got its name from mailmen walking barefoot on the beaches.
By the parking lot and observation tower there’s a 14-foot Barefoot Mailman statue by local sculptor, Frank Varga (1943-2014).
6. Lantana Bicentennial Park
On Ocean Avenue, this fine public park is at the tip of a little point reaching out into the Lake Worth Lagoon by the bridge.
To me, Lantana Bicentennial Park stands out most of all for its views, looking north up the lagoon for miles.
The long seawall here is a cherished fishing spot, while the lawns have a lot of shade from the tree canopy and are dotted with picnic tables. With a few eateries nearby, this is a great place for an alfresco meal if you catch the right day.
There’s a playground towards the east end, as well as a gazebo backdropped by that stunning view of the Intracoastal Waterway.
7. Ocean Inlet Park
A couple of minutes south there’s another picture-perfect shorefront park. This is Ocean Inlet Park in Boynton Beach, with 600 feet of sandy shore, a marina, a generous grassy space, and gorgeous views throughout.
I found the inlet particularly scenic, and the walls are often lined with people casting their lines. At the time of writing there was a multimillion-dollar construction project to improve the seawall and docks here.
With views over both the ocean and the Lake Worth Lagoon, this is one of those unique places where you can watch the sunrise and the sunset.
8. Lake Worth Casino Building and Beach Complex
Source: EQRoy / shutterstockOne of the best things going for Lanata is how close it is to wonderful public beaches. In terms of amenities, the finest nearby is Lake Worth Beach Park.
This is noted for its long fishing pier, and a handsome casino building dating back to the 1920s. This is a casino in the old sense of the word, as a community gathering place.
Greeting the sunrise is a time-honored ritual at Lake Worth Beach, and my tip is to drop by Benny’s on the Beach for breakfast. Right on the pier, this restaurant has been around since 1986.
Lake Worth Beach also has a downtown full of personality, and I’ll talk about it below.
9. Fishing Charters
Small as it is, Lantana is something of a hub for charter fishing companies. The drift boats docked here are skippered by experienced people with decades of experience, and knowledge of the best fishing spots in a given season.
Snook, jacks, tarpon, and sharks are regularly caught in the ocean off the Palm Beach area. If there’s a perfect time to come, I’d say it’s either spring or fall, when kingfish are at their most plentiful. This giant mackerel species has been known to reach more than five feet long.
The big local operator is Bar Jack Fishing, which offers morning and afternoon fishing trips seven days a week. These are available on a first come-first served basis.
10. Copperpoint Brewing Company
Nothing in my article is more than ten minutes from Lantana. And this applies to the Copper Point Brewing Company. In Boynton Beach, this independent craft brewery was founded in 2014.
The taproom has an ever-changing assortment of beers on draft, from traditional classics like a German Pilsner to Sours with all kinds of quirky flavors, like cucumber and sea salt.
My pick from the seven year-round regulars was B. Rabbit Espresso Cream Stout, but I’m always a sucker for dark ales. If you want to go behind the scenes there are tours on Saturdays.
11. John Prince Park
Head west from the town on Lantana Rd and you’ll immediately cross the 380-acre Lake Osborne. The largest public space on this scenic waterbody is John Prince Park.
On more than 700 acres, this park is run by the county and is absolutely rammed with amenities. If you’re searching for somewhere local to exercise outdoors, this is my pick.
There’s a 1.1-mile exercise course with 20 stations, as well as a 4.5-mile bicycle path. Added to that are facilities for tennis, basketball, golf, camping, pickleball, volleyball, and softball.
Parents with younger children will be impressed by the splash park, on more than 3,700 square feet. This comes with rotating cannons, spray arches, a kind of geyser, and ground-level water jets.
12. Downtown Lake Worth Beach
I find it hard to believe now, but there was a time when this business district, just north of Lantana was considered a no-go area.
The sketchier businesses had disappeared from downtown Lake Worth Beach by the turn of millennium. Today, this is a blossoming artsy area, threaded by two main streets, and brimming with places to shop and dine.
There’s great strolling too, as both the strips along Lake and Lucerne avenues are flanked by elegant architecture. A favorite of mine is the sleek Streamline Moderne building now housing the Palm Beach County Cultural Council.
I can guarantee that you will not run out of places to eat or drink in downtown Lake Worth Beach. There’s a fun-loving atmosphere, reflected in events like the annual Street Painting Festival, taking over every February.
13. Paddlesports
As well as a boat ramp south of Bicentennial Park, Lantana has a dedicated kayak/canoe launch on the Intracoastal Waterway at Lyman Kayak Park.
If you have your own vessel, this is obviously the place to begin a paddling adventure on the Lake Worth Lagoon. Facing north, the park also has a relaxing passive space and distant views of the waterway.
If you don’t have your own gear, there’s a host of local companies offering kayak, canoe and paddleboard rentals, as well as guided trips. One nearby choice is Paddle Away Sports, in Boynton Beach and serving all of Palm Beach County.
This company also provides sunset/moonlight ecotours, and paddleboard yoga classes.
14. Victoria’s Peruvian Cuisine
Source: Victoria's Peruvian Cuisine / FacebookFlorida’s food, art, and culture scenes are largely dominated by Cuban, South American, and Latin American influences, and Victoria’s Peruvian Cuisine on South 3rd Street in Lantana is the perfect place to relax and dine after a long day on your feet.
Victoria’s menu features a variety of traditional Peruvian items, including seafood and fresh, local, seasonal produce.
Grilled sea bass and ceviche are a few favorites, and they often offer reasonably priced lunch and dinner specials. Most guests are enamored with the exotic atmosphere and vibrant tastes.
The restaurant serves alcohol and is handicap accessible, and high-chairs are available upon request.
15. John Prince Golf Learning Center
I saved a spot to talk about the state-of-the-art practice facility at John Prince Park. What you get here is one of the country’s top standalone driving ranges.
This has over 50 hitting stations, with grass or mat tees. You can aim for numerous target greens at this lighted facility.
The center also has the next best thing to an actual course, with three regulation holes, so you can work on every aspect of your game. In addition there’s more than 16,000 square feet of putting and chipping greens.