4 Inspiring Attractions in The Palm Beaches to Visit During MOSAIC 2024

It is easy to see why The Palm Beaches is Florida’s Cultural Capital after spending a day visiting museums, gardens, and performing arts venues. Because of this, every year The Palm Beaches celebrates local arts and culture during MOSAIC (Month of Shows, Art, Ideas & Culture). Throughout May, over a dozen attractions in The Palm Beaches participate in MOSAIC with exciting events and enticing discounts to showcase the creativity here!

I was lucky enough to experience MOSAIC last year thanks to a sponsored trip with the Cultural Council for Palm Beach County. While I was here, I visited 4 Palm Beach County attractions to see for myself all the unique and fun things to do here. I wanted to share with you what I loved about each and why it is worth taking a visit to The Palm Beaches in May. Read on for all the details about things to do during MOSAIC in The Palm Beaches.

Full Disclosure: I received a sponsored trip to The Palm Beaches in exchange for promotion. However, all opinions expressed here are my own.

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What is MOSAIC?

MOSAIC stands for Month of Shows, Art, Ideas & Culture. It was started by the Cultural Council for Palm Beach County in 2018, but this year it’s especially exciting as there are more events than ever, including SunFest. The event was initially such a success that they made it an annual celebration!

This month-long event takes place in May and puts a special emphasis on appreciating the local arts and culture. Events will be announced throughout the month that appeal to all ages. You can also find an updated list of participating attractions and their discounts here.

Which Attractions in The Palm Beaches are participating?

The Palm Beaches stretch from Jupiter to Boca Raton and each city has a variety of art and culture to experience. In total, there are more than 200 cultural institutions in the region, including museums, performing arts centers, and gardens. This year, twenty are participating in MOSAIC with special discounts and activities during the month of May.

To find out events and discounts being offered at each attraction in The Palm Beaches, keep an eye on the MOSAIC website here. In West Palm Beach where I visited, Mounts Botanical Garden, Cox Science Center and Aquarium, and Palm Beach Dramaworks all have promotions going on in May. Just north, in Jupiter and Tequesta, the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse & Museum and Lighthouse ArtCenter are participating. South of West Palm Beach, you can check out the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens in Delray Beach, the Boca Raton Museum of Art, and many other attractions.

My Experience

While visiting, I had the opportunity to visit West Palm Beach attractions that are a part of MOSAIC. Each offered a different type of experience from sightseeing in nature to viewing a performance. I love that there are a variety of organizations participating so that all ages and people with different interests can find a way to experience the culture in The Palm Beaches.

I visited two West Palm Beach attractions per day, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. If you are visiting from out of town, I think planning 2 to 3 experiences per day is doable for enjoying MOSAIC. If you are a local, this event goes on all month, so you can visit anytime. Here are the attractions I visited and who I think should make them a priority.

Norton Museum of Art

The first West Palm Beach attraction I visited was Norton Museum of Art in Downtown West Palm. This museum has been open for over 80 years and includes thousands of works of American, Chinese, and European art. I was amazed to see pieces that spanned history, from Ancient Chinese Jade Carvings of the Qing Dynasty era to Andy Warhol Pop Art. This attraction is offering a buy one, get one free deal on admission for MOSAIC.

In addition to the permanent collections, the museum has an ever-changing variety of limited-time exhibits. One especially worth seeing during MOSAIC is ‘From Man Ray to O’Keeffe: American Modernism at the Norton’, where you can examine the juxtaposition between American artists.

You can easily spend half a day perusing the halls of art and the outdoor sculpture gardens. Audio tours are available or you can join a free tour daily at 2:30. The exhibition-specific tours are also worth signing up for, as well as the community bike tours if you want to learn about public art projects. There is no shortage of ways to learn about and appreciate art at the Norton Museum!

Mounts Botanical Garden

Before the weather heats up for the summer, I highly recommend a visit to Mounts Botanical Garden for MOSAIC. I had never been to this garden before and was instantly struck by how secluded and magical it felt. All through MOSAIC in May, admission is buy one, get one half-off and I can’t think of a better place for an afternoon date!

There are 25 different garden areas to peruse, each with their own theme. You can learn a lot about the flowers and the subtropical climate of Florida, just by checking out each garden here. My favorite parts were the Mediterranean Garden, the Edible Garden, and the Butterfly Garden.

Tours are offered frequently, as well as some special photography events, but I prefer to explore myself and see where the gardens take me. I definitely recommend taking a picnic or snack to enjoy while basking in the sun at one of the best West Palm Beach attractions for adults. Between the variety of plants and the sculptures, there is so much beauty to find at Mounts Botanical Garden.

Cox Science Center and Aquarium

If you are looking for some of the best attractions in The Palm Beaches for families, the Cox Science Center and Aquarium would be at the top of my list. During the month of MOSAIC in May, each admission gets you 50% off a second ticket.

The Cox Science Center is a fabulous mix of a museum, aquarium planetarium, and outdoor park. The aquarium has some of the best exhibits I have seen that imitate the different aquatic ecosystems of Florida. The museum has all sorts of displays, including ones that go in-depth on the science of renewable energy, the human brain, and computer coding.

Once you are ready for some fresh air, outside has activities for all ages. There is a dinosaur trail, a physics forest, gem mining, and even a free mini-golf course! They also will have trivia, concerts, and live science shows in the outdoor amphitheater. You are never too old to learn something new and the Cox Science Center makes sure you have fun while doing it.

Palm Beach Dramaworks

Last but not least, I have to mention some of the fantastic performing arts going on during MOSAIC. One of the attractions in the Palm Beaches that everyone needs to experience is seeing Trying at Palm Beach Dramaworks. This Pulitzer Prize-winning show is about two women working together despite their differences.

This performance opens May 24th and offers showtimes Wednesday through Sunday. Though this show is an especially unique one to see, the playhouse puts on a variety of spectacular performances all year. You almost feel like you are stepping back in time entering the historical theater complete with the glam of the red seats!

The show is on sale now with times at 2 PM, 7:30 PM, and 8 PM. You can even get tickets buy one get one free! I recommend making a night of it and having a meal at one of the excellent West Palm Beach restaurants beforehand. It’s a great way to end a cultural trip to the Palm Beaches during MOSAIC!

Where to Stay in Palm Beach During MOSAIC

If you are visiting from out of town, I recommend getting a hotel so you can fully experience MOSAIC. Since there are so many West Palm Beach attractions participating, it is ideal to stay in that area. West Palm is also right in the middle of Jupiter and Boca Raton, so you can go south or north easily from here!

I stayed at the Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham and it was in the perfect location. The hotel is just minutes from the beaches, shopping, and the attractions I mentioned above! The style is typical for chain hotels, but most rooms offer a kitchenette and full fridge so you can make yourself at home. Best of all, there is free breakfast and complimentary bike rentals!

Know Before You Go: Attractions in The Palm Beaches During Mosaic

From Henry Flagler to Lilly Pulitzer, the Palm Beaches have always been on the pulse of cultural inspiration and now is no different. Whether you are a local or from out of town, it is worth spending some time in the area this May for MOSAIC. All of the attractions in The Palm Beach I visited offered an enlightening way to spend the day and there are so many more I haven’t even gotten to! For more information about visiting The Palm Beaches during MOSAIC, keep these tips in mind:

MOSAIC is a month-long event in The Palm Beaches that takes place in May. Many local attractions offer discounts and special features during this time.
For art museums to visit, The Palm Beaches has the Norton Museum of Art, Arts Garage, Boca Raton Museum of Art, and more.
Gardens worth visiting during MOSAIC include Mounts Botanical Garden, Morikami Museum & Japanese Gardens, and the Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens.
The best attractions for families include the Palm Beach Zoo, Cox Science Center and Aquarium, and Loggerhead Marinelife Center.
Local playhouses to visit include Palm Beach Dramaworks, Maltz Jupiter Theatre, and Delray Beach Playhouse.
If you are visiting from out of state, the Palm Beach International Airport is the best to fly into. However, Fort Lauderdale and Miami airports are less than a two-hour drive away.
This area is quite large and it is best to rent a car.
For more art inspiration in Florida’s Cultural Capital, follow @palmbeachculture on Instagram!

Have you been to The Palm Beaches before? Let me know what your favorite attractions in The Palm Beaches were if you have been! If not, be sure to check out my guide for where to eat and other things to do in The Palm Beaches.

And if you want more ideas for things to do in Florida in May, check out my guide for visiting this month!