Downtown Palm Beach Gardens

In the densely packed region of South Florida, you’d be hard-pressed to find a location lacking in access. Highways run up and down the coast like arteries, and rivers and canals rival the streets in number. But few neighborhoods can claim to have not one, but two major shopping malls within their borders; Downtown Palm Beach Gardens is one such rare gem, with hundreds of stores practically in residents’ backyards. “You’ve got really amazing shopping choices just across the street at the Gardens Mall,” says Carla Christenson, Realtor with One Sotheby’s International Realty. Right next to the Gardens is another mall: the Downtown at the Gardens shopping center. “Plus, you’re still only a couple of minutes from the beach,” Christenson adds.

Housing here ranges widely in style and type. “You’ll find a lot of single-family homes and townhomes. There are some condos, but waterfront houses are in high demand here,” Christenson says. In the Cabana Colony subdivision, pastel-colored ranch-style homes sit along long, gently curving roads where palm trees dot the lawns and the backyards burst with greenery. The median price for a home in this area is around $415,000. Further east along the water, you’ll see large Mediterranean homes with orange tiled roofs and brick driveways with elaborate tropical landscaping. These houses tend to be priced between $2 million and $6 million. Over in the Meadows, a mobile home community, a three-bedroom home costs close to $150,000 on average. There are also condo options near the mall, such as San Matera the Gardens, where sweeping lakeside views and walkability to shopping net a median price of $320,000 for two bedrooms.

The area is served by Palm Beach Schools, with kids attending Dwight D. Eisenhower Elementary, which earns a B rating from Niche. The school has its own gopher tortoise preserve and a Chickee hut, which are both used as outdoor classrooms. At Howell L. Watkins Middle, a C-rated school according to Niche, students can choose from unique electives such as African American history or computer fundamentals. For those ready to prepare for a career, William T. Dwyer High offers programs in construction, early childhood education, culinary arts and more. The school scores an A from Niche. Trinity Christian School is also close by, offering a private alternative for K-8 education with community events such as their fall pumpkin patch.

The Intracoastal Waterway runs along the east edge of the neighborhood. Along it sits Juno Park, which has piers, boat ramps and shores for your choice of fishing, boating or kayaking. With picnic tables and grills right by the playground, it’s a picturesque spot to grill dinner while keeping an eye on the kids while they play and swing. During the holidays, you can stand on the pier and watch fireworks light up the sky as the annual boat parade passes you by. The park isn’t to be confused with Juno Beach, though you might find yourself frequenting both. Juno Beach has public access with miles of sprawling shoreline, whether it’s a yellowtail snapper or the sunrise you’re trying to catch. During the warmer months, you might even spot sea turtles – Juno Beach is one of the densest loggerhead nesting grounds in the world.

At the heart of the neighborhood is the center of activity: the Gardens Mall. Featuring two floors of shopping, you’ll find everything from department stores like Nordstrom and Macy’s to specialty retailers. If you exhaust all 140 of the Garden’s storefronts, you can hop next door to the Downtown at the Gardens shopping center. It’s an open-air mall featuring even more upscale shops alongside a CMX movie theater and big box stores such as Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods to cover residents’ grocery needs. But with all the dining options nearby, you might not be eating in much. Kao Gang Thai Sushi Bar is instantly recognizable by its dimly lit interior with a betta fish mural splashed across the wall, but it’s even better known for its large portions – their lobster pad thai comes garnished with an entire lobster tail. If you’d rather dine al fresco with a waterfront view, Angry Moon Café is a European-style breakfast spot with a patio that’s perfect for brunch pictures.

With access to Interstate 95 just on the cusp of the neighborhood, it’s easy to get around the rest of South Florida. After a 25-minute straight shot down the highway, you can be in West Palm Beach, where you can visit attractions like the Norton Museum of Art and the Palm Beach Zoo.

Written By

Elliot Schorr