Since the 1890’s, Clematis Street has been the commercial
district for Palm Beach County. Initial surveyors
and engineers for Henry Flagler’s East Coast Railroad (1893) planned the area’s
configuration. Since 1990 it has been a
two-way street. The 500 block is listed
in the National Register of Historic Places since 1996. A waterfront park and pavilion connects the
waterfront to Clematis Street. From the
park you can walk the waterfront and admire the really big boats docked there.
Since 2009, there is a new library and city hall complex.
Locals and visitors are drawn to the street with
festivals, annual events and concerts. Catch
the trolley that connects CityPlace, train and bus stations, Palm Beach Atlantic
University and downtown West Palm Beach.
Some call it, “Main Street,” and “the entertainment center of West Palm
Beach”, a living room, where people relax, have fun, shop, dine and do
business. There are antique shops to
browse, colorful boutiques to find that one-of-a-kind item, nightclubs, a movie
plex and some upscale stores and restaurants nearby. Have a drink and dine at
Bradleys across from the Intracoastal Waterway and enjoy crowd watching. Architecture is authentic and eclectic,
evolving over the last century, including every era and style.
Historic buildings abound with shops and restaurants on the
ground floors of historic buildings. On
higher floors you can find startups, small tech companies, and artists. Residents’ non –traditional work schedules
activate and energize the street, often in the later hours. Some retailers have
been there for 100 years. Drop in to Segway
Tours, “the best way to see the area”, and voted # 1 by Trip Advisor of 24 West
Palm Beach Activities. Rent a self-balancing
“Personal Transporter,” a motorized “scooter” that changes direction by leaning
that way. Modern dance clubs and health
food emporiums are included. “Clematis by
Night” offers a fountain-side concert series, food art and children’s
activities. . After browsing an art gallery, sit outside and
have coffee or wine and cheese. “SunFest,”
the annual boat show and “Corvettes on Clematis” are well attended events with
the area drawing about 80,000 visitors a week.
Nearby places to enjoy are The Kravis Center where top
stars perform, the Convention Center with art, antiques and jewelry shows, and
lots of interesting street browsing. The
area encompasses 5 blocks from Flagler Drive to Rosemary Avenue.
Next time you are looking to have fun, head over to
Clematis Street!
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