Singer Island, Florida, offers the quintessential beach vacation destination for families and couples alike. With its pristine beaches, quiet atmosphere, and proximity to top-notch restaurants and shopping, you simply can’t go wrong, no matter your age or interests.
Paul and I first visited Singer Island, Florida, in 2003. We’d just started dating and it was our first vacation together. We stayed at the Marriott Ocean Point, which is a Marriot Vacation Club resort at the southern-most tip of the Singer Island peninsula, right next to the Lake Worth Inlet.
We cannot praise Singer Island enough. But we can share everything we know and love so you can enjoy it as much as we do!
Let’s get started!
Where is Singer Island?
Singer Island is a peninsula in southern Florida, extending off the coast of Palm Beach County. Most of the “island” is in Riviera Beach, but the southern-most tip is in Palm Beach Shores. Singer Island’s proximity to cities like Jupiter and West Palm Beach, which are chock full of shops, restaurants and entertainment, is the perfect complement to its laid-back beach atmosphere.
Fort Lauderdale: 90-minute drive
Miami: 2-hour drive
Key West: 5-hour drive
Closest Airport: Palm Beach International Airport (PBI)
What is Singer Island like?
Singer Island is a residential area inhabited by well-to-do retirees. While there are some single-family homes, the skyline here is dominated by luxury high-rise condos, such as the Ritz Carlton Residences. The condos are mostly owned by snowbirds (retirees who head back up north for the summer) who then VRBO or Airbnb their space to vacationing families. The beach is mostly private, exclusive to people staying in the condos or hotels directly behind it. However, there are a couple of public beach entrances via Riviera Beach and Ocean Reef State Park.
The main streets here all have sidewalks, which allow for beautiful morning or evening walks to Ocean Walk Shoppes or the marina.
Overall, Singer Island is safe and very high-class – and the cost to visit here reflects that. But if it fits your budget, it’s worth every penny.
What’s the best time of year to visit?
There isn’t a simple answer to this one, as it mostly depends on your weather tolerance.
The weather is great here year-round, though the winter months dip into the 50s on occasion. And the summer months are very hot.
Overall, spring is ideal with temps in the 80s and mostly bright, sunny days. It’s probably the busiest time for vacationers. But truly, nothing ever feels too crowded here because most of the beach is private to residents and renters, and there are only a few hotels on the whole island.
Fall is wonderful, too, as long as you keep an eye on the hurricane forecast.
Where’s the best place to stay?
We’ve stayed in both private rented condos and the resorts on Singer Island. Both types of accommodations are wonderful, with obvious differences.
If you’re looking for more of a resort vibe, with large pools, housekeeping and other hotel amenities, we’d definitely recommend one of the island’s Marriotts. We’ve stayed in both the Marriott Ocean Point and the Palm Beach Marriott Singer Island. Both are beautiful and live up to the Marriott reputation.
I personally prefer the Marriott Ocean Point because of its proximity to Singer Island’s shops and restaurants. Marriott Ocean Point is also a short walk through quaint residential streets to Sailfish Marina. However, if you have small kids, Palm Beach Marriott Singer Island, just a mile or so down the road, offers a bit more fun tailored especially for kids. This time around, we stayed at Palm Beach Marriott and the kids LOVED its lagoon style pool and water slides.
On the other hand, if you’re looking for more of a homey vibe, hop onto VRBO or Airbnb and look for a condo rental that suits your budget. At least half of the condo units on Singer Island have breathtaking ocean views. The others look out over the intercoastal waterway or the mangroves at John D. MacArthur Beach State Park. And all have short walkways to one of the most beautiful beaches in the U.S.A.
Because the condos are actual residences, you’ll have a full kitchen, which you can stock at nearby Publix, Trader Joes or Whole Foods – or the weekly farmer’s markets that take place in Singer Island and neighboring towns.
What’s there for kids to do?
As I mentioned, Singer Island has a quiet, relaxed atmosphere. There are very few businesses here, aside from the handful of shops, cafes and restaurants you’ll find at Ocean Walk Shoppes. So, here on the island, tourists make most of their own fun, which is quite easy considering the dreamy coastal surroundings.
Adults and older kids may enjoy a paddle board or kayak tour through John D. MacArthur Beach State Park, which you can take independently or with a guide. There’s a ton of wildlife to observe in the estuary from tropical fish and birds to giant manatees and see turtles. You must be able to swim to take a tour, which lasts at least a couple of hours in the hot Florida sun.
Other attractions and organized activities are available in surrounding towns, within a 30-minute drive.
We recommend checking out:
Loggerhead Marine Life Center – Jupiter, Florida
Busch Wildlife Refuge – Jupiter, Florida
The Palm Beach Zoo – West Palm Beach, Florida
South Florida Paddle – North Palm Beach, Florida
Lion Country Safari – Loxahatchee, Florida
Beach Swimming & Snorkeling
On Singer Island itself, kids will love the beach. The water is crystal clear and warm like bath water. Most days the water is calm with hardly any undertow and waves just big enough to make for some extra fun. And if you schedule your beach time according to low tide, you’ll enjoy sandbars and tidal pools that make ocean swimming and snorkeling nothing less than perfect for kids.
As always when it comes to ocean swimming, keep a close watch on little ones at all times. There’s a ton of wildlife sharing the water with beachgoers. In 2 weeks visiting Singer Island, we had close encounters in the water with a large stingray, a small shark, 2 giant manatees (a mother and baby) and 4 massive tarpons longer than my 6ft tall husband!
Given space and left unprovoked, even the fiercest of the ocean’s creatures leave humans largely alone. But it’s always good to be aware and keep a close eye on the kiddos.
Also, the weather can change rapidly in tropical climates, so always keep an eye out for fast moving storms and changes to the swimming conditions.
Pool Time
Each hotel and condo building has its own pool, too, so that’s always an option. Our family loves to spend a few hours on the beach each day and then wind-down before dinner in the pool.
John D. MacArthur Beach State Park
Really, it’s all about the sunshine and swimming here on Singer Island, but you can also visit John D. MacArthur Beach State Park for some wild-life viewing from the water. Paddle board and kayaks are available for rental or guided tours. The fees are a little steep, but if you’re lucky enough to see a sea turtle or a pair of manatees swimming alongside you, I’m sure you won’t mind!
Ocean Reef Park
Ocean Reef Park is another gem, which you can reach from the road or the sand. Little ones will love walking along this stretch of beach, exploring the shells and sea critters caught in the reef’s hundreds of natural pools.
Older kids and adults will enjoy snorkeling along the reef’s perimeter to see the coral and countless tropical fish who gather here. The reef is best explored during low tide, when the water is shallow and calm. Although, the waves crashing against the reef and spraying up through blow holes at high-tide offers some pretty amazing photo opportunities.
Watch the boats and fish at Sailfish Marina
Since we first started visiting Singer Island 18 years ago, walking from our hotel or condo to Sailfish Marina has been one of our favorite things to do. Walking along the streets, through the shops at Ocean Walk, by all the gorgeous condo buildings, and finally through the house-lined streets that lead to the marina. It’s a walk that’s best taken in the morning or evening to avoid the midday sun.
The marina itself is simply magical. There’s a gorgeous open-air seafood restaurant, a giftshop, tiki bar, and boardwalk along the boat slips that offers a view into the water where a trove of tropical fish feed off the shallow rocks.
Sailfish Marina is also the perfect place to watch the sunset. As the sun dips behind the intercoastal, it leaves silhouettes of all the boats and palm trees against the most magnificent pinks, purples and oranges.
Boat Ride to Peanut Island
Peanut Island is an 80-acre man-made island sitting just across the inlet from Sailfish Marina.
From the marina, you can take a water taxi over to Peanut Island for a day of snorkeling, picnicking, walking, and even overnight camping if you wish. The taxi returns every 2 hours, so visitors have flexibility in their length of stay.
Where can you eat on Singer Island?
This is perhaps my favorite question! Good food is surely one of the best parts of travelling!
There are a few great places to get food on Singer Island. Although, my recommendation would be to venture out to nearby Jupiter and Palm Beach Gardens for your special vacation dinners. On Singer Island, our recommendation for dinner out would be the Sailfish Marina restaurant. The food is pricey, but delicious. And the seafood couldn’t be fresher.
There are other restaurants on Singer Island, including Johnny Longboats and Two Drunken Goats, which provide fitting beach ambiance and standard American fare. And Paradise Coffee over near Ocean Walk is a must visit with their delicious lattes and alternative health supplements.
We visit all three at least once or twice when we’re in town, but otherwise hop in the car and head off Singer Island for some truly delectable eats.
Our favorite restaurants in surrounding towns are:
Guanabanas Restaurant – Jupiter, Florida – Fun, tropical ambiance with outdoor/waterfront seating and good food
Little Moir’s Food Shack – Jupiter, Florida – A strip mall hidden treasure with the BEST FOOD around
Dive Bar Restaurant – Jupiter, Florida – Swanky marina ambiance with outdoor/waterfront seating and great food
U-Tiki Beach – Jupiter, Florida – Relaxing waterfront ambiance with view of the Jupiter Lighthouse and good food
Grimaldi’s Pizzeria – Palm Beach Gardens – Casual dining at the Downtown shopping area with truly great pizza and salads
Cheesecake Factory – Palm Beach Gardens – not exclusive to Florida, but a favorite dining option with an enormous menu
Enjoy your stay in Singer Island!
We hope this post inspires you to check out beautiful Singer Island, Florida, and the surrounding area. If you do decide on a trip to this incredible destination, connect with us on social media to let us know how you like it!