Here's why Palm Beach is a slice of heaven on Earth

Grassy Waters Preserve offers a taste of the wild Everglades landscape that once covered Florida. It features 23 square miles of wetlands, tree islands, and forested hammocks unlike anything anywhere else in the country. Trails and boardwalks of varying length and difficulty crisscross the preserve, so anyone can spend as much or as little time exploring as they want. If you keep your eyes peeled, you might spot great blue herons, otters, bobcats, alligators and more. Or, take advantage of guided hikes and canoe paddles through Grassy Waters with experienced naturalists. Even if you go on your own, you'll come away with an appreciation for the work that goes into protecting this special slice of wilderness.

All beach trips should include at least one lighthouse stop, and in Palm Beach, the most scenic lighthouse is the one at Jupiter Inlet. The red brick tower was built atop a sand dune in the mid-19th century. The location was long a strategic point for Native Americans in the area, and later, for the US military. The lighthouse originally contained a signal station and Weather Bureau station, and by the 1930s it had a keeper's house, a radio beacon, powerhouse and several outbuildings spread across more than 100 acres. The coolest thing about the lighthouse is the role it played in WWII. It housed the Navy's Radio Detection Finding Station, which was known as "Station J." The purpose? Intercept German U-boat radio messages to warn Allied ships and help the US military destroy the enemy submarines; dozens were destroyed, thanks in part toStation J.

Today, the old WWII building houses a museum dedicated to the unique history of the light and the local area. You can also climb to the top of the tower to check out the view. There are usually guides at the top who are more than happy to point out features and attractions below and answer questions.

If you're planning a beach day during your visit, John D. MacArthur Beach State Park is the best bet. It boasts two miles of pristine beach, perfect for swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving (the limestone reefs just offshore house all kinds of unique creatures like parrotfish and loggerhead sea turtles), and surf fishing (with a license). The park has an awesome welcome center with exhibits on the cultural and natural history of this stretch of shoreline. Learn about the dolphins, manatees, crabs, turtles, and other creatures that call this ecosystem home before diving into the natural beauty. There's also a gift shop, in case you need to stock up on sunblock, as well as kayak rentals. The park's Munyon Island is only accessible by boat at high tide, but is worth the journey. If you're not looking to get in the water, there are two excellent self-guided nature trails to enjoy.

Pro tip: if you've got coolers, chairs, and toys you're bringing along, the park offers a tram from the parking area to the beach.

President John F. Kennedy was known for vacationing in Palm Beach so much that they nicknamed his compound the “Winter White House”… but few knew that during the height of the Cold War, Kennedy had a secret bunker built under a manmade island nearby. Now, you can climb inside the hidden shelter yourself.

The bunker, which was built in just 10 days by the SeaBees, could hold up to 30 members of the Kennedy family and key White House staff, and was stocked with enough food, water, and supplies to last for a month. The bunker could act as a temporary command center for the entire country. The entrance was hidden in a thicket of trees, and to make it inside, you’d have to pass a radiation quarantine. In the event the secret bunker became not-so-secret to any invading force, a hidden passageway at the back led to a helipad from which the president could be whisked to safety. As far as anyone knows, the bunker never had to be used (except to time how long it would take Kennedy to reach it – 10 minutes, if you were wondering), and by the time it was disclosed to the public in 1974, it had long sat abandoned. When it was reopened for the first time in 20 years, flooding had destroyed most of what was left inside.

Fortunately, in 1995, the Palm Beach Maritime Museum leased the land and has since set about restoring the bunker to its original state. Today, you can take a boat out to the man-made Peanut Island and experience the confines of the presidential fallout shelter for yourself.

Manatee season in Florida runs from November through the end of March, so if you're in Palm Beach during the season, you're very likely to see the gentle creatures taking a leisurely swim in the warm waters of Manatee Lagoon. The Florida Power & Light Company’s Riviera Beach Next Generation Clean Energy Center outputs especially warm water that attracts manatees when temperatures drop in the winter. As more people came to see the manatees, a whole facility was developed around the lagoon. There's now a visitor center with loads of engaging, hands-on exhibits about manatees in addition to an observation deck where you can watch the manatees in the winter. Parking and admission are totally free, and the center’s mission to raise awareness for these endangered creatures is touching, making for an unforgettable stop.