Visit Palm Beach Celebrates 30 Years on the Water

From a small waterfront activity station to catamaran cruises and outdoor adventures, Visit Palm Beach is celebrating 30 years of helping people experience The Palm Beaches.

For 30 years, Visit Palm Beach has given visitors and locals a different way to discover The Palm Beaches—from the water.

As part of our Small Business Series, we caught up with Leigh Bennett, Director of Business Development at Visit Palm Beach, to look back at where it all began and find out what makes exploring The Palm Beaches from the water so special.

It All Started on the Waterfront

Visit Palm Beach began with founder Brian Marozzi recognizing a need while working as a concierge at The Breakers Palm Beach.

“Brian was constantly talking with guests who wanted more ways to get out and actually experience The Palm Beaches,” Leigh says.

He saw an opportunity to offer guided recreational experiences by bike, kayak, Jet Ski and boat, giving visitors a completely different perspective of the destination.

The idea started small with the Seaside Activity Station on the downtown West Palm Beach waterfront, offering bike taxi tours, Jet Ski rentals and tours.

“We’ve had the unique opportunity to watch Visit Palm Beach grow from that little Seaside Activity Station on the waterfront into what it is today.”

Today, Visit Palm Beach operates two 49-passenger catamarans, Hakuna Matata and Motunui, offering sightseeing, sunset, snorkeling and specialty cruises, plus private charters. Visitors can also explore by kayak, paddleboard, bike and more.

And despite all that growth, Leigh says Brian’s original vision remains at the heart of the business: helping people get out and truly experience The Palm Beaches.

Why See The Palm Beaches From the Water?

For Leigh, one of the best parts of the job is seeing the destination through someone else’s eyes.

“Even after all these years, I never get tired of seeing this destination through someone else’s eyes.”

From the Intracoastal, visitors can take in downtown West Palm Beach on one side and Palm Beach on the other, surrounded by waterfront homes, yachts and the natural ecosystem.

No two trips are exactly alike, either. You might spot dolphins or manatees, snorkel among tropical fish, discover something new about local history or catch an unforgettable South Florida sunset.

Even longtime locals are surprised.

“One of my favorite things is hearing a local say, ‘I’ve lived here for years and I’ve never seen Palm Beach like this.’”

For Leigh, that’s what Visit Palm Beach is all about.

“We’re not just taking people on a boat ride or renting them a kayak. We’re giving them an experience and a memory they may take home and talk about for years.”

The One Experience You Have to Try

So, what should a first-time visitor do?

“It’s very hard to pick just one,” Leigh says, but experiencing Palm Beach from the water is a must.

A sightseeing cruise offers a great introduction to the destination, but Leigh has another favorite: a sunset cruise.

“There’s something quintessentially Palm Beach about being out on the Intracoastal, drink in hand, music playing, watching the sun set behind the West Palm Beach skyline.”

Her advice? Don’t stop there.

Go snorkeling. Take out a kayak or paddleboard. Explore by bike.

Thirty years later, one thing hasn’t changed:

“The best way to get to know The Palm Beaches is to get out and experience it.”

Explore Visit Palm Beach and discover your next adventure.