Palm Beach, Florida, unlike many Florida beaches, is not a party beach; Palm Beach is a place for strolling and luxuriating.
The island of Palm Beach has long been a playground for the wealthy, dominated by estates such as the Bath and Tennis Club (known locally as the B 'n' T), the Woolworth Donahue home, John Lennon's estate (which actually is the southern half of the former Vanderbilt mansion), the posh Breakers Hotel and the former Kennedy compound.
Along with the opulent digs, Florida's "Gold Coast" features shopping along Worth Avenue, with some of the ritziest boutiques in the world—and even a sidewalk-level drinking fountain for pampered pups.
Palm Beach's South County Road, housing additional shops, runs perpendicular to Worth Avenue. The thrift shops on Sunset Avenue to the north are full of bargain-priced clothes, accessories and other discarded luxury items.
Must See or Do
Sights—Stunning views of the Intracoastal Waterway and the Atlantic Ocean.
Museums—Henry Morrison Flagler Museum.
Memorable Meals—Wiener schnitzel at Cafe L'Europe; a crab platter at Charley's Crab.
Late Night—Live music at the Leopard Lounge.
Walks—Walking in and out of upscale shops along Worth Avenue.
Especially for Kids—The playground at Phipps Ocean Park; the railroad car at the Flagler Museum.
Potpourri
Mansions abound in Palm Beach, but one property of special note is the 118-room, Mediterranean-style Mar-a-Lago estate, once a getaway for cereal heiress Marjorie Merriweather Post and now owned by Donald Trump, who was married there in a celebrity-studded extravaganza.
In 1878, a Spanish ship sailing from Trinidad ran aground on the island and emptied its cargo of coconuts on the shore. The few residents planted the coconuts, which grew to create the palm tree-lined beach.
Ta-boo restaurant on Worth Avenue is heavy on celebrity legends—including being the supposed birthplace of the Bloody Mary as a hangover cure for heiress Barbara Hutton (although at least two establishments in Paris would beg to differ on the drink's origin).
Mary Lily Kenan, Henry Flagler's third wife, is listed in Guiness World Records for not wearing the same dress twice in a 12-year period. Her dresses are on display at Whitehall, the mansion that was her home and is now the Henry Morrison Flagler Museum.
Sightseeing
Although there are no formal tours of Palm Beach, it's easy to walk through the three main shopping areas: Worth Avenue, nearby South County Road, and the smaller Royal Poinciana Way shops about a mile/kilometer away.
The best way to see this barrier island is by car. If you drive north on South Ocean Boulevard and bear right at Sloan's Curve, you'll see the mansions known as Billionaire's Row. About 2 mi/3 km beyond is the famed and flamboyant Moorish-style palace, Mar-a-Lago Club, founded and run by the equally famous and flamboyant Donald Trump.
Continuing on, you'll come to the "North End" where, behind meticulously manicured hedges, there are some of the most spectacular and expensive homes in the U.S.
Recreation
Some 30 mi/50 km west of Palm Beach is Pahokee State Recreation Area on Lake Okeechobee—a huge body of fresh water that is a mecca for boaters, anglers and other outdoor types. If you go 40 mi/65 km north of Palm Beach, you'll reach Stuart, a center for charter boats that catch sailfish in the Atlantic Ocean. While you're there, check out Gilbert's Bar House of Refuge, the last of a number of shipwreck stations that were built along the coast in the 1870s. http://www.floridatrail.org/Features/Communities/Pahokee.html.
Bicycling
For cyclists, narrow biking lanes on South Ocean Boulevard provide stunning views of the Intracoastal Waterway on one side and the Atlantic Ocean on the other.
Bikers can also take Lake Trail past Worth Avenue for a look beyond the hedges at the spectacular homes and condos overlooking the serene water on the other side of the road.
Nightlife
This sedate town does not boast a lot of nightlife or nightclubs. Those looking for nocturnal excitement usually go "off island" to West Palm Beach. There, you can take in shows at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts ranging from cabaret to big-name comedians to top Broadway shows. While there, you can also visit a club, go downtown to Clematis Street or over to CityPlace, though the latter is not recommended on a weekend night.
Evening activities on the island itself include late-night dining and dancing at the Chesterfield Hotel's popular (and colorful) Leopard Lounge, or impromptu dancing in a few other restaurants, such as the bar at Cafe L'Europe. The Colony Hotel also has late-night cabaret acts available with or without dinner.
Shopping
Worth Avenue, a classy and classic-looking European-style street with its Esplanades and Vias, is often called the Rodeo Drive of the East Coast. Although bargains don't abound, they can occasionally be found, especially in summer.
There are a few department stores, but most shopping consists of smaller, high-end shops, such as Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Valentino and Escada. People dress up on the island—especially for dinner—and you can buy the "Palm Beach look" there: bright Lily Pulitzer and Pucci pastels, and Stubbs & Wooten shoes and outdoor slippers, which real Palm Beach residents wear without socks.
Less well-known shopping areas include Royal Poinciana Way and South County Road near the intersection of Worth Avenue. These areas house a number of interesting shops and restaurants. Don't miss the Church Mouse, where the rich discard their clothes and housewares in a well-kept secondhand shop that's more like Salvation Armani than Salvation Army.
Shopping Hours: Shopping hours are generally Monday-Saturday 10 am-6 pm.
Dining Overview
Meals on Palm Beach Island are often pricey, but the food is outstanding. The atmosphere is also worth enjoying. And you're likely to find someone famous or mega-rich seated right next to you.
Although restaurants feature mostly eclectic Mediterranean and Continental cuisine, there are a few specialty restaurants offering comfort foods, Asian cuisine, seafood and even a New York-style deli. Ta-boo on Worth Avenue, full of legendary celebrity visits, is popular with both locals and tourists. Despite the high prices on Worth Avenue, Ta-boo remains quite reasonable and the food is excellent.
For those who want the full Palm Beach treatment and don't mind the expense, try the Continental-style Cafe L'Europe, Cafe Boulud and Chez Jean-Pierre Bistro.
A clustering of less expensive Italian restaurants on Royal Poinciana Way is just past the Breakers. There are also many fine restaurants within the larger hotels, including the Breakers, the Four Seasons and the Ritz-Carlton. Excellent restaurants can also be found in smaller hotels, such as The Brazilian Court and The Chesterfield.
Expect to pay within these general guidelines, based on the cost of a dinner for one, not including drinks, tax or tip: $ = less than US$15; $$ = US$15-$30; $$$ = US$31-$50; and $$$$ = more than US$50.
Health
The most common health problems you might encounter in South Florida are sunburn, dehydration, blisters and sea lice. For more serious issues, there are several top hospitals and plenty of physicians in the area.
Over the bridge in West Palm Beach, Walgreens and CVS operate 24-hour pharmacies. Check locally for the one nearest you.
Dos & Don'ts
Do rent a bicycle and ride past the grand clubs and massive mansions along South, Ocean and North boulevards.
Don't be nosy—gawking is fine, but pointing or picture taking while celebrity-watching is considered impolite. Keep in mind that many celebrity homes are hard to see; they're tucked back away from the road and often hidden behind shrubbery.
Do indulge in the sport of kings and even watch a professional match at Palm Beach County Polo. England's Prince Charles and actor Tommy Lee Jones have been known to play there occasionally.
Don't forget sunscreen and a straw hat—it's still Florida.
Do expect to see the mega-rich and some celebrities.
Don't forget to take some dressier-than-casual clothes. Most restaurants require men to wear jackets.
Hotel Overview
Visitors to Palm Beach have plenty of accommodations to choose from. The island boasts beachfront resorts, other luxury hotels and historic bed-and-breakfasts.
Geostats
Passport/Visa Requirements: To enter the U.S. and re-enter Canada, Canadians must have a valid passport. Citizens of Australia and the U.K. need a passport but usually do not need a visa for stays of 90 days or less. Because the terms of the visa-waiver program are subject to change, it's wise to check with a U.S. Embassy prior to travel. Reconfirm travel document requirements with your carrier before departure.
All U.S. citizens must have a passport when traveling by air to or from Bermuda, Canada, the Caribbean, Central and South America and Mexico. Citizens of Canada, Mexico and the British Overseas Territory of Bermuda also must have a passport or other designated secure document to enter the U.S.
Beginning 1 June 2009, passports are required for land crossings at the Canadian and Mexican borders with the U.S. and for cruise passengers returning to the U.S. from Mexico, the Caribbean, Canada or Bermuda. Reconfirm travel-document requirements with your carrier prior to departure.
Population: 9,731.
Languages: English, Spanish.
Predominant Religions: Christian, (Roman Catholic, Protestant), Jewish.
Voltage Requirements: 110 volts.
Telephone Codes: 561, area code;
Currency Exchange
ATMs are everywhere. You'll find them at multiple bank locations and in most supermarkets, convenience stores and gas stations.
Taxes
State sales tax is 6% and hotel tax is an additional 4%.
Weather
Tourists and snowbirds flock to South Florida during a season that primarily runs December-April. The best time to visit depends upon whether travelers seek escape from cold or crowds.
Swimming, snorkeling, surfing and diving ocean waters are undoubtedly best during warmer months. The average temperature is 76 F/23 C. However, summer highs reach into the 80s F/26 C and low 90s F/32 C, with corresponding humidity, and winter lows average around 65-70 F/18-21 C. The June-September rainy season brings afternoon thundershowers (keep a small umbrella handy). Hurricane season is June-November, with August and September the most active months.
What to Wear
A mix of light, casual summer clothes and slightly fancier evening attire will serve you well, except for those on the Palm Beach social scene. (A few restaurants require jackets for men.) In summer, be sure to take a hat with a brim, and wear light, loose clothing. A couple of chilly days can be expected in winter, so it's wise to have at least a light jacket or coat.
The weather also dictates relaxed and informal dress in the business community, although suits do prevail in some corporate cultures. Generally speaking, it's better to err on the conservative side.
Transportation
Other than a few shopping areas (Worth Avenue, South County Road, Royal Poinciana Way) where you can walk, you're best off getting around Palm Beach in a car. Driving is on the right.
Public transportation is hard to find, and inefficient when you do. Palm Tran buses make a few stops in Palm Beach, but they're few and far apart. The Tri-Rail doesn't have a Palm Beach stop, but there are nearby stations in West Palm Beach and Lake Worth. These quaint trains stop at many places throughout South Florida (although you generally need a cab or a bus to go beyond the station), including stops at Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood Airport and the larger Miami Airport.
Calendar
Palm Beach is known for its stately mansions, lovely sunsets and trendy Worth Avenue, but visitors and residents also will enjoy the few festivals held there each year.
In the fall, a four-day culinary celebration takes place on Worth Avenue. As many as 25 galleries, specialty stores and restaurants take part in the annual Bon Appetit Wine & Spirits Focus and Art Walk.
In March, debonair doggies, birds and bunnies turn out for an annual pet parade and contest.
