Photo by Roozbeh Rokni
Beautiful Palm Beach, Florida
When you hear about Palm Beach, Florida, think of sunny weather, beachfront mansions, nice sandy beaches and palm trees. This town in Florida may have the glitz and glamor, but it has a sleepy and relaxing vibe, making it quite attractive to snowbird retirees getting away from the brutal winter.
But if you are a young traveler, don’t overlook the fact that there are also many “happening places” all throughout the town.
Photo and Decription by Wally Gobetz
Mar-A-Lago, was designed in Hispano-Moresque Mediterranean-style by Marion Sims Wyeth and Joseph Urban from 1924-1927, for Marjorie Merriweather Post, a leading American socialite and the founder of General Foods, Inc., and her husband, Edward F. Hutton. Now home to the Mar-A-Lago Club, the 118-room, 110,000-square-foot estate is owned by Donald Trump.
The name Mar-A-Lago is Spanish for “Sea to Lake.”
After acquiring the property in 1985, Trump had the property restored to its original state, with 58 bedrooms, 33 bathrooms, a 29-foot-long pietra dura marble dining table, 12 fireplaces, and three bomb shelters. Further additions and improvements have been made since then, including the recent construction of a 20,000-square-foot ballroom.
In 1994, Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Presley spent their honeymoon at Mar-a-Lago.
Photo by Timothy Wildey Decription by Wally Gobetz
The Breakers Palm Beach, at 1 South County Road, was first opened by Standard Oil magnate Henry Flagler on January 16, 1896 to accommodate travelers on his Florida East Coast Railway.
Originally known as the Palm Beach Inn, it sat on the beachfront portion of the grounds of the Royal Poinciana Hotel, which Flagler had opened alongside Lake Worth in 1894. After guests began requesting rooms “over by the breakers,” Flagler renamed it The Breakers in 1901.
After wooden hotel burned down in 1903 during an expansion, it was rebuilt and reopened the following year. With rooms starting at $4 a night, the Breakers guest register included names like Rockefellers, Vanderbilts, Astors, Carnegies and Morgans alongside United States Presidents and European nobility. After The Breakers burned down again in 1926, Flagler’s heirs built the world’s finest resort as a testament to his vision.
The 550-room Beaux Arts replacement, modeled by the architectural firm of Schultze and Weaver after the Villa Medici, reopened on December 29, 1926. The twin-towers exterior was inspired by Villa Medici’s Italian Renaissance façade. Schultze and Weaver readapted the Roman villa’s 16th-century urban setting on The Breakers 140-acre oceanfront location.
Also called Palm Beach Island, the town is separated by the Intracoastal Waterway from other cities like the Lake Worth and West Palm Beach. It has its own international airport and has an extensive public transport system.
When it comes to trendy and sumptuous dining, Palm Beach has some of the best in the region. Restaurants like Palm Sugar ( 340 Clematis St, West Palm Beach – http://palmsugarwpb.com/), Buccan (350 S County Rd, Palm Beach – http://buccanpalmbeach.com/) and The Blind Monk (410 Evernia St #107, West Palm Beach – http://theblindmonk.com/) have made names because of their delicious cuisines and distinct style and ambiance. Shopping is a favorite thing to do by many tourists that come to Palm Beach.
For some premier shopping, head out to Worth Avenue, the Rodeo Drive equivalent in Palm Beach. Here, you can find designer boutiques and luxury cars parading the street.
Photo and Decription by Wally Gobetz
Tiffany & Co. is an American jewelry and silverware company founded by Charles Lewis Tiffany and John B. Young in New York City in 1837. Tiffany designs were worn by such famous US families as the Astors, the Vanderbilts, and the Morgans. Athletes, Hollywood stars, and even European royalty adored these diamonds. Museums valued the Tiffany designs, which ranged from the Art Nouveau period to Art Deco to today’s modern styles. The 128.54-carat Fancy Yellow Tiffany Diamond is usually on display in the New York City flagship store. They have since opened stores in major cities all over the world.
Worth Avenue, sometimes referred to as the Rodeo Drive of Florida, is a famous upscale shopping district stretching four blocks from Lake Worth to the Atlantic Ocean. The street first became fashionable after the construction in 1918 of the Everglades Club. Worth Avenue also includes smaller alleyways, known as Vias, off the main avenue.
The epitome of Palm Beach style, the street has approximately 250 shops, boutiques, restaurants and art galleries, including Neiman Marcus, Cartier, Louis Vuitton, Tiffany & Co., Hermès, Polo Ralph Lauren, Gucci, Chanel, Loro Piana, Brooks Brothers, Salvatore Ferragamo, Valentino, Vilebrequin, and Lacoste. An open-air mall, The Esplanade, lies at the eastern end of Worth Avenue. The Esplanade offers a variety of upscale shops anchored by department store Saks Fifth Avenue.
Photo and Decription by Wally Gobetz
The Paramount Theatre Building, at 145 North County Road, was built in November, 1926 to the Mediterranean Revival design of Joseph Urban. The official grand opening took place on January 9, 1927 with the premier of “Beau Gest”, starring Ronald Colman.
When it opened there were 1080 orchestra seats and 156 box seats. Early drawings show 26 boxes with three ranks each. The two-and-a-half story theater is bronzed by a half-story entrance and a breezeway terrace. It was designed as a complete cultural center that included residences, restaurant, shops, and offices.
During the 1930’s and 1940’s, “The Millionaire’s Movie Theater” was the center of entertainment in the wealthy summer resort town of Palm Beach. Annual fundraising benefits brought top stars of the stage, screen and radio.
In 1994 the Paramount Church began services in the area where the movie screen and the orchestra pit were once located, and in 1996 the church became the owner of the building. Today the Paramount’s tenants include many upscale retail shops, and numerous non-profit organizations, including The Palm Beach Civic Association, The Citizen’s Association, The Palm Beach Fellowship for Christians and Jews, The Hospice Foundation and Hospice Resale Shop.
It was placed on the National Register (#73000599) in 1973.
For more affordable shopping coupled with an open-air feel, head down to City Place in the downtown district. On top of shops, restaurants and bars, you will also be entertained by an IMAX movie theater and live music at the plaza during weekends.
The town also sets up the Green Market every Saturday by the waterfront. This nice market mainly sells the three F’s – food, flowers and farmer’s fresh produce. Coming here, not only satisfies your appetite, it will also offer you a glimpse of the locals’ weekend living.
Photo by Andy Boenau
What to Do in Palm Beach, Florida
Palm Beach may be known for its extravagant mansions, tony retailers and fancy nightspots, but it also has its own brand of small-town charm.
Discover your perfect Palm Beach Vacation in this beautiful professional video from The New York Times series 36 Hours Travel.
Palm Beach, Florida from Above
This one is just for fun. But this video is absolutely amazing.
Enjoy a rare look at the homes and playgrounds of the very rich and famous in Palm Beach and West Palm Beach, Florida from above.
Palm Beach town belongs to a county of the same name. People mainly explore the county to enjoy its beautiful sandy beaches dotting the coastline. Some of the notable beach parks in the area include Carlin Park, Jupiter Beach Park, Ocean Inlet Park, Phil Foster Memorial Park, R.G. Kreusler Park and Peanut Island Park, which is only accessible by boat.
One of the more upscale beach towns in Palm Beach County is Boca Raton, which is less than hour south of the town and worth exploring.
Photo by Brandon Perdeck
Photo by Jim Renaud
Aside from swimming and sunbathing; you can also engage in different water activities like snorkeling, diving, fishing and surfing to make your vacation more memorable.
One water sport that has been making a lot of waves is paddle boarding, perfect for those seeking for an adventure and adrenaline rush. Just like surfing, standing on a board is also needed in this sport, but you will not deal with waves but instead use a paddle to move through calmer waters.
Photo by Ungaio
The busiest period in Palm Beach is from January to April, when the “snowbirds” come for the town’s comfortable weather. This weather allows for more outdoor activities like beach hopping, golf, tennis and picnics. If you plan to visit the town during this time, make sure to book your accommodation well ahead of time.
The off season for Palm Beach is from May to September. During this period, the weather can get really hot and rainy. If you don’t mind the heat and the rain, visiting at this time allows you to get great deals on hotels, spas and restaurants.
Where to Stay in Beautiful Palm Beach Florida
Besides the ultra-luxurious Breakers Hotel Palm Beach mentioned above and starting at $US 353 per night, there are hundreds of excellent hotel choices in Palm Beach for all traveler and all budgets.
Another 5-Star fancy choice, not quite as expensive as The Breakers but still high luxury, is the Four Seasons Resort (starting at $US 223 per night) with a private beach, outdoor tennis courts, a Jacuzzi and much more. The The Chesterfield Palm Beach (starting at $US 191 per night) is an old-Florida “Winter Season for the Rich” hotel with over-the-top style and service from a bygone day. (Tip – Click the link just to see the photos.)
Fairfield Inn & Suites Palm Beach (starting at $US 100 per night) has an outdoor pool and a Jacuzzi. Every morning, guests can sit down to breakfast before heading off to discover what the local area has to offer and after dinner enjoy the in-house casino. The Palm Beach Hotel Condominium (starting at $US 84 per night) has an outdoor pool and free Wi-Fi. It also provides a tour desk, a concierge, a restaurant and a comfortable lounge bar.
Tropical Style: Private Palm Beach
Among the twenty homes that are featured in this lavish volume are those of Dorothy Spreckels Munn and Lilly Pulitzer Rousseau. All the most renowned Palm Beach architects — Addison Mizner, Maurice Fatio, Howard Major, and Belford Shoumate — are represented.
But author Jennifer Ash also takes us off the beaten path to fascinating residences known to natives alone: an artist’s bungalow on the bohemian Root Trail, a luxuriously appointed yet fully seaworthy yacht, a cozy retreat in a landmark church. And while relating the gossip-packed history of many of the island’s famous residents, she gives us a guided tour of interiors created by both local and world-renowned designers, including David Easton and Juan Pablo Molyneux.
From the rococo splendor of Mar-a-Lago — designed by Joseph Urban for Marjorie Merriweather Post and now owned by Donald Trump — to the ultra-modern chic of a house by Richard Meier, Private Palm Beach affords intimate access to life behind the island’s meticulously manicured hedges.
Click HERE Now to Get Tropical Style: Private Palm Beach
Palm Beach Entertaining: Creating Occasions to Remember
With this inspiring book, you can bring high style to your own gatherings at home.
As a luxurious retreat with a storied past, Palm Beach has become renowned for its grand parties. Now, more than twenty of its most celebrated hosts open their doors, revealing secrets for entertaining along with one hundred of their most tried-and-true recipes. Among the illustrious hosts featured are fashion icon Arnold Scaasi, Spanish aristocrat Victoria Amory, and interior designer Celerie Kemble.
Included are tips for setting a personalized table, creating a warm mood, and choosing crowd-pleasing dishes. Recipes include Kit Pannill’s Tomato Pudding, Kathryn Vecellio’s Lobster “Risotto,” and James Patterson’s Grandma’s Chocolate Cake. Palm Beach Entertaining offers a rare peek into the glamorous world behind the hedges of some of America’s most luxurious private estates.
And it is all done in the spirit of giving—the net proceeds from the book benefit the Children’s Home Society, a charitable organization with a proven network of adoption, early childhood development, and family support services.
Click HERE Now to Get Palm Beach Entertaining: Creating Occasions to Remember
You may also like these pages about Florida, Palm Beach and other destinations:
- Travel Picture Book – Beautiful and Historic Palm Beach, Florida – Palm Beach, Florida is a vacationer’s paradise. But there is more to see and do than just the beach. Let the incredible Wally Gobetz, photographer, take you on a photo tour of his favorite sites in Palm Beach with interesting detailed descriptions of each one.
- Henry Flagler and the Birth of Florida Tourism – The East Coast of Florida was opened to tourism in the late 19th Century by the vision, hard work and money of one man, Henry Flagler. Here is the amazing story.
- Pet Friendly Vacations – The Florida Keys – For a pet friendly tropical island vacation, look no farther than the beautiful Florida Keys! From Key Largo to Key West, this spectacular drive has numerous places to pull off for a stroll or photo with your pet. And most businesses and hotels welcome pets, too.
- More Coming Soon
Travel Tips & Trips
Additional Information Courtesy of Wikipedia
July 13, 2015 @ 7:24 pm
Another nice write up that as some one who lives in Europe has me intrigued about the area but prices are the bottom line and not a hint. So is it a case of ” if you have to ask you can’t afford it”?
Personally no idea of costs is an instant off-putter as how can I budget of an unknown target?
July 13, 2015 @ 9:35 pm
M.
Stick with us. Prices and recommendations of all sorts are things we are working on. We want to find the best solution to put on the site for all the readers.
Mark
July 13, 2015 @ 9:05 pm
You’ve done a wonderful job with the first issue, I wish I had that kind of money, so I could enjoy all those great things!
July 13, 2015 @ 9:40 pm
Myra,
Thank you. Palm beach is expensive, but we did list several thing across the pages that were cheaper or even free. And don’t worry, we have plenty of places coming up that are no where near this extravagant.
Mark