Doing Palm Beach Like an Insider: Yes, You Can Be One, Too
The view over Palm Beach, Florida (Thinkstock)
Right after my family put up the Christmas tree, I started having a hankering for a different kind of tree, one you don’t see very often here in Philadelphia.
A palm tree.
With coconuts.
And a white sand beach below it.
That’s your vision of Palm Beach, Florida, right? But here’s the thing there’s so much more to this sunny city on the shore. Before I headed south, honestly, I was clueless. I like to think that, in one short week, I became a Palm Beach insider — and you can, too.
For some traditional Palm Beach hot spots and some new, off-the-radar finds, read on.
Top Dining
HMF at the Breakers (Photo: Courtesy of the Breakers)
Lots of people think that the Breakers is uber-traditional, and parts of it sure are — where else but in South Florida do you see guys walking around in pink slacks and women wearing Lilly Pulitzer head to toe? HMF at the Breakers,with its hip, mid-century vibe and its food truck-style menu, turns all those stereotypes on their heads. The can’t-miss menu items: homemade onion dip with fresh-out-of-the-fryer potato chips, duck buns with blood orange sauce, whoopee pie sundaes. Yum.
Top Spots for Dog Lovers
Louis on Juno Beach (Photo: Lisa McElroy for Yahoo Travel)
My French bulldog, Louis, couldn’t get enough of Palm Beach. From his oceanside room at the new Kimpton Tideline resort (he was really stoked to spot some famous rap stars staying there, too!) to his overnight stay at the Very Important Paws pet hotel, he quickly discerned that Palm Beach is heaven on four paws. His favorite destination? Juno Beach, in North Palm Beach, where dogs are welcome to play in the surf and dig holes in the sand. Picnickers, beware — Louis’s got you on his radar (with apologies to the family whose sandwich mysteriously disappeared).
Related: Don’t Judge Me: My Emotional Support Dog is Not a Scam
Top Ice Cream
The suitably colorful exterior of Sloan’s (Photo: Courtesy of Sloan’s)
In my family, we consider ourselves to be ice cream aficionados. Gourmands. Addicts. Enter Sloan’s, where a dulce de leche cone will give you the South Florida Cuban taste experience you’re craving and the Peppermint Stick will get you in the spirit of the season — it’s what Palm Beach insiders leave on the fireplace hearth for Santa.
Top Golf
Ocean Course hole 10 at sunrise (Nile Young Jr.)
The Ocean Course at the Breakers is Florida’s oldest course — but don’t think that means that it’s old-fashioned or stodgy. Nope, these 18 holes will challenge even the top golfers, even if they’re not distracted by the perfect, wide sweeping Atlantic views. Newbies will beg to play again the next day, if only because they’ll want a second chance to keep their golf balls out of the surf.
Related: Exclusive Golf Courses Where You Can Tee Off
Top Boutique
A Lilly Pulitzer look from C. Orrico (Photo: Courtesy of C. Orrico)
Ask the fit, stylish Palm Beach ladies where to shop, and they’ll send you to C. Orrico, a local shop right on the West Palm island where you can pick up anything from a Trina Turk “out on the town” ensemble to a lady-like Lilly Pulitzer shift to the cutest totes on the beach. Prices are reasonable, too, with designer dresses starting at $29 and printed tankinis at $59.
Top Museum
The Flagler Museum (Photo: Courtesy of Flagler Museum)
Say the name “Henry Flagler” around these parts, and the locals will nod and smile. The industrialist built the iconic Palm Beach Inn (now the Breakers Resort) and established the trust to keep it running. His mansion, Whitehall (built for his wife as a winter residence) was turned into a museum and is now a National Historic Landmark. Docent-led tours show visitors what life was like in the Gilded Age, and a current exhibit tells the story of the construction of the Panama Canal, a project about which Flagler was intensely interested.
Top Beach
Deerfield Beach Sunrise (Davey Shafik/flickr)
At a time when many of the area’s beaches are eroding or being nurtured back to health, Deerfield Beach is still going strong, with a wide sandy stretch to pop your lounge chair down and enjoy the sound of the gentle waves crashing in. On Saturday mornings, get there early (between 7 and 9 a.m.) for free surf lessons from Island Water Sports — boards and instruction included.
Related: Gorgeous Caribbean Beach Houses You Can Rent Right Now
Top Street Food
Avocados stuffed with lechon asado (pork) at Havana Cuban Food Restaurant (Havana Cuban Food Restaurant/Facebook)
Out partying late? Finishing an early morning surf lesson? West Palm’s Havana Cuban Food Restaurant is open 24 hours, with a walk-up window where the locals line up for Cuban sandwiches. To shake off a hangover, grab a Cuban coffee; for a sweet treat, the guava shells with cream cheese will rock your world (trust us on this one).
On the Horizon
The exterior of Tideline (Photo: Courtesy of Tideline)
The full-service Tideline Spa will open in February 2015, and a behind-the-scenes first look promises a stylish, relaxing atmosphere at a reasonable price. Inspired by the healing properties of the ocean, the 5,900 square foot space will include seven treatment rooms and offer a menu of distinctive treatments, body scrubs, facials, massages and other wellness-driven services designed for men, women and couples — there’s even a teen package in the works. Tideline’s services and therapies will blend nature and science to nourish and treat the mind, body, and spirit. Talk about de-stressing.
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