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A Day of Sun and Sand

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Check out luxurious Palm Beach, playground for the rich and famous, and take an ocean drive, stopping at beaches along the way.

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Author: Jennifer

Day 1 - Palm Beach

If you only have one day in the Palm Beach area, I would recommend spending it in Palm Beach and along the water. After all, sun and sand is what people come to see right? So, rent a car at the airport and head north (left) on I-95 and then east (right) on Okeechobee Rd and across the Intracoastal bridge to Palm Beach Island (playground of the rich and famous). If you have the time, check into one of the best hotels in the US, The Breakers Hotel and Resort. But book early, the hotel sells out months in advance; and be prepared to pay at least $300/night! Luxury does not come cheap in Palm Beach. Once you have crossed the bridge onto Palm Beach Island, turn north onto South County Road and you will notice The Breakers Hotel and Resort on your right side. It is a truly magnificent building, full of history and five-star service. Once you see the place, you might decide to just spend your whole day there. It is an oceanfront hotel with its own beach, seven restaurants, a spa, and more. But if you are not staying overnight or you want to explore the area, you can just head to breakfast a few blocks away at Green's Pharmacy for a quick and easy breakfast for under $5. After breakfast you can head back across the bridge to West Palm Beach and pick up the Palm Beach Water Taxi at 11am (in Downtown West Palm Beach at Palm Harbor Marina, 400 Flagler Drive, at Flagler Dr. & Banyan) for a 2 HR narrated boat tour that highlights the mansions of the rich and famous and a history of Palm Beach. Or, if you would rather stay on land, the Henry Morrison Flagler Museum on Palm Beach Island, offers a great history lesson on the area as well. After the tour, head to Worth Avenue, the "Rodeo Drive" of Palm Beach Island, and check out Gucci, YSL, Chanel and the other exclusive stores. Just windowshop though because you need to get started on your ocean drive. That's right, drive east and take a cruise down A1A along the ocean! Enjoy the views of the rolling waves and check out the mansions and beautiful scenery. Along the way, if you are looking to stop at a nice beach, Gulfstream Park in the tiny town of Gulfstream, FL is very pretty. Continue south and have lunch al fresco in Delray Beach at Cafe Luna Rosa. It offers great water views, and is right across from another very nice beach. Bring lots of quarters for the meters, they run 25cents/12 minutes! After lunch you can stroll down Atlantic Avenue in Delray Beach to visit the cute shops and galleries and really get a nice feel for Delray ( aka the "Village by the Sea"). Continue to head south to Boca Raton and stop at the Gumbo Limbo Nature Center to see some live local flora and fauna. Then it is time to head back up to Palm Beach for dinner. If you are running behind, skip the ocean route back and follow signs to I-95N to get you back to Palm Beach quickly (30-40 min). Palm Beach has many great restaurants, but I would recommend The Flagler Steakhouse if you would like to sit on an outdoor terrace, watching the sunset over a beautiful golf course, or The Seafood Bar at The Breakers, if you want to overlook the water. The Seafood Bar is the only direct oceanfront restaurant in Palm Beach , so it is really special. Both restaurants are quite pricey, so if you are looking for something less expensive, head back across the bridge to West Palm Beach. CityPlace offers several dining options. After dinner, check out Cucina dell'Arte on Palm Beach Island, for cocktails, or The Tapestry Bar at The Breakers. Enjoy!

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