Ahhhh! The town of Palm Beach, Florida. The playground for the rich and famous. The island is home to beautiful oceanfront resorts and magnificent mansions on streets lined with stately Royal Palm Trees. I have lived in this area of Florida for twenty years and have never spent any time here. My retired teacher’s salary tells me I should know better, but come along with us as we spend a day feeling filthy rich in Palm Beach, Florida.
Breakfast at Surfside Diner
Start your day with a hearty breakfast at the classic Surfside Diner. Asking around, the locals highly recommended Surfside. Plus by Palm Beach standards it is affordable. I had the classic bacon & two organic eggs with homefries and toast. The dress here is casual, and they are open for breakfast & lunch.
Surfside Diner 314 S County Rd, Palm Beach
The Worth Avenue Clock Tower
You will find the Worth Avenue Clock Tower at the East entrance to Worth Avenue. The Atlantic Ocean serves as a gorgeous backdrop and it deserves a few clicks on your camera. In fact, get yourself out for the morning sunrise and make sure to add the clock in your shot. The clock tower was built in 2010 as part of a Worth Avenue restoration project and has now become a symbol of Palm Beach and is recognized around the world.
Go for a Walk Along the Beach
While you are here it might be a good time to take a walk on the beach. Palm Beach has some beautiful beaches worth a visit. Soak up some vitamin sea at Municipal Beach, which is located just past the iconic clock tower. The town does a great job of keeping the beaches clean.
Coffee at The Pink Paradise Cafe in The Colony Hotel
The Colony is a charming boutique hotel and is pretty famous around these parts. Even though we were not staying the night in Palm Beach, we wanted to check out the Colony Hotel for ourselves. The Pink Paradise Cafe is located inside the hotel, so grabbing a cup of coffee would give us an excuse to walk through and take a look.
We found a table and sat down to enjoy our brews. Looking around, we dreamed of what it what be like to spend a week exploring Palm Beach and were envious of the folks around us that were. In addition to coffee, the cafe has soups, salads, and sandwiches.
The hotel lobby is decorated in pinks and greens and screams Palm Beach. For all you Instagrammers, this is your mecca.
The Colony Hotel 155 Hammon Avenue, Palm Beach
The Flagler Museum
Historical landmarks are scattered across Palm Beach, but the most noteworthy is the Henry Flagler residence, now the Flagler Museum. This grand estate is called “Whitehall”. The building, a gift to Flagler’s third wife, Mary Lily Kenan Flagler, served as the couple’s winter retreat from 1902 until Henry Flagler’s death in 1913. The New York Herald called the home “more wonderful than any palace in Europe, and more magnificent than any other private dwelling in the world. Here, Flagler entertained the greatest industrialists and thinkers of the Gilded Age, setting the stage to make Palm Beach the destination of world leaders and celebrities for decades to come.
The Flagler Museum 1 Whitehall Way, Palm Beach
Rent a Bike and Ride The Lake Trail
Another great option especially if the weather is nice is to rent a bicycle and ride the Lake Trail. The paved trail takes you along the waters of Lake Worth Lagoon on the island’s western side. Bike or walk along walls draped with bougainvillea and ivy. It is easily one of the most scenic paths in Florida.
This five-mile trail takes you past many historical sites like Sea Gull Cottage which is the oldest house in Palm Beach, and other points of interest like this giant Kapok Tree. It is a transplant from the Amazon rainforests, brought here as an experimental crop tree in Palm Beach’s earliest days.
If you need to rent a bike:
The Palm Beach Bicycle Trail Shop – 50 Cocoanut Row STE 117, Palm Beach in The Royal Poinciana Plaza
The Society of the Four Arts
The Society of the Four Arts is where you will find a lineup of cultural programming, art exhibitions, notable speakers, concerts, films, and educational programs. This is home to beautiful gardens including the Philip Hulitar Sculpture Garden & the Four Arts Botanical Gardens. The Four Arts is one of Palm Beach’s oldest and most respected cultural destinations.
The Society of the Four Arts: 100 Four Arts Plaza, Palm Beach
Lunch at Green’s Pharmacy
Grab a table or pull up a stool at this Palm Beach Diner. Green’s Pharmacy and Luncheonette has been serving customers since 1938. President John F. Kennedy reportedly ate breakfast here when in town at the 82-seat eatery, and not much has changed from those days. Grab the luncheonette favorite of a hamburger & french fries and wash it down with a cherry coke from the tiled bar.
Green’s Pharmacy of Palm Beach 151 North County Road, Palm Beach
Take a Stroll on Worth Avenue
On Worth Avenue, they say “If you have to ask the price, you can’t afford it”. Worth Avenue is a luxury shopping paradise. It’s the “Rodeo Drive” of Florida.
The great thing about this street is that you don’t have to buy anything to enjoy it. Make sure to explore the hidden alcoves for restaurants and boutiques. They are truly magical and the beautiful courtyards make you feel like you are visiting another country. I think they are the prettiest parts of Worth Avenue.
We enjoyed walking around the beautiful bougainvillea-filled streets and peering into store windows. Many of the shops had to buzz you in if you wanted to do some serious shopping. Expect to find stores such as Chanel, Tiffany’s, Gucci, and Lily Pulitzer’s flagship store.
It’s fun to pretend, isn’t it? And who knows, if I win the lottery this week, I can always come back and buy Brenda anything her heart desires.
Go Thrifting at the Church Mouse
Since I could not afford anything on Worth Avenue, we took our chances on finding that special Palm Beach Souvenir at The Church Mouse. The Bethesda-by-the-Sea Thrift Store is a step up in the world of thrift shopping. It’s always worth a stop to sift through the racks of designer clothes and their selection of antiques and collectibles. The prices I find, are still quite high compared to most thrift shops but hey, you are in Palm Beach, Florida and you are sifting through quality, gently used items.
All sales benefit the Church of Bethesda-by-the-Sea.
The Church Mouse 74 South County Road, Palm Beach
Bethesda-by-the-Sea Church.
Bethesda-by-the-Sea is an Episcopal Church by the Lake Worth Lagoon in Palm Beach. It is part of the Episcopal Diocese of Southeast Florida and the oldest existing congregation in Palm Beach. The church building is an example of Gothic Revival style and surrounds a courtyard.
The inside of the church is beautiful and reminds me of churches in much larger cities. Be respectful if you walk into the Church. There may be folks praying. A Koi Pond is tucked away in a back garden. This oasis provides a sense of calm and serenity.
Bethesda by the Sea 141 South County Road, Palm Beach
Cocktails at HMF in The Breakers Resort
If you can afford to stay here, by all means, go for it. For folks like me though, you have to find a way to see this beautiful resort without breaking the bank. Here’s an idea. Enjoy an upscale cocktail at HMF in the lavish, airy dining room & lounge at the Breakers Hotel. HMF stands for Henry Morrison Flagler. HMF is one of Palm Beach’s hottest gathering places. When you enter the Breakers, just follow the sound of stimulating conversation and clinking glasses.
Just walking around the property made me feel special. I loved seeing all the decorations and the stained glass windows. It was almost as if I didn’t leave the Flagler Mansion. In fact, Henry Flagler opened this hotel to accommodate travelers on his Florida East Coast Railway.
Nothing was spared when designing the luxurious interior of this hotel. The architecture is magnificent and beautiful.
Dinner at Buccan
We were not able to secure dinner reservations at Buccan on this visit. But in conversations, the restaurant came up many times as a great place to eat in Palm Beach. Its inventive American food features a collection of small plates and bites that are meant to be shared with your party. Be sure to make a reservation, this restaurant books up quickly.
Buccan 350 S. County Rd., Palm Beach, FL
Renato’s
Another solid choice for dinner just off Worth Avenue in the Via Mizner alcove is Renato’s. This upscale restaurant serves the best Italian favorites. If the weather is nice, you can dine al fresco in their elegant courtyard. The surrounding architecture will make you feel as if you are dining in Italy.
Renato’s 87 Via Mizner, Palm Beach
This is a lot to do in one picture-perfect Chamber of Commerce day in Palm Beach, Florida. I have the luxury of living close, so I definitely made a couple of trips. Realistically, if it’s too much to do in one day, book a room and make it a weekend. Just bring your bankroll.
By the way, if anyone has any lucky lottery numbers, include them in your comments. I am going to need a winning ticket before I visit again.
