Palm Beach

A playground of the wealthy in southeast Florida, with the mansions, Worth Avenue, and Flagler Museum of Palm Beach island, paired with West Palm Beach's art museums, snorkeling at Peanut Island, and natural attractions along the north and south coasts.

Palm Beach is a seaside resort area in Palm Beach County in southeast Florida, generally referring to the long, narrow island of Palm Beach east of the Lake Worth Lagoon and the city of West Palm Beach to the west. In the late 19th century, railroad tycoon Henry Flagler extended his railway here and built luxury hotels and private homes, turning Palm Beach into a winter retreat for America's wealthy; it remains famous for its mansions, private clubs, and upscale shopping. The area divides into four parts: first, Palm Beach island, where the Flagler Museum (Whitehall), The Breakers, Worth Avenue, the Society of the Four Arts, and the Lake Trail are all clustered in the middle of the island and easily linked by bike; second, downtown West Palm Beach, where Clematis Street and Rosemary Square are the hub of dining and nightlife, with the Norton Museum of Art, the Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens, and the zoo in the southern part of town; third, the north coast, with snorkeling at Peanut Island, Manatee Lagoon, Loggerhead Marinelife Center in Juno Beach, Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse, and Blowing Rocks Preserve; and fourth, Delray Beach and Boca Raton to the south, along with the Morikami Japanese Gardens and Wakodahatchee Wetlands, plus Lion Country Safari and the Loxahatchee wetlands in the western suburbs. The climate is tropical monsoon: November–April is dry and warm—the peak season, when hotel rates are highest; May–October is hot and humid with frequent afternoon thunderstorms, and June–November is hurricane season, so keep an eye on forecasts. Getting there: Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) is about 5 km from downtown; Brightline high-speed trains connect to Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and Orlando, and Tri-Rail commuter trains run south to Miami. Downtown has free shuttle buses, but attractions are spread out, so renting a car is recommended. Plan to stay 3–4 days: one day for the island's mansions and museums, one for downtown and Peanut Island, and 1–2 days for natural attractions along the north and south coasts. Note: parking on the island is scarce and meters are pricey; at the beach, come prepared for strong sun and thunderstorms.

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