From palm trees to palm trees -- if that's the kind of cross-continental jaunt that suits you, then here's a welcome piece of news. Palm Beach, Florida (AKA the Tri-State's year-round socialite playground and polo player hangout), welcomes direct flights from LA to Palm Beach International on American Airlines as of November 21.
While the Palm Beach area is already perennially popular with affluent Northeasterners, moneyed retirees and Euro jetsetters, the new service should open it up to a wider niche of travelers who want some South Florida sunshine and East Coast glam, but don't want to deal with Miami madness or Ft. Lauderdale's slower pace.
If you're a California denizen wondering whether Palm Beach really lives up to the hype — and whether it can compete with the star-studded swirl that is Los Angeles, or the billionaire playground of Silicon Valley — here's something to know: among the most popular itineraries for visitors to Palm Beach is the "Celebrities Seen" tour. It’s just like LA's Star Maps, only without the Hollywood Boulevard hawkers. Also, one of the best times to visit Palm Beach is during December to April, a high season that draws every luminary from Oliver Stone to Hillary Clinton.
Ready to book your ticket yet? To illustrate and commemorate, here's a brief photo tour of Palm Beach's regional highlights — including art fairs, gorgeous resorts, riding stables the awesomely over-the-top Mizner Park.
Mizner Park is known for luxury shopping, Bentleys on display, and a high-energy after-dark singles scene.
Offshore adventures include boating, fishing, stand-up paddle boarding and SCUBA.
Every time of day has its particular beauty — dawn brings optimism and a fresh start, while dusk promises glamour and sultry adventures.
Beause of Addizon Mizner's influence and the high net worth of many area residents, Palm Beach is an artists' haven where it's easy to find million-dollar pieces in public spaces. Pictured here, an installation from critically acclaimed art fair Art Palm Beach.
Seen from an aerial view, the Waldorf-Astoria actually encompasses a huge chunk of prime real estate including Boca Raton Resort & Club, the Bungalows and Boca Beach Club.
Museum-quality sculptures are installed all over the grounds of Boca Raton Resort & Club. Some are fanciful, some are abstract, but all carry a heavy price tag. Guests can enjoy them for free by taking a self-guided Sculpture Tour with audio narration on demand.
A well known hangout of high-end equestrian types, Palm Beach County offers every sort of equestrian showcase, from polo to dressage to major shows like the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival.
