‘Life’s beach’ and Palm Beach County’s 47 mile stretch of breath-taking coastline means that everyday is a beach day in this elegant region of Florida. In fact this part of Florida’s east coast, from Jupiter Beach in the north to Boca Raton in the south is perhaps one of the most stunning ocean landscapes in Florida. Although location plays a huge part in our holiday decisions, many other factors influence our choice. In particularly ‘what do I do when I get there?’ Let me introduce you to a destination which ticks all the boxes. Fabulous location – yes. The finest hotels – yes. Elegant spas – yes. Upscale shopping – yes. Equestrian activities – yes. Championship golf – yes. Award-winning dining – yes. You don’t have to choose, Palm Beach County has it all!
Ahhh… the spa!
With a reputation for prestigious hotels battling for the right to boast the best spa in Palm Beach County, you can be assured of a spa experience second- to-none wherever you stay. Massages, body treatments, hair and nail salon services and full wellness regimes. Escape for just an hour or relinquish yourself to a full day of relaxation and rejuvenation, a visit to the spa slots into any schedule.Promising a magical spa experience with a variety of sensational beauty treatments and surprising touches throughout, create a personalized blend of aromatic herbs, oils and salts at the Scub & Polish Bar at Eau Spa located at The Ritz-Carlton. One of the top 25 spa’s in North America, The Spa at Breakers indulges you with stress relieving massages, body wraps, revitalizing scrubs and nourishing facials, boasting oceans of calming possibilities. Head to Si Spa at the Palm Beach Marriott Singer Island for treatments customized to your wellness needs, themed on the therapeutic qualities of seawater and the mesmerizing rhythm of waves breaking on the beach. Go on… spoil yourself.
It’s not a cure,
but its retail ‘therapy’!
Everything from haute couture designer brand clothing, shoes and jewellery to internationally acclaimed paintings and antiques, prestigious Worth Avenue is the Rodeo Drive of the east. Although legendary for its high-end merchandise and outdoor lifestyle setting, it’s only one of many choices competing to satisfy you shopping desires. In West Palm Beach you can browse Clematis Street or the incredible 72-acre CityPlace Mall. Open air to make the most of the Florida sunshine, its Italian-inspired architecture lends itself to the elegant retail options it offers. Visit The Gardens Mall in Palm Beach Gardens, or Town Centre Mall in Boca Raton – the various malls house no fewer than five Macy’s, plus Bloomingdales, Neiman Marcus, Nordstom, Saks Fifth Avenue and a whole host of speciality stores. Make sure you pack lightly, so you’ve room to bring your many purchases home.
If the professionals live here, it must be good!
Palm Beach County is known as Florida’s golf capital and it more than lives up to its excellent reputation. Imagine the choice as you ponder which of the 160 meticulously manicured golf courses you’d like to play today, each designed around cascading waterfalls, calm lakes, rolling hills, palm trees and sub-tropical foliage.If you’re looking to combine your golf passion with a little relaxation, this destination would be a perfect choice as some of the best and most fabled courses can be found at Palm Beach County’s top hotel resorts. Take the Ocean Course at The Breakers for example. Florida’s oldest 18-hole course, it has been testing golfer’s skills since 1896. There are also four championship courses at Boca Raton Resort & Club, ranked by Golf Magazine as one of America’s top golf resorts. Add to these the five spectacular tournament courses at the PGA National Resort and already the choice is somewhat difficult.
Whether you’re looking for a demanding course, something less of a challenge, onsite pros to assist with your game or instructional academies, Palm Beach County has what you’re looking for. What’s more, some of the most famous and influential pro golfers, including Jack Nicklaus, Greg Norman and Tom Fazio call this idyllic place home, and how can they be wrong?
Not just horsing around!
Palm Beach County is all about lifestyle, so it’s no surprise that the equestrian world is drawn from far and wide to pair its love for Polo, Steeplechase and Dressage with warm sunny weather, a leisurely champagne tipple and lots of fun.This is home to the International Polo Club Palm Beach, which was designed to showcase the incredible skill of the ponies and players. Many exciting tournaments are played here, mainly between the months of January and April, culminating in the prestigious US Polo Championship.
Head to Wellington and the western communities where flying over stiles and fences in steeplechase is not only an exciting pursuit to take part in, but just as entertaining to watch. If you’re looking for a less vigorous equestrian sport, you can’t help but admire the precision and dedication it takes for dressage. When you’ve finished watching everyone else take to the saddle, why not do so yourself? No matter what your riding level, there are lots of stables and miles upon miles of trails to explore in a variety of natural parks. So grab your hat and boots, saddle up your horse and as they say in the movies ‘ride the range’.
