Palm Beach and West Palm Beach have long been winter retreats for snowbirds, and with nonstop flights under three hours from Reagan National Airport, it’s understandable why. In West Palm Beach, the Washington Nationals train at an intimate stadium. From February 24 through March 24, you can watch the Nats prepare for the upcoming regular season without the usual crowds at Navy Yard.
Add stellar dining, top-notch museums, and a luxurious, quirky hotel to the mix and you have the perfect recipe for a quick winter getaway.
Where to Stay
The Colony
The Colony has been an iconic pink fixture in Palm Beach since 1947. In its early days, it played host to a who’s who of guests, from Frank Sinatra to Sophia Loren to John Lennon. A 2022 top-to-bottom renovation breathed some new life into the hotel, which continues to be a landmark in town, for its over-the-top, pastel-hued décor, coral pink facade, and for its eclectic mix of guests — everyone from bachelorette trips to golden-aged couples to celebrities. The Colony today is a hotel as much for sleeping as it is for dining. Swifty’s, its restaurant, serves classic American food under an outdoor canopy of greenery and twinkling lights. The Colony’s pink cruiser bikes, Volvo XC90 Inscription, and its Land Rover beach buggy will get you where you need to be in Palm Beach. But you might just choose to stay put and settle into the sand on of hotel’s pink (of course) beach chairs. Rooms start from $799 per night
Where to Eat
Renato’s
For over three decades Renato’s has been a favorite of Palm Beach locals and regulars. During the pandemic, the restaurant’s popularity reached new highs thanks to its open-air patio and the newly swelled year-round population in town. Today, the classic Italian restaurant continues to draw in crowds with its top-notch food and old-world elegance complete with candlelight and white tablecloths. Located down one of Palm Beach’s small side streets off central Worth Avenue, Renato’s is a testament to Palm Beach’s enduring commitment to fine dining and hospitality.
Harry’s Bar & Restaurant
Just across the Royal Park Bridge, in West Palm Beach, you’ll find Harry’s. Quiet luxury at its very core, Harry’s has a decidedly old-world feel, so you would be forgiven for not believing it’s actually new to the scene. While Harry’s has been a Wall Street institution for over 50 years, it opened in Florida in 2023. Now one of the most notable restaurants to open its doors in West Palm’s buzzy downtown area, The Square,” Harry’s serves the best martinis in town. Sit inside at the wrap-around bar, or outside on the heater-filled patio. The menu stays true to the restaurant’s Manhattan roots: beef Wellington, wedge salads, and no shortage of steaks.
Green’s Pharmacy Luncheonette
A must-visit one-stop shop in Palm Beach since the 1930s, Green’s Pharmacy Luncheonette seems frozen in time, and is one the only spots entirely free of fuss and fancy. Green’s is a classic multi-purpose shop and diner where you can pick up medicine, buy a souvenir T-shirt, or sit down for a milk shake or burger. Come more than once and everyone’s bound to know your name.
What to Do
Watch the Nats Tune Up for the Season
Spring training is in full swing at Cacti Park of the Palm Beaches. The Nationals share the stadium that has a capacity of 7,700 with the Houston Astros. The stadium gives you the chance to see the players in a smaller setting and even get an autograph or two. Check the schedule to plan your trip to the park. Tickets start at just $20.
Explore the Island by Bike
Island Living Tours, a tour agency run by a longtime resident of Palm Beach, leads biking, walking, and driving tours that brim with fascinating and sometimes shocking history, architectural knowledge, and local lore. Take advantage of The Colony’s complementary bike rentals and tour on two wheels. Bike tours run about 90 minutes and are 6 miles long. Learn about the famous Breakers Hotel, Worth Avenue’s hidden corners, and see notable examples of Palm Beach’s 20th century Mediterranean Revival architecture, as well as sweeping views of the ocean.
Wander Up and Down Worth Avenue
Strolling along Worth Avenue is an obligatory must-do for any visit to Palm Beach. The avenue is Florida’s answer to New York’s Madison Avenue and Los Angeles’ Rodeo Drive and joins both as one of the most upmarket shopping districts in the country. Yes, Worth Avenue has the usual luxury suspects like Chanel and Gucci, but you’ll also find some true Palm Beach brands like Lilly Pulitzer (whose resort wear is the veritable uniform in town) and Aerin, whose founder is a local fixture. Independent boutiques like Il Papiro, a fine Italian marbleized paper and stationary store, and Mary Mahoney, a purveyor of upmarket home décor and accessories, are worth a visit. After window shopping, take some time out for a coffee at Via Roma Café, located down one of the hidden “vias” off the avenue.
Tour the Museums
The Norton Museum of Art in West Palm Beach packs a lot into its floors. The museum’s striking collection includes oil paintings by American artists, 700 pieces of Chinese art, and modern photography. The museum also has pieces by Peter Paul Rubens, Jackson Pollock, Constantin Brancusi, and Georgia O’Keefe. Running through March 10, the museum has a photography exhibit from the collection of philanthropist Judy Glickman Lauder. At the Historical Society of Palm Beach County in West Palm Beach, there’s an exhibition about the history of resort wear fashion that runs through May. At the Henry Morrison Flagler Museum, once the private estate of Henry Flagler, a Standard Oil founder and key developer of Palm Beach, is a must-visit. Preserved as if the Flaglers just stepped out to go to the beach, the opulent museum brings to life a bygone, short-lived era that will feel familiar to fans of HBO’s The Gilded Age.
Feature image by Captain Kimo
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