By Renée S. Gordon
‘Livin’ my life like it’s golden, golden”
–Jill Scott
The Southern Florida metro region is made up of three counties, Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach. Palm Beach County, Florida’s wealthiest, was created in 1909 and is comprised of 38 municipalities. Henry Flagler came to the area in 1893 and was so beguiled by its beauty that he decided this would make the perfect place to live the golden life and he set about developing the two cities of Palm Beach and West Palm Beach.
Flagler’s cities may have been the most flamboyant but the region has always been a place of great beauty and home to successive groups living their own form of the golden life. The Apalache Tribe, a Creek-speaking people, were there to meet the Spanish conquistadors. The better-known Seminole are documented as living in the region in the 1750s and many were ranchers and cattlemen. Perhaps the region was most golden for the Africans who escaped from the plantations of Alabama, the Carolinas and Georgia. Some of them formed their own settlements and others melded into existing Seminole tribes.
In July of 1821 Florida, after being purchased from Spain in 1819, became a territory of the US. Settlers entered the region immediately. After years of increasing hostility war broke out with the Seminoles and lasted for the next 14 years. At this point they were controlled but not conquered and they remain the only native tribe to have never signed a peace treaty. Today the Seminole Tribe is one of the most financially successful in the country.
The two thoroughfares, Interstate 95 and State Road A1A, are north/south routes that provide access to all the waterfront communities in the county. Though I-95 is much faster, every visitor must take the more leisurely A1A Scenic and Historic Coastal Highway, a designated National Scenic Highway. The ocean view estates are stunning and the sea vistas astonishing.
A Palm Beach County vacation provides an unparalleled opportunity to immerse yourself in the good life and the key component of your quest to “walk on the luxurious side” is your choice of accommodations. There are a plethora of opulent hotels, each unique in its own way, and your selection should be guided by your personal preferences.
Manalapan, named after a township in New Jersey, was incorporated 80 years ago. Situated south of Palm Beach it is home of the beachfront, AAA Five Diamond, Ritz Carlton, Palm Beach Resort. This is the perfect place to experience the Palm Beach lifestyle and then retreat for some sumptuous solace in a beachfront cabana or select one of the signature treatments in the Eau Spa by Cornelia. The 7-acre resort offers not only an exclusive beach but tropical gardens too. Many guestrooms overlook the Atlantic Ocean and all are designed with mahogany furnishings, private balconies, spa bath products and Egyptian cotton linens.
The Ritz Palm Beach has hosted many celebrities and dignitaries and has a Presidential Suite. In 2009 the resort underwent a $130-million transformation with special emphasis on the Presidential Suite. The most intriguing aspect of the suite is the shoe wall designed by Robert Tabor. Illuminated glass showcases feature a handcrafted collection of shoes that pay homage to US First Ladies and other historical figures. The Michelle Obama shoe was added to the collection on her 46th birthday.
The Ritz is a perfect resort. It’s great for the individual traveler, families, weddings and events. Booking information is available at www.ritzcarlton.com
Three hotels located in the heart of the city of West Palm Beach are especially unique. They are all within walking distance of trendy restaurants, exciting nightlife and legendary shopping but each also offers something distinctive that meets our gold standard.
A mere mention of The Chesterfield Hotel, Palm Beach conjures images of old money and new adventures.
This 42-room, 11-suite, European-style hotel offers world-class service and hospitality and daily traditional English tea. The ornate Leopard Room serves international cuisine and offers a changing menu of entertainment nightly. Churchill’s Cigar Room is also a singular way to end the day, with cognac and a hand rolled cigar.
Built in 1926 the structure is registered as an historic landmark. The Chesterfield also has the distinction of being a member of the Red Carnation Hotel Collection and Small Luxury Hotels of the World. “Exceptional Value Offers” can be found on the website. www.chesterfieldpb.com
The Colony Hotel is so storied that it is unbelievable and the list of rich and famous that have found it the ideal place to experience the golden life is mind-boggling. This British Colonial-style hotel was originally constructed in 1947 but has recently been refreshed for $12-million. The hotel’s 90 guestrooms, suites, penthouses and seven private villas have hosted major celebrities, international royalty, Presidents Bush and Clinton, and the Duke and Duchess of Windsor. Rooms are decorated to evoke a feeling of the British West Indies. Walls are muted yellow, window treatments have tropical designs and furnishings are mahogany.
My favorite “Colony” story refers to a visit by Judy Garland. While staying there she received word that she was invited to President Kennedy’s Inaugural Ball. As she sped to Washington she realized she’d left her blue sequin dress. The hotel staff was requested to take the dress to the West Palm Beach Airport where it was placed on a fighter jet sent there for the purpose of transporting the dress. Don’t you love the golden life!
The Royal Room Cabaret at the Colony is the best small cabaret room in the country and an absolute must experience. Major stars perform in this intimate setting and after the show both guests and performers retire to the adjacent nightclub and maintain the vibe far into the night. Reservations are necessary. Packages including a room and the show are available. www.thecolonypalmbeach.com
A stay at the Brazilian Court Hotel is a transcendent experience. The understated exterior gives no clue to all the wonderful things inside including the Frederic Fekkai Salon & Spa and Café Boulud made famous by the gourmet cuisine of Chef Daniel Boulud. The service is impeccable and every dish is outstanding. No two rooms are alike but all feature handcrafted furniture, Jacuzzis, spa amenities and designer linens.
There are two sections to the hotel, each elegant and each with its own courtyard. Every piece in the hotel has been hand selected from the pecky pine walls and imported limestone floor tiles to the artwork throughout the hotel. The Brazilian Court is the #1 setting for weddings in Palm Beach and wedding parties love to take photos by the courtyard fountain. While living the golden life you too can pose by the hotel’s iconic, cherub topped fountain. www.thebraziliancourt.com
Palm-lined Worth Avenue is arguably the most beautiful shopping street in the world. I know that with all the luxury your hotel has to offer it will be difficult to leave but shopping is a must and you can attain your golden groove in Armani, Cartier, Gucci, Saks, Tiffany and more than 100 additional ‘A” list shops and boutiques. Word has it that Neiman Marcus almost didn’t make the cut because some felt it was not quite upscale enough. “Historical Walking Tours of Wonderful Worth Avenue” is offered weekly. www.worth-avenue.com
The Flagler Museum, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is housed inside the 55-room, 60,000-sq. ft., Beaux-Arts mansion constructed in 1902 as a wedding gift for his bride. Whitehall was Flagler’s home until his death in 1913. After several owners the mansion became a museum in 1960.
Visitors need a minimum of two-hours to tour the mansion and see the permanent and traveling exhibits. A highlight of the tour is Henry Flagler’s private Railcar No. 91. www.flaglermuseum.us
Lion Country Safari is located a few miles west of the city of West Palm in Loxahatchee, Florida. The 300-acre adventure park, the first of its type, was established in 1967. The park is in two sections, a drive-through safari park and a walk-through amusement park.
A 5-mile paved road winds through the park amidst more than 1,000 animals. Guests are given an audio CD with full narration of the six geographic areas represented. A highlight of the safari is the chimpanzee islands exhibit. Chimps live on a series of islands and migrate to different islands as they would in the wild. The amusement park area has rides, experiential attractions and a restaurant. www.lioncountrysafari.com
Ponce de Leon landed in Florida in 1493. He was on a quest for both gold and the Fountain of Youth. He was unsuccessful but we don’t have to be, a spa treatment and sea and sand can work wonders and the gilded life awaits you at every turn in Palm Beach County. We all deserve to live our lives like they are golden, because they are. www.palmbeachfl.com
I wish you smooth and luxurious travels!
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