Somehow, amidst parenting and busy work schedules and all of life’s extracurriculars, Taylor and I were able to sneak away for a few days to sunny Palm Beach, FL. We’ve been all around south Florida, but never actually to Palm Beach. And let me tell you, we had the very best time! We loved exploring the historical landmarks, the luxurious hotels and restaurants, and of course soaking up the sunshine and that “Old Florida” atmosphere. Here’s what all we did, and some things we wished we had time for!

Where To Stay

This getaway was a high/low trip for us. We chose to save money in some areas, and splurge a little more in others. Our lodging this time was an area where we decided to save. We knew we would not spend much time at our hotel, and instead out and about exploring Palm Beach. If we were to bring our kids with us, and perhaps make it a week long vacation, then we would have splurged a little more on our lodging.

Anyways! We stayed at the Embassy Suites in West Palm Beach, which served it’s purpose just fine and had exactly everything we needed. I also must note – it’s in West Palm Beach Central, and not on Palm Beach Island where we spent most of our time. We did not really know the lay of the land going into the trip, and next time we go we will definitely choose to stay somewhere on the island (albeit, a little more splurgy). Also, our waitress at dinner one night told us the best time to travel to Palm Beach (for lower rates) is typically mid-July through September. Here is a list of some other great lodging options that we discovered on our own or that were recommended to us, all on the island!

• White Elephant Palm Beach
• Eau Resort and Spa
• The Colony Hotel (We did brunch here at Swify’s)
• Palm House
• The Brazilian Court
• The Breakers (We did lunch here at the Seafood Bar)

Where To Eat

The food scene here is everything you’d imagine it to be! Lots of great local restaurants with exquisite menus and seafood options. We had lunch at the Seafood Bar, which is The Breakers ocean-front restaurant. I got the greek salad with grilled shrimp and creamy feta dressing, and Taylor got the seafood club sandwich with truffle fries (he said this was his favorite meal of the trip).

Taylor surprised me with a dinner reservation at The Rooftop Restaurant at RH Palm Beach, which was cool to see the Old Florida flair amongst the well-known RH aesthetic. Our waitress told us that this Palm Beach RH was one of the first (I think third?) to open amongst 15-16 now open across the US. Dining al fresco while the sun was setting, great food, a good bottle of wine, with my favorite person was definitely the highlight of the trip. I highly recommend the grilled peppers and ciabatta appetizer, but you can’t go wrong with anything here.

After dinner we hoped back over to The Breakers for a night cap at HMF, which was boasting with socialites and everyone dressed to the nines. A fun way to end the night!

We did brunch poolside at Swifty’s which is in The Colony Hotel. A must do! Every single square inch of this hotel is impeccably designed, so tasteful, and an absolute dreamy way to start the day. I highly recommend booking a breakfast or brunch here to beat the heat and the crowds, plus the breakfast food was amazing – but I bet you’ll get that no matter what time of the day you go.

We ordered the fresh fruit plate with greek yogurt and honeycomb to split. I had the colony breakfast, and Taylor got the french toast.

During my island shopping escapade later that day, I swung by Drift for a quick bite. Little did I know that I was walking into the cutest little coastal cafe with all sorts of offerings for breakfast, lunch and everything in between. We’re talking smoothies, juices, pastries, coffee, fresh sandwiches, salads, and wraps. I wanted to try one of everything! I ended up ordering a pesto chicken wrap, a green juice, and their signature iced drift latte (which features their house-made coconut and caramel syrup). Add this place to your list, but be prepared to wait. It’s busy for a good reason!

Some other places that were on our list, but unfortunately didn’t have time (or reservations) for:

• Buccan
• Le Bilboquet
• Cucina
• La Goulue
• Lola41
• Sant Ambroeus
• Renato’s
• Hive Bakery and Cafe
• Henry’s
• Buccan Sandwich Shop

What To Do

Outside of shopping and eating, there is lots to do and explore. We started our weekend off by visiting Whitehall, which is Henry Flagler’s Mansion from the early 1900s that is now a beautiful museum. This would be a great rainy day activity, but I must say it was so lovely exploring the home and property in the sunshine. The Gilded Age estate is a national historic landmark and offers self-guided tours, exhibitions and special programs throughout the year. We also discovered that Henry Flagler developed a lot of the area (including The Breakers) and established that Palm Beach luxury identity.

We treated ourselves to a couples massage at Anushka Spa, drove around the island looking at all the beautiful homes, and took a stroll along the waterfront Lake Trail (I do recommend renting a bike for this).

On our last afternoon, I sent Taylor off to the golf course so I could shop! It just so happened to be on a Sunday, and unfortunately some of the shops were closed, so do plan accordingly. Here’s where I recommend:

• The Royal Ponciana Plaza – A beautiful outdoor shopping plaza with a variety of shops. I stopped by Hill House Home, La Coqueta, Love Shack Fancy, Jenni Kayne, Roller Rabbit, Stoney Clover, and La Vie Style House
• Worth Avenue – Lots and lots of high end shopping here. My favs were Aerin, Buru, TheRealReal.
• South County Road – Julia Amory, Well Made Home, Asha, PB Boys Club & PB Girls Club.
• S. Dixie Highway – Antique row!

I did have some ask if this would be a kid-friendly destination, and although it was very much a getaway for me and Taylor, I did see lots of kids and families! I would assume the resorts have great options for littles with pools and kids clubs. Then of course there are kid-friendly shops, restaurants and exploring all around around. I think you can make it what you want! I do want to bring the kids here one day!

You can shop my looks here. So thankful to you for reading!