How to Enjoy Palm Beach

Palm Beach is primarily a winter travel destination, with a population that swells with visitors between October and April. If you hate camping but love cultural arts, upscale shopping and resorts that pamper, Palm Beach is bound to be your perfect vacation destination.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Athletic Shoes
• Bathing Suits
• Sunglasses
• Swimming Trunks
• Swimsuits
• Maps
• Travel Guides
• Weather Radios
• Sunscreen
• Airline Tickets
• Travel Services
• Golf Clubs
• Tennis Racquets
• Maps
• Swimsuits

1. Decide when to go. October through April is considered peak season in Palm Beach, which means this is when prices are highest. Temperatures are warmer and humidity higher in summer, but you'll have better luck getting lower prices.

2. Choose your transportation options. You can fly directly into Palm Beach International Airport or go through Ft. Lauderdale, which is about 40 minutes south of Palm Beach.

3. Decide where to stay. Palm Beach features a vast array of luxurious and all-inclusive oceanfront resorts, but you may be able to save money if you choose lodging in nearby communities. Condos, apartments and extended-stay facilities are also available.

4. Play golf or tennis. There are more than 150 golf courses and 1,000 tennis courts in Palm Beach County, some of them affiliated with tony resorts and others open to the public. Ask your travel agent about golf or tennis packages.

5. Visit museums. Standouts include the Henry Morrison Flagler Museum, the Hibel Museum of Art, the renowned Norton Museum of Art, the South Florida Science Museum, the Society of the Four Arts and the excellent Irving Galleries.

6. Go shopping. If names such as Salvatore Ferragamo, Valentino, Cartier, Giorgio, Gucci, Chanel and Ralph Lauren cause you to smile and reach for your credit card, you'll find everything you could want in Palm Beach, where the shopping is fabulous.

7. See the performing arts. Ballet Florida, the Florida Philharmonic, the Palm Beach Opera and the Greater Palm Beach Symphony all perform in Palm Beach. Check a current schedule of events for other programs and performances.

8. Take advantage of the area's festivals. The Palm Beach International Film Festival, held in February, and SunFest, held in May, are two examples of the excellent cultural festivals that draw thousands of visitors each year.

9. Don't forget to go to the beach. After all, it's the pristine shoreline that made Palm Beach famous in the first place, so take in the sea and sand, and stop and watch the sunset at least once.

Tips & Warnings

• Palm Beach County hosts a number of professional men's and women's golf tournaments and professional tennis tournaments, including the Virginia Slims Tennis Legends Tour, each year. In addition, championship polo and the Croquet National Championship invite spectators.
• Late summer and fall mark the beginning of hurricane season in the southeast, so keep your eye on the local weather report.