When Floridians need a beach vacation they often head straight to Palm Beach County.
Also called the Gold Coast, this county in south Florida is known for its beautiful beaches and great wealth, but for smart travelers, it can be bargain hunter’s paradise, particularly in the off-season.
Kathy Baruffi reports on her findings.
Palm Beach County’s infrastructure for fun is firmly set up with lots of live music venues, quality restaurants, museums and outdoor activities. Both Delray Beach and Boca Raton are both good bases from where travelers can venture out on day trips and experiences.
Delray Beach is an old-fashioned, low-rise beach town, with a particularly nice beach, reminiscent of the way Florida used to be. It’s a funky town that caters to fun-loving crowds. Case in point, the retro Crane’s BeachHouse Hotel & Tiki Bar now has a Barbie Suite as a tie-in to a local exhibit, “BARBIE’s Back and She’s 50.”
Due to popular demand, the Barbie Dream Suite at Cranes, propped with a pink lava lamp, vintage swimsuits and furry pink accessories, may extend beyond the show. Crane’s is offering a 25 percent discount off standard rates through the end of October 2009. www.cranesbeachhouse.com
The Barbie exhibit is housed in the Cornell Museum of Art & American Culture, a former abandoned school-turned-turned cultural center, and features nearly 1,000 Barbie dolls on display (along with Ken dolls, cars and clothes). The exhibit runs through October 25 at Old School Square in downtown Delray Beach. “Give Peace A Chance,” a photo exhibit of John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s Bed-In for Peace runs from October 5-11, 2009, showcasing photos from the archives of the late Gerry Deiter, who covered the event on assignment for Life magazine. www.oldschool.org
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A secret garden where you can swim in ponds with the fish is just one of the surprises at Sundy House, a boutique hotel listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Stay in rooms painted in beach towel bright colors or splurge on the romantic honeymoon cottage. Seasonal specials include a stay-two-nights-and-get-the-third-night-free offer. www.sundyhouse.com
Even luxury, oceanfront hotels are offering can’t-be-beat deals. The Boca Raton Resort & Spa has a number of options, including the Summer Escape rate from $99 per night, through September 31, 2009. This centrally located property features nearby jet-ski rentals, more than a dozen restaurants, and swimming pools by the ocean. www.bocaresort.com
The Ritz-Carlton Palm Beach, with its $30 million Eau Spa, has rooms starting at $269 per night. The Resort Reconnect package is valid through December 15, 2009, and includes breakfast for two at Temple Orange, inside or on the terrace facing the ocean, and a $50 resort credit per night to spend at the hotel shops, restaurants, spa or other venues. At night, connect with other guests around a fire pit on the terrace and toast your good fortune. Programs are available for young children and teens. www.ritzcarlton.com
Another grand dame hotel, The Breakers in Palm Beach, has rooms from $225 a night, plus freebies, in its Spendless Summer package running through September 30,2009.The free amenities, which including unlimited golf (cart not included) and tennis, vary according to day of the week. www.thebreakers.com
The Breakers in Palm Beach is also featured in Kids Clubs and Activities: Top Tips and Summer Travel Deals.
In celebration of Palm Beach’s 100th anniversary, dozens of hotels are offering guests who stay as few as two nights the opportunity to add an additional night for $19.09 www.palmbeachfl.com
The more you save on lodging, the more you can enjoy exploring Palm Beach County. Take a narrated cruise along the Intracoastal Waterway with Delray Yacht Cruises and get the gossip on who lives in the mansions along the way. The captain provides entertaining stories as well as the history of the area. www.delraybeachcruises.com
Or, get a relaxing workout and paddle a kayak through the mangrove trails of Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, a coastal and marine reserve in Boca Raton. www.gumbolimbo.org
Palm Beach County may be the wealthiest county in the state, but the name “Gold Coast” is a reference to something else. Spanish Galleons sank off the coast and the name comes from the silver and gold coins that still wash ashore on occasion. Smart shoppers can find treasures of their own in the dozens of thrift and consignment shops which the rich and famous locals keep well supplied with clothing, furniture and bric-a-brac.
Don’t miss many more recommendations in our Ask the Locals Travel Guide: Palm Beach, Florida.
On the cultural front, there are several museums to explore. The Boca Raton Museum of Art, known for its photography collection, also has a great African mask display in the permanent collection. The Magical World of M.C. Escher, a special exhibit of the popular artist’s visual puzzles and other artwork, will be on view through January 20, 2010. www.bocamuseum.org
The Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens in Delray Beach is another local gem. Stroll through the 16 acres of Japanese gardens then visit the museum. The collection is as delicious as the food served in the Asian café overlooking the lake. www.morikami.org
A Saturday morning bike ride with Island Living Tours in Palm Beach provides a different perspective to see the sights. The narrated bike tour highlighting history, architecture and local lore is another bargain at $10 for an hour and half, six-mile ride. The tour starts in front of the Palm Beach Bicycle Trail shop where you can rent bikes or bring your own. www.islandlivingpb.com
Take a cue from the Floridians and enjoy the bargains as well as the beaches of Palm Beach County. It’s as easy as putting yourself in the Sunshine State and then picking your pleasure … and the rest will follow.
By Kathy Baruffi for PeterGreenberg.com. Kathy is a regular contributor to USA Today’s travel section, and has written for The New York Times, New York Daily News and Elle Décor.
- Ask the Locals Travel Guide: Palm Beach, Florida
- Off the Brochure Travel Guide: Miami, Florida
- Off the Brochure Travel Guide: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
