The 16-mile long barrier island that is Palm Beach has welcomed a select number of residents (and seasonal visitors) for over a century. From Titanic survivor Madeleine Astor to President-Elect Trump, this enclave of just over 10,000 residents has also seen music legends like Rod Stewart and the late and great Michael Jackson call it home.
 

With its tropical climate, the winter months are the time to visit Palm Beach, with the days dry and sunny – and once oil tycoon Henry Flagler started entertaining his guests there in the early 1900s, the resort and its winter “season” was born and has remained a draw ever since.
 

 

Palm Beach is filled with the obvious signs of wealth and luxury, and on a very grand scale. Beaux Art mansions that date to the gilded age dot the landscape, along with the world-class shopping of the iconic Worth Avenue, and some excellent dining. One of these palatial buildings, The Breakers, was Flagler’s most opulent hotel, situated on the waterfront, right by the “breakers” where the ocean’s waves crashed against the shore.
 
The Breakers Hotel - Image courtesy of thebreakers.com
 

The hotel remains the favoured destination for many winter sun seekers, and who can blame them? After fires in 1903 and 1925, the hotel was rebuilt each time in an even more lavish way. Reopening after reconstruction by the designers Schultze and Weaver – who designed The Pierre and the Waldorf Astoria in New York – The Breakers’ third rebirth displayed a distinct European feel, mirroring one of the grandest residences in the world, the Villa Medici in Rome.
 
Villa Medici, the inspiration for the Breakers - Image courtesy of Wanted in Rome
 

Today, the work of the Italian artisans who completed various art works and the ceiling of the 200-foot main lobby and public space on the first floor can still be seen, and in the intervening 90 years more has been added to make this destination much more than just an old world beauty from another time. $30 million of annual investment maintains the sprawling property, with four pools, nine restaurants, indoor and outdoor fitness facilities and a newly unveiled spa – not to mention two 18-hole golf courses, The Ocean Course (Florida’s oldest) and The Breakers Rees Jones Course.
 
The Breakers Rees Jones Golf Course - Image courtesy of Rees Jones Inc
 
Away from the acres of indulgence, golf action and pampering, neighbouring West Palm Beach sees arts and cultural events to suit all – from live music and theatre at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts to wonderful sculptures at Habatat Galleries and the Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens.
 

This season will see a President-elect visit (Trump owns the sprawling private resort Mar-a-Lago), and indeed Presidents have come before him – with John F Kennedy, and his father Joseph before him, setting up home on N. Ocean Boulevard in a house that eventually become known as “The Winter White House” to many.
 
Mar-a-Lago - Image courtesy of Fortune
 
Away from Presidents, past and future, and the world’s most famous celebrities, there are numerous places in Palm Beach to enjoy some very fine food in, and perfect spots for a cocktail. For a fun afternoon head to Tiki ’Ono at Benny’s on the Beach at Lake Worth Pier to let your hair down when you want to embrace the holiday spirit in the afternoon, and later try Buccan, for Clay Conley’s inventive American cuisine and his signature small plates that pack a punch.
 
Buccan - Image courtesy of PR Web
 
Whether it’s holiday fun by the sea that you crave, or the chance to experience one of America’s most luxurious settings, Palm Beach certainly has it all to set aside any winter blues. And let’s not forget what brought those crowds to the island in the first place over a century ago – mile after mile of dramatic and inspiring waterfront. Book your flights now to Palm Beach International Airport or to Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport and enjoy luxurious Palm Beach.