This holiday hotspot – recently connected to Orlando by train – teems with history and art attractions, says Natalie Marsh
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1. Admire the Norton Museum of Art
Just south of downtown West Palm Beach, this gallery is home to 7,000 works of art. About 100,000 visitors step through its doors each year to discover everything from paintings by European artists to items from Chinese dynasties. The institution welcomed a $100 million renovation in 2019, including the creation of a sculpture garden. It’s a peaceful place to walk through, with subtropical foliage lining the paths.
norton.org
2. Explore the Flagler Museum
Businessman Henry Flagler helped pioneer tourism in Florida when he founded the Florida East Coast Railway, making the Sunshine State more accessible. Completed in 1912, it stretched from Jacksonville to Key West. Its development is well documented in the Flagler Museum, where visitors can step on board one of the original train carriages.
flaglermuseum.us
3. Take a stroll on Worth Avenue
The Palm Beaches is known for its shopping, and Worth Avenue is one of the best spots to find out what the scene is all about. Boutiques and big-name brands line the street, but when you need to put your feet up, head to The Colony hotel. As beautifully decorated inside as its pink-hued exterior suggests, a cocktail in its trendy bar makes a delightful end to an afternoon of retail therapy.
worth-avenue.com
4. Hang out in the Warehouse District
This is becoming a popular spot in West Palm Beach, with boutiques, a brewery and food hall calling these buzzy former warehouses home. Close by is West Palm Beach’s Brightline station – a train connecting Miami to other southern Florida towns. From this month, the line will be extended further to Orlando, making it easier for those visiting the parks to add on time in The Palm Beaches.
thedistrictwpb.com
5. Stay in The Breakers
This famous hotel certainly lives up to its reputation, with grand interior design, swanky restaurants and enviable facilities, set across 56 hectares in a stunning beachfront location. The brainchild of Henry Flagler, it was initially built as an overflow hotel for his Royal Poinciana Hotel before guests started to ask for a room by “the breakers” [waves] instead. Rates start at $890 in the autumn.
thebreakers.com
Book it… USAirtours offers seven nights’ room‑only in a King Room at the Canopy by Hilton West Palm Beach Downtown for £5,839, for two adults. The price includes BA flights from Heathrow on March 12, 2024.
usairtours.co.uk
PICTURES: Shutterstock/Carolyne Parent; The Breakers Palm Beach; Natalie Marsh
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