A Century Spent Perfecting the VISITORS Experience Earns The Palm Beaches A Prominent Place on World's Map of MOST COVETED TRAVEL Destinations

Culinary Travelers will devour each dish in… The Palm Beaches' Unique and Thriving Culinary Landscape

The vast array of independent, provincial restaurants, five-star resort dining and eclectic, avant-garde eateries come together to give The Palm Beaches its global reputation as a true melting pot for culinary exploration.   Cuisine from every corner of the world in every imaginable gastronomical style can be found throughout the 15 dining and entertainment districts within The Palm Beaches.  World-renowned chefs including Michelle Bernstein, Masaharu Morimoto and Daniel Boulud have added The Palm Beaches to the list of select destinations to carry one of their signature restaurants.  In addition, numerous chefs have earned prestigious accolades, including the James Beard Foundation's “Best Chefs of the South” list.

Eco-Travelers will be surprised to find… The Unexpected Wild Side of Palm Beaches

As the gateway to The Florida Everglades, The Palm Beaches offer a number of opportunities to explore this natural treasure.  The Arthur R. Marshall Loxhatchee National Wildlife Refuge comprises more than 221 square miles of theEverglades, and is surrounded by a 57-mile canal and levee system.  Area visitors can enjoy the unique experience of an airboat tour along what are often regarded asFlorida's most serene and scenic waterways in destination's western region. Kayaking and canoeing are also popular ways to explore the awe-inspiring surroundings and spot the captivating wildlife. 

Hot-spot seekers shall seek no more when they discover….The Downtown Districts of The Palm Beaches

With its gorgeous setting and unobstructed view of the Intracoastal, the newly completed, award-winning $30 million Waterfront Park at the end of Clematis Street in Downtown West Palm Beach is always alive with people enjoying the decorative fountain, dozens of al fresco dining options, and the fresh open air. From the waterfront to the west side, Clematis Street is also home to a year-round calendar of entertaining events, including the seasonal Saturday Greenmarket, Thursday's lively musical block party, "Clematis By Night", the Palm Beach International Boat Show, and SunFest, Florida's largest music, arts and waterfront festival.

Located just along the Atlantic Ocean, Delray Beach is one of the newest and most thriving downtowns in all of The Palm Beaches.   With 100+ places to dine and drink and its own distinct arts districts all leading out to a sprawling white-sand beach, Delray Beach is where New York Times recently pointed out, “an influx of design-conscious establishments along East Atlantic Avenue has brought in a new energy: creative, stylish and yet attitude-free.”

Just north of Delray Beach sits the artsy enclave of Lake Worth, which has become a true haven for independent artists and the free spirited individual. Lake Worth's downtown is a colorful and eclectic collection of boutiques, galleries, and restaurants, which hosts that area's most culturally expressive events each year, including the world-famous Street Painting Festival, Pridefest, Oktoberfest, Reggae Fest, and even Finlandia Week.

Heading south to Downtown Boca Raton, Mizner Park and its neighboring mixed-use marketplace, Royal Palm Place bring together shops with trusted and high-end brands, al-fresco cafes of international cuisine, cultural centers,  cinemas and the distinguished Boca Raton Museum of Art.  All are situated around a beautifully landscaped central lawn with decorative walkways, fountains and an amphitheater featuring year-round live performances.

App Addicts will be hooked on…Palm Beach, Florida Travel Companion iPhone Application

In Jan. 2011, the Palm Beach County Convention and Visitor's Bureau announced the official iPhone application for visitors, which is available in iTunes. This free application is found in the Travel category of the iTunes store.  Once downloaded on the iPhone, the name comes up as Palm Beach, and features hotels, restaurants, and events (all are searchable), photos, videos, and special offers.  Utilizing Google Maps technology, the application determines the user's current location and helps them navigate their way to area events, restaurants, and hotels. Special offers for accommodations and other hotel promotions allow users to link out directly to Palm Beach area hotels.

Shopaholics will get their Fix with…More than 15 Distinct Shopping and Entertainment Districts

Most notoriously sharing the marquee with some of the world's great shopping avenues – New York's Fifth Avenue, Chicago's Miracle Mile and LA's Rodeo Drive – Worth Avenue is the preeminent designer shopping destination in Florida.  The palm tree-lined avenue received more than $15 million in renovations to its streetscapes in winter 2010, creating the most picturesque, pristine path along which visitors stroll among the world's leading international fashion brands like Gucci, Hermes, Ferragamo and Valentino. Mixed in are also one-of-a-kind boutiques and al fresco cafes tidily tucked away in its many charming European-style vias. 

Just across the bridge in downtown West Palm Beach, visitors will discover CityPlace, a beautiful outdoor mall inspired by the pedestrian-friendly piazzas of Italy. Here you can dine al fresco at one of more than 22 great restaurants or catch a movie or live outdoor performance as you stroll from shop to shop within this two-story open-air shopping destination. Just a few miles north in Palm Beach Gardens is The Gardens Mall, which brings together the region's largest collection of global fashion retailers, including Saks, Nordstrom, H&M, Zara, Chanel, Ralph Lauren, and Tiffany & Co. This, in combination with the upscale shops, fashion-forward boutiques, and art galleries of the mall's neighboring open-air shopping and entertainment centers- Legacy Place, PGA Commons and Downtown at the Gardens- makes Palm Beach Gardens the ultimate destination for retail therapy. 

Even if you're not a collector or interior designer, you'll love Antique Row, one of West Palm Beach's most charming districts. There is no better way to spend a leisurely afternoon than exploring the Row's 45 shops and discovering 17th- to 20th -century treasures, art nouveau, art deco, moderne and more. The shops of Antique Row are complemented by numerous award-winning restaurants. Architectural Digest, the New York Times and House Beautiful have called Antique Row "one of the east coast's premier antique districts”.

Sports-Enthusiasts won't know what to start swinging with… World-class Golf, Polo, Tennis, Baseball and more

As Florida's Golf Capital®, The Palm Beaches boast more than 160 public and private golf courses— from executive to championship level— throughout its expansive, nearly 2,000 square miles of picturesque territory.    Among the destination's numerous luxury resorts, three distinguished properties feature their own pristine courses.  The Breakers, The Boca Raton Resort & Club, and the PGA National Resort & Spa are among South Florida's top golf resorts.  The Palm Beaches are also home to two of the PGA Tours most highly-anticipated annual tournaments, The Allianz Championship and Honda Classic, held in February and March, respectively.

As one of the top three places for polo and equestrian activity in the world, The Palm Beaches' west-central community of Wellington brings together two signature seasonal events that take place every weekend from January through April.  The Winter Equestrian Festival and the International Polo Club Palm Beach feature Olympic equestrian athletes and the world's top Polo players, respectively, and attract approximately 10,000 spectators a week during its nine-week run as the epicenter of social activity among Palm Beaches' elite.

In the northern region of The Palm Beaches, Jupiter's Roger Dean Stadium is the spring-training home of two World Series Championship baseball teams— the Florida Marlins and the St. Louis Cardinals. Area hotels and resorts enter the line-up with discounted rates and special packages for visiting fans who will head to Florida's only two-team training facility from March through April every year. 

The Kids will be sound asleep by 8 after exploring… More than 100 Family-Friendly Attractions

A family vacation to The Palm Beaches goes well beyond a visit to pristine beaches.  Families of all sizes and on any budget can enjoy a variety of active, educational and cultural experiences, including a climb up the historic Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse, a visit to the Loggerhead Marinelife Center's special sea turtle rehab facility, a giraffe-feeding at Lion Country Safari, a discovery in the South Florida Science Museum, or an afternoon canoeing the waterways or hiking footpaths through Florida's Natural Scenic Trail.

Convenient travel is always top-of-mind for families on the road, which is why The Palm Beaches is the perfect destination for any travelers looking for a hassle-free experience from landing to take-off.  Located in the heart of West Palm Beach, the Palm Beach International Airport is one of the most convenient international airports on the map, and is located only miles from the areas pristine beaches, downtown districts, and more than 50 area hotels.  Among some of the area's top resorts, traveling families will find some of the best, most active kids programs around, such as the Ritz Kids AquaNuts discovery program and “Coast” Lounge for teenagers at The Ritz-Carlton, Palm Beach.

Culture Vultures will find much to prey on in… Florida's Cultural Capital©

The Palm Beaches are home to more than 200 theatres, museums, art centers, indoor and outdoor performance stages, and other cultural venues, giving in the esteemed designation of Florida's Cultural Capital©. From the Boca Raton Museum of Art in downtown Boca Raton up to the Maltz Jupiter Theater at the destination's northern-most region, The Palm Beaches bring together a variety of thriving art districts and dozens of internationally-renowned annual event.  Some of the most notable art events include, the Palm Beach Jewelry, Art & Antique Show, ArtiGras Fine Arts Festival, Lake Worth Street Painting Festival, Palm Beach Fine Craft Show, and Art Palm Beach.

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Media Contacts:

Carli Smith, Palm Beach County CVB      csmith@palmbeachfl.com/ 561-233-3030