TRAVEL FROM CLT: Palm Beach – Charlotte Magazine

Soon, the twinkly lights will be packed away, the holiday bills will roll in, and it will (still) be frigid outside. If you prefer to skip out on the gloomiest month of the year, pack up your swimsuits, your Lilly Pulitzer dresses, and plenty of SPF and follow the sunshine to Palm Beach, Florida. The 18-mile-long barrier island is famous for its glitzy estates, upscale shopping, and golden sand beaches, but it’s also known to eliminate the seasonal blues. (It’s science.)

Palm Beach was a favorite vacation destination for the Rockefellers, Vanderbilts, and Astors during the Gilded Age and is home to some of the country’s most storied hotels. The Breakers and The Colony Hotel still attract celebrities and glittering charity balls during the winter season, and the luxury boutiques along Worth Avenue amass designer handbags, gowns, and bling. If you simply want to feel the sun on your face and learn how to stand-up paddleboard, there’s plenty of opportunity for that, too.

Palm Beach is a two-hour flight from Charlotte, and it’s a splendid spot to soak up some vitamin D when you can’t wait until spring. Here’s where to stay, eat, and play in this winter retreat.

STAY

Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa is a contemporary alternative to The Breakers PALM BEACH, with a balance of formal and fun. The Jonathan Adler-designed rooms have metallic and bamboo wallpaper, sputnik light fixtures, retro artwork, and balconies with hanging chairs. For families that need more space, the Ocean Front and Lanai Terrace Suites have separate bedrooms, living rooms with plush velvet pull-out couches, and two full bathrooms with glass showers—one of which has an oversized, stand-alone soaking tub. The resort also offers complimentary bikes, snorkel equipment, and access to beach chairs and umbrellas. Kids under 5 eat free, pets under 50 pounds are welcome, and you won’t pay any resort fees (!). 

Unwind at the Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa’s outdoor garden

EAT

The resort has eight on-site dining options that range from grab-and-go to white-tablecloth. Stop by Oceana for a coffee and pastry or book a table at Polpo Palm Beach for French toast, pancakes, and eggs Benedict. Dine alfresco at Breeze Ocean Kitchen for lunch, dinner, or Sunday brunch, which has a children’s menu and live music from 1 to 4 p.m. Guests who stay on the hotel’s fourth floor have access to the Club Lounge, where kids can grab breakfast, juice boxes, and snacks and adults can enjoy a glass of wine and pre-dinner appetizers. If you venture off-site, drive over to Worth Avenue, where you’ll find charming cafés tucked into gardenia-scented courtyards. Book a table at Pizza Al Fresco for wine and wood-fired pizzas on the patio, then stop by Piccolo Gelato for an after-dinner treat. If you explore neighboring West Palm Beach, check out Grandview Public Market, a funky food hall with vendor offerings that range from burgers to ramen.

The Kids & Teens Club has a Sketch Aquarium where kids can color their own electronic “sea creatures” and watch them come to life.

PLAY

Kick back at Eau Palm Beach’s adults-only poolside bar while the kiddos play in the newly renovated Kids & Teens Club. It’s got a 4-foot interactive wall with 1,300 colored peg lights; a Sketch Aquarium where kids can “feed” the fish or color their own sea creatures and watch them come to life; and a mini-theater where they can watch movies or play charades. Have some fun on the water with stand-up paddleboard, snorkel, or surf lessons; perfect your backhand on the tennis courts; or rent a beach cruiser to explore the waterfront. When you need some pampering, book a service at Eau Spa, which features an outdoor garden with hanging chairs over a reflection pool and separate male and female spaces with steam rooms, saunas, and hot plunges. For some retail therapy, stroll down Worth Avenue or head to West Palm Beach and peruse CityPlace, an open-air shopping district where you can often catch live music. 

West Palm Beach GreenMarket, Photo Courtesy, City of West Palm Beach

LIVING THE (GREEN) DREAM

This is so much more than a few folding tables with organic fruits and vegetables. USA Today has named The West Palm Beach GreenMarket the No. 1 farmers market in the country for three consecutive years—and it’s worth the hype. It’s held every October through April Saturday morning from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and this year marks its 30th season. Centennial Square brims with more than 130 vendors selling baked goods, smoothies, poke bowls, empanadas, coffee, spices, CBD oils, exotic plants, jewelry, clothing, and more. They’ve also got live entertainment, pop-up workshops, and a monthly chef showcase. Come hungry, wear comfortable shoes, and bring a few extra bags to cart your goodies home.