West Palm Beach

Introducing West Palm Beach

Inland from Palm Beach – and not so pain-stakingly tasteful – is West Palm Beach. Much of the action centers around CityPlace (www.cityplace.com; 700 S Rosemary Ave), a European village-style alfresco mall with splashing fountains and a slew of dining and entertainment options. Clematis Street also has several worthy bars and restaurants to recommend it.

Nearby is the well-regarded Norton Museum of Art (561-832-5196; 1451 S Olive Ave; admission adult/child 12 & under/student $8/free/3; 10am-5pm Mon-Sat, 1-5pm Sun Oct-May, closed Mon May-Oct), housing American and European modern masters and impressionists, along with a large Buddha head presiding over an impressive Asian art collection.

By the time you read this, the planetarium, aquarium and exhibits at the South Florida Science Museum (561-832-1988; www.sfsm.org; 4801 Dreher Trail N; adult/child $9/6, planetarium extra $2; 10am-5pm Mon-Fri, to 6pm Sat, noon-6pm Sun) might very likely have made their big move to a grand new facility called the Dekelboum Science Center; check before visiting.

The retro-funky exterior of Hotel Biba (561-832-0094; www.hotelbiba.com; 320 Belvedere Rd; r $89-279; ) looks like a cute, 1950s motel in honeydew-melon green, but the rooms have a modern boutique style that would be right at home in Miami’s SoBe. Try Leila Restaurant (561-659-7373; 120 S Dixie Hwy; lunch $8-13, dinner $17-25; 11:30-2:30pm & 6-9:30pm Mon-Wed, 11:30-2:30pm & 6-10pm Thu-Fri, 6-10:30pm Sat) for sophisticated Middle Eastern dining and evening belly dancing performances (call for schedule).

Admirably servicing its migration of snowbirds, Palm Beach International Airport (561-471-7420; www.pbia.org), 2.5 miles west of downtown West Palm Beach, can be a good alternative gateway to the south Florida region. The downtown Tri-Rail station (800-874-7245; 201 S Tamarind Ave) also serves as the Amtrak station (561-832-6169).

Last updated: Feb 17, 2009