Here’s how to Spend a Perfect Summer Day in Palm Beach, from Sunrise to Sunset
It’s summertime in Palm Beach—or, as some of us like to call it, locals’ season. Traffic thins, the pace slows, dinner reservations come easy, and the Florida sun comes out in full force. Humid, hot, and muggy, yes, but there are many things to love about summertime in Palm Beach. Here’s how to spend a perfect summer day on the island.
Salute the Sun and Fuel Up
Start your day as the locals do, with a candy-colored sunrise over the Atlantic Ocean. It’s one of the best times of day to hit the beach during summer if you want to skip the extreme UV index of midday. Then grab a coffee, matcha, or Banks Bagel from everyone’s new favorite café, Drift Palm Beach, recently opened near the beach by a local family.
Bike the Lake Trail
Rookie move: biking the lake trail during the daytime, when it’s hottest and a sunburn is guaranteed. Expert move: biking the lake trail during golden hour or just after sunrise. Grab a premium electric bike from Palm Beach Ebike Rentals to pedal the island in style; the sisters can also recommend the best routes depending on what you want to see.
Photo: Wallace Photography
Museums, Long Lunches, and More
Dodge the summer thunderstorms, which hit every afternoon, and spend the better part of the day inside and away from the elements.
The Norton Museum of Art is a good choice for those interested in art, history, and culture; current special exhibitions include Artists’ Jewelry: From Cubism to Pop, the Diane Venet Collection (to October 5), La Florida: Flowers in Chinese Paintings (to November 16), and more. To learn the fascinating stories behind the Palm Beach of today, visit the Richard and Pat Johnson Palm Beach County History Museum (pbchistory.org), which has a permanent collection of millions of items spanning more than 12,000 years of Palm Beach County and Florida history. Admission is free, with a suggested donation of $5 per person.
More interested in exercising the AmEx? Many stores on Worth Avenue close during the summer, and the street gets hot with minimal shade. Instead, stroll the breezy arcades of The Royal Poinciana Plaza, housing everything from Assouline to Zimmermann. For lunch, tuck into Sant Ambroeus if you like to linger, Celis Juice Bar for something quick and healthy, or—my favorite—the speakeasy vibes of Honor Bar behind Palm Beach Grill.
As for dinner? Take your pick—even the island’s most coveted reservations aren’t hard to score in Palm Beach’s sumptuously sleepy off-season.
