It’s easy to get stuck in your day-to-day routine when you live and work in a place like Palm Beach County. Every once in a while, it’s nice to get out and act like a tourist and really see the beautiful scenery while experiencing the cities and towns in Palm Beach County.
I head to the island each week to host the news for the Palm Beach Civic Association, but again, I’m working. So, I wanted to hang out and have some fun around the island.
The Best Palm Beach Tours
Not too long ago my husband and I took some time on a Friday to join Leslie with Island Living Tours in Palm Beach. Private tours are the best because it’s just you and tour guides. It’s the best way to see the amazing palm beach island views.
Why a Palm Beach Tour?
The island has one zip code, 33480. According to the United States Postal Service, it’s the richest zip code in the country. The average net worth of the people on the island is $23 million. One resident pays more than $3 million in property taxes alone!
The town of Palm Beach is only three blocks wide and 13 miles long with one section known as “Billionaires Row.” Town residents include entertainers Rod Stewart and Howard Stern, conservative radio talk show host, Rush Limbaugh, and self-appointed master of the universe, Donald Trump. Let’s not forget my favorite author, James Patterson, and the richest woman on the island, the granddaughter of Estee Lauder.
During the summer, the population in Palm Beach shrinks to less than 9,000 from its “in-season” high of 40,000.
There is so much to see and do here – from walking or biking the Palm Beach Lake Trail, eating in picnic areas, stopping by local gift shops, and seeing it all from the intercoastal on many of the West Palm Beach boat tours. I suggest hopping aboard the Hakuna Matata.
Palm Beach Island Living Tours
Throughout the year, Leslie is at work as the owner and operator of Island Living Tours, providing architectural and historical tours of Palm Beach.
We saw the world-class architecture that Palm Beach is known for and was introduced to both the history and the people that make Palm Beach one of the most desirable places in the world to live and play.
The Best of Palm Beach Tour is about 90 minutes and starts at the Henry Flagler Museum, heads south to see the biggest, most glamorous homes in Palm Beach, and includes a historic walk near Worth Avenue, also known as the Rodeo Drive of the East Coast.
Leslie also offers other tours that include biking! I suggest doing this in the winter months when the weather conditions are ideal in the Palm Beach area.
Flagler Museum in Palm Beach
Let me tell you, Leslie makes this tour fun. I won’t give it away, but the story she told about Mr. Henry Flagler and his THREE wives, then the future husband of wife number three, then murder… well, it’s enough to make an amazing Lifetime movie.
Palm Beach Mansion Tour
These homes are just… insane. Then, you have the landscaping around the homes that are just as spectacular.
Leslie knows a lot about who lives where, how they came to earn their money to live there, what their routines are on the island, and much more. We drove by Mar-A-Lago, where President Trump spends many of his weekends. Donald Trump bought “the second White House” at an auction for just $5 million in 1985.
She also had to point out James Patterson’s home because I’m such a fan.
I actually ran into him once in Palm Beach minutes after I bought one of his children’s books for my kids at Classic’s, a local bookshop on the island. (I might have chased him into the street to chat with him.) His wife was so sweet to write a little message to my kids in the book and take our picture.
Worth Avenue in Palm Beach
Worth Avenue is a place I’ve been to a few times before. Even if you’re not shopping, it’s fun to walk around and check out the unique architecture, eat at the restaurants, and talk to the cigar man. Yes, there is always a man smoking a cigar getting and chatting with people on Worth Avenue.
Fun Fact: All guests are treated to a bag of Palm Beach Chocolates created by Leslie with fun, Palm Beach themed packaging.
Schedule a Palm Beach Island Living Tour
All tours are private and by appointment only. For tour requests, visit info@islandlivingpb.com or call 561-309-5790. For any tour, I suggest working with tour guides so you get the full experience full of education of the history of the island.
Some other things you can do in Palm Beach County while you tour the area include airboat tours in Everglades National Park, travel down to Fort Lauderdale and hop on the water taxi, visit the Breakers hotel, take a boat to Peanut Island, try out some of the famous golf courses in South Florida, jump on a Diva Duck Amphibious Tour, go through Lion Country Safari, and visit the Port of Palm Beach Singer Island.
Some other great areas in Palm Beach County nearby to check out are downtown Lake Worth, Boca Raton, Atlantic Avenue in Delray Beach, North Clematis Street in downtown West Palm Beach, and Grandview Public Market near downtown.
For more on what to do in the Palm Beaches, click here.
I’m required to disclose a relationship between my blog and Island Living Tours. This could include me being provided with content, product, access, service, or other forms of payment.