I recently returned from my annual girls’ trip to the beach. I love these ladies and treasure our few days together each year. We all no longer live in Greenville, so the trips are extra special now. This year we opted to return to The Breakers in West Palm. It’s that good! It’s also quite pricey, but the value is there. The main reasons for choosing The Breakers are that West Palm is a quick and easy destination for all of us, the resort has fabulous restaurants and amenities, and the town of West Palm is incredibly gorgeous.
The Breakers
The Breakers has been around for more than one hundred years. I love the tradition of the hotel and the elegant decor. Here’s a brief history from https://www.thebreakers.com/
In the late 1890s, just before the turn of the century, industry tycoons and elegant socialites began flocking to the pristine shores of a new destination—a long strip of an island called Palm Beach.
It was our founder Henry M. Flagler, one of America’s great industrialists, who started the trend of grand, gorgeous properties on the island. His first was The Royal Poinciana, a six-story Georgian beauty. Two years later, Flagler debuted his premier oceanfront hotel, which delighted guests with its proximity to the water and unique location—right at “the breakers,” where the waves crashed and sprayed.
After fires in both 1903 and 1925, the hotel reemerged more opulent each time. The second reconstruction of The Breakers was awarded to New York City-based designers Shultze and Weaver, the same minds who would later create many of Manhattan’s most coveted hotels: the Pierre, the Sherry-Netherland and Park Avenue’s Waldorf Astoria. Described by the duo as “the acme of perfection in design and magnificence,” The Breakers reopened in 1926, ushering in a higher degree of European influence and architectural flair. Flagler’s newest iteration was modeled after the magnificent Villa Medici in Rome—an ambitious effort that called for 75 artisans brought in from Italy. Together they completed the intricate paintings, detailed across the ceilings of the 200-foot-long main lobby and first-floor public rooms, which remain on display today. It was a grand gesture that placed The Breakers in a class all its own.
Year by year, the resort’s reputation grew and word spread, beckoning the glitterati to vacation in Palm Beach year-round. At any given time, the guest register read like a “who’s who” of early 20th-century America: Rockefellers, Vanderbilts, Astors, Andrew Carnegie and J.P. Morgan, vacationing alongside US presidents and European nobility.
Today, the story of The Breakers continues, holding fast to the ideals that put it on the map—unapologetic luxury, seaside glamour and world-class service—but also embracing the new. In our modern world that is more interconnected than ever before, we’re fully committed to our employees, our environment and the enduring mission of our organization.
I did a horrible job taking pictures other than during my daily run. The scenery made for the best runs I’ve had in years. The hotel provides a map at the front desk for those wishing to wander off property for their workout. It’s the little things…
Scenes From My Runs
The boats, the water, the lush landscapes, the houses….I would never grow tired of the views.
For those that prefer an air conditioned workout, the gym is one of the nicest I’ve ever seen. I didn’t take a picture inside, the this outdoor area overlooking the pool and ocean is pretty cool.
Outside Gym
Our days were spent lounging by the pool or on the beach while enjoying tasty beverages. Breakfasts and lunches were at The Beach Club Restaurant or Ocean House.
Pool
They are both excellent. We were in Palm Beach for three nights and chose a different Breakers restaurant each night. Thursday we dined at Flagler Steakhouse, which is definitely my favorite meal of the trip. I had the petite filet with truffle butter and horseradish sauce, plus a side of steak fries. Not exactly a diet friendly dinner, but worth every calorie. I offset my rich dinners by having a salad for lunch most days. Although the Singapore chicken salad at The Beach Club doesn’t taste like a sacrifice. Oh how I wish I could recreate that at home!
Off to Dinner, Night One
Our second evening was spent at Echo, which is an Asian inspired restaurant a few miles off property in Palm Beach proper. A free shuttle runs back and forth from the hotel to Echo every ten minutes or so, which is delightful. Echo’s menu is inventive and the food is lovely, but I still rank Flagler as my number one choice.
Echo
We treated ourselves to Seafood Bar our final night. We all fell in love with this particular restaurant during our first visit to The Breakers several years ago. The menu is fun (everything from burgers to fancy entrees) and the food is delicious, but the star of the show is the bar. The entire bar is an aquarium that houses adorable Nemo and Dory fish, along with beautiful coral. It is my favorite thing ever and I desperately want this in my house. Never going to happen, but a girl can dream. Seafood Bar also has panoramic views of the Atlantic. The ambiance is magical. A trip to The Breakers is not complete without a visit to Seafood Bar. Sadly, I didn’t take any pictures! I was too captivated by the fish, the views and the company.
My reading material on this vacation is EXCELLENT! I devoured Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid. It’s a great beach read and also kept me entertained during our delayed flight on the way home (weather). Highly recommend. It’s my favorite Taylor Jenkins Reid novel yet.
Here’s what Amazon has to say:
An Amazon Best Book of September 2022: Taylor Jenkins Reid of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, Daisy Jones and The Six, and Malibu Rising fame, is back! And so is Carrie Soto. Carrie Soto—who fans might recall from Malibu Rising—has the winningest record of any female tennis player, and she is determined to hold onto it, even if it means coming out of retirement, wrecking her reputation, and losing her endorsements. Yes, this book revolves around tennis, but the best part is Carrie’s fiery, unapologetically ambitious energy and her heartwarming relationship with her dad, who is also her coach. Carrie Soto Is Back brilliantly captures the double-standards powerful women face and offers a euphoric portrait of a woman who dares to follow her dream. Get ready to root for Carrie in what can only be described as another ace from Taylor Jenkins Reid. —Al Woodworth, Amazon Editor
Snag a copy here: https://amzn.to/3VTy8iw
I’d be remiss if I didn’t brag on a new sunscreen I wore the duration of the trip and didn’t get even the slightest bit burned. I am an Elta fan and have worn their original tinted sunscreen for years. However, this new version provides even more benefits! It’s mineral based, contains hyaluronic acid, provides a slightly higher SPF than the original, and doesn’t leave any hint of white despite containing zinc. Oh, and it’s water resistant!
Elta Tinted Sunscreen
You will want to wear this every day. Stock up here: https://amzn.to/3VZ0NCT
If you haven’t yet made it to The Breakers, I strongly encourage you to add it to your vacation destination bucket list.
