American World Traveler Spring 2019 Issue

WT Photo Library
our shoes and stroll barefoot in the waves,
which we promptly did.
After seeing this natural treasure, we found
riches of a different nature on a tour of the
Town of Palm Beach. Sometimes called the
island of Palm Beach or simply ‘the island’,
this 18-mile-long swath of land between
Lake Worth Lagoon and the Atlantic Ocean
is home to some of the nation’s wealthiest
citizens.
“There are more billionaires in this zip code
than anywhere else in America,” said Leslie
Diver, a long-time resident and owner of
Island Living Tours. “But I’m not one of
them,” she added. She was, however,
loaded with a passion for architecture and
rolling in information about the island’s
rich history and even richer residents.
Diver’s tours included driving, walking and
biking, and on this sunny day we chose the
latter. As we pedalled down palm-lined
streets and the scenic Lake Trail bike path,
Diver would periodically stop and comment
on the architectural style, the striking trees
we passed and the town’s gilded past,
including some juicy, historical gossip.
It turned out that Flagler, who built the railways
and developed the town into a destination
resort, had a colourful personal life.
By bribing the state legislature to temporarily
change a law forbidding a divorce when
your spouse was confined to a mental institution,
he was able to marry wife number
three.
“He was 71; she was 34,” said Diver. “And
some say that started a Palm Beach tradition
that remains on the island today.”
Money has always been in abundance
here, and we could see just how wellheeled
residents were on Worth Avenue,
where over 200 shops offered a mix of
high-end retail shops, art galleries, jewellers,
antiques and dining.
Though I enjoyed the ambiance, especially
in the courtyards, which were designed by
American architect Mizner to mimic the
piazzas in Italy and the Mediterranean, the
only shopping I’d be doing here was of the
window variety. Fortunately, there were
more affordable retail options, including
the nearby Palm Beach Outlets, whose outdoor
complex housed over 100 shops with
discounted brand-named merchandise.
There were also attractions that don’t cost a
cent, and two of my favourites were the
Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, a turtle rescue
facility, and the Manatee Lagoon. At
the latter, we spotted one of these endearing
creatures who came to this location to
enjoy the warm waters during the winter
months. Just like us, I thought. This eco-discovery
center is located right next to the
Port of Palm Beach, where we embarked on
our Bahamas Paradise Cruise.
Sailing to Grand Bahama Island
53
Aboard the Classica, we waved
goodbye to the manatees and the mansions
of Palm Beach as they disappeared
into the sunset, and then turned our attention
to onboard leisure pursuits of which
there were many. Like a kid in the proverbial
candy store (and there was a real one
of those, too), the ship was fraught with
temptations: spa specials, professional pho
apps, a casino and specialty dining
options.
Resistance was futile, and we decided to
celebrate a couple of birthdays with an
admiral’s dinner of surf and turf. Looking
around at the many birthday and anniversary
cakes, other passengers were doing
the same. There was an extra charge for
this meal, but the inclusive dining options,
especially the a la carte menu at Yellow
Elder Restaurant and the deck barbeque
were also superb. Variety shows, a standup
comic, lounge singers, Spanish dance
lessons, Bingo and a Latin music party
highlighted the entertainment portion of the
cruise.
Grand Bahama Island awaited us in the
morning, and we had a full day (8:00AM
–4:30PM) to enjoy its charms. There are
over a dozen optional shore excursions
offered, ranging from jeep tours and sailing
to relaxing on a beach and shopping.
We decided to arrange our own adventure
and spent the day at Paradise Cove, known
for its excellent snorkelling and beach.
Under the water, colourful fish and turtles
swam by; on the beach, large conch shells
hid in the tidal pools; and in the sky, sunshine
smiled down on us.
We now understood how Bahama Paradise
Cruise Line got its name. Next time, we’ll
stay a little longer on the island, knowing
that Classica and Celebration will bring us
back, as they crossing back and forth --
ships that pass in the night.
www.thepalmbeaches.com
www.bahamasparadisecruise.com
Photo: Bahamas Paradise Cruise
American World Traveler Spring 2019