There’s no ordinary around America’s First Resort Destination. Ever since Florida’s tourism granddaddy Henry Flagler lured northern glitterati during the epic days of rail travel to this ocean playground seeking tony beach hideaways, posh golf courses and luxe stay-overs, this sun-kissed swath in South Florida has been full of surprises.

Only one hour north of Miami, 76 kilometres of tropical beachfront awaits as does a rich treasure chest of 39 charming communities that blissfully continue to provide a winter oasis. But The Palm Beaches is far more than glitter and golf. From Tequesta to Boca Raton, this swanky setting for luxury seekers has been rightly dubbed Florida’s Cultural Capital. Home to a multitude of museums, gardens and performance art centres, the Palm Beaches is South Florida’s unabashed cultural darling that hosts an eclectic, ever-thriving arts scene especially come winter time.

DELRAY DELIVERS ART

Bursting with murals and sculptures, the Pineapple Grove Arts District is the epicentre of cool. Within this artsy enclave, find Arts Garage, a funky arts venue that stages Grammy Award-winning concerts, stand-up comedy specials, and local theatre productions. Nearby, Arts Warehouse pulsates with thought-provoking local grassroots works. For eye-popping visuals, embark on a self-guided mural walk along Art Trail to view 40+ murals.

MUST DO

Head to the celebrated Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens, home to changing exhibits and gardens inspired by traditional Japanese styles. This cultural treasure will make you stay for hours. There are over 7,000 art objects and artifacts like ancient surreal ink on silk paintings and sparkling tea collections, including special events.

HIP TO BE SQUARE IN DOWNTOWN WPB

In West Palm Beach, Worth Avenue has been a mega-millionaire hub to shop, stroll and be seen ever since its early heydays, while Flagler’s Gilded-Age Whitehall mansion is now a museum in neighbouring Palm Beach. But by 1926, the Harriet Himmel Theatre, built in the quirky Spanish Colonial Revival style, opened to great fanfare in Rosemary Square. Today this culture centre in downtown WPB is surrounded by The Square, which is an expansive Venetian/Mediterranean-style piazza that’s part plaza, part outdoor art gallery, and home to colourful murals, and larger-than-life public installations. In the centre, Jeppe Hein’s whimsical, jet-powered Water Pavilion is an interactive piece of disappearing “rooms” created by two intersecting rings of vertical water walls gushing two metres high.

MUST DO

Wine and dine in over two dozen cafés and restaurants in The Square, before exploring pop-up galleries, local music, and interactive experiences, including Paint & Sip, where guests create masterpieces with vino in hand.

Travel Planner

For more arts inspired travel information visit thepalmbeaches.com