Palm Beach Island Thoughts

It is an Island

When we first announced to friends from Denver that we were moving to Palm Beach, they would often respond, "Oh, I know West Palm Beach." They didn't know there about the actual island. I'd say, "Actually, it's just Palm Beach. It's an Island." To which I received a puzzled stare.

But it's no wonder that people wouldn't know about it since there are no signs (ANYWHERE) announcing its presence. Plenty of signage for West Palm Beach, Downtown and a few for the scenic A1A. I've even seen a sign for "the beaches"... but no mention of Palm Beach {If you live here, did you ever notice?}
Check out a bit of the A1A in Palm Beach:


 {source}

Geography

Palm Beach Islanders have a variety of sayings. My favorite has to deal with geography: things are either "on island" or "off island". Let me share some examples of how this might be used:

• Nearly all summer, grocery shoppers use any number of Publix grocery stores "off island," but now, we have a bright, shiny new one "on island" to replace an older one. (I love it!)
• There is one Starbucks "on island" {It took me 2 months to find because it is hidden} and probably billions "off island."
• HB goes "on island" to Palm Beach Day Academy. {Called the Day School, if you're old school.}
• There are only a few people who grew up "on island" and still live here. Somehow I've met them all.

 

Lake Trail and other things "You Can't Miss"

The question came nearly every day for the first couple of weeks here, "Have you been on the Lake Trail yet?" And the description about how amazing the Lake Trail is, how far it goes, what you'll see as you walk, run or roll down it came right after that.

"Not yet," I'd reply. "How can I get to it?"

Then a quick description of one of a number of ways would flow out, with a final..."You can't miss it!"

When the unpacking settled down, I was ready to give it a try. Not wanting to be unprepared, I first checked online. It took me 20 minutes and a number of different links to find what I thought I needed.

First, I checked out the Palm Beach Trail and Path Guide. It directs folks to park near the Publix on Island. OK, but I'm really not exactly sure where that is because it is currently under construction and I don't think it even has a sign and is under construction...

Then, I found a couple of other sites that directed me to the original site. Clearly that was the best reference.

I finally stumbled upon a site {I say stumbled because now I can't find it again.} that said the trail could be accessed from the back side of the Flagler Museum. Now I was getting somewhere.

Off I went, I found the Lake Trail access. I can't imagine how I ever missed it.

But a close up helps.

 Hooray! Off I went, zooming along {under the 10 mph speed limit, I'm sure}...until I ran out of trail

 ACK!
Time to give up and figure it out another day.

So far, my "you can't miss it" admonishments were "FAIL"...

Until next time, I leave you with this quote, Eli



"Part of the Palm Beach mystique is that there aren't any road signs directing people to the Island"~Palm Beach Trail and Path Guide