Discovering Palm Beach County

The senior director, leisure travel industry sales for Florida’s Discover the Palm Beaches – the tourism promotion body for Atlantic Ocean-facing Palm Beach County – says the jurisdiction’s 39 communities can accommodate those who enjoy being in the water and those who prefer being on land.

Erick Garnica told a Wednesday Toronto gathering that the community of Jupiter has “waters that are amazing” and will be appreciated by those who enjoy scuba diving and snorkelling.

Jupiter offers many eco-activities, he added.

The county in total has 47 miles of beaches.

Palm Beach Gardens, on the other hand, is known for its golfing opportunities, while those visiting Delray Beach will find many bars and restaurants and is “our version of (Miami district) South Beach without the craziness and the chaos.”

Palm Beach County attracts its share of the rich and famous and offers luxury shopping, Garnica said.

He noted many associate Florida with beaches, but said his county provides a “lot of things to do,” citing the likes of a May music festival; visits to the Everglades, a national park; and the Loggerhead Marine Life Center, which among other things helps rehabilitate injured or ill sea turtles.

Ian Black, director of group sales for Palm Beach’s The Brazilian Court, said his hotel dates back to 1926 and is two blocks from a beach and two blocks “from some of the best shopping in the world.”

The hotel has 80 guest units.

Black said the hotel works to keep an earlier ambience.

“We try to keep the whole feel of the ’30s and ’40s in the property,” he said.

Pictured are Paul Larcher of VoX International, which represents Discover the Palm Beaches in Canada, Black and Garnica.