36 Hour Paradiso: The Breakers, Palm Beach, Fla.

Travel Destinations

Audio By Carbonatix

Not often, but every once in a while, life throws you a serendipitous escape. Mine came in the form of a 36-hour dash to Palm Beach—part business, part romance, and entirely magic. I was invited to attend a private meeting with an emerging technology company, have dinner with America’s first son, enjoy a date night with my bride, and experience one of the most storied estate properties in the world: The Breakers.

The morning began with a series of high-level meetings held in the Ponce de Leon Suites, where Mediterranean grandeur meets modern ambition. Chandeliers sparkled above discussions about energy innovation and AI advancement, while the buffet that accompanied our session was an indulgence unto itself. Spiced lamb meatballs, perfectly seared sea bass, and a quinoa-arugula salad so vibrant it could have been plated by Monet. Then came the cannoli—airy, crisp, and so divine they nearly made me forget there was still work to be done.

When the final handshake ended, I traded spreadsheets for serenity and spent the afternoon roaming the property. The Breakers isn’t merely a resort—it’s an open-air museum of Spanish and Italian art, every hallway and courtyard a brushstroke in a masterpiece. Eventually I found my way to the Active Pool, where loungers offer a perfect dual view of bungalows and the endless Atlantic. I ordered a chilled Rosé Aperol Spritz (followed by their aptly named Hugely Hugo), and for a brief shimmering hour, time stopped existing.

Late afternoon brought a quick shower and a hasty wardrobe change before I joined a podcast as the invited guest. I found us taping back on the Ponce suites, surrounded by echoes of laughter and the faint scent of sea salt, and thought: there are worse places to be interviewed.

As dusk wrapped the coast in coral light, I dressed for dinner in The Gold Room, the historic centerpiece of the property. America’s first son spoke with passion about nuclear energy and the technologies driving the next frontier—his voice animated, his optimism contagious. Yet even as he spoke, I found myself glancing up. Surrounding us were oil portraits of King Ferdinand, Queen Isabella, and the great navigator himself, Christopher Columbus—presiding over an evening where past and future felt perfectly balanced.

Dinner was, predictably, flawless. Afterwards, my bride and I drifted to HMF, the hotel’s glamorous cocktail lounge, where an espresso martini and a dish of candied cashews provided a symphony of flavor and texture. From there, we slipped out to the seaside promenade, holding hands under a canopy of stars, where Saturn gleamed like a celestial souvenir.

The next morning arrived far too soon. Room service brought espresso, a golden croissant, a puff pastry, and—because the South always finds its way into my heart—a warm pecan roll. With time fleeting, we used the complimentary car service to catch a quick brunch at Sant Ambroeus, the Milanese-born café nestled within the resort’s shops. Layers of buttery prosciutto, freshly hand-pulled mozzarella, and a crisp artichoke, arugula, and heart of palm salad paired with two Diet Cokes had us momentarily transported back to Italy.

And then, all too quickly, it was time to go. But somehow, those 36 hours had stretched into something far more restorative. The Breakers had managed to give us the sensation of a long vacation distilled into a single, sparkling breath. A weekend of wonder—passport not required.

Five Additional Must-Dos in Palm Beach

Worth Avenue – Palm Beach’s version of Rodeo Drive, where Mediterranean architecture frames luxury boutiques and leafy courtyards.
The Norton Museum of Art – A serene collection of modern and classical works, perfect for an afternoon of quiet inspiration.
Henry Morrison Flagler Museum – Step inside the Gilded Age mansion of the man who built Florida’s East Coast dream.
Buccan – One of Palm Beach’s most celebrated restaurants; don’t miss the short rib empanadas.
The Royal Poinciana Plaza – A chic open-air shopping and dining experience where locals gather for cocktails and sunset people-watching.