All Blog Entries by Gerald Lombardo

The iconic Breakers Hotel in Palm Beach was founded in 1896 by the industry tycoon Henry M. Flagler. Flagler, one of the great American industrialists started a trend on the island of Palm Beach of elegant properties. Soon after, other industry tycoons and socialites began flocking to the new destination.

Flagler first made his debut on the island with The Royal Poinciana, a six-story hotel on the Intracoastal side of the island. Just two years later, Flagler debuted the premier oceanfront hotel, The Breakers. 

Unfortunately, the hotel had two fires, in 1903 and then again in 1925 and the hotel had to undergo renovations. The second renovations were awarded to New York-based architects and designers, Shultze and Weaver, who would later go on to

There are plenty of things for you and your family to do in the Palm Beaches. Here are some of the best family-friendly activities to try this summer in Palm Beach County.

Animal EDventure Park

While Animal EDventure Park is temporarily closed due to COVID-19 the park/zoo is offering safe guided safari tours by reservation only.

• Address: 10066 Lee Rd, Boynton Beach, FL 33473

Shark Park 561

The Shark Park 561 is a giant outdoor water center in West Palm Beach which is great for kids and those who like watersports like wakeboarding skiing and more. The Shark Park’s claim to fame has the largest inflatable aqua park on the East Coast featuring a wake park with TWO cables.

• Address: 1440 Eshleman Trail, West Palm Beach,

Biking is a perfect outdoor activity for those trying to maintain their social distance while still getting exercise and enjoying the great outdoors. Thankfully, Palm Beach County has some of the best biking trails in all of South Florida.

The Hill

The Hill in West Palm Beach is one of the few actual hills in South Florida where you can bike some steep inclines to test your endurance. The bike path is made out of crushed shell rock and is approximately 2.4 miles long and about 2 feet wide. Even though you will ride through native forests, most of the trail is exposed to the sun, so wear appropriate clothing and apply sunblock.

• When: Everyday, sunrise to sunset.
• Where: 7301 Haverhill Road West Palm Beach, Florida 33412
• Cost: Free

Free Covid 19 Testing is being conducted at 751 Executive Drive, West Palm Beach, in the BrandsMart parking lot, Starting Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., seven days a week. The tests are for ages 18 and older only. Please wear a mask to the testing site.

Grassy Waters trail open

The Grassy Waters Preserve’s Eagle Trail is open, and fishing from shore is permitted, even as the preserve’s Gator Lake Fishing Pier Improvement Project begins this week. The Gator Lake Fishing Pier, at 8537 Northlake Blvd., is getting new decking and railings, a sun shelter and improved Americans with Disabilities Act access.

Meanwhile the trail is open and canoes, kayaks, and boats with electric motors are allowed. Please follow CDC guidelines and local orders. Gas

Like a book in the clearance rack with a tattered cover, a home with a run-down exterior won't attract buyers. That’s why you want to make that first impression a great one — and invite buyers to take a look around, instead of moving onto the next listing. Here are outdoor improvements that boost your home’s curb appeal.

Clean Up the Front Porch

It doesn’t matter if you have a grand, sweeping porch, or a concrete step leading to your front door, the exterior entryway can help sell your home. Now's the time for a fresh coat of paint on the front door. Pressure-wash the grime off the porch with a machine you can rent at your local home and garden store, or pay someone to do it. A new welcome mat can cost you $25 or less. Potted flowers and a

A new Jack Nicklaus designed, 18-hole golf course is coming to the Avenir development on western Northlake Boulevard.

Palm Beach Gardens-based Nicklaus Design, founded more than a half-century ago by legendary golfer Jack Nicklaus, has been tapped to design the 18-hole Signature Golf Course on the northwest portion of the 4,763-acre development.

According to the Palm Beach Post, the company also will design a 9-hole, par-3 short course and a state-of-the-art training and practice facility as part of the private Panther National Golf Club within the Avenir master-planned community.

The club also will include a Health & Lifestyle Club with premium dining, spa, athletic club and 10-acre Crystal Lagoon, and 459 luxury single-family homes, said

Outdoor restaurants are one of the many great things about living in South Florida. Here are a few of our favorite outdoor restaurants in Palm Beach County.

Waterway Café

Locals have been flocking to the Waterway Café for nearly 30 years, so they must be doing something right. The sun-drenched deck gives you a front-row seat to the Intracoastal, while thatched tiki huts offer plenty of shade (and adult beverages!). Order everything from steaks to sandwiches, or radio it in from your boat and take it to go for an authentic taste of life in The Palm Beaches.

• Address: 2300 PGA Boulevard, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410

Guanabanas

Guanabanas is, perhaps, the most popular restaurant in all of Jupiter. The palm-fringed patios, stone

With summer here, now is the perfect time for you and your family can enjoy a tour of the manatee lagoon with a knowledgeable guide who will provide insight and information about manatees and the South Florida ecosystem in general. Tours can last anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour. Guides can adjust the length of time for private tours to accommodate large group schedules, but cannot provide that option on public tours.

When: Tuesday through Saturdays (no tours on Sundays)

Private Tours

Private tours starting at 10:30 a.m. are offered for groups with 10 or more people. Advance registration is required to ensure the availability of Manatee Masters guides. 

Public Tours

Public tours are offered for individuals or groups with less than 10

Developed by the Greater Boca Raton Beach & Park District, Sugar Sand is a 132-acre park that offers lots of fun for kids in the Palm Beaches—it’s the perfect place for parents to take their kids this summer if they are looking for something fun to do during the day where they can also safely and easily social distance.

Sugar Sand Park features “the Children's Science Explodium,” The Willow Theatre and the Field House, which features an indoor gymnasium.

The Willow Theatre

The Willow Theatre, nestled inside Sugar Sand Park in the heart of Boca Raton, provides a unique theatre experience in South Florida. This inviting 155-seat theatre gives each audience member a close-up view of outstanding, professional entertainment, in a setting almost as

The CDC and United States Department of Agriculture has announced several animals, including house cats, are capable of contracting the coronavirus. While this is nothing to panic about, it is important to remember that not only you, but also your pets need to social distance while South Florida continues the fight to "flatten the curve."

Here are some of the key points from the CDC:

• Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses. Some cause illness in people, and others cause illness in certain types of animals.

• Some coronaviruses that infect animals can sometimes be spread to people, but this is rare.

• We do not know the exact source of the current outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The first infections were