This five-star Palm Beach resort has invested millions in its kid-friendly offerings. Even the most discerning child is going to have a blast at Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa.
Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa is located on a private beach
Anyone who knows the luxury hotel landscape in South Florida, or the entire Eastern Seaboard for that matter, knows that Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa is famous for its decadent spa and elegant, Jonathan Adler-designed suites. The Forbes Five-Star, AAA Five Diamond resort drips in luxury from head to toe. From the spa’s wishing well ritual to the hanging basket chairs in the whimsical garden area to the icing-drenched mini cupcakes and Champagne, this Palm Beach resort is a rite of passage for all spa connoisseurs, design aficionados and ocean-obsessed vacationers. But while the parents are indulging in the ultimate couples massage complete with light therapy and signature scent selection (I prefer the lavender), what can the kids do to stay entertained?
Of course, there’s a lovely stretch of sand where crashing waves offer plenty of fun in the sun. That’s a given. The Eau’s pool game is on point as well. Inspired by the ultimate Riviera lifestyle, Eau’s two palm-fringed pools and surrounding landscape of lush tropical flora and seagrass have been completely reenvisioned by architecture firm EDSA. On the resort’s north side, the family pool features new cabanas and a new splash pad with a turtle theme.
The resort offers alfresco dining by the pool
But here’s where the property really stands out with this latest renovation. Gone is the average, run-of-the-mill kids club with all the usual games and activities. And it begs the question: Can a kids club be exciting? According to Tim Nardi, general manager and head of family-friendly fun at the resort, the answer is a profound and confident “yes.” He tapped Palm Beach County-based interior design firm Bilkey Llinas Design to completely reimagine the concept of a kids club and take it to a whole new level. Think a life-size Lite Brite. You remember those retro screens where you push tiny colored plastic pegs that fit into a panel and illuminate into artistic designs. Dubbed a Lite Zilla, the new and improved version is as big as a wall. It’s not uncommon for kids to have to kick the adults out of the Lite Zilla wall. It happened to me.
The same thing tends to happen when the staff fire up the interactive floor projector by BEAM. You really have to see it to understand, but similar to Epson’s high-end TV projector systems, a laser shoots down from the ceiling, creating an interactive gaming system for kids (when the adults aren’t getting in the way). And it transforms the floor into a virtual playground. And the brilliant part is that kids have to physically move around to play the game. It’s taking everyone’s obsession with screens and turning it into a physical activity.
The spa features an outdoor garden
There’s also a program where kids can draw or color a sea-themed creature and then the staff zaps it into a machine and the blue-spotted fishy comes to life inside of a video-projected aquarium. Then kids can “feed” the creature that they just brought to life, as it bops around multiple screens that spread across the wall.
And make sure you pose in front of the mirror photo station by Mirror X, where you can instantly get a printout picture like you would at a photo booth. All of this technology has been such a hit that even locals are booking Eau’s kids club for birthday parties. My 5-year-old was mesmerized, obsessed and refused to leave, so I think that means we will be returning for her birthday.
Tables line the waterfront deck overlooking the Atlantic Ocean
For older kids, there’s an arcade, a cinema with tiered seating and theater stage for movie nights and performances. A separate teen area features TVs, karaoke, virtual reality games and sports experiences. And for an educational component (also important!), Eau has partnered with nearby Loggerhead Marinelife Center in Juno Beach, a renowned sea turtle hospital, for learning activities.
The bottom line is this: If you want to be a hero at home, but you also want a superluxe beach vacay, Eau is your pick for the win. 100 S. Ocean Blvd., Palm Beach
Photography by: PHOTO COURTESY OF EAU PALM BEACH RESORT & SPA
