I took a tour boat that passed by some mansions that front the Intracoastal Waterway. They're not the most elaborate mansions on the island, but they are impressive and ridiculous.
Palm Beach mansion by
raptoralex, on Flickr
Palm Beach mansion by
raptoralex, on Flickr
Palm Beach mansion by
raptoralex, on Flickr
Palm Beach mansion by
raptoralex, on Flickr
Palm Beach mansion by
raptoralex, on Flickr
Palm Beach mansion by
raptoralex, on Flickr
Palm Beach mansion by
raptoralex, on Flickr
Palm Beach mansion by
raptoralex, on Flickr
Palm Beach mansion by
raptoralex, on Flickr
Palm Beach mansion by
raptoralex, on Flickr
This is a modern-style mansion. There are several architectural styles on the island. The rich people who first moved there brought the styles of their hometowns with them, so there are homes in the style of Nantucket, the Mediterranean, Cape Cod and the Florida Keys, to name a few.
Addison Mizner is a big name there.
Privacy hedge by
raptoralex, on Flickr
Palm Beach has very strict rules on fences. The tour guide told us they can only be 3 or 4 feet tall, which doesn't do much for privacy or security. But they don't have as strict rules on hedges. These privacy hedges are about 40 feet tall.
Palm Beach mansion by
raptoralex, on Flickr
Palm Beach mansion by
raptoralex, on Flickr
Palm Beach mansion by
raptoralex, on Flickr
This is a smaller, less elaborate mansion.
Palm Beach mansion by
raptoralex, on Flickr
Palm Beach mansion by
raptoralex, on Flickr
Henry Kravis' mansion by
raptoralex, on Flickr
Kravis is a big supporter of the arts in the area. There's a big building in West Palm Beach named after him, the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts. He has a hedge maze in this yard.
Privacy hedge by
raptoralex, on Flickr
Another giant hedge.
Palm Beach mansion by
raptoralex, on Flickr
Palm Beach mansion by
raptoralex, on Flickr
Palm Beach mansion by
raptoralex, on Flickr
This person either had a party the day before or was setting up for a party. Remember, this is someone's backyard. It's not a wedding venue or a park.
Three levels of privacy hedges by
raptoralex, on Flickr
Palm Beach mansion by
raptoralex, on Flickr
Vera Wang's mansion by
raptoralex, on Flickr
Vera Wang designs wedding dresses. There's a greenish-blue mushroom sculpture on the right in the yard. Our tour guide told us that means she's in town.
Bernard Madoff's former mansion by
raptoralex, on Flickr
The world's worst Ponzi schemer used to live here.
Lake Towers condos by
raptoralex, on Flickr
Steve Jobs' yacht Venus by
raptoralex, on Flickr
This is the Apple Inc. co-founder's yacht. He never got to see its completion.
Thus ends my tour of this side of the island where all the terrible rich people live. I'm going to try to go through the town and get more shots, but it's way more difficult in the town itself because every home is covered with those tall hedges from the street.