Palm Beach, a period island in Florida

Beachgoers walk along Ocean Avenue near the Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach. [Photo/Reuters]

An emerald-green 1970 Mercedes-Benz enters a red-brick driveway lined with swaying palm trees, a gentleman in white pants gets out, puts on his hat, softly flips his blazer, and walks into a hall of splendor. This is a common scene at the Breakers, a top-notch luxury hotel at Palm Beach, Florida. If we call Downton Abbey a period drama, then Palm Beach is a "period island" of the Gilded Age.

Stretching 26 kilometers from north to south, the island of Palm Beach is connected with the rest of Palm Beach County by three bridges. Seen from above, it is like a little gem floating on the turquoise waters. And it hangs on to its past glory.