Boca Raton Florida Attractions

Boca Raton Museum of Art - Boca Raton, FL  

Deeply rooted in the history of its city, the Boca Raton Museum of Art exemplifies the cultural impact and "ripple effect" of the arts in small towns across America. In Boca Raton, the Museum's roots reach back to the late 1940s, when a group of socially active women came together to form the town's first organization, a civic club, with the goal to build a small library. Two library board members, philanthropist Hildegarde Schine and socialite Roberta MacSpadden had been appointed to organize the Open House. They met in the 1920's Town Hall, where an estimated 1000 people flooded the Library Open House, which included an exhibition of paintings, borrowed from friends and loaned by galleries from Palm Beach to Miami. There and then, the Library Association decided they should form an organization to further this interest in the fine arts. In 1950, The Art Guild of Boca Raton was born.

Red Reef Park

    

One of my favorite beaches in Boca Raton is Red  Reef Park. The park includes, the Gumbo  Limbo Nature  Center, located on the intercoastal. There is also the 9 Hole Red Reef Golf Course which is located partially on the intercoastal and the remaining 7 through 9 holes on the beach side. 

 When I want to get away from it all, this is my sanctuary.  The park has a man-made reef approximately 10 ft. from the beach, where on weekends families bring their children to snorkel.  I have snorkeled there many times myself. It is amazing how many tropical fish and other marine life are right here in Boca Raton and you don’t have to even get on a boat to see them. Occasionally you will see a couple barracuda that live at the reef. I have also sighted turtles and stingrays. From March to October, the turtle nests are protected by roped off areas.   Take a leisurely sunset stroll or just soak up some Florida sunshine.  It’s a great place to spend the day.

 Lifeguards are on duty from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.  There are bathroom facilities and outdoor showers, playground, picnic tables and grills.  The beach is also open until 10:00 p.m.

 To get to Red Reef, take Palmetto Park Road east from I-95 or you can access it from Federal Highway, go north on Ocean Boulevard for approximately one mile.   Local City of Boca Raton residents can take advantage of purchasing a yearly parking pass.

Red Reef Park
1400 N. Ocean Blvd.
Boca Raton, FL 33432
561 393-7974
Beach Conditions 561 393-7989

Lion Country Safari--West Palm Beach, FL

As America´s first drive-through cageless zoo, Lion Country Safari has been a leader in conservation since 1967. Lion Country Safari provides a habitat in which many endangered or threatened species live and reproduce.

Children's Museum of Boca Raton - Boca Raton

The Children´s Museum was founded in 1979, by the citizens of Boca Raton to provide local history and exhibitions for the children and families of a growing community. It operates in this oldest remaining house, "Singing Pines" and has been charged with its preservation. Beginning as a historic destination, through the years the Children´s Museum has expanded its scope to become a hands-on place for exploring the sciences, culture, art & humanities."

Gumbo Limbo Nature Center - Boca Raton, FL

Gumbo Limbo is located in Boca Raton at Red Reef Park on the barrier island between the Atlantic Ocean and the Intracoastal Waterway. Twenty acres of Boca Raton's Red Reef park have been reserved specifically for a nature center and the preservation of a natural plant association known as a tropical hammock. The marine and estuarine location, and the diversity of native vegetation communities found within Red Reef park, also include the coastal dune, a sabal palm hammock and a mangrove wetlands. Interesting faunal species include a variety of mammals, birds, reptiles and fish. Rare and endangered species such as the manatee, the brown pelican, the osprey and sea turtles can often be observed on or from the facility. Coastal relics like a shell midden from the Pre-Columbian Indians and Pond Apple trees from the original freshwater body (known as the Spanish River) can be seen. A cannon and anchors have also been found on the shore of Red Reef park. All these assets give Gumbo Limbo a unique blend of living history.

Flagler Museum

The Museum has been featured in many television programs and magazine articles nationwide, as one of America's great Gilded Age Estates.

Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse

The Jupiter Lighthouse not only serves to warn approaching ships of the treacherous reefs so closely located to the shipping lanes in the Gulf Stream, but it is said that the light's beam also served the early mariners northbound from the tropics as a landfall from which they could catch the northern flowing current to aid them in making good time to northern ports.

Norton Museum of Art - West Palm Beach, FL

The Norton Museum of Art was founded in 1941 by Ralph Hubbard Norton (1875?1953) and his wife, Elizabeth Calhoun Norton (1881?1947). For many years, Ralph and Elizabeth Norton were actively interested in fine arts and developed a sizable collection of paintings and sculpture. An industrialist who headed the Acme Steel Company in Chicago, Mr. Norton retired in 1939 to make his permanent home in West Palm Beach, Florida. Upon moving South, the Nortons decided to share their collection with the public. In 1940, the Norton Gallery and School of Art was built on property located between South Olive Avenue and South Dixie Highway in West Palm Beach. Mr. Norton commissioned Marion Syms Wyeth, of the distinguished firm of Wyeth, King & Johnson, to design a building to house the collection. The late Art Deco/Neo-Classic building opened its doors to the public on February 8, 1941.

Boomers - Boca Raton, FL

Are you looking for the ultimate place to have that company picnic, team-building exercise, award ceremony or any other group function? This is our specialty! Let us know what you want; everything from invitations to catering, we'll do it all! Our parks bring out the best in everyone because we offer exciting attractions and fun elements.

CityPlace - West Palm Beach, FL

Discover a place where old-world architecture, beautiful fountains and sidewalk cafes create an atmosphere strikingly reminiscent of a European town center. A place where you'll find celebrated shops, exciting restaurants, a magnificent 20-screen movie theater and exceptional live performances. A place with stunning residential and office spaces. And a place you immediately know is unlike any place.

Palm Beach Zoo - West Palm Beach, FL

The Palm Beach Zoo has opened a new home for Lewis & Clark, two Maine black bear brothers who came to the zoo four years ago due to a tragic accident that took the life of their mother when they were cubs. Zoo staff and the architectural firm of Torre/Design Consortium, Ltd. of New Orleans were successful in creating a natural environment for the zoo's playful bears, now weighing in at over 400 pounds each. The highlights of this habitat include a spacious grass area for the bears to explore, mature shade trees, large deadfalls to accommodate climbing, a flowing stream and a six foot deep swimming area, viewable through a floor to ceiling glass enclosure. The zoo would like to acknowledge the generous donations made toward the construction of this habitat by the Scaife Family Foundation, Publix Supermarket Charities and Florida Power & Light Co. Come see the happy ending to a real rescue story!

Rapids Waterpark - West Palm Beach, FL

The Rapids Water Park is South Florida's premiere family park from the Keys to Orlando. The Rapids features a full day of fun for the entire family whether you make a splash in the cool blue waves, take a thrilling ride down any of our 17 water slides, or just float around the lazy river. Rapids Water Park has 22 acres of action packed attractions, with something fun for everyone.