The biggest draw to Boca Raton, Florida may be the white sand beaches and the gorgeous turquoise Atlantic, but there are plenty of other things to do when visitors have had their fill of fun in the sun. There are many museums for travelers to explore, like the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens. Adrenaline junkies will relish opportunities to ride high-speed boats, helicopters, airboats, and Flyboards. Nature lovers will appreciate Butterfly World and the Daggerwing Nature Center.
Boca Raton History Museum
It’s easy to find the Boca Raton History Museum, visitors just look for its gold dome at Town Hall in downtown Boca Raton. The 1927 museum building is on the National Register of Historic Places, adding its own historical value. Guests can begin their exploration of Boca history on a 40-minute guided tour of Town Hall, which includes a short video telling the architectural story of the building and offering a view of the tax collection vaults. Exhibitions change regularly, but highlight local history. Other history tours from the museum include Boca Raton Resort, the Town Trolley, and the Train Museum.
71 North Federal Highway, Boca Raton, FL, Phone: 561-395-6766
Mizner Park Amphitheater
Since 2002, the Mizner Park Amphitheater has been providing a very popular venue for outdoor concerts and live theatre performances in Boca Raton. The huge amphitheater and the concert lawn can accommodate more than 4000 theater-goers and is also available to rent for private functions. The amphitheater forms part of the affluent Mizner Park residential and shopping district which is located in downtown Boca Raton. During the festive season the park is transformed into a winter wonderland when more than 50,000 LEDF festive lights adorn 75 palm trees. You can check their website to find out when the lights-on ceremony takes place.
590 Plaza Real, Boca Raton, FL 33432, 561 393 7890
Boca Raton Museum of Art
The 44,000-square-foot Boca Raton Museum of Art opened at its present location in Mizner Park in 2001. The museum is the leading cultural institution and official fine arts museum of Boca Raton. It receives over 200,000 visitors annually. Visitors can expect a rich collection of exhibitions. Past exhibitions have included Contemporary Photography, Deep Line Drawings of Carlos Luna, Glasstress Boca Raton, Summer Showcase, and many others. The museum’s collections are wide and varied, from the modern and contemporary collection to the Pre-Columbian collection. There is also an outdoor sculpture garden, museum store, artists’ guild gallery, and art school.
501 Plaza Real, Boca Raton, FL, Phone: 561-392-2500
Butterfly World
Beginning as a butterfly hobby farm in 1984, Butterfly World has evolved into a 3-acre butterfly aviary and botanical garden, research center, 2-acre tropical bird aviary, interactive lorikeet experience, and aviculture care and research center. Proceeds from Butterfly World support the Boender Endangered Species Laboratory at the University of Florida. Butterfly World has also been important to saving endangered butterflies and bringing them off the endangered species list. Guests can explore Butterfly World on self-guided tours using a site map. Guests can learn about butterfly facts like their average life span and more. After touring the park, visitors can shop for butterfly-related products at the on-site Butterfly World shop.
3600 W. Sample Road, Coconut Creek, FL, Phone: 954-977-4434
Children’s Science Explorium
The Children’s Science Explorium offers families with kids aged 5 to 12 the perfect way to spend a few hours. Located in the 132-acre Sugar Sand Park, this hands-on science center provides kids with interactive exhibits where they can learn about physical science. Kids can investigate fascinating science and technology concepts in an array of permanent exhibitions as well as traveling exhibits that the museum brings in for 4 months each during fall and spring. Sensory-Friendly Saturdays are on the first Saturday of the month and offer visitors enhanced sensory experiences at the Explorium. The museum is open every day and admission is free.
300 South Military Trail, Boca Raton, FL, Phone: 561-347-3912
Daggerwing Nature Center
Families who appreciate the outdoors will love the Daggerwing Nature Center. A 3,000-square-foot exhibit hall features interactive exhibits and live animals, along with a reading center, classrooms, and a laboratory. Visitors can explore the swampy surrounds via two trails of elevated boardwalks with seating and an observation tower. Guests can expect to see lots of plant life and an array of wildlife like woodpeckers, alligators, osprey, endangered wood storks, and the Ruddy Daggerwing butterfly. Nature trails are open to the public from sunrise to sunset, and the nature center is open afternoons Wednesday through Friday and all day on Saturday.
11435 Park Access Road, Boca Raton, FL, Phone: 561-629-8760
Gumbo Limbo Nature Center Environmental Complex
Gumbo Limbo Nature Center Environmental Complex is located on a Boca Raton barrier island. Its purpose is threefold: education, conservation, and research. Visitors will have a plethora of natural experiences here. The Ashley Trail provides a relaxing nature walk, the butterfly garden gives guests with a feast for the eyes, and Seminole Chiki offers a serene place to sit overlooking the Intracoastal Waterway, where visitors may spot a manatee or sea turtle. The nature center has a number of informative exhibits for the whole family. Four outdoor salt water aquariums showcase South Florida marine life, and a sea turtle rehabilitation facility offers visitors a peek into turtle conservation efforts.
1801 North Ocean Boulevard, Boca Raton, FL, Phone: 561-544-8605
Hillsboro Inlet Lighthouse
The historic Hillsboro Inlet Lighthouse is a family-friendly attraction for those who love history and seafaring. The lighthouse, completed in 1907, was built in Michigan and made a 4,000-mile journey to the site, with the lens making a trip from Paris, France. Tours begin at the Alsdorf dock, where guests board a boat and head to the lighthouse. The museum is open Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays and offers Saturday and Sunday tour days. The lighthouse is known as Big Diamond, because of the shape of the glass in the lantern room. Climbing to the top of the lighthouse requires closed-toe shoes. The entire tour from dock to lighthouse and back is 1 hour.
A1A 2700 North Ocean Boulevard, Pompano Beach, FL, Phone: 954-226-3566
Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens
The Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens memorializes the Yamato Colony of the 1920s. The area was originally settled by Japanese farmers, who eventually moved to other parts of the country. The remaining Japanese families lost their land during World War II when the government seized it to create a military installation. The museum’s mission is to share Japanese culture with a diverse audience. Visitors can expect rotating exhibitions from the museum’s permanent collection. The six Roji-En gardens complement the museum and were inspired by traditional Japanese gardens. Guests will appreciate the tranquil surroundings. The museum hosts numerous cultural events throughout the year.
4000 Morikami Park Road, Delray Beach, FL, Phone: 561-495-0233
Sports Immortals Museum
Visitors to the Sports Immortals Museum and Memorabilia Mart have a chance to not only see some of the most significant sports memorabilia of all time, but also to purchase a favorite piece for the right price. A half-million dollars should open up the options. For visitors not ready to buy, looking is a reward in itself.
The $250 million collection has over a million pieces, including Chris Evert’s Wimbledon racquet from her second victory there. Mohammed Ali also has an Olympic jacket in the collection. Owner Joel Platt has been collecting for over three-quarters of a century, and museum visitors are the ones lucky enough to see it all.
6830 North Federal Highway, Boca Raton, FL, Phone: 561-997-2575
Wakodahatchee Wetlands
The Wakodahatchee Wetlands sit on 50 acres and feature a three-quarter-mile boardwalk for exploring. Created in 1996, the wetlands give visitors an opportunity to cross open-water ponds and islands to get up close and personal with nature. As part of the Great Florida Birding Trail, the wetlands are home to 178 identified bird species, a treasure for avid birdwatchers. There are also opportunities to see turtles, fish, alligators, frogs, rabbits, and raccoons. These wetlands play an important role in the local water table, as millions of gallons of treated wastewater are here transformed into billions of gallons of freshwater.
13026 Jog Road, Delray Beach, FL, Phone: 561-493-6000
Palm Beach Hydroflight
Thrill seekers will find just what they’re looking for at Palm Beach Hydroflight in Boca Raton. Even those who’ve never tried this exhilarating activity will be up and flying in no time with a water jetpack and the help of the extraordinary instructors. Hydroflight uses two styles of boards, Flyboard and Flydive, both top-of-the-line boards that make learning easy and fun. Experienced flyers will appreciate how responsive the boards are for diving, turning, and having an all-around good time. Guests can choose the 30-minute Hydro Flight, 1-hour Ironman Flight, or a 1-hour flight for two known as the Hijack Flight. Two hydroflight boat excursions are also available for charter.
1100 South Ocean Boulevard, Boca Raton, FL, Phone: 561-405-8866
M.E.A.T. Eatery and Taproom
Located on the ground floor of the Cendyn SPACES building, M.E.A.T. Eatery and Taproom is an off-shoot of the popular eatery and pub in the Keys. The modern, cozy place, which is lined with bricks and has comfortable seating, is all about meat and plenty of beer to wash it down. They smoke their meats on-site and make sausages in-house. Their burgers and pulled pork sandwiches are award-winning and have been voted the best in the country many times. They have a large range of fun, delicious pub grub, but if you feel like something lighter and healthier, go for their wonderful soups made daily and great seasonal salads. The craft beers on tap change daily, so check the list on the board above the bar. You can also watch the ongoing game on the big screen TV while you are at it.
2831 N Federal Hwy., Unit 9, Boca Raton, FL 33431, Phone: 561-419-2600
Force-E Dive Center
Force-E Dive Center is a retail dive shop that doubles as a diving outfitter. It has been a favorite choice among locals since 1976. Even those who have never had a scuba diving experience can feel confident that they’re able to become PADI Open Water certified with Force-E. Experienced divers will appreciate the local events that Force-E regularly hosts, like Blue Heron Bridge dive nights and other local diving excursions. Force-E takes participants on any one of 10 boat dive destinations, two shore dive sites, and two snorkeling sites for divers at a range of skill levels.
2621 North Federal Highway, Boca Raton, FL, Phone: 561-368-0555
Savor Our City Culinary Tours
Savor Our City Culinary Tours take place in a curated group of walkable neighborhoods. These walking tours help visitors explore the diverse culinary offerings of Boca Raton. Restaurant chefs, mixologists, farmers, and artisans share their knowledge of local, sustainable foods. Tour guests also learn about the cultural and culinary backgrounds of the food tastings along the way. There are five to seven tasting stops on each tour. Visitors can choose from themed tours like the Yoga and Healthy Foodie Tour or the Maine Craft Brew Tour. Two of the most popular tours are Savor Downtown Boca and Taste Atlantic Avenue.
130 SW 12th Avenue, Boca Raton, FL, Phone: 954-410-3177
Boca Raton Helicopters
Boca Raton Helicopters believes new experiences can bring people joy and contentment, and they are committed to helping visitors do just that. They offer seven helicopter experiences that are bound to please just about everyone – the Adventure Tour, Premium Tour, Luxury Tour (sunset), VIP Tour, Ultimate Tour, and Romantic Night for 2 Tour, which combines the Luxury Tour with a tour of South Florida’s beaches, a bottle of champagne, dinner, and a movie. The Sky’s the Limit Tour takes guests to Palm Beach, the Everglades, Fort Lauderdale, and South Florida beaches. One child under 12 is free with two paying adults.
2633 Lantana Road, Lake Worth, FL, Phone: 561-290-9700
Barrel of Monks Brewery
Barrel of Monks Brewery was the brainchild of four friends who set out to create a premier brewery with Belgian-style beer. Guests will be able to taste a variety of Belgium beers in the tasting room from 2017 Father Christmas, a holiday spiced Belgian dark ale, to Endless Enigma, a Belgian pale ale. Brewery tours are available on Tuesday nights and Saturday and Sunday afternoons and are about 20 to 30 minutes long. Guests will learn all about the brewing process, the Belgian brewing tradition, and the modern brewing techniques that together make great beer. Visitors can also get Barrel of Monks Brewery gear at the Monk Shop.
1141 Rogers Circle #5, Boca Raton, FL, Phone: 561-510-1253
Spanish River Park
Perfectly tucked into 95 acres of land between the Intracoastal Waterway and the mighty Atlantic Ocean, Spanish River Park is a very popular public beach. While many of the other Boca Raton beaches are lined by apartments and other buildings, you get a sense of being away from it all on this extensive stretch of beach which also happens to be dog-friendly at certain times of the day. You can access the beach without crossing the road – there are convenient walking tunnels which connect the beach to the parking areas and there are lifeguards on duty. The park features walking/nature/birding trails and is the perfect spot to spend a pleasant family beach day.
301 N. State Road A1A, Boca Raton, FL 33431
Coconut Cove Water Park
For more than 20 years locals and visitors have been enjoying the fun seasonal activities at the Coconut Cove Water Park. The park is open from April to September (weekends only at the beginning and end of the season) and attracts families from near and far. The facilities include a 1000 foot lazy river where you can cool down and float away your worries. There are 2 4-storey high water slides for the dare-devils and a fun interactive water play area for younger children. The park also offers swimming lessons for all ages and season passes for those lucky enough to live near-by.
20130 Regional Park Drive, Boca Raton, FL 33498, 561 629 8840
Boomers Boca Raton
You will definitely need to visit more than once to do justice to all the fun activities at Boomers Boca Raton. Boomers is a great place to send a few hours having family fun and there are both indoor and outdoor attractions to enjoy. At the top of the popularity polls, their two-seater Thunder Road Go Karts are great fun for anyone. (Drivers need to be at least 58 inches tall). If you do not qualify for the full size Go Karts you can have fun on the Rookie Go Karts. Other fun attractions include bumper boats, bumper cars, Laser Tag, batting cages, mini-golf and a whole arcade full of great games.
3100 Airport Road, Boca Raton, FL 33431, 561 347 1888
The Wick Theatre and Costume Museum
Preserving and showcasing a priceless collection of costume wardrobes from more than 35 Broadway theatre productions, The Wick Theatre and Costume Museum is a must-see attraction in Boca Raton. The Owner, Marilyn Wick, bought the defunct Caldwell Theatre in 2013 and has set about bringing the joy of live theatre back to Boca Raton. The theatre presents a regular calendar of live theatre productions, while the Costume Museum invited visitors to come and be amazed by many of the intricate costumes which have brought Broadway to life for so many years. Check their website for show information during your visit to Boca Raton.
791 N. Federal Highway, Boca Raton, FL 33487, 561 995 2333
Patch Reef Park
Patch Reef Park is a much-loved community outdoor recreation venue in Boca Raton. The park provides outdoor activities for all ages including athletic programs in the following sports – T-ball, Softball, Flag Football, Lacrosse and Baseball. There is also a 15-court tennis and pickle ball center in the park, where players of all ages and abilities can learn to love tennis and pickle ball. In addition to all the above, the 55 acre Patch Reef Park has fitness trails, picnic pavilions with tables and grills and a large children’s play ground.
2000 Yamato Road, Boca Raton, FL 33431, 561 367 7035
