Downtown Boca Raton
Starting in the 1920s, a leading resort architect began planning Boca’s downtown district, and the result is wide and tidy streets lined with turquoise street lamps, palm trees, and Mediterranean Revival buildings. You can spend a full day in this district checking out Mizner Park, the Museum of Art, and the Historical Society & Museum before shopping for souvenirs at one of the chic specialty stores. There are also a plethora of restaurants serving up a variety of cuisines.
Spanish River Park
The beach at Spanish River Park is one of the best in the city, and you can explore both the shoreline and the surrounding dunes on hiking trails open to the public. A lifeguard patrols the beach, and you’ll find plenty of public amenities like picnic areas with barbecues, restrooms, and a paid parking lot.
Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens
When you enter the city’s Japanese gardens, you’ll be transported to historical periods in Japan from the 9th to the early 20th centuries. The replicas of palace gardens are adorned with arched bridges, koi ponds, rock gardens, and bonsai. In the middle of the park, you’ll find a cafe and a museum modeled after a Japanese villa, which exhibits 7,000 pieces of arts and crafts.