561 Magazine

15 Things to Do in Boca Raton, FL

Start exploring the City of Boca Raton, FL, with these 15 can’t-be-missed attractions

Boca Raton, known to locals as simply “Boca,” truly has it all. Want the beach? It’s there. Interested in the outdoors? It’s there. You want culture? Well, guess what – it’s got that, too! With exceptional options in attractions, shopping, events, and dining, Boca will keep you coming back for fun under the South Florida sun. Here are 15 popular Boca Raton attractions for you to enjoy during your next visit to The Palm Beaches.

1. Mizner Park

Address: 327 Plaza Real, Boca Raton, FL 33432

Phone Number: (561) 362-0606

Hours: Individual store and restaurant hours vary

Mizner Park is downtown Boca’s shopping, dining, and entertainment destination. Take a stroll through the plaza, tour a fine art exhibit or even enjoy a concert at the Mizner Park Amphitheater. The shopping component is the heartbeat of Mizner Park, offering discerning clientele a high level of luxury choices with renowned jewelers, boutiques, national retailers, and the finest restaurants for every taste. For the ultimate movie-going experience, try iPic Theatres, an upscale cinema with delicious in-theater dining and reserved luxury seating.

 

2. Boca Raton Museum of Art

Address: 501 Plaza Real, Boca Raton, FL 33432

Phone Number: (561) 392-2500

Hours: Wed, Fri, Sat, Sun: 11:00 am – 6:00 pm. Thu: 11:00 am – 8:00 pm. Mon, Tue: Closed

As a leading cultural institution in South Florida, the Boca Raton Museum of Art attracts more than 200,000 visitors annually to its galleries and programs. The 44,000-square-foot facility has achieved international recognition for its dynamic changing exhibitions and distinguished permanent collections. The museum’s many public programs include artist presentations, family activities, and art classes at its studio Art School. Admission is free for children (under 15), students (under 18) and $16 for adults.

 

3. Gumbo Limbo Nature Center 

Address: 5112 North Ocean Boulevard, Ocean Ridge, FL 33435

Phone Number: (561) 544-8605

Hours: Tuesday – Sunday: 9:00 am – 4:00 pm. Monday: 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm

This joint project hosts environmental programs for all ages, as well as sea turtle-themed activities and events, including sea turtle summer camps, turtle walks, hatchling release observations, and free outdoor marine feedings, to name a few. Admission at Gumbo Limbo Nature Center is free, but a suggested $5 donation per person is always welcome.

 

4. Town Center at Boca Raton

Address: 6000 Glades Road, Suite 200, Boca Raton, FL 33431

Phone Number: (561) 873-2424

Hours: Monday – Thursday: 10:00 am – 8:00 pm. Friday – Saturday: 10:00 am – 9:00 pm. Sunday: 11:00 am – 7:00 pm.

One of South Florida’s top luxury shopping destinations, Town Center at Boca Raton features an outstanding mix of upscale specialty shops, along with favorite mall stores and an array of fine restaurants. Shoppers come from around the world to explore more than 200 stores and an impressive lineup of department stores ranging from Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Nordstrom, Macy’s, and Bloomingdale’s. You can also shop at Apple, Cartier, Gucci, Lacoste, Louis Vuitton, Lilly Pulitzer, Montblanc, Rolex, Tiffany & Co., and more.

 

5. The Wick Theatre & Costume Museum 

Address: 7901 North Federal Highway, Boca Raton, FL 33487

Phone Number: (561) 995-2333

The Costume Museum at the Wick Theatre & Costume Museum is an astounding exhibit of the finest costumes ever brought to the Broadway stage by the most honored and respected designers in the history of American Musical Theatre. This Boca Raton attraction  houses a collection of original costumes from over 50 Broadway productions and revivals with an estimated value of more than $20 million. Tours are available, as are theater shows, cabaret, and dining on the sumptuous fare at the elegant Tavern Room, a loving homage to the famed Tavern-on-the-Green® complete with the lovely china and crystal from that iconic restaurant. Dine beneath the amber and crystal chandelier that once graced its foyer!

 

6. Red Reef Park 

Address: 1400 N Ocean Blvd, Boca Raton, FL 33432

Phone Number: (561) 393-7810

Hours: 8 am – 10 pm

Red Reef Park is a secluded, heavily foliaged area that’s a favorite area for a variety of small birds. Bring your camera and see if you can capture images of larger and more spectacular birds on the ocean side of the park. Snorkeling at the park’s south end and surf fishing are popular leisure activities, and access to the beach is available with many parking options. Additional amenities include showering stations, walking paths, and a picnic area equipped with grills, tables, and restrooms.

 

7. FAU Stadium

Address: 777 Glades Rd, Boca Raton, FL 33431

Phone Number: (561) 297-3000

Located on the campus of Florida Atlantic University, FAU Stadium is a multi-purpose open-air stadium with 30,000 seats, 32 boxes, and 24 luxury suites. Home to the annual RoofClaim Boca Raton Bowl, FAU Stadium has also hosted other major sporting events, including the NCAA Women’s Soccer College Cup and a U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team friendly. FAU Stadium is the only stadium in the country that offers a view of the Atlantic Ocean.

 

8. Sugar Sand Park 

Address: 300 S Military Trail, Boca Raton, FL 33486

Phone Number: (561) 347-3900

Hours: Monday – Saturday: 8:00 am – 11:00 pm. Sunday: 8:00 am – 6:00 pm / 8:00 am – 8:00 pm (Daylight Savings Months)

Whether you’re searching for something that inspires you, ignites your creativity, mentally stimulates you, or physically challenges you, there’s a range of fun things to do waiting for you at Sugar Sand Park. Visit the Children’s Science Explorium to learn about the fantastic world of science, take a spin around the carousel, see a show up close and personal at the Willow Theatre, or enjoy the science playground for entertainment for all ages. You can even walk in the wilderness along Sugar Sand Park’s two nature trails, Sand Pine and Slash Pine.

 

9. Daggerwing Nature Center

Address: 11435 Park Access Road, Boca Raton, FL 33498

Phone Number: (561) 629-8760

Hours: Wednesday – Friday: 1:00 pm – 4:30 pm, Saturday: 10:00 am – 4:30 pm

Closed Sunday–Tuesday. Boardwalk open sunrise-sunset.

Daggerwing Nature Center is located within the beautiful confines of Burt Aaronson South County Regional Park. Features include a 3,000-square-foot exhibit hall with live animals and interactive state-of-the-art exhibits, classroom facilities, a laboratory, a lobby, a reading area, and an elevated boardwalk that takes you on a relaxing journey through a swamp. The boardwalk has two trails and bench-style seating, as well as an observation tower available for you to view the abundant plant and animal life, including osprey, woodpeckers, butterflies, endangered wood storks, alligators, and a variety of bromeliads.

10. The Schmidt Boca Raton Historical Society

Address: 71 North Federal Highway, Boca Raton, FL 33432

Phone Number: (561) 395-6766

Hours: Wednesday – Saturday: 10 am – 4 pm

Discover the history of Boca Raton at the Schmidt Boca Raton History Museum, located in the historic 1927 Town Hall, originally designed by Addison Mizner and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. As a private, non-profit organization, the Historical Society is dedicated to preserving and presenting Boca Raton’s evolving story, offering educational tours, and advocating for historic preservation.

11. Meat Market Boca Raton

Address: Meat Market Boca Raton, 2000 NW 19th St Boca Raton, FL 33431

Phone Number: (561) 245-6777

Phone Number: (561) 245-6777

Hours:

  • Breakfast: Monday – Friday: 6:30 am – 10:00 am. Saturday – Sunday: 7:00 am – 10:00 am
  • Brunch: Saturday & Sunday: 11:00 am – 3:00 pm
  • Lunch: Monday – Friday: 11:30 am – 3:00 pm
  • Dinner: Sunday – Wednesday: 5:00 pm – 11:00 pm. Thursday – Saturday: 5:00 pm – 12:00 am  

One of the newest restaurants in Boca Raton, Meat Market, is an unbelievable addition to what is being called “Restaurants Row” in Midtown Boca. The restaurant is located at the newly renovated Renaissance Hotel. Market Boca serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner during the week and serves brunch on weekends in lieu of lunch. Market Boca is much more than just a steakhouse — the house creations fired on their wood-burning grill and market sushi provide options for your party’s palette.

Looking for more restaurant options? Check out where to eat in Boca Raton.

Dining area of the Meat Market in Boca Raton.

12. Alan C. Alford Red Reef Family Golf Course

Address: 1221 North Ocean Blvd., Boca Raton, FL 33432

Phone Number: (561) 391-5014

Hours: 7 am – Sunset

Alan C. Alford Red Reef Family Golf Course is a 9 hole, 1357-yard course that provides breathtaking views of the Intracoastal Waterway and Atlantic Ocean, with holes ranging from 64 to 227 yards in length. The course was designed by Charles Ankrom and offers tees, fairways, and greens with Seashore Paspalum grass, which provides bright, vibrant color and superior playing surfaces. Book a tee time here.

13. Boca Ice

Address: 900 Peninsula Corp Cir., Boca Raton, FL 33487

Phone Number: 561-217-5283

Hours: Check their monthly public events schedule

As the first state-of-the-art dual-ice sheet facility in The Palm Beaches, Boca Ice is the perfect place to beat the heat! Their twin NHL-size hockey rinks are the ideal destination to master the art of figure skating, unleash your inner hockey champ, and even experience the thrill of ice bumper cars!

Visitors can explore frosty fun activities, including an Ice Shack & Bar, Hockey Academy, kids camps, and special performances!

14. Spanish River Park

Address: 3001 North State Road A1A, Boca Raton, FL 33432

Phone Number: (561) 393-7810

Hours: 8 am – Sunset

Spanish River Park is a hidden gem nestled in Boca Raton. Immerse yourself in its diverse features, from tranquil bird observation areas and lagoons to canoe and kayak launches. With amenities like picnic areas, playgrounds, and sand volleyball courts, there’s something for everyone to enjoy at this top attraction in Boca Raton! Explore winding nature trails teeming with native flora and fauna, or go up the 40-foot observation tower for breathtaking panoramic views.

15. Pondhawk Natural Area

Address: 1501 NW Spanish River Blvd, Boca Raton, FL 33431 

Phone Number: (561) 233-2400

Hours: Sunrise – Sunset

Pondhawk Natural Area is a serene 79-acre sanctuary nestled in the heart of Boca Raton. Accessible through the Boca Raton Spanish River Library Parking lot, this hidden gem boasts a 12-foot-wide multiuse trail offering scenic views of Blue Lake and the surrounding woodlands.

Visitors can delve into the diverse ecosystem as they wander along the Nature Trail and the North and South Hiking Trails — totaling over two miles of immersive exploration. The eight-acre wetland restoration project is a haven for osprey, black-necked stilts, and white ibis. Formerly part of the sprawling IBM campus, Pondhawk Natural Area now preserves unique scrub and pine flatwoods, making it a captivating retreat within the urban landscape.

For more on things to do in Boca Raton – and there’s certainly more to talk about – check out our Boca Raton page. And for suggestions on where to stay while you’re in town, visit Hyatt Place Boca Raton/Downtown, the Boca Wyndham, the Waterstone Resort & Marina, and The Boca Raton.

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