Active Pursuits in Boca Raton

Beaches in Boca Raton and Delray

Thankfully, Florida had the foresight to set aside some of its most beautiful coastal areas for the public's enjoyment. Many of the area's best beaches are located in state parks and are free to pedestrians and bikers, though most do charge for parking. Among the beaches I recommend are Delray Beach's Atlantic Dunes Beach, 1600 S. Ocean Blvd., which charges no admission to access a 7-acre developed beach with lifeguards, restrooms, changing rooms, and a family park area; and Boca Raton's South Beach Park, 400 N. Ocean Blvd., with 1,670 feet of beach, 25 acres, lifeguards, picnic areas, restrooms, showers, and 955 feet of developed beach south of the Boca Inlet, accessible for an admission charge per vehicle (up to 11 passengers) of $35 Monday through Friday, and $50 Saturday and Sunday.  The two beaches below are also very popular.

Delray Beach, on Ocean Boulevard at the east end of Atlantic Avenue, is one of the area's most popular hangouts. Weekends especially attract a young and good-looking crowd of active locals and tourists. Refreshments, snack shops, bars, and restaurants are just across the street. Families enjoy the protection of lifeguards on the clean, wide strip. Gentle waters make it a good swimming beach, too. Restrooms and showers are available, and there's limited parking at meters along Ocean Boulevard.

Spanish River Park Beach, on North Ocean Boulevard (Fla. A1A), 2 miles north of Palmetto Park Road in Boca Raton, is a huge 95-acre oceanfront park with a half-mile-long beach with lifeguards as well as a large grassy area, making it one of the best choices for picnicking. Facilities include picnic tables, grills, restrooms, showers, and a 40-foot observation tower. You can walk through tunnels under the highway to access nature trails that wind through fertile grasslands. Volleyball nets always have at least one game going on. The park is open from 8am to 8pm. Admission is $35 for vehicles Monday through Friday; $50 on Saturday, Sunday, and major holidays.

Also see the description of Red Reef Park under "Scuba Diving & Snorkeling," below.

Golf

This area has plenty of top courses. The Red Reef Family Golf Course in Boca, 1221 N. Ocean Blvd. (tel. 561/391-5014), is a nine-hole course with magnificent views of the Intracoastal and Atlantic, designed by Charles Ankrum, and open daily from 7am to sunset. Greens fees range from $29 and up.
        
Also loved by golfers is the Southwinds Golf Course, 19557 Lyons Road, Boca Raton (tel. 561/483-1305), an 18-hole course with water on every hole, plus cameos by wildlife including Canadian geese, otters, foxes, and more. It’s actually a certified Audubon International Cooperative Sanctuary. But keep  your eye on the ball! Greens fees range from $16 to $36.

In 2022, the gated community, Boca Raton Golf and Racquet Club, 17751 Boca Club Blvd. (tel. 561/367-7000) became an official open-to-the-public premiere course, plus pickleball, tennis and more. It’s known for its driving range, and reasonable greens fees (from $40 to $75).
        
Tiger Woods got playful by backing Popstroke, a mini golf course with two 18-hole putting courses and restaurant with several locations in Palm Beach County, including Delray Beach at 1314 N. Federal Highway (📞561/800-4520), West Palm Beach and the equestrian suburb of Wellington. There’s also a Treasure Coast location in Port St. Lucie, Sarasota, Tampa, and Orlando.

Scuba Diving & Snorkeling near Boca Raton

Moray Bend, a 58-foot dive spot about 3/4 mile off Boca Inlet, is the area's most popular. It's home to three moray eels that are used to being fed by scuba divers. Moray Bend and others are accessible by boat from Force E Dive Center, 2621 N. Federal Hwy., Boca Raton (tel. 561/368-0555). Phone for dive times. Dives cost $55 to $70 per person.

Red Reef Park, 1400 N. Ocean Blvd. (tel].561/393-7974), a 67-acre oceanfront park in Boca Raton, has good swimming and year-round lifeguard protection. There’s snorkeling around the shallow rocks and reefs that lie just off the beach. The park has restrooms and a picnic area with grills. Located a half-mile north of Palmetto Park Road, it’s open daily from 8am to 10pm. The cost is $35 per car Monday through Friday, $50 on Saturday and Sunday; walkers and bikers get in free.

Tennis and Pickleball in Boca Raton

The snazzy Delray Beach Tennis Center, 201 W. Atlantic Ave. (tel. 561/243-7360), has 14 lighted clay courts and five hard courts available by the hour. Rates range from $10.75 to $15.

The 17 public lighted hard courts at Patch Reef Park, 2000 NW 51st St. (tel. 561/367-7090), are available by reservation. The fee for nonresidents per 90 minutes is $12 for adults, $8 for juniors. To reach the park from I-95, exit at Yamato Road West and continue past Military Trail to the park.