Boca Raton is a city located in southern Palm Beach County in the State of Florida. Initially incorporated in 1924, the current population of Boca Raton is almost 100,000 people. The interesting fact about Boca Raton is that an additional 200,000 people have a Boca Raton address and live primarily outside of the city boundaries. This is because a lot of people have their second or vacation homes in Boca Raton.
In comparison to the rest of South Florida, Boca Raton is considered one of the wealthiest places. The downtown area of Boca Raton is the ultimate lifestyle and entertainment hub that is a mixed-used dining, shopping and residential district. The affluent lifestyle and beach vibe are what attracts a lot of people to live and visit Boca Raton.
Have you been considering a move to Boca Raton? Want to know a bit more about the area? Well, here we are answering 9 of the most commonly asked questions about Boca Raton!
1. What county is Boca Raton in?
Boca Raton is located in Palm Beach County which is in the heart of Florida’s Atlantic Ocean Coast. With a total population of almost 1.5 million people, it is considered the third-most populous county in all of the state. Palm Beach County is one of the 3 counties that is located in the South Florida area and makes up the Miami area. .
Palm Beach County is Florida’s wealthiest county with a per capita personal income of $44,000. A lot of retirees and families live in Boca Raton, thanks to its low cost of quality living and excellent school system. Palm Beach County is known for its contributions to agricultural productivity and real estate development because of its prime location.
2. Where is Boca Raton?
Known as a city located right on the coast, Boca Raton is located in Palm Beach County in close proximity to Fort Lauderdale, Palm Beach and Miami. US Route 1 is the main highway that connects this city to other areas and US Route 441 crosses through the city’s agricultural areas.
3. How far is Boca Raton from Miami?
Miami is a world-class destination that is well-known for its beaches like Miami Beach and South Beach. Because of its close proximity to different beaches, Miami has a lot of water-based recreational activities that individuals of all ages can do. This vibrant city is also known as one of the fashion capitals of the world. You can get lost in the designer shops, fine dining restaurants and one-of-a-kind boutiques that you will not find anywhere else.
Boca Raton is 47 miles away from Miami and will take you 52 minutes to travel through by car.
4. What does Boca Raton mean?
The word Boca Raton is a Spanish-derived word that means “Mouse’s mouth”. In the early European maps that were used by sailors, the name of Boca Raton was labeled originally as “Boca de Ratones” which is a direct translation for “Rat’s Mouth”. This translation is deemed incorrect but carried on for generations and is still used by local residents of Boca Raton.
Boca means mouth in Spanish, and is used by sailors to describe inlets on maps. The word Ratones is a little harder to place and identify. Some people claim that this word refers to the stony ground found on the bottom of the fishing ports. Some people claim that ratones refers to the pirates hiding in the area which is why there is a pirate ship included in the city seal.
5. How far is Boca Raton from Fort Lauderdale?
Fort Lauderdale is another beach town in Miami famous for its world-class beaches, cultural events, art museums and shopping. Fort Lauderdale is 20 miles away from Boca Raton and will take you 29 minutes to travel by the I-95 South Highway.
6. What to do in Boca Raton?
When we say Boca Raton has it all, this city truly has everything that you might be looking for and so much more! From beaches and water activities to art museums and concerts, there will be a plethora of recreational activities that you can do to keep you busy and enjoy the typical Florida atmosphere and climate.
Characterized by white-sand beaches and tall green palm trees, you will feel like you stepped into a storybook, tropical setting that is truly one of a kind. Boca Raton is a premier travel destination, not just for US travelers but for people residing outside of the country. Because of this, Boca Raton has no shortage of things to do and places to see.
With exceptional attractions that you will not find anywhere else, Boca Raton will keep you coming back for more. Here is a list of the top things to do in Boca Raton:
• Gumbo Limbo Nature Center
Since Florida’s climate is different from the rest of the country, you will find the best of nature in this center. Located in the Red Reef Park, this nature center sprawls over 20 acres of nature sanctuary over lush grounds. You can even kayak through the park or walk through the different hiking and walking trails sprinkled all over the park.
The nature center also has an aquarium and butterfly gardens. This family-friendly space is the number one tourist attraction in all of Boca Raton and it’s not hard to see why.
• Boca Raton Museum of Art
This museum is considered the largest cultural institution in South Florida. With over 44,000 square feet of space, this museum attracts more than 200,000 visitors. The exhibits are always changing and there are many activities that your family can enjoy.
• Red Reef Park
This park houses the Gumbo Limbo Nature Center but it doesn’t end there. With over 60 acres of land right in front of the ocean, you can enjoy public beach access in this park. There are picnic tables that you can use to dine with your family and then you can walk through the boardwalk straight into the beach. The sand is soft and has a texture like sugar. This park is the number one destination for snorkeling in Boca Raton.
• Town Center at Boca Raton
Boca Raton is considered a shopping destination and the Town Center is not an exception. There are a total of 220 stores and six department stores. The center has a lot of shops ranging from high-end brands to well-known retailers.
• Costume Museum at The Wick Theatre
The museum is an exhibit of the finest costumes used in the Broadway stage and American Musical Theatre. The costumes are all original from Broadway productions. You can get a guided tour with lunch at the museum.
• Sugar Sand Park
This is another family-friendly park located in Boca Raton that you can spend quality time in with your family and friends. There is an underwater-themed playground that kids can play and learn at the same time. You can also find the Wilow Theatre and the Children’s Science Explorium in this park, as well as a community center and gym. All of these amenities are housed in 132 acres to explore which will mean you will spend most of your day here.
The explorium is for kids aged 5-12 years old and will give them an opportunity to learn through interactive exhibits. There is an old-fashioned carousel located outside the museum that kids can ride.
• Daggerwing Nature Center
This is the ultimate best place to relax in Boca Raton, it has 3,000 square footage exhibits about animals and nature. The center also has different classrooms and exhibits that your kids can learn in. Don’t be surprised if you see an alligator roaming around the center!
• Spanish River Park
With pristine and crystal-clear water, this park is beachfront and has picnic tables, volleyball courts, a playground and zip lines. The park itself is 95 acres of pure fun and you can spend the whole day frolicking in the sand, swimming, kayaking or just plain relaxing.
• Mizner Park
This is the place to be if you are a shopping aficionado who is in need of some retail therapy. Set in a grassy promenade, there is a three-layer fountain located in the middle. The shops themselves are plentiful in this park and you will find everything under the sun.
Besides shops, there are restaurants in the park as well as a movie theatre complex, outdoor amphitheater and the Boca Raton Museum of Art. Every Sunday, there is a local Artisans and Green Market which runs from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm.
• Hillsboro Inlet Lighthouse
Located between Boca Raton and Fort Lauderdale, the Hillsboro Inlet Lighthouse is made up entirely of iron. You can hop on a shuttle boat and go to the lighthouse. In this area, you will also find the Barefoot Mailman Statue and a small museum that explains the history of this place.
• Coconut Cove Waterpark
This park is a great place for kids and kids at heart! With a 986 feet lazy river, you can spend your whole day floating around in the water. There is also a playground for kids and concession stands that you can buy snacks from.
• Sports Immortals Museum
If you are a sporting fan, you have to go to this museum! With over one million mementos encompassing all of the sporting events, a true sports lover will appreciate this museum.
There are no shortages of good restaurants in Boca Raton, you will find everything from quick bites to fine-dining romantic restaurants. Some of the best restaurants in Boca Raton are:
- Six Tables a Restaurant
- TwentyTwenty Grille
- Casa D’Angelo
- Novello Restaurant & Bar
- Miller’s Ale House
- Seasons 52
- Tin Muffin Café
- Ke’e Grille
- The Melting Pot
- The Capital Grille
Since Boca Raton is considered an entertainment’s paradise, there are a lot of events and festivals that you can enjoy all year round. Some of these festivals are:
- Greek Festival Boca Raton
- Boca Bash
- Festival of the Arts – Boca
- Renaissance Festival
- Ocean Brews and Blues Festival
- Seafood Fest Boca Raton
- Boca Raton Wine and Food Festival
7. How far is Boca Raton from West Palm Beach?
West Palm Beach is another city by the beach located in Florida. The distance between West Palm Beach and Boca Raton is 27 miles and it will take you 32 minutes by driving through I-95 South Highway.
8. How far is Boca Raton from Orlando?
Orlando is a city in Florida that is best known to be home to Disney World Orlando and Universal Studios Orlando. There are a lot of family-friendly activities that you can do in Orlando. The distance between Boca Raton to Orlando is 200 miles through I-95 South Highway. If you are traveling by car, the estimated driving time is 2 hours and 46 minutes.
9. How to pronounce Boca Raton?
The pronunciation of Boca Raton is closely tied to its Spanish origin and Raton is pronounced as “Reton”.
Regardless if you are passing through Boca Raton or planning to relocate to the area, there are plenty of activities that you can choose from depending on what you like to do. Boca Raton attracts many visitors on an annual basis and this is a testament to how vibrant the area is. The demographic of Boca Raton is diverse, with people relocating from all over the country.
Boca Raton is centrally located and provides easy access to neighboring Florida cities like Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Orlando. The Palm Beach International Airport, Miami International Airport and Fort Lauderdale International Airport are all 40 minutes away from Boca Raton.
With sunny skies, miles and miles of sand and crystal-clear water, you will definitely feel like you are stuck in a tropical paradise. Boca Raton is family-friendly and even though it is on the upscale side, you will not feel out of touch. The crime rate is relatively low compared to all of Florida and the education is top-notch, which makes it a really attractive place to call your next home!
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