Inspiration3 min read

Local's Neighborhood Guide: Boca Raton

Local's Neighborhood Guide: Boca Raton

Our Neighborhood Showrooms not only provide an intimate, real-life setting to shop, they also give us direct access to the locals — and their intimate knowledge of the neighborhoods we inhabit. Our Hosts and customers know exactly what makes their neighborhoods vibrant and unique. Their insight on where to go, eat, and play is more reliable than any guidebook.

We’re opening up Neighborhood Showrooms across Florida, starting in Boca Raton and Miami. Here, local Boca aficionado and woman-about-town Michelle Olson Rogers (aka Modern Boca Mom) divulges her local favorites. We can’t wait to check them out!

A Local’s Guide to Boca Raton

“Having grown up here (yep, I’m native!),” says Michelle, “I’ve seen this city evolve from a place catering primarily to adults and those in their golden years to a vibrant and enviable location to raise a family. A phrase I hear often from Boca residents is: we live where you vacation. As a mom, I can see why…there are so many entertaining things to do in Boca Raton with your family!”

Places to eat

Some of Michelle’s go-to places with killer kids’ menus include Farmer’s Table, Biergarten and Augy’s Restaurant & Pizzeria (a local favorite). What kid can say no to pizza?

Mizner’s pink architecture

Design buffs, this one’s for you.

“Boca Raton is famous for its pink architecture courtesy of one of our city’s biggest developers, Addison Mizner,” says Michelle. “From the upscale Boca Raton Resort & Club (designed by Mizner in the mid 1920’s) to downtown’s Mizner Park, there is a lot of fun to be had at these pink locations with your family!”

Get outside

Boca Raton boasts some of the most beautiful beaches in Florida, and visitors  can check out the city-owned beach parks for a small fee. Most have beautiful playgrounds, grills, and showers, making them a great location for your family to spend the day.

If you have sea turtle fans in the family, then Gumbo Limbo Nature Center on A1A is a must visit. Enjoy a walk on the boardwalk, see thousands of tropical fish in their aquariums, relax in a butterfly garden, or check out the “patients” in Gumbo Limbo’s sea turtle rehabilitation facility. If you’re really lucky, you might get to join local spectators at one of Gumbo Limbo’s famous sea turtle releases.

Surf's Up at Red Reef Park

Park it

If taking your littlest swimmer to the beach sounds a little... stressful, you can bring them to one of Boca Raton’s awesome (and free) splash pads. Sugar Sand Park’s Science Playground not only has an ocean-themed water play section, but tons of other outdoor options, including a carousel.

If it gets too hot or starts raining, check out the indoor Sugar Sand Park Science Explorium or note when the next children’s show is playing at the Willow Theater.

Sugar and Sand Park

Kids into pirates? Patch Reef Park’s Pirates Cove Playground is for them. It has a wonderfully themed splash pad, playground, and plenty of shade.

Check out more of Michelle’s Boca Raton and beyond tips on her site ModernBocaMom.com.