Delray Beach is often considered one of the best places to live and retire in Florida. The coastal city combines a sense of small town elegance with an abundance of culture. There is a very nice mix of art galleries, restaurants and entertainment options in the area. Delray Beach also provides relatively easy access to some of south Florida’s most iconic coastal cities and attractions.
Here are some of the best day trips (or weekend getaways) that are perfectly suited and situated for older adults living in and around Delray Beach.
1. Everglades National Park
Everglades National Park is a wetlands preserve located on the southern tip of Florida. While this 1.5 million acre national park can seem overwhelming, a great way to explore the area is to sign up for a guided tour. The National Park Service lists several guided tour options on its website. Residents living in Delray Beach and Boca Raton are just close enough for a day trip.
2. Big Cypress National Preserve
Located in South Florida, Big Cypress National Preserve offers camping, canoeing, kayaking, hiking and bird watching opportunities for those who enjoy exploring the outdoors. Big Cypress borders the northern edge of the freshwater marl prairies of Everglades National Park. Because of its location, Big Cypress is a little more accessible than Everglades National Park. This means you can spend a little more time outdoors if you’re visiting from nearby cities on a day trip.
3. Bonita Springs
The beauty of living in Florida is that you can experience two different types of destinations depending on which of Florida’s two coasts you’re spending time on (east vs. west). Located in southwest Florida, Bonita Springs is a city known for its string of Gulf Coast beaches and parks. Its location, a little over two hours from Delray Beach or Boca Raton, means you can plan out a nice day trip or even better yet — a weekend trip — to fully enjoy this laid-back destination.
4. Key Largo
Key Largo is the first of the Florida Keys and the drive to get there from Delray Beach is a scenic one. There is only one highway that leads into the Florida Keys (U.S. Highway 1) and some people would even rank it among the most scenic drives in the world. Once you arrive in Key Largo there are plenty of things to see and do. Key Largo is the self-proclaimed “Dive Capital of the World” and snorkeling, fishing and scuba diving are all popular activities along its shores. Several companies offer eco-tours in Key Largo if you’re looking for more of a guided experience.
5. Palm Beach
If you’re looking for more of an upscale experience, then a day trip from Delray Beach up to Palm Beach in South Florida might be the right choice for you. You can easily spend an afternoon enjoying the sights and sounds found along Worth Avenue. The shopping and dining district features a variety of boutiques, galleries and restaurants for those with high-end tastes. Palm Beach is also home to a number of historic landmarks and some highly rated museums.
6. Boca Raton
Delray Beach and Boca Raton are only 10 miles apart, meaning it’s fairly easy to move between the two destinations. Delray Beach is perhaps a little more trendy and arts and culture-oriented, whereas some would describe Boca Raton as being a little more highbrow and sophisticated. Both destinations offer stunning scenery and access to arts venues, golf courses and more. Boca Raton highlights include Spanish River Park, the Boca Raton Museum of Art and Osprey Pointe Golf Course. You can easily plan out multiple day trips to the area based on your interests.
Explore Delray Beach While Living at Harbour’s Edge
At Harbour’s Edge, a senior living community in Delray Beach, Florida, we consider ourselves lucky to be located in such an awe-inspiring and scenic town. Residents at Harbour’s Edge enjoy access to all of our on-site services and amenities, in addition to all of the nearby off-site experiences available in Delray Beach and surrounding coastal destinations. Contact us or complete the form below to learn more about the many perks of living at Harbour’s Edge.
