City Smarts
Boca Raton is located 26 miles south of Palm Beach, 40 miles north of Miami, and 21 miles north of Fort Lauderdale. “Boca,” as it is affectionately called, is easily reached via AirTran Airways from either the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport or the Palm Beach International Airport as both airports are 20 minutes away.
With a population of 85,377 residents, the total city area is only 29.6 square miles. Swarms of Rolls-Royces, Lamborghinis and Ferraris are not-so-subtle signs of the cashflow throughout the charming settlement once inhabited by the Tequesta Indians.
Boca Raton is polished and pricey. Residents and tourists alike rave over the city’s première dining, upscale shopping, sprawling beachfronts and 756 acres of parks. Palm Beach County boasts approximately 145 golf courses, including the must-see Boca Raton Resort & Club course.
Top Palm Beach County employers include IBM Corp., Tyco Safety/ Sensormatic, Siemens and Florida Atlantic University. A myriad of restaurants, retailers and hotels comprise a bustling tourism industry.
Jetsetter
Wayne Barton, CEO of the Wayne Barton Study Center, felt that is was necessary to set up a cost-free tutoring, educational and recreational facility for students struggling in school. The Fort Lauderdale native and former law enforcement officer witnessed the high black male occupancy in the jail system, and after moving to Boca Raton, decided to do something about it. A product of public housing himself, Barton watched the center grow from being housed in a one bedroom, two bathroom apartment, to a 25,000-square-foot building. The big-hearted jetsetter traveled the country “community-policing” and getting to know residents in low-income areas. Barton pays for every student of his center to attend a college or trade school. www.waynebartonstudycenter.org
Getting Around
PalmTran’s eye-catching pink- and aqua-colored buses, run county-wide from Boca Raton to Jupiter; to the western communities and the Glades. A rental car is recommended.
Survival Kit
Pack statement-making designer sunglasses for brand-conscious Boca. Hats to shield the face when you’re boating, beachcombing or golfing are also a must.
Catching ZZZs
A virtual "village by the sea," the Boca Raton Resort & Club is so massive that it demands space on both sides of the Intracoastal Waterway. The 963-room compound features two 18-hole golf courses, 30 tennis courts, five pools, a 27-slip marina, private beach and the spectacular Spa Palazzo. The resort's half-mile stretch of private beach offers 46 private cabanas, and your own Cabana Boy and a massage therapist are on call to service you. There are business amenities to boot — if one can concentrate on business. www.bocaresort.com
Power Lunch
Nothing exudes the aura of power leisure quite as much as lounging, in fashionable resort attire and in a restaurant overlooking the Atlantic, while feasting on the best catches in the sea. You’ll get all of that and more at Seagrille, located in the Beach Club of Boca Raton Resort & Club. www.bocaresort.com
Cultural Chow
Chow down on the best cultural grub in Boca at the internationally acclaimed Morimoto restaurant. The namesake sushi bar of Food Network's "Iron Chef" Masaharu Morimoto is known for its imaginative ingredients and thirst-quenching martinis. www.bocaresort.com
Cyber Site
As a prime resort destination, you can fire up the laptop from most hotels, bed and breakfasts or vacation rentals. You can even send e-mails from your trusty smartphone while out on the ocean.
Networkin’
The Business Development Board of Palm Beach County is the go-to source for networking. They supplied me with three much-needed business connections in less than 10 minutes. www.bdb.org
To De-Stress
Boca Raton Resort’s award-winning Spa Palazzo is styled after the Alhambra Palace and the staff makes you feel like royalty. Following a three-step hypotherapy “Ritual Bath” I relaxed in a whirlpool with a platter of strawberries, grapes, mango and kiwi at my fingertips. www.bocaresort.com
Footloose & Fancy-free
Waterside mansions can be seen on an intra-coastal tour at Sailfish Marina. Visitors can spend time walking on the docks looking at the million-dollar yachts and watching hundreds of fish in the crystal clear water. http://sailfishmarina.com
Flight Time
AirTran Airways offers daily, non-stop flights to Fort Lauderdale- Hollywood International Airport or the Palm Beach International Airport and more than 56 major U.S. cities. 1.800.AIR.TRAN, www.airtran.com
Someone Helpful
Palm Beach County Convention and Visitors Bureau, 800.554.PALM or 561.233.3000; www.palmbeachfl.com AT
