Article by: Moira McCarthy [The Boston Herald]
Your attention please: Turn your head away from that gray, cold world outside your window. Close your eyes and visualize this: a beach day that hangs at about 76 degrees, warm but with no humidity. Along that beach you’re invited to all sorts of ocean play; paddleboarding, parasailing, wakeboarding and more. Just up the road is a vibrant downtown that features eclectic shopping by day, amazing and diverse dining by night and then, like magic, transforms into a long row of fun nightclubs by late-night. It’s warm but not sweaty; tropical but not too far away. You can wear your summer duds without your hair frizzing up.
Ahhhhh … imagining is good. Now, open your eyes and book a trip to Delray Beach, Fla. Because there, all the above is not a dream: It’s the real deal.
Delray Beach sits between Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale. It may not have the same “aha!” recognition those two have (or nearby Miami Beach has), but for you, winter traveler, that’s a good thing. Because it means fewer crowds, less “honky-tonk” and more choices for playtime, dining, lodging and more.
Delray Beach is not just a beach; it’s an entire community. Centered by Atlantic Avenue, running east to west, the longest avenue in Florida, the sleepy-looking town boasts more than 50 bars and restaurants on that avenue alone, as well as the Pineapple Grove arts district and, of course, the beach.
The beach is two miles of pristine Florida sand, with water so clear, you can snorkel right in front of the beach (the water does cool off in winter, but it stays nicely warm, particularly to us “hearty New Englanders”). There are cabanas and chairs to rent, but folks are welcome to bring chairs as well. The water sports choices are right on the beach with walk-up access, meaning your inner-child begging to learn to kiteboard can finally make that happen.
Delray Beach is a place that loves its events, too. First Night is a family-friendly spectacle that brings the entire city to life. The annual Garlic Festival draws in tens of thousands and celebrates garlic and beach life in what seems like a million ways. Locals call it “the best stinking festival around,” and they are not just being ironic. With musical acts and amazing food, the event attracts folks from all over; it takes place in early February.
Tennis lovers can enjoy the city and watch world-class competition when the Delray Beach Open by the Venetian Las Vegas arrives each winter. Top players from around the world compete for the large winner’s purse.
But you don’t need all that to enjoy Delray Beach, because every day — and night — offers fun. The abundance of restaurants give the city an Upper East Side feel. Outdoor cafe areas are what you first see at most restaurants, but inside you find an equally happening scene, with DJs, live music and more. There’s upscale yet affordable, as well as eateries families, singles or romantics can savor. You can start your evening with a cocktail, then dinner, and then shift seamlessly into a nightlife scene, all in the same area. And there’s not a single chain restaurant or store on the strip. It’s all Delray homegrown.
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