The relaxing atmosphere of dining at an outdoor cafe or waterfront restaurant with magnificent views is a treat that can be enjoyed year-round in Florida. And naturally, many boast an extensive menu of fresh seafoods. Strolling palm-shaded sidewalks and browsing through the many shops and galleries of open air retail centers are a favorite pastime for visitors and residents alike.

South Florida’s coastal communities have taken differing perspectives on their waterfront development. Boca’s oceanfront and intracoastal lands are substantially developed with either nature preserves, public parks and beaches or as residential properties - condominiums or single family homes. The city’s approach has been to offer people the opportunity to commune with nature or enjoy it on a private basis versus commercial development. There are very few hotels, shopping areas or restaurants located directly on waterfront properties.

Boca’s Downtown Shopping Areas are brimming with upscale shops and boutiques, and restaurants and cafes that have quaint outdoor settings to enjoy the wonderful sunshine and breezes. Mizner Park, Royal Palm Plaza and Palmetto Park Road’s downtown area offer upscale shopping and a variety of cuisines to appeal to every palate - from ethnic to nouvelle cuisine. You’ll never run out of choices.

Boca is just a short drive from Other Area Shopping - delightful downtown Delray Beach, Palm Beach’s world-famous Worth Avenue, and the quaint shops of Las Olas Boulevard in Ft. Lauderdale. Spending the day at the exclusive, upscale shops and cafes of Bal Harbour, located in the North Miami town of Bal Harbour is well worth the trip. Other nearby areas of Palm Beach County, such as Delray Beach, Palm Beach and Jupiter, and the various communities to the south from Deerfield Beach to Miami offer numerous choices for waterfront dining - both oceanfront and intracoastal restaurants where you can dock your boat and stop for a leisurely lunch.