| Visiting Delray Beach, the Village by the Sea |
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| March 14, 2008 |
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I'm sitting at a sidewalk café on Ocean Boulevard, State Road A1A in Delray Beach with a steaming hot cup of coffee in my hands. Across the street is the Atlantic Ocean.
Morning sun warms the beach sand. The ocean shimmers with slivers of light spilling from the rising sun across the water to the shore. Walkers stride along the beach, pumping arms and legs. The seaside air is crisp with new day freshness and salty promise.
Our waitress arrives with our breakfast orders. My omelet smells delicious and the bread looks like it just came out of the oven. I look at our breakfast table, then across the street to the beach. Turning, I say to my friends, "You know, it doesn't get any better than this," and they agree.
Delray Beach lives up to its name with two miles of oceanfront. It is located is south of West Palm Beach. Started in 1894, the beach town picked up on Mediterranean revival architecture in the early 1900s and went with it.
Delray Beach has no desire for high rises. Just look at its motto. The town calls itself "Village by the Sea" and celebrates their laid-back Florida lifestyle.
Atlantic Avenue is the heart of the restored downtown area. In all, there are five separate historic districts, all within walking distance (less than a mile), listed in the Local Register of Historic Places.
Wide brick sidewalks glide by restaurants, galleries, antique stores, coffee shops, clothing and gift stores. Each block has a story to tell. To take your own tour, go to the city's Delray Beach site, look under Planning & Zoning, and download a historic architecture walking tour guide.
The Delray Beach Historical Society gives "Ride & Remember" tours the second Saturday of each month from September through May. To know more call (561) -243-2577). The Society's home base is the Cason Cottage Museum open Thursday and Friday from 10-2.
The fourth Saturday of the month there are Delray Beach bus tours leaving from the library at 11 a.m. The cost is $10 for adults and seniors. Children and teens under 18 ride free. To know more contact Lori Durante. Her e mail is news@delraybeachubstours.org
Another good reason to be downtown on Saturdays - the Delray Beach Green Market fills up the park from 8-1.
Like orchids? Delray Beach is home to the American Orchid Society. Their botanical gardens, visitors center and Emporium gift shop hours are 10-4:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Admission is $8 for adults, children under the age of 12 admitted free. If you've been enjoying downtown Delray Beach and want to visit AOS, go west on Atlantic Avenue, turn left on Jog Road (cool name), then right onto AOS Lane. Yes! They have their very own lane. Only for orchids.
Delray Beach has a big event coming up. No, scratch that. Not an event - an affair. That changes everything. The 46th annual Delray Affair, an arts and crafts festival, happens March 28-30 with over 600 exhibitors on Atlantic Avenue and nearby streets.
And if you are one of those (like me) who can't get enough garlic, plan ahead, mark your calendars now for the 2009 Garlic Festival in Delray Beachfrom Feb. 13-15, 2009.
In my book 50 Great Walks in Florida, published February 2008 by University Press of Florida, the chapter on Delray Beach is called "Vanishing Florida". That is true. There aren't many places like Delray Beach left.
This is the real deal. Why wait? I'm ready for another sunrise breakfast. Let's go! |
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| A funky, and very creative, bike stand in downtown Delray Beach. |
| Credit: Lucy Beebe Tobias VISIT FLORIDA Authentic Florida Expert |
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