Eddie RitzPalm Beach Post
Whether you've lived in the city your entire life, are new to the area or just visiting, Boynton Beach is packed with fun things. From waterfront dining, natural areas, beaches, shopping and more, this city is ready and waiting for you to begin your adventure.
Maybe you want to test yourself on the waves off Ocean Inlet Park, get a quick shot of nature at Seacrest Scrub Natural area or go exploring in the Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge.
Or maybe your idea of adventure is a little less adventurous and involves enjoying a beverage while sitting along the waterfront and watching boats go by, either way Boynton has you covered.
Here are 10 great things to do Boynton Beach:
Enjoy dining and drinks at these two established waterfront restaurants
Two Georges Waterfront Grille
Stop in at this iconic waterfront destination for a 'taste of Florida's laid-back coastal lifestyle' and enjoy lunch or dinner while watching the boats pass along the Intracoastal Waterway. A Boynton Beach staple for over 60 years, they are well-known for frozen co*cktails, Maryland crab cakes and more.
Information: 728 Casa Loma Blvd., Boynton Beach. twogeorgesrestaurant.com
Banana Boat
Established in Fort Lauderdale 1971 before moving up to Boynton Beach in 1978, this family-owned establishment is another great waterfront drink and dining destination that's perfect for relaxing along the water and watching the boats go by.
Information: 739 E. Ocean Ave., Boynton Beach. bananaboatboynton.com
More: Best 14 waterfront restaurants in Boynton, Delray Beach, Boca Raton
Take a stroll through Seacrest Scrub Natural Area
This 54-acre area is a green island of wilderness in the middle of an urban landscape and the perfect place for a quick shot of fresh air and nature. There are several trails for hiking including the paved Gopher Tortoise Trail and the unpaved Sand Pine Trail. The complex is part of the Great Florida Bird and Wildlife Trail.
Information: 3400 S. Seacrest Blvd., Boynton Beach. discover.pbcgov.org/erm/NaturalAreas
Biking, kayaking and more at Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge
More than just a quick shot of nature, at nearly 150,000 acres, this one of the largest urban wildlife refuges in the nation. Visitors can unplug from the stress of daily life with hiking, biking, kayaking, canoeing, fishing and more. The refuge is home to hundreds of species of animals including alligators, snail kites, wood storks, egrets, anhingas, swallowtail kites, burrowing owls, ospreys, red shouldered hawks, white tail deer, otters, and more.
Information: 10216 Lee Road, Boynton Beach. loxahatcheefriends.com
More: Loxahatchee Wildlife Refuge goes on offense to fight invasive Burmese python spread
Drop in at Nomad Surf Shop
Opened in 1968 this surf shop is just about as 'old school cool' as it gets. Though founder Ron Heavyside died in 2018, the shop is still family-owned and operated by Heavyside's two sons Ryan and Ron Jr. In business now for over half a century, the shop literally has generations of patrons stopping in to shop for surfboards, paddleboards, skateboards, surf gear, clothing and more. Though this is an actual surf shop (not a clothing store with one surfboard hung on a wall pretending to be a surf shop), it's welcoming to everyone and has a great vibe.
Information: 4655 N. Ocean Blvd., Boynton Beach. nomadsurf1968.com
Hit the beach at Ocean Inlet Park
With a the official motto "America's Gateway to the Gulfstream," Boynton Beach is an ocean-lovers paradise and Ocean Inlet Park is a great place to enjoy it. The 11-acre park has over 200 yards of guarded beach, picnic areas, a marina, a walking trail, free parking and more. In addition, if you're a surfer, the outside sandbar, during a north swell, on an incoming tide, can be pretty epic.
Information: 6990 N. Ocean Blvd., Boynton Beach. oceaninletpark.com
More: A bird's eye tour of south Palm Beach County Beaches
Enjoy 27 acres of preserves at Ocean Ridge Natural Area
Known as 'the southern most jewel within the Lake Worth Lagoon,' this 27-acre site is accessible by boat, bicycle, and on foot and contains two native Florida ecosystems: maritime hammock and mangrove swamp. Red, black, and white mangrove trees provide places for wading birds to nest in the branches and juvenile fish and small crustaceans to hide just below the water line. Ok, fine, technically it's not Boynton, but it's literally a stone's throw away.
Information: One Corrine St., Ocean Ridge. discover.pbcgov.org/erm/NaturalAreas
Dine New York deli and bakery style at Flakowitz of Boynton
This old fashion-style New York deli and bakery has been serving breakfast, lunch and dinner for 50 years. The restaurant was even featured on Guy Fieri's "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives."
Information: 7410 Boynton Beach Blvd., Boynton Beach. flakowitzofboynton.com
Check out local brews at Copperpoint Brewing Co.
Opened in 2014 and still independently owned and operated, this brewery features the finest beers from brewmaster Matt Cox. They hold multiple events each week which range from bringing in food trucks and/or music to even the occasional painting class. They also offer tours.
Information: 151 Commerce Road, Boynton Beach. copperpointbrewingcompany.com
Dine at a different place every night at Compson Place at Renaissance Commons
This lushly-landscaped, open-air shopping and dining development has an impressive list of dining options designed to please every palette and tantalize taste buds. They include Bonefish Grill, Burger Fi, First Watch, Hurricane Wings, Pizza Rox, Sabor Latino, P.F. Chang's To-Go, Starbucks and The Wine Cellar. Several new and/or expanded options to the facility include Orion Fresh Mediterranean, recently-expanded Lemongrass Asian Bistro and the soon-to-open Ramen Lab Eatery.
Information: 1831 Renaissance Commons Blvd., Boynton Beach. compsonplaceboynton.com
Eddie Ritz is a journalist atThe Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network.You can reach him ateritz@pbpost.com. Help support our journalism.Subscribe today.
