City of Boca Raton, Florida General Info

One of most exhilarating places to visit during family out-of-towns and vacations, Boca Raton is a home of great and colorful history. More and more people are now going in and out of this city just to experience the wonderful sights and inevitable scenes that could be captured in every single walks made in the city of Boca Raton. This city has a lot to offer to their visitors not only through the captivating scenes but also with the way it the government manages the city. Many people are very impressed with how the government does the work of giving the best out of the cities natural beauty and resources.

Boca Raton holds roughly 80,000 up to 85,000 of people according to the United States Census Bureau. Those are just the permanent residents in the city. In some time of the year, Boca Raton reaches up to 200,000 people due to the overwhelming population of travelers and visitors coming in and out of the city. Boca Raton covers a total area of at least 75.4 square kilometers; almost 95 percent of it is covered by land and the remaining 5 percent is covered by water.  The city government of Boca Raton does not permit most of the occupants in the city to build basements because it is one of the considered water tables that is common among all other South Florida cities.

Known to have a sub tropical climate, Boca Raton is one of the best destinations of people who would want to enjoy a worthwhile vacation. The city is a home to two of the most famous amusement parks yet are now vanished, Africa USA and the Ancient America during the years 1953-1961 and 1953-1959 respectively. Both amusement parks have very beautiful facilities that make tourist enjoy more of their visit in the place.

Located in South Florida, Boca Raton is also surrounded with bodies of water that will surely give an opportunity to those beach bummers to flaunt their swim wears and enjoy their water sport activities by the beach. One of the most famous activities that could be done in Boca Raton is snorkeling in the Red Reef Park.

It is also cited that Boca Raton is a home of the most high regarded theater company in South Florida called the Caldwell Theatre Company where many theatrical plays are being held for those people who are die-hard fans of on the spot theatre plays.

Economically speaking, Boca Raton gets their income from their Tourism industry. Like many other cities in the southern part of Florida, Boca Raton has natural resources that they are protecting so that people can still enjoy travelling and looking around the city’s finest natural piece of art. There are also many resorts and hotels that are built to home many of the tourist that comes in the city so it is not hard to find one nice place to stay in while having a short but sweet vacation in the city thus giving them more time to roam around the city for more adventures.

Boca Raton Florida Real Estate Market

Boca Raton used to be a small agricultural community in Florida where winter crops were produced because of the great climate experience all through out the year. In the 1920’s, the exclusive hotel project initiated by Architect Addison Mizner gave birth to the tourism industry that the community became known for.  Tourism paved the way for incorporating Boca Raton as a town in 1925.  And in 1960’s, with IBM, the economic and business development period for this town started to flourish.

Located in South Palm BeachFlorida, Boca Raton is a great place to live in because of the police, fire-rescue and municipal services provided.  With a 5 mile stretch of beautiful beaches, the 29 to 30 square mile land is filled with ocean front buildings, malls with high fashion designer shops, gourmet restaurants, parks where you can ride a boat, go fishing and enjoy water sports, museums with interactive exhibits, entertainment venues with cultural performances and activities, sports and recreational canters, and a great real estate.  All these are supported by good utilities systems.  Boca Raton also offers a competitive educational system and with the proximity of the FloridaAtlanticUniversity and the LynnUniversity, the residents have opportunities to pursue a better education.

Do you think owning a house in Boca Raton is just a dream?  Certainly not.  You can enjoy all the comforts by making the right decisions.   Do you want a newly constructed house or a foreclosed one?  How much money are you willing to invest in buying your home?  Do you think you need the services of an agent or can you do the scouting yourself?  If you think your financial resources is not sufficient, how do you plan to acquire enough to buy your dream home?

A current listing shows your choices for a budget of US$200,000  varies between  a single family detached house with 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms or a condominium unit with 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms or a townhouse with 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.   Whether you prefer a newly constructed house or a foreclosed home, the purchase price includes other costs that will be part of the total acquisition cost. Suppose you do not have enough money to purchase in cash,  you may apply and avail of a home financing program offered by banks or by the real estate company you are dealing with.  However you should be eligible to have a loan approved.

How does one become eligible?  Be of good credit standing at least for the past 2 years.  During this period you should have established your credibility as a good steward of your finances.  After a background check, your income will be used as basis for the amount of monthly amortization. Note that there are finance charges that will be inclusive in the amortization. Once they decide on this and you agree to the terms, then you get your loan approved and you have a house in Boca Raton where you can enjoy living.

Climate and Storm History of Boca Raton Florida

There are so many beautiful beaches on America, and some of the finest are located along the coast of Florida, specifically on the Palm Beach County. The sand, sun and waves would make you want to change to your swim suit and just dive in its pristine waters. And the city of Boca Raton is one hot spot for all the activities in Palm Beach. It also has a center for arts, where the cartoon museum is located, as well as the main research lab of IBM, where the first PC was produced. Because the city is near the water, city engineers had made a strict building code. No tunnels or underground basement are allowed in the city. Signs also need permits before posting them anywhere in the city.

Boca Raton is a city within Palm Beach County. This city is home for almost eighty thousand people. The name of the city which literally means “mouse mouth”, has an abundant nature and has a tropical monsoon climate- meaning it has only two season- the wet and the dry. Wet or rainy season happens during the months of June to November and its peak season is usually in the months of August, September and October.  Here hurricanes, rains and tornadoes are always the ones to watch because of its destructive capability.

 As early as 1871, there have been records for hurricanes that crossed Boca Raton. One record show that  on August 26 1949, a hurricane passed over the city with a speed of 135 mph. some trees were uprooted and the lake waters had washed away trucks over the dikes. Another event happened during the October of 1999 when hurricane Irene hit the city with a wind of 75 mph. floods and rain were present but there was no pressing wind. Only few assets were destroyed. But the worst still recorded was on October 24 of 2005, where Hurricane Wilma had struck the city. It came from South west, with a speed of only 105 mph but was moving very fast towards North East. Although the eye of the hurricane did not entirely hit Roca, it left a devastating destruction within the city. It left many houses unroofed. Many people died including women and children. Cars were flooded, trees were uprooted and it left signs and buildings destroyed. Even after five years, there are still traces of the destruction left within the city.

Hurricanes are not the only ones recorded on the history of Boca Raton- thunderstorms and tropical storms are also experienced on Palm Beach. This means that heavy rains and winds can also be experienced. It may not be as forceful as much the hurricane but it can still destroy lives and properties.

All of these nature forces happens during hurricane season (the peak of it are during August to October months) where monsoons are very much active, but after these months, the rest of the year are mostly dry- bathed in sunlight. That’s why more beach lovers tend to go to Palm Beach during April or May, where the scorching heat can be quenched by the cold waters of Florida. If you are thinking of making Florida as your vacation spot, then consider the city of Boca Raton, just take a mental note of the months of hurricane season.

Top Five Coastal Restaurants

Boca Raton is a coastal city in Florida and has one of the most top visited beaches in the United States. It receives thousands of tourists in a week despite the fact that it is already highly urbanized. It has dozens of sky scrapers and urbanized housing systems.  The people visit the city for the ambiance it gives, and other than the beaches and the malls, Boca Rota is also well visited because of many top class restaurants and is home to some of the best rising chefs in the world today.

Among these many restaurants, the top Boca Raton restaurantsthat standout are those that follow. By no means at all are these restaurants to be mistaken as some small time lobster shack, rather these are world class cuisines that cater to American dining at a degree of excellence.

The restaurant on the bottom of that list goes by the name of the Addison. This restaurant follows a more historic theme and is even built inside a national heritage building that belonged to miners. They specialize in the preparation of steaks, chops, and seafood that go a long way for every dollar you spend. They also go so far as to customize the meal with every customer’s request such as pinenut-crusted mahimahis, herbal spices and honey glazes on the chops, as well as seafood pies made of lobster and bass. To top it all off, they have one of the most exquisite selections of wine that one can find in this side of the American coast.

The one in fourth is the Morton’s, the Steakhouse. These people like to spice it up a bit with formal dining based on Midwestern and Atlantic theme. It has all the fancy doodads that would make a family dining experience worth it; these involve live lobster on the shelves and carts among other tasty tricks. However, its fame resides on its 24-ounce porterhouse steak with all the side dishes to complement it. Red meat is the specialty but they don’t forget the many differences in our taste buds, offering prime veal, chicken, and seafood with just as much flair and taste. They seal the deal with another impressive selection of wine and Frank Sinatra background music that gets just the right mood in place.

The third restaurant on the list is Seasons 52 and is certainly worthy of a spot in the top Boca Raton restaurants. It is technically a bar and grill but the ambiance and prestige can exceed even some of the finest French restaurants. It wins its spot with its country-style cooking that is sure to get the families’ attentions, healthy and delicious. Chicken dressed in wine, venison chops glazed to perfection, and sea scallops filled with caramel and cooked to the customer’s specifications. But what does it get away with? All the meals have less than 475 calories!

The second diner for the list is Kathy’s Gazebo Café. One of longest serving restaurants in Boca, it has survived long enough simple because of the patronage they get from their satisfied customers. One of the hardest restaurants to get a reservation to, it boasts a wide selection of excellent duck entrees and shellfish specialties as well as beefy side dishes. Steak is always available to those who prefer it and dessert is just as abundant and delectable. Pricey but one of the most “worth-it” experiences a family can ever have.

The top Boca Raton restaurant and certainly the most deserving is the Kee Grill. Hawaiian themes and tropical servings are always in demand and well bought by the public. Pacific entrees attract food eaters by the hundreds each day. Crab cakes and almond crusted snappers among other fishy feasts are available at a worthwhile price. Accompanied with a side dish of your choice, meat is never neglected and they do it nicely with lamb chops, chicken cuts, steak, and the ever popular veal chops. Waiting for a reservation will bring you to hours on end of starving.

All in all, there are hundreds of restaurants and these stand out. Each of them catering to different themes and wants of the public. They have built their reputation on good cooking and no other.

History of the city of Boca Raton, Florida

There are many beautiful places and cities in the State of Florida and Boca Raton is one of them. Its name was directly translated as “Mouse Mouth”. Today, many people are still in the amused with the name of the city. Many have been very keen of studying about the history of Boca Raton. Some of the things that one could have researched on with when coming to a city to have vacation is by first knowing about the history of the said city and know everything that relates to the wonderful sights and scenes that a person could enjoy in that certain place.

Boca Raton’s earliest inhabitants are said to be the Tequesta Indians. They lived in ocean near communities a thousand years up until the 18^th century. Due to the innovations in the area, the construction of the Florida East Coast Canal and the Florida East Coast Railway paved the way to the land being accessible by many businesses and successful businessmen in their time. Boca Raton in the early years of 1900’s is a small community that is being lived by farmer whose special crops are of pineapples and specializes in cultivating them for a living. Of this group, Japanese people lead by Joseph Sakai formed a little community along the road called Yamato in the year 1904.

The city of Boca Raton was joined with the height of the land bloom of Florida. This event happened in the May of the year 1925. As commissioned by the society architect then named Addison Mizner, being the town council as well, he planned to make Boca Raton become one of the first-class resort community which emphasizes the great scenery in the area. Many are interested of having managed the town because of the many natural resources that they have plus the fact of how beautiful the city is concerning the things that they have to enhance during their time is very minimal.

One of the special projects that Mizner planned about was to redesign the city hall in Boca Raton to be able to give a reputable image for the town thus attracting many visitors in visiting their humble town. This was completed in the year 1927 by architect William Alsmeyer. The old Boca Raton city hall designed by Alsmeyer became the home of Boca Raton’s Historical Society. Many people are now getting a glimpse of the special artifacts being housed in the old city hall today.

Rich from historical stories, Boca Raton came to be one of the most beautiful and historical place famously known in the State of Florida. Flourished with a huge plan of innovations and further developments from it’s government leaders, it came to be one of the most visited places in the United States because of the preserved natural beauty that it has. Serving many tourists today, Boca Raton makes a living from the great Tourism industry that flourished in the area. Boca Raton will always be one of the beautiful places that any traveler should go.

Fun Activities and Historic Landmarks of Boca Raton, Florida

Being one of the most visited cities in Palm County in South Florida, Boca Raton offers a lot of fun activities that most visitors and tourists will surely enjoy. There are much cultural homage in a form of amusement parks and natural sights that people could enjoy the most.

With a minimal admission fee, or sometimes free of charge, here are some of the natural amusement parks that people could go when they are to visit Boca Raton to have some fun activities:

·         Boca Express Train Museum

This is one of the greatest museums that tourists should not miss to discover when they are in Boca Raton. The museum offers an interior tour of two of the most useful transportation in the city, the 1947 Seaboard Air Line streamline cars that have been restored from the original ones. This will be their guests’ guide in exploring the unique buildings in Boca Raton plus having the opportunity to have a sight of one of the very first Atlantic Coast Line that was built back in the year 1940s and The Baldwin Steam engine. For only around $2-$5 dollars, both children and adult could now enough the sights being offered in this museum.

·         Gumbo Limbo Nature Center

If you are one of those nature lovers, this place will surely wake your excitement because of the surprises in stored in this place. Tourist could enjoy the sight of the outdoor aquariums, the sea turtle rehabilitation center and the beautiful butterfly garden that homes a lot of different species of butterfly in the world. It is usually open for public but they accept donations so that the management could further develop the nature park and widen the variety of animals that they are taking care.

·         Coconut Cove Water Park

This is one of the famous water parks in Boca Raton that gives a lot of excitement to all people of different ages. They have a 986-foot river ride that could be used by the visitors in exploring the park and for children; they have water playgrounds that they could play while their parents are busy exploring the site. It will be the place for family recreations.

·         Boca Raton Municipal Golf Course

Most of the time, people have their alternative place to have their recreation with and for some, golfing is one of the most relaxing activity that they could do. Boca Raton offers many golf courses in the area and one of the most famous ones is the Boca Raton Municipal Golf Course. This golf course is complete with all the facilities needed by a golfer to enjoy the activity. Nicely maintained by its management, many visitors spend their leisure time here.

·         Red Reef Park

People who enjoy having one of a kind water adventure could come here. They offer snorkeling activities where people could enjoy the sight of the reefs without even renting a boat. This is one of the most fascinating sights in Boca Raton.

Can’t wait to come and have the adventure of your life? Boca Raton caters a lot of choices that people could have so to enjoy their vacation.