Tucked in the city of Boca Raton is the glitzy Mizner Park, a breezy outdoor mall housing several upmarket boutiques and eating establishments. Spread out over 12 hectares along Plaza Real, shops, restaurants, museums and music are within easy walking distance of one another. Adding to the cosmopolitan charm are luxury residences and offices scattered throughout the park.
The park has something to offer everyone, and even the fussiest shopper will find something in one of the many clothing boutiques, pet shops, jewellers and home décor shops. Art aficionados will relish in the pieces at the Boca Raton Museum of Art, while film buffs can spend some time at the eight-screen cinema. Pick from a multitude of cuisines to satisfy your hunger in the many restaurants and cafés, or pick up some exotic spices, artisanal cheeses and frozen yogurt from the various speciality stores.
Head to the north of Mizner Park for some culture at The Center for the Arts, where you will find an amphitheatre and the Boca Raton Museum of Art. Put together a picnic to enjoy at the state-of-the-art outdoor amphitheatre as you watch and listen to a variety of free performances, which include anything from a local symphony, to Latin salsa, to a visiting acrobatic troupe. Check the schedule for a full listing of free and paid events.
Visit the Boca Raton Museum of Art to marvel at a wide spectrum of artistic styles, including prints, photography, West African and Oceanic art. The collection includes artwork by great European artists like Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse, and features 20th-century American artists including Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein. Bring along your mobile phone to take an audio tour (standard phone charges apply), or join in on one of the daily docent-led tours. Check the website for tour schedule.
Mizner Park is located 37 kilometres from Fort Lauderdale. It is open daily, and free parking is available. There’s a small admission fee to the museum but children under 12 get in free. The museum is open daily except Monday.
