Introduction to Boynton Beach, Florida
The Florida city of Boynton Beach, located in Palm Beach County, sits on the Atlantic coastline about 15 miles south of West Palm Beach, 32 miles north of Fort Lauderdale, and 63 miles north of Miami. Named for American Civil War major Nathan S. Boynton, who first settled the area in 1894 and began construction of the famous Boynton Beach Hotel a year later, the Town of Boynton was incorporated in 1920 and changed its name to Boynton Beach in 1941. Like nearby communities, Boynton Beach has prospered from its fertile land and rich agricultural output and has supplemented its growth with a thriving tourist industry based on its attractive beaches.
Boynton Beach Attractions
Boynton Beach’s central location provides easy access to a multitude of museums, theaters and outdoor recreational attractions. Boynton Beach Oceanfront Park offers a variety of swimming, picnicking and fishing opportunities. The Alberts & Merkel Brothers Rainbow Tropical Garden is a nature lover's delight. The Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge, home to the American alligator and the endangered Everglades snail kite, offers many recreational opportunities, including walking trails, canoeing, biking, boating and fishing, and it also features a butterfly garden, observation towers and a visitor center. Other local attractions include the Schoolhouse Children's Museum, Knollwood Groves and Mangrove Nature Park.
Attractions in nearby communities only a short drive away from Boynton Beach include the following:
- Boca Raton Museum of Art.
- Children's Museum of Boca Raton.
- Cornell Museum of Art & History (Delray Beach).
- Flagler Museum (Palm Beach).
- Gumbo Limbo Nature Center (Boca Raton).
- Morikami Museum (Delray Beach).
- South Florida Science Museum/Planetarium (West Palm Beach).
- The Rapids Water Park (West Palm Beach).
- Wakodahatchee Wetlands (Delray Beach).
Baseball fans who visit Boynton Beach in the spring are within thirty minutes of Major League Spring Training sites. Roger Dean Stadium, located in nearby Jupiter (30 miles to the north) is Florida’s only two-team spring training facility and home to the Montreal Expos and St. Louis Cardinals. Roger Dean Stadium is also the home field of two minor league teams: the Jupiter Hammerheads (Class Single-A affiliate of the Florida Marlins) and the Palm Beach Cardinals (Class Single-A affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals). Fort Lauderdale, 32 miles in the opposite direction, is the Spring Training home of the Baltimore Orioles, who play their Grapefruit League home games at Ft. Lauderdale Stadium. Fans of Major League Baseball can get the real thing only an hour away in the city of Miami, home to the Florida Marlins. Other Miami-area pro sports teams include the Miami Heat (NBA basketball), Miami Dolphins (NFL football) and Florida Panthers (NHL hockey).
