Up until the 1920s, Boca Raton in southeast Florida was a sleepy, unknown town; but over the years, it has steadily emerged as much more. And while its size is still minute compared to cities like Miami and Tampa, it stands as a hub for cultural events and happenings in the state. Individuals, groups and families alike flock to Boca Raton to experience its natural beauty and to take part in its remarkable cultural activity.
Boca Raton is well-known for its natural parks and preserves; the Everglades, for example, a scenic national park which houses an immense variety of plant and wildlife, invites visitors to take part in all its natural splendours. And, as well as being the sole subtropical preserve in all of North America, it's also the only park in the world where you can see alligators and crocodiles living side by side. Moreover, the Daggerwing Nature Center offers a great opportunity for kids to bird-watch by day and take guided hiking tours by night.
But while Boca Raton is a small gem of a city, it is home to countless cultural attractions as well. Aside from museums and natural centers, it boasts a phenomenal performing arts scene; visitors can attend various events and productions, including theatre, live music, ballet and more. The Caldwell Theatre Company, for example, puts on dramas, comedies, classics and new works, while the Florida Symphonic Pops of Boca Raton - a 70-piece professional orchestra - has been performing classical, jazz, rock, swing and big band music for over 50 years.
Among Boca Raton's countless prominent performance art centers is a community theatre called the Little Palm Family Theatre. Run by amateur actors and participants, the Little Palm Family Theatre plays a significant role in the artistic and cultural life of southern Florida by providing live theatre and musical performances for people of all ages. Its performances vary from Winnie the Pooh musicals to classic dramas, and they generally perform at Jan McArt's Royal Palm Festival Dinner Theatre, on Boca Raton's Mizner Boulevard.
However, the Little Palm Family Theatre provides much more than remarkable entertainment; aside from offering a number of educational and personal development opportunities for children and adults, it provides a forum where amateur or aspiring actors can display their art. This is a particularly valuable resource in a small city such as Boca Raton, where theatrical opportunities may be harder to come by than in bigger cities. That said, the Little Palm Family Theatre contributes immensely to the rich and vibrant cultural scene of Boca Raton.
Hilton Hotels offers superb accommodation within easy reach of the Little Palm Family Theatre and various other Boca Raton performance venues. And while you're in the city, why not take advantage of the terrific art museums? Explore the famous Boca Raton Museum of Art, as well as the International Museum of Cartoon Art. Even the sports enthusiast will find much to peruse at the Sports Immortals Museum, which displays over a million pieces of sports memorabilia.
With all that Boca Raton has to offer - from exciting cultural attractions to sublime natural beauty - all visitors are sure to come away with an experience to remember. So start planning your trip today, and prepare to get a whole lot out of Florida's little gem.
Author of the article is Michael Hanna. For further information check Hilton Hotels.
