Romancing The Boca Raton Resort and Club
by Holly Reich

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If you think that Palm Beach County is a place to go for early retirement you’re only partly right. The Gold Coast of Florida has a rhythm that is relaxed as the Caribbean, a sophisticated cultural pulse, and a beauty that goes straight to the heart.

I have returned to the Boca Raton Resort and Club several times over the last few years, and it just gets better and better. Last month, while motoring down the inland waterway checking out the mansions on the water, I even began to fantasize,"Could I live here?"

The property, situated on 356 acres of Florida’s Gold Coast, is 1/ 2 hour from Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale International Airports.

The colorful Addison Mizner, built the original structure the Cloister Inn in 1926 to resemble a Spanish plantation with imported tiles, hidden courtyards, archways, fountains tucked into grottos, red barrel tile roofs, and cypress beamed ceilings. He painted it pink to echo the Florida sunset and added in a mix of Mediterranean, Moorish and Gothic touches. The original main building--approached by a regal gated driveway rises out of the palms like a pink palace. The story is that the 300-pound Mizner, a buddy to movie stars and royalty, wandered the property in Chinese silk pajamas--a monkey on one shoulder, a macaw on the other, two chows and two chimpanzees in tow.

Mizner, who had dreams for the greatest resort in the world, would be proud. The original Cloister has been joined by the Yacht Club, the Tower, Boca Beach Club, the Golf Villa’s, Boca Country Club, two 18-hole championship golf courses, 30 clay tennis courts (that are watered from underneath), the 50,000 square foot Spa Palazzo, the golf clubhouse, six pools, an indoor basketball and racquetball court, a 27-slip marina with fishing and boating facilities and a half-mile of private beach with watersports.

Edged by the coastal waterway, this resort invites you into a different time and era. Attached to the Cloisters by a vine-covered walkway, The Tower rises above the inland waterway with views of the Atlantic Ocean. A walk around the property starts in the tropical garden--a mini rainforest. You follow a wooden path past banyan trees, a whimsical Kapok tree that grows a foot a year and bushes that supply berries for your breakfast jam. The rainforest opens to the chef's herb garden lush with plants including wild bananas, chocolate mint and ginger.

A smart wooden skiff will ferry you over to the private Beach Club. You can rent a bike and spin over to Mizner Center to shop the tony stores or visit the art museum. Or you can sit in a cabana and order from the Cabana Beach Side Grill.

ENTERTAINMENT: Begin your evening at Malone’s Magic Bar where a magician performs card tricks that will make you wonder if they spiked your drink. When he cuts a lemon open and pulls out a $20 bill (the one he borrowed from you 15 minutes ago) you will be enchanted.

FOOD: There are at least 6 differently themed restaurants on property with menus that range from poolside Southwestern to gourmet elegant. 27 Ocean Blue located on the 27th Floor of the Tower with staggering views of the coastline is my all-time favorite. I started the evening with steaming plates of King Crab legs, a warm goat cheese salad with artichoke carpaccio and mission figs, followed by truffle potato crusted jumbo shrimp with whipped cauliflower and an artist’s palette with three different cups of mousses.

THE FITNESS CENTER AND SPA: The Fitness Center is equipped with cutting edge equipment and plenty of TVs. After your workout spend the rest of the day at the Palazzo Spa. The courtyard pool has underwater music and a waterfall that doubles as a deluge shower.

I had the delicious double oxygen facial followed by the Palazzo Ritual Baths. An attendant places you in an individual bubble bath and then leads you to a trio of multi-jet showers. After being pummeled into submission I headed for a nap. Good thing that room service had me coconut, orange and chocolate "Bocaroons" (macaroons) and a shipwrecked milk chocolate schooner in a bottle.

I ate it all up!

For more information, see www.bocaresort.com or, from the US, call 888-495-BOCA.

Holly Reich is a travel and automotive writer based in Manhattan.

All text copyright Holly Reich. No part of this article may be reproduced without written permission from the author.