Boca Raton Resort & Club

By Nava and Michael Raviv

February has arrived with winter’s embrace a little tighter. The idea of a sunny escape that was a “maybe” just a few short weeks ago is now a definite “must.” Nothing spells quick escape better than sunny Florida. And if resort living is your getaway of choice, the Boca Raton Resort & Club is the place to be.

This Waldorf Astoria property is situated on 356 lavishly landscaped acres; Boca Raton is just 24 miles north of Fort Lauderdale Airport. From the moment you pass through the resort’s gates you are immersed in opulence amidst Spanish-Mediterranean buildings with pink facades, red-tile roofs, Gothic archways and Moorish accents. Created in 1926 by prominent architect Addison Mizner, this unique style has become the signature look of Boca Raton. Over the last 90 years, the legendary resort has played host to presidents, royals, and celebrities from around the world.

Renovated and updated, today the Boca Raton Resort & Club offers 1,047 luxurious rooms and suites in five clusters, each in a different style with unique characteristics, décor, and views. The main building, The Cloister, reflects the original architecture, characterized by large, soaring spaces, ornate columns, mosaics and manicured gardens. Its modern guest rooms are decorated in subdued colors with stylish dark furniture and glass-enclosed rain showers. Additional accommodations in the Tower, the Yacht Club, the Boca Bungalows, and the Beach Club Rooms and Suites include elegant suites and full-size residences.

ROUND THE CLOCK FUN
Lingering in a beautiful room, however, is not the reason you are here. Once you are a guest of the resort, you become an instant “club member” with exclusive access to all the amenities, activities and dining venues on the property. You can enjoy two 18-hole golf courses, 30 tennis courts, seven pools, three fitness centers and a luxury marina. You can even play on the resort croquet lawn or practice your surfing skills on the FlowRider® wave simulator.

One of the resort’s highlights is its award-winning Waldorf Astoria Spa, a 50,000 square-foot facility with grand arches and elaborate mosaics inspired by the Alhambra Palace in Spain. The spa features 44 treatment rooms, sun terraces and 10,000 square feet of tranquil gardens with waterfall whirlpools and a private spa pool. The separate men’s and women’s lounges are home to the “termes” (wet rooms) where guests can enjoy a Ritual Bath, Swiss, and Waterfall showers, whirlpool, steam, sauna and inhalation rooms. Treat yourself and indulge in one of their luxurious signature treatments.

Since you came here to enjoy Florida’s sun and surf, hop on a shuttle bus or take the Mizner’s Dream shuttle boat and head to the resort’s Boca Beach Club, located on a half-mile private beach next to the residential Tower. Claim your cushy chaise by the heated pool, grab a chilled cocktail and take in the refreshing breezes and panoramic ocean views. If you love the beach, upgrade to the “Sea Level Experience,” and enjoy king and queen-size day beds, bliss loungers, refreshments, a personal beach attendant, hand massages and sunglasses cleaning.

WINE & DINE
The resort features 12 restaurants and bars to suit every mood, all available exclusively for hotel guests and club members. Make sure to enjoy a sumptuous buffet breakfast or an afternoon cocktail in the main building at the Palm Court, a soaring, enclosed courtyard with glass ceilings and lush indoor palms and landscaping. If you love Japanese cuisine, make reservations at Morimoto Sushi Bar, in the main lobby. Other popular dining choices include the seafood restaurant The Blue on the 27th floor of the Tower, and Lucca, a Tuscan trattoria serving Italian and Mediterranean cuisine.

If you have more time and want to explore the neighborhood outside the resort, try some retail therapy at the Mizner Park, the Royal Palm, and the Town Center shopping centers. Or learn about Boca Raton’s colorful history at Flagler Museum (also known as Whitehall), Henry Flagler’s Gilded Age estate in Palm Beach. You can also visit The Boca Raton Museum of Art, one of South Florida’s leading cultural institutions. Other nearby attractions include the Miami Seaquarium, The Everglades, and the Lion Country Safari.

So leave your winter coat behind and book your escape to the Boca Raton Resort & Club, a great destination for an active or relaxing vacation.

For more information, please visit: bocaresort.com

Nava and Michael Raviv have been the publishers of Hi Class Living Magazine in Bergen County, NJ since 1984. For over three decades as publishers and editors, they have shared luxurious travel experiences, art & culture events, and epicurean highlights. You can follow their adventures at hiclassmag.com and on Twitter @hiclassmag