Stay & Play

Waterstone Resort and Marina, Boca Raton, Florida

by Jennifer Merrick

“Wherever you are in the hotel, you’re looking at water,” explains Jennifer Graham, a spokesperson for the hotel.

Located at the southernmost point of Florida’s Palm Beaches in Boca Raton, this luxurious boutique hotel overlooks both the Atlantic Ocean and the Intracoastal Waterway.

So whether your balcony is on the north or south side, you’re enjoying lunch or relaxing poolside in a cabana, holding a meeting in the event spaces or taking wedding photos on the dock, you are greeted with an H2O view.

One of the best places to appreciate this is at Boca Landing, an indoor and outdoor restaurant with a casual atmosphere and exceptional cuisine. Local seafood dishes delight with Chef Signature plates like Pan Seared Line Caught Grouper, Fresh Catch Popillote and Boca Landing Paella. Happy hour specials in the bar lounge are perfect for sundowners with half-priced wines and nibbles to share.

Though, you may prefer to order room service and take in the view from your room. Floor-to-ceiling windows, spacious private balconies and warm modern décor provide a relaxing ambience to chill out between outings.

Amenities at the resort, which is part of the Curio Collection by Hilton, include 24-hour fitness center, waterfront pool and deck, beach access with shuttle, bike rentals and in-room spa treatments.

As you would expect, water activities are a huge draw for visitors to the area as the Intracoastal Waterway that extends for about 4,800 km along the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico coasts is a much calmer thoroughfare for all types of boats. A Catamaran cruise is available for intimate parties or special events, and guests can rent stand up paddleboards, kayaks and WaveRunners (a personal watercraft similar to a Jet Ski).

But it’s not only aqua attractions that endears Boca Raton to visitors. The community itself is thriving with restaurants, specialty shops and unique attractions. Just five minutes away from the hotel is Gumbo Limbo, a nature centre and turtle rehabilitation facility. Here, you can meet Crookshanks, a juvenile turtle whose front left flipper was entangled in a fishing line, causing severe edema. His future looks bright, and he’s expected to be released into the wild soon, like so many before him. The remarkable facility is part of Red Reef Park, a 67-acre ocean-front property with beaches, playgrounds, a tennis center, golf course and Children’s Science Explorium.

For more beach time, head to Spanish River Park, where you’ll find an uncrowded nature reserve with bike paths, nature trails, picnic facilities and an observation tower. Climb to the top, and check out the dunes, and of course, yet another gorgeous water vista.

www.waterstoneboca.com
www.thepalmbeaches.com