Delray Beach: Culture, Coast and Nature

When choosing a hotel in Delray Beach, the focus of your trip can make the difference: cultural history, art, the coast or nature watching lead to different activities. Old School Square and the Spady Cultural Heritage Museum offer a different focus from coastal locations or seasonal offerings. Consider which themes you would like to include in your stay, and take the relevant dates into account for programs scheduled at specific times.

History and Cultural Heritage

Old School Square comprises restored buildings from the early 20th century that serve the wider Delray Beach and South Florida community. The site is home to the Cornell Art Museum, housed in the restored 1913 Delray Elementary School building. The museum preserves the original atrium and classroom exhibition spaces there, with rare Dade County Pine floors. This connects the history of the school building with its present-day use as a museum.

The Spady Cultural Heritage Museum is dedicated to researching, collecting and presenting the history and cultural heritage of Black people in Palm Beach County. It also highlights the contributions of members of the African diaspora in Florida and the United States. Its subject matter thus extends from the county to Florida and national history.

A tour of the West Settlers Historic District explores a historic district that includes Delray Beach’s first school, first church and first hotel for Black people. Reservations may be required for the tour.

Coast and Nature Watching

At Atlantic Dunes Park, a paved nature trail runs 300 feet through the dunes; the park also has a beach boardwalk. Stand-up paddleboards and other paddlecraft may only be launched at the north and south ends of the beach. As official beach use rules can change, check this requirement before your visit.

The Sandoway Discovery Center is located in Florida in a historic house by the sea and offers views of the Atlantic. The Wakodahatchee Wetlands offer a different perspective: they are part of the southern section of the Great Florida Birding Trail, and more than 178 bird species have been recorded there. Coastal scenery, dunes and birdwatching represent different nature themes for you to weigh as you plan.

Art, Events and Activities

The Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens feature traditional Japanese architecture and host exhibitions of Japanese art and artifacts throughout the year. Monthly tea ceremonies take place there from October to May. The exhibitions and tea ceremonies therefore also differ in their timing: check the current tea ceremony dates if you are planning your trip around them.

At Old School Square, the Pavilion hosts concerts and touring productions. As the program depends on the dates, it is worth checking the event schedule for your travel period. Another activity with a set time frame is the two-hour Ride, Remember & Discover bus tour offered by the Spady Cultural Heritage Museum. It begins at the museum in Delray Beach’s West Settlers’ Historical District; check the current tour dates before your trip.

Silverball Retro Arcade in Delray Beach offers a different focus. It has more than 150 vintage and modern pinball, video and arcade games. Unlike a guided bus tour or a scheduled stage production, the defining feature here is the variety of game types. Which activity is right for you therefore depends on whether you would rather plan history, art, nature watching, an event or games.

Discover more destinations: Lake Worth, Lake Park, North Palm Beach, West Palm Beach, Royal Palm Beach, Ocean Ridge, Highland Beach, Jupiter

For the overview of the wider region: Palm Beach.