Delray Beach

Delray Beach, Florida, is renowned locally for its ambitious gentrification centered on Atlantic Avenue, the main drag, better known as simply "The Avenue" with some of the best nightlife in South Florida. At the end of The Avenue is a large, free public beach. A funky and arty downtown beach area with terrific restaurants and shopping. The city of 67,000 people (2020) resembles its swanky neighbor directly to the south, Boca Raton.

Climate
The climate in Delray Beach is tropical, with some discernible seasons, although not in the temperate climate sense. Delray Beach does experience cold fronts from November through March, however most of the year is warm and humid and the mean temperature for any month is never below 64.4°F (18°C). The brief, mild "winters" (December to early March) are noticeably cooler than the more humid summers. High temperatures during "winter" typically range from 65°F to 82°F (18°C to 28°C), although during cold spells high temperatures can remain in the 50s°F (10°C to 15°C).

The six months of summer (May through October) are hot and humid although easterly winds off the Atlantic and afternoon thunderstorms from the interior tend to temper the heat on a day to day basis during this period. Daily high temperatures consistently range between 86°F to 92°F (30°C to 33°C) between early June and late September. The heat index or humidex consistently measures between 90°F to 102°F (32°C to 38°C) during this period. Low temperatures average between 72°F to 81°F (22°C to 27°C) during this period.

The transitional months, November, March and April, are typically dry and warm with temperatures ranging from 55°F to 85°F (12°C to 28°C), although there can be short periods of quite cool weather in March and late November. Hurricane season is officially from June 1 through November 30, with the peak months being August, September and October. The city has received direct or near direct hits from hurricanes in 1928, 1947, 1949, 1964, 1965, 1979, 1992, 1999, 2004, and 2005.

Get in

 * Delray Beach is on historic U.S. Highway 1. I-95 passes just west of Downtown, with 2 exits (#51 - Linton Blvd, #52 - Atlantic Avenue). Atlantic Avenue also has a junction at Florida's Turnpike, about 7 miles west of Downtown.
 * AMTRAK, 345 South Congress Avenue.
 * There are three major airports nearby. The closest major airport is West Palm Beach, about 25 minutes north.  The next closest is Ft. Lauderdale/Hollywood, about 35 minutes south.  Most international flights come through Miami, the furthest, being over an hour's drive south.
 * Tri-Rail, is a regional rail service that stops in Delray and provides transport to most other nearby cities (West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Ft. Lauderdale, Miami) as well as the three airports (West Palm PBI, Ft. Lauderdale FLL, Miami MIA).
 * Downtown Roundabout Free Shuttle, is a free shuttle service around town that stops at the Tri-Rail station and goes all the way east to the beach. It has many stops around the downtown area.

Get around

 * Delray Scooter Rental, LLC, +1 561-723-4387, +1 561-441-5244. Scooter rentals delivered and picked up for Downtown and Beach areas.
 * Downtown Roundabout Free Shuttle, +1 561-243-7322, +1 561-243-7012. A free shuttle servicing downtown and offering transport to and from the Tri-Rail station. It has several different routes, running from 6:30AM to 10PM, with hours of operation varying by route.
 * Metro Taxi, +1 561-391-2230. Local taxi service.
 * Green Cab, +1 561-656-4888. Local taxi service.

See

 * 100-Foot Christmas Tree During the entire month of December a large fully lighted Christmas Tree is on display in downtown Delray Beach. Children can also visit Santa at certain times at this same location.
 * 100-Foot Christmas Tree During the entire month of December a large fully lighted Christmas Tree is on display in downtown Delray Beach. Children can also visit Santa at certain times at this same location.
 * 100-Foot Christmas Tree During the entire month of December a large fully lighted Christmas Tree is on display in downtown Delray Beach. Children can also visit Santa at certain times at this same location.

Wakodahatchee Wetlands
The Wakodahatchee Wetlands is a nature preserve spread over 40 acres in Delray Beach, South Florida. First time visitors will be surprised to know that it is a man-made sanctuary created by pumping recycled water from Palm Beach County's Water Reclamation facility. The preserve's ponds, marshes and foliage are home to alligators, fish, turtles, rabbits, ducks, frogs, racoons and other critters. It is a great place for bird watchers what with more than 140 varieties of birds having been spotted in the park. An elevated boardwalk winds 3/4 mile through the park providing visitors a chance to enjoy the park's flora and fauna. The vegetation includes sabal palm, saw palmetto, sawgrass, duckweed, live oak and many others.

Visitors can spot a variety of wetland birds all around the park. Blue and green Herons, Anhingas, cormorants, Egrets, and other birds create a cacophony of sounds as they flock to their resting areas in the trees on small islands and marshes dotting the preserve. One may also sight hawks or falcons circling the skies, vultures making themselves comfortable on top of an unused electric pole or pelicans posing on the railing of the boardwalk. The ponds teem with moorhen, turtles, pied-billed grebes and a variety of fish. The park has about a few alligators (maybe 3 or 4 of them) and lucky visitors can sight an alligator sleeping in the shade or moving stealthily in the water. There is a small concrete walk abutting a canal and one can spot rabbits or an alligator nest from here.

While not as big as some of the other wetlands in South Florida, Wakodahatchee has its own charm. One can cover the entire park within a brisk one-hour walk or stroll leisurely along the park for 2-3 hours. Visitors can pause for a break in 3 Gazebos along the boardwalk. A couple of these gazebos overlook the habitat islands and provide great photo opportunities. The park is open from dawn to dusk and the admission is free. The best time to visit the park is in winters when migratory birds come to nest. In summers, the best times are in the mornings or early evenings. These are the best times for alligator sightings. Afternoons in the summer can get hot and one would be well advised to get caps, umbrellas and sunscreen lotions.

Do

 * Saltwater fishing, along Delray Beach and Intracoastal Waterway. There is good saltwater fishing in the area, including from the surf and along the Intracoastal Waterway. Different times of the year will provide Snook, Shark, Jack Crevalle, Bluefish, Ladyfish and Tarpon. During the summer, baitfish can be netted from the shoreline or caught using Sabiki lines. Fishing on the beach is typically done from the far north or south end of the beach.
 * Saltwater fishing, along Delray Beach and Intracoastal Waterway. There is good saltwater fishing in the area, including from the surf and along the Intracoastal Waterway. Different times of the year will provide Snook, Shark, Jack Crevalle, Bluefish, Ladyfish and Tarpon. During the summer, baitfish can be netted from the shoreline or caught using Sabiki lines. Fishing on the beach is typically done from the far north or south end of the beach.
 * Saltwater fishing, along Delray Beach and Intracoastal Waterway. There is good saltwater fishing in the area, including from the surf and along the Intracoastal Waterway. Different times of the year will provide Snook, Shark, Jack Crevalle, Bluefish, Ladyfish and Tarpon. During the summer, baitfish can be netted from the shoreline or caught using Sabiki lines. Fishing on the beach is typically done from the far north or south end of the beach.
 * Saltwater fishing, along Delray Beach and Intracoastal Waterway. There is good saltwater fishing in the area, including from the surf and along the Intracoastal Waterway. Different times of the year will provide Snook, Shark, Jack Crevalle, Bluefish, Ladyfish and Tarpon. During the summer, baitfish can be netted from the shoreline or caught using Sabiki lines. Fishing on the beach is typically done from the far north or south end of the beach.
 * Saltwater fishing, along Delray Beach and Intracoastal Waterway. There is good saltwater fishing in the area, including from the surf and along the Intracoastal Waterway. Different times of the year will provide Snook, Shark, Jack Crevalle, Bluefish, Ladyfish and Tarpon. During the summer, baitfish can be netted from the shoreline or caught using Sabiki lines. Fishing on the beach is typically done from the far north or south end of the beach.
 * Saltwater fishing, along Delray Beach and Intracoastal Waterway. There is good saltwater fishing in the area, including from the surf and along the Intracoastal Waterway. Different times of the year will provide Snook, Shark, Jack Crevalle, Bluefish, Ladyfish and Tarpon. During the summer, baitfish can be netted from the shoreline or caught using Sabiki lines. Fishing on the beach is typically done from the far north or south end of the beach.
 * Saltwater fishing, along Delray Beach and Intracoastal Waterway. There is good saltwater fishing in the area, including from the surf and along the Intracoastal Waterway. Different times of the year will provide Snook, Shark, Jack Crevalle, Bluefish, Ladyfish and Tarpon. During the summer, baitfish can be netted from the shoreline or caught using Sabiki lines. Fishing on the beach is typically done from the far north or south end of the beach.

Eat
}}