My family and I recently spent some time in Delray Beach, Florida, for the first time. Here are just a few of my favorite things about this Atlantic seaside town that quickly captured my heart.

Enjoy!

Palm Trees Forever and a Day

Palm trees, palm trees everywhere. I love that. From the streets to the shops, they are literally everywhere you look.

The Streets of Delray

Each street offers something interesting around every corner. Restaurants and shops and art, oh my! No surprise it’s been named the Most Fun Small Town in America by USA Today and one of the Happiest Seaside Towns in America by Coastal Living magazine. There’s a lot to love about Delray.

Atlantic Avenue

The main drag through Delray’s downtown area is Atlantic Avenue. We walked it every day to the beach and enjoyed every moment.

The Atlantic Side of Florida

I love the calm beauty of the Gulf Coast of Florida, but the blue-green Atlantic waters bring their own powerful  and beautiful presence to the eastern shoreline.

Delray Beach

Wide open beaches and plenty of sun, sand and surf. What’s not to love about the beach in Delray? Delray Beach was recently named one of the Top 10 Florida Beaches by the Travel Channel two years running.

The Pavilion

The Delray Beach Pavilion was our go-to entry to the beach during our stay. It’s right at the end of Atlantic Avenue and offers shade, a shower, water fountain, and a nice place to sit and people watch.

The Waterwall

Right before you cross A1A from Atlantic Avenue to the beachfront, there are restrooms and this beloved waterwall. You can’t walk by without touching it, especially if you’re three.

The Intracoastal Waterway

Sit on the bench and watch the boats, watch the drawbridge open and close, or just stroll the length of the path for fabulous views. This part is located right next to Veterans Park and the park’s recreation center, so it was easily accessible.

The Drawbridge

The drawbridge on Atlantic Avenue in Delray Beach opens on the quarter and three-quarter hour, so plan ahead if you’re walking over it. It’s pretty fun to cross the walkway on foot while the cars drive by and feel the vibration under your feet.

View from the Bridge

The view from the drawbridge is always nice. You get a bird’s eye view of the Intracoastal on both sides. Catch it at sunrise for some of the best colors in the coastal palette.

Pastel Coastal Sunrise from the Drawbridge

See? Told you. It’s a very lovely walk during the early morning hours. Check your sunrise times and plan to get to the beach for a color show over the Atlantic Ocean.

Sunrise on Delray Beach

What can I say other than it’s a beautiful place to be in the morning. What better way to start your day? Aahhhh.

Veterans Park

We loved visiting Veterans Park in Delray. It is well-maintained with a fountain, pergola gazebo, as well as plenty of palm trees. There’s a playground and recreation center on-site too, along with grills, benches and plenty of room to roam. It’s one of our favorite places to be.

Playground at Veterans Park

I have a three-year-old so parks and playgrounds are a pretty big deal for us. He really loved this playground and we were here almost daily.

Drum Circle at Veterans Park

A nice little diversion and always entertaining. There was always something happening at Veterans Park from drum circles to adventurous tandem yoga workouts to poetry readings.

Watching the Waterway

You just can’t help but stare at the sites all along the Intracoastal Waterway. There’s something to see every single day.

Making New Friends

You never know who you’ll meet along the way. Dogs love it here, too.

Local Patrol

We saw the local law enforcement patrolling the area on a frequent basis. They were nice enough to stop for this photo op. Thanks, guys!

Lake Ida West Park

Like I said, parks are big deal when you have young kids. You won’t run out of places to go in Palm Beach County when it comes to parks and playgrounds. We liked Lake Ida West Park for its amenities, multiple playgrounds and water access. If you are traveling with pets, be sure to check out the Lake Ida Dog Park. There’s a Lake Ida East Park, too, but we didn’t get there this trip. Maybe next time!

Lake Ida West Playground

There were a couple of playgrounds for the kids. As you can see, there’s a lot to explore and tons of fun for the little ones.

Another Lake Ida West Playground

This sandy playground was so white and clean that my child asked if it was snow… Seriously, he did. It’s smaller than the previous playground mentioned above, but equally as fun.

Delray Beach in the Evening

Just like the mornings, the evenings on Delray Beach were stunning. Cooler sands, dusky colors and a reprieve from the midday heat are always welcoming.

Delray Skies

The cloudscape offers a new sky show every day. I can never get enough of coastal skylines.

Atlantic Avenue at Night

Lit up and reflective of its fun, festive and friendly vibe, Atlantic Avenue at night is worth the walk.

Intracoastal at Night

Bright lights in a not-s0-big city. Just the way I like it.

Delray Beach Nightscape

The beach at night is still beautiful even on the darkest of nights with no moon visible. Just imagine it on a moonlit evening dotted with twinkling stars. I might have to go back and see that for myself.

Have you been to the seaside city of Delray Beach, Florida? If so, did you love it as much as we did? If not, you should go!