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Highland Beach: A Florida Visit at its Finest!

Highland Beach, Florida is a quaint seaside town that has miraculously avoided the maniacal Spring Break crowd that has found so many of Florida's east coast beach communities. Although primarily a residential community, Highland Beach makes a great spot for setting up a relaxing vacation on the Gold Coast.

Highland Beach is bordered on the north by Delray Beach, to the south by the lavishly fashionable Boca Raton.

Boca Raton: Elegant and Inviting

The history of Boca Raton, Florida, is rooted the Native Americans, Spanish explorers, pirates, and American soldiers that called the shores around Boca Raton home. Henry Flagler's railroad connected Boca Raton to all points north, and Flagler encouraged businessmen to try and develop the area. One such business man, George Sukeji Morikami, a successful pineapple farmer, donated the land that now houses a local Japanese museum.

A vacation to affluent Boca can be spent either indoors at one of the many museums in the area, shopping at some of the prestigious stores located in Mizner Park, or outdoors soaking up the Florida sunshine.

For outdoor adventures, sunbathing can be found at both South Beach Park, and Spanish River Park Beach. Both venues have picnic facilities and lifeguards on duty. Golf is also very popular in Boca Raton. With over 20 courses, every golfer will find a loop that will challenge their skill level. The area is also a prime scuba diving spot, and boats can be rented for full-day or half-day excursions.

If you are an art aficionado, take some time to check out the Boca Raton Museum of Art. The museum houses a combination of prestigious 19th century oils, internationally famous pieces, and works by local artists. The museum has an extensive education program and conducts tours on a regular basis highlighting aspects of the museum and its exhibits.

Set aside some time for the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens. The museum is a monument to Japanese culture and houses a collection of Japanese artifacts, a garden that is highlighted by the koi-filled moat and large bonsai collection.

For something out of the ordinary, visit the International Museum of Cartoon Art, America's first and only international museum devoted to the collection, preservation, exhibition and study of world-class cartoon art. It is the only museum of its kind with cartoonists represented from over 50 countries. Its collection of over 160,000 original drawings includes every genre of the art: animation, comic books, comic strips, gag cartoons, illustration, editorial, cartoons, greeting cards, caricature, graphic novels, sports cartoons, and computer-generated art. See works by such acclaimed cartoonists as Charles Schultz (Peanuts), Bil Keane (The Family Circus), Otto Messmer (Felix the Cat), and Garry Trudeau (Doonesbury), among others.

Boca Raton is also a great spot for jumping off into other Florida vacation destinations. Miami, and its famous South Beach, is less than an hour away. The refined golf heaven of Naples is less than 2 hours west. Or, for a more traditional foray into Florida vacationing, Disney World, Epcot, Universal, and Sea World are all about 3 hours away.

Boca Raton has a grace cultivated by a commitment to the Arts, architectural integrity, and culture. Don't miss the chance to visit this pristine paradise!