View the Video version of this episode at: https://bocabayourealestate.com/living-the-boca-raton-lifestyle/why-has-boca-raton-been-called-a-city-within-a-park/ Why has Boca Raton been called a city within a park? Find out right after this. Boca Raton has been called a city within a park over the years because with over 40 parks located within the city limits, it does tend to create that feel. Today I want to share with you one of my favorites, sugar Sand Park. It's a large park, it's centrally located in Boca, close to everything. It has so much to offer. It was built in 1995. It's 132 acres. They've got a gymnasium, they have ball fields, they've got playgrounds, and even a carousel and a theater. So come check it out with me today as I share this wonderful hidden gem. One of my favorite parts of Sugar Sand Park is the Children's Science Explorer. It's really, really cool. So after you're here a while and you're kind of just warm the kids and playing in the, in the playground and you wanna just escape that for the sun, come check it out. There really is no admission to the museum, but they do recommend that you make a $5 donation. It does help keep the place running. So come check it out. Coincide we're inside the children's science exploring. It's a really cool place. Like I said, it's cool in here. Air conditioning's on. Okay, so we're gonna take, we're gonna take you through. Um, there's all sorts of experiments and exhibits, hands-on things for the kids to do. They have so many cool things that they can participate, uh, either with groups or on their own. So let's, let's take a look at, okay, remember I told you it was a $5 donation, suggested donation, $5, so I'm paying for month. How cool is that? Okay, how cool is this? They've got things immediately upon coming in. Things that you can do, things that are interactive, um, kids to work on. That's pretty cool. We've got a kid up here And let's no win. It's all kinds of, I hope you're gonna join me. Bye-bye. Come on. Pretty Cool. See my fingerprint? This is really cool. They have an outdoor space. It's like a nature walk showing you different flowers for the butterflies. It's really cool. There are a ton of butterflies. It's a way for kids to learn the different flowers and the different buds grow things. I think that's milkweed. I'm maybe not for butterflies. And they got a game here. You can get it, an app on your phone for it or, or something where you go through This nature walk and as you see things, you check 'em off the list and then you get a prize. How cool is that? Check this out. We can become a butterfly, A monarch butterfly. Some kids will love that. What a great Halloween costume. You gotta be sure you check out the playground. The original playground was built by volunteers here in the city. How cool is that? They have recently updated it since then, but it's so full water features, it's three stories high and there's so many slides and things here for the kids just to run wild and, uh, occupy them for a long time hours. Anyway, be sure to come and check every part of Sugar Sand Park out. I think you'll like Sugar Sand Park offers so much indoor activity. They also offer all of the outdoor amenities that you could need. They have six ballparks just like this one. They have a hockey break. They even have an indoor gym gymnasium where they have two basketball courts, two volleyball courts, seating for 400 people. Uh, they have different competitions and things going on in there. It's a great, great place. I hope you'll come out and check out this fabulous park. It's only one of the 40 parks that Boca Raton, uh, maintains here within our city. And, um, I hope you'd like my video and if you did, be sure to click on the subscribe button for me and then ring that bell. That way you'll be notified of anytime that I, uh, publish another video.

View the Video version of this episode at: https://bocabayourealestate.com/living-the-boca-raton-lifestyle/moving-to-boca-raton/

Moving to Boca Raton and want to know your options, the answer right after this.

Moving to Boca Raton and want to know some of your options, I would love to share some of those with you.

Here in Boca, I consider this a beach town, small quaint. It has that type of feeling. We have miles and miles of beautiful beaches where you could live in a condominium with sweeping ocean views or maybe a single family house as you go inland. We have waterfront communities, single family home, waterfront communities, and also communities of condominiums on the water. So if you're a boater or maybe you just like to wash the boat activity, a waterfront community could be just what you're looking for. If you're a golfer or maybe a tennis player, a country club could be the answer. Our country clubs here are beautiful. They're all different. They offer state-of-the-art amenities, multiple golf courses, resort style living. Keep in mind that with most country clubs, you do have an initiation fee or an equity fee, but if you're a golfer or a tennis player or enjoy those social events, it could be perfect for you. We also have single family homes in great communities that are loaded with families. These communities offer fabulous clubhouses with swimming pools, playgrounds, water parks, a great environment for families. They offer all sorts of activities for everybody of all ages. Another choice would be an active adult community.

We have villas, we have condominiums, and we even have single family homes located in a gated community where you don't maintain your yard, you don't have to maintain the exterior of your house, but you get to live in a single family house. Most of those will not have a private pool, but they'll have a very, very nice clubhouse with an elaborate pool and exercising rooms, aerobics, yoga. Some of them have theaters, they offer shows, they all plan activities. You can participate as much or as little as you want. That's just a small fraction of the type of housing that would be available for your choices. I think the best thing would be to come down, spend some time, and go out and take a look at several of your different options and see which one feels right for you. Thank you for joining me today.

I hope you've been enjoying my series of living the Boca Raton Lifestyle. If you have, be sure to save my page, share my page, like my page, or follow me so that you don't miss out on my next episode. Also, make sure you visit my website and receive your complimentary copy of my exclusive Boca Raton Locals Guide. I have put this guide together featuring a lot of my favorite restaurants, boutique shops, events, and all sorts of other ideas here in the Boca Raton area. Again, thank you and until next time, make it a great day.

Boca Raton's Africa USA - https://bocabayourealestate.com/living-the-boca-raton-lifestyle/boca-ratons-africa-usa/

Do you know what tourist attraction Boca Raton used to have that attracted over 300,000 visitors each year? Find out right after this,

It was called Africa USA, a true American success story. It was one family's dream to have an African wildlife park and botanical gardens right here in south Florida. John and Lillian Petterson were one day driving through Boca Raton and came across a large grassland dotted with palm trees and pine trees and thought it looked like an African Savannah. They looked at the land in the small town of Boca Raton and they thought this is the Deadest town they had ever seen. They decided at that time that they were going to wake this town up. They purchased 300 acres from the city of Boca Raton in 1950, and their dream began. The transformation to an African jungle started miles of canals and lakes had to be Doug in artificial waterfall and geyser were engineered, and over 55,000 plants were added to give that jungle feel. Now the only thing missing are the animals.

He flew to British East Africa to begin the process of animal collection. He spent seven months in Africa collecting rare zebras will the beast, ostriches, Gazelle's, and so many others. Some he had to have special permission to collect and ship back to the state. The animals were then loaded on a steam ship as a modern day. Noah's Ark. The ship then arrived nine weeks later at Port Everglades, Florida. It was the largest shipment of animals ever to have left Africa. The unloading of the animals was quite a media event. They were transported to their new home in Boca Raton. On March 10th, 1953, Africa USA opened their doors to the public. Admission to the gardens was free. The Jungle Train tour cost 95 cents. Many major newspapers did full page articles on the uniqueness of the park. Imagine a zoo with no cages, a place where visitors could safely interact with the animals. Africa U S A became more and more popular as a tourist attraction, bringing over 300,000 visitors each year. John Patterson had succeeded. He put Boca Raton, Florida on the map. I hope you enjoyed this little bit of history about Boca Raton, Florida, and until next time, make it a great day.

Lynn Johnsen

BocaBayouRealEstate.com

(561) 239-1900