Boca Raton
March 12, 2010 6:30 AM Subscribe
Where to live and what to do around Davie and Boca Raton, FL?
I have a 10-week work assignment in Florida, I'll be working half the time in Boca Raton and half in Davie. I've never really heard of Davie, and all I know about Boca Raton I read in this helpful ask mefi post.
First, I need to figure out where to live. I need a sublet or temporary rental, my budget is about $1500/month at most. I'll have a car, so getting around won't be a problem. What neighborhoods or towns should I be looking at? I'm not averse necessarily to living in BR or Davie, or in between. I'd like someplace close to fun things to do like parks, beaches, biking or hiking trails.
Second, what should I do with my free time? I'll generally have either 2-3 full days free and most days I don't work until 5ish. I assume I'll be going to some beaches, what area should I look into? I've been to Miami once and to the Keys, so I'll probably take at least one weekend trip there. What else is good? I'm mostly looking for outdoor activities, but cultural stuff is good too. Farmer's markets? Any famous cheap-ish restaurants?
I have a 10-week work assignment in Florida, I'll be working half the time in Boca Raton and half in Davie. I've never really heard of Davie, and all I know about Boca Raton I read in this helpful ask mefi post.
First, I need to figure out where to live. I need a sublet or temporary rental, my budget is about $1500/month at most. I'll have a car, so getting around won't be a problem. What neighborhoods or towns should I be looking at? I'm not averse necessarily to living in BR or Davie, or in between. I'd like someplace close to fun things to do like parks, beaches, biking or hiking trails.
Second, what should I do with my free time? I'll generally have either 2-3 full days free and most days I don't work until 5ish. I assume I'll be going to some beaches, what area should I look into? I've been to Miami once and to the Keys, so I'll probably take at least one weekend trip there. What else is good? I'm mostly looking for outdoor activities, but cultural stuff is good too. Farmer's markets? Any famous cheap-ish restaurants?
Best answer: I spent the first 18 years of my life in South Florida (Hollywood, to be more specific), but I've only been back twice since then.
Coral Springs is roughly half-way between Boca and Davie (I went to high school in Davie) and might well be a nice place to live. Most of the cities/towns around there are probably fine, and driving to parks/etc. is likely your best option; Broward County and Southern Palm Beach aren't (or weren't; take my over-a-decade-old advice with a grain of salt) particularly bike or mass-transit friendly.
I'm jealous of your access to good Cuban food (Padrino's is nearby Plantation is a favorite of mine, despite it's strip-mall location). The Everglades are worth a trip, as are Northern Florida destinations like St. Augustine. Downtown Ft. Lauderdale was developing a bit of a nightlife (on Los Olas) which has either gotten much better or much worse since I was there. The beaches are nice and the water is warm.... It's a slight cultural wasteland, but 10 weeks isn't so horribly long.
I don't have a ton of time now, but I'm happy to answer more specific questions you might have. MeMail me if I don't respond to Qs in the thread.
posted by JMOZ at 7:02 AM on March 12, 2010 [1 favorite]
Coral Springs is roughly half-way between Boca and Davie (I went to high school in Davie) and might well be a nice place to live. Most of the cities/towns around there are probably fine, and driving to parks/etc. is likely your best option; Broward County and Southern Palm Beach aren't (or weren't; take my over-a-decade-old advice with a grain of salt) particularly bike or mass-transit friendly.
I'm jealous of your access to good Cuban food (Padrino's is nearby Plantation is a favorite of mine, despite it's strip-mall location). The Everglades are worth a trip, as are Northern Florida destinations like St. Augustine. Downtown Ft. Lauderdale was developing a bit of a nightlife (on Los Olas) which has either gotten much better or much worse since I was there. The beaches are nice and the water is warm.... It's a slight cultural wasteland, but 10 weeks isn't so horribly long.
I don't have a ton of time now, but I'm happy to answer more specific questions you might have. MeMail me if I don't respond to Qs in the thread.
posted by JMOZ at 7:02 AM on March 12, 2010 [1 favorite]
IMAX in Fort Lauderdale.
I prefer Hollywood Beach, and the Broadwalk, over Fort Lauderdale Beach.
Spring Training Baseball abounds in So FL.
Las Olas has some interesting bars, but I'm not much of a drinker, so take that with a grain of salt.
Brew is a great coffee shop in Las Olas. They sell beer in addition to coffee.
Sweat Records down in Miami is awesome, locally owned, and they have vegan snacks. (I'm not vegan, but those snacks are tasty.)
Davie has the Roundup, which is a bar I enjoyed the one time I went there. If you have any interest in riding horses, Davie would be the town to look for that.
Let me know if you have any specific interests in the area.
Also, I grew up in Key West, so I can answer some questions about there as well.
posted by bilabial at 9:00 AM on March 12, 2010
I prefer Hollywood Beach, and the Broadwalk, over Fort Lauderdale Beach.
Spring Training Baseball abounds in So FL.
Las Olas has some interesting bars, but I'm not much of a drinker, so take that with a grain of salt.
Brew is a great coffee shop in Las Olas. They sell beer in addition to coffee.
Sweat Records down in Miami is awesome, locally owned, and they have vegan snacks. (I'm not vegan, but those snacks are tasty.)
Davie has the Roundup, which is a bar I enjoyed the one time I went there. If you have any interest in riding horses, Davie would be the town to look for that.
Let me know if you have any specific interests in the area.
Also, I grew up in Key West, so I can answer some questions about there as well.
posted by bilabial at 9:00 AM on March 12, 2010
My mother-in-law's family is from Davie. I see the Round-Up has already been mentioned.. the other big "event" in Davie is the Rodeo. I think they have a small show most Wednesday nights, but I doubt you'll be in town for the big national or state rodeo competitions.
I'd tell you to visit my in-laws old hardware store, but it burned down about 2 years ago.
posted by jrishel at 11:34 AM on March 12, 2010
I'd tell you to visit my in-laws old hardware store, but it burned down about 2 years ago.
posted by jrishel at 11:34 AM on March 12, 2010
While I was there I had memorable meals at The Quarterdeck and enjoyed El Pollo Loco, but it went right through me. I didn't see much else that I could recommend.
Oh yeah, I did win almost $400 at the Hard Rock Cafe and Casino.
posted by TuxHeDoh at 11:52 AM on March 12, 2010
Oh yeah, I did win almost $400 at the Hard Rock Cafe and Casino.
posted by TuxHeDoh at 11:52 AM on March 12, 2010
Scratch that, not El Pollo Loco but instead, Pollo Tropicale
posted by TuxHeDoh at 11:52 AM on March 12, 2010
posted by TuxHeDoh at 11:52 AM on March 12, 2010
Response by poster: Thanks for your input people. Any thoughts on what neighborhoods I should be concentrating on for my housing, or is the general area fairly homogeneous?
posted by bluejayk at 2:00 PM on March 12, 2010
posted by bluejayk at 2:00 PM on March 12, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
Watch out for the insane grumpy old people in the Boys' parking lot though.
posted by mneekadon at 7:00 AM on March 12, 2010