As South Florida braces for another season of record-breaking temperatures, these local spots can keep you entertained (and cool) during the cruel, cruel summer.
Boca Ice
When it comes to beating the summer heat, having thousands of square feet of ice is a pretty solid starting point. Boca Ice & Fine Arts Center, Boca’s new winter sports complex, features two NHL-sized ice rinks, and the temperature is kept at a brisk 58 degrees, making it the perfect refuge from even the harshest summer days. But that’s not even the best part. In addition to ice skating and hockey lessons, Boca Ice is the only place around that features ice bumper cars. Credit to the genius who figured out how to make bumper cars even more fun; these cars glide and spin effortlessly across the ice, allowing you to bounce your way around the rink with ease. The complex also features a ski and snowboard simulator for perfecting your pizza and french fry positions, and is a great location for hosting parties, with catering options from Lemongrass Asian Bistro and Los Olivos Bistro.
900 Peninsula Corp Circle, Boca Raton, bocaice.com
Barrel of Monks
Sometimes happiness is as simple as sipping a cold beer on a hot summer day, or at least it’s that simple at Barrel of Monks brewery. This Boca craft brewery follows the tried-and-true style of Belgian brewing and produces more than a dozen custom beers that are sure to hit the bulls-eye of any palate. We recommend trying the Single in the Sun, a Belgian ale that feels like sipping on a cool, citrusy breeze. Barrel of Monks also hosts the award-winning Cheffrey Eats food truck that features classic bar fare like wings, buttermilk fried pickles and four-napkin burgers that come bursting off the tray. Plan a weekday visit and enjoy the brewery’s BOGO Tuesday (buy one beer, get one free), Wing Wednesday ($12 for a beer and wings) and Taco Thursdays ($12 beer and taco combo). Cheers!
1141 S. Rogers Circle, #5, Boca Raton, barrelofmonks.com
Strike 10
Part sports lounge, part billiards hall and part neon-soaked bowling alley, Strike 10 has developed a commanding presence in Boca’s nightlife scene since its debut two years ago. Featuring 10 bowling lanes that glow with vibrant multicolored lights and dancing neon, Strike 10 is the boutique bowling experience we never knew we needed but are now hooked. With cozy and spacious seating and live DJ music on weekends, the vibe carefully toes the line between club and lounge, making it a great spot for those looking for a big night out or just to kick back, have a craft cocktail, and play a game of pool. Strike 10 also features a full bar and restaurant, with selections ranging from flatbreads and wings to pizza and tacos. If you’re bringing the family, we recommend one of the two miniature lanes for duckpin bowling, making it easier for kids to join in on the fun. Be sure to make reservations, as slots fill up fast!
449 Plaza Real, Boca Raton, strike10bowling.com
Silverball Retro Arcade
Vintage is in vogue, and nowhere is that more evident than Delray’s Silverball Retro Arcade. Boasting more than 80 meticulously restored pinball machines from as far back as the 1930s, this retro game room is a paean to the halcyon days of entertainment, where all you needed for a good time were a few quarters and a ride to the arcade. For those who aren’t exactly pinball wizards, Silverball also features more than 20 arcade games including Ms. Pac-Man, Galaga and Skee-Ball, as well as shuffleboard and air hockey tables. You won’t need a sack full of quarters to play, either, as an entry pass ($15 hourly or $17.50 for a half day) grants you unlimited access to all machines. We recommend visiting during Happy Hour, 4 to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, or on weekends to catch live DJ tunes.
19 N.E. Third Ave., Delray Beach, silverballmuseum.com/delray-beach
A Spa for Every Occasion
Living in Palm Beach County means we have access to some of the best spas in the nation, so it can be tough to narrow down where you want to spend your summer day of relaxation. But why choose one? Stretch your spa day into a spa week with these offerings from local retreats.
EAU SPA: This internationally renowned resort features a cornucopia of offerings that will have you floating blissfully toward nirvana. We recommend the Day Pass, which includes a healthy dose of zen in the Self-Centered Garden, a soothing session in the bath lounge, and bites from the resort’s famously decadent cupcakes in the relaxation lounge. eaupalmbeach.com/eau-spa
SPA PALMERA AT THE BOCA RATON: Boca’s Spa Palmera (exclusive to resort club members and guests) takes pampering seriously with six signature spa packages. If you’re only going with one, we’d suggest The Royal Escape, which combines a ritual bath, a delicate Alhambra touch massage and a pedicure. You won’t want to leave. thebocaraton.com/spa-palmera
BETTER ME MEDICAL SPA & WELLNESS CENTER: The summer sun in Florida is unforgiving to skin complexion, but Better Me Med Spa has the antidote. Sample from its various anti-aging treatments, including HA fillers, an injectable gel that can smooth out wrinkles and leave your face looking years younger. bettermemedspa.com
FIVE ELEMENTS SPA: This Deerfield Beach spa has massaging down to a science. Its Signature Massage begins with an organic detox shot to stimulate the senses before you select an aromatherapy oil that will soothe you as your body turns to jelly from the deep, gentle massage. fiveelementsspa.com
THE SEAGATE SPA: The Seagate Hotel’s award-winning spa offers couples massage packages for a romantic day of unwinding. Melt away with a hot shell massage that deeply penetrates the muscles and unties all those tension knots. For best results, we recommend enhancing your massage with a pink mud scalp massage and a bottle of Champagne. seagatedelray.com/spa
This article is from the May/June 2024 issue of Boca magazine. For more like this, click here to subscribe to the magazine.
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