Beaches in Delray and Boynton (Delray Beach, Lake Worth: condo, crime, townhouses)

[firsttimer99]

Hello!
I am interested in finding out which are the best beaches for:
- swimming and enjoying a calm sea. Possibly even do laps?
- snorkeling? Are there any beaches that have natural reefs?
- any beaches have good small waves for boogie boarding?

Do all beaches offer umbrellas for shade protection?
Is it crazy busy during the winter like a resort in the Caribbean?

I saw a comment in another thread that said to avoid the inlets. What do you mean? Which areas does that include?

WE are looking to buy a home and would like to know which beaches to avoid if any!

Thank you so much.

[bocamom]

If you look at the satellite map of boynton/delray you will see only one inlet, and it is the north end of Boynton, when the tide flows out from the intracoastal browner brackish water with whatever it carries with is on any given day comes out and that affects the beaches nearby, especially to the immediate south.

Delray Beach at Atlantic Ave. has umbrellas and is great for swimming. There is a sewage outfall pipe way out offshore from Atlantic but it has been off since April to the best of my knowledge, making Atlantic Avenue's beach one of the most attractive swimming beaches in south florida. There aren't as many rip currents there, supposedly, adding to its appeal.

And, of the area of Boynton/Delray on the beach, Atlantic Avenue and six blocks or so north or south of it is by far the most attractive overall for quality of life, IMO, of any south palm beach county beach. Highland beach is beautiful, but isolated and dull. But if you can score one of those townhouses near atlantic - there's one on ocean terrace listed at 449 last i checked - that would rock.

[firsttimer99]

Thank you bocamom! Terrific information and much appreciated.

However, we won't be scoring a townhome.. not that sort of condo or townhome people. We're fairly eccentric and gotta be able to do our own thing. Hoping we can find a Key West style home in our price range in East Delray or possibly Boynton. We did find a terrific realtor through these forums. And the community here has been incredibly forthcoming with answers to our many questions!

Thanks so much.

[bocamom]

Well, there are lovely key west style homes in the atlantic area as well as congratulations to you if you can afford them! *I* particularly like the waterfront area immediately next to Downtown Lake Worth for eclectic Key West style homes on a more common budget.

[firsttimer99]

Thanks yet again, bocamom! I was wondering about Lake Worth. Yes, the homes near Atlantic Ave are out of our price range. Fantastic info!

[THX 1138]

Lake Worth is a little shady, the beach/pier is not on the short list of best places either.

I would suggest further north, Phipps Ocean Park in South Palm Beach.

[Pirateclosingon40]

I've lived in downtown Lake Worth for going on six years. The biggest draw was the similarity to Key West. Old homes, not cookie-cutter developments. Very affordable. Lots of character.

Seedy...maybe. I'd prefer to think of it as Key West back in the 70s and 80s...not that I was there then, but much of what I've had described to me by those who were parallels today's Lake Worth very closely.

Yes, there are crime issues, mostly in the area just west of Dixie Highway. Stay east. Yes, there is a large immigrant population, much of it "undocumented". So what?

The beach is not the best or most beautiful, certainly when compared to other areas. However...it has actual businesses at the beach. An excellent pizza joint, an ice cream shop, T-shirt shop, etc. John G's for breakfast, which is apparently good enough to get reviews in national media and justify lines around the block every morning, plus Benny's on the Beach and a funky little tiki bar.

The newly rebuilt fishing pier is very nice. The community pool is directly across the street.

Downtown has a great mix of bars and restaurants, excellent live music most nights, a professional theater in a restored playhouse, art films, yoga...the coolest old public library in South Florida... and an assortment of hippies, yuppies, gays, families, surfers, seniors, vagabonds, charlatans, artists, lunatics, refugees, and other characters which make it an interesting place to reside. Plus, Miss Cleo gives readings at the coffeehouse.

It's not perfect by any means, but there are certainly worse places to live.

Paul

[bocamom]

Paul, what's the problem with the beach?

I have been considering this area for a long time, and keep getting talked out of it.

[Pirateclosingon40]

Originally Posted by bocamom

Paul, what's the problem with the beach?

I have been considering this area for a long time, and keep getting talked out of it.

The beach is relatively narrow, so there's not a lot of space between the ocean and the seawall. As a consequence, the sections close to the parking lot and "boardwalk" get pretty crowded.

There are some submerged rocks, which can be bothersome and cause rip currents; on the other hand, they can provide nearshore snorkel spots (particularly for children) where small fish gather.

The sand often needs to be replenished, and is often shelly and coarse in sections; it's not the pristine white sugar of the Gulf Coast beaches.

Since the beach does get crowded, litter can be a problem, especially as it appears that, in some cultures, it's considered acceptable to throw your trash anywhere.

All that said, it's certainly a beach, which is more than many towns have. I've often been guilty of taking for granted what we have. I've learned not to complain about the "crappy" beach to people who live in, say, Nebraska. especially in February; they seem to like pictures of the Lake Worth beach and pier just fine.

Paul

BTW: There is a massive redevelopment project on the board for the old casino building at the beach and beautification of the entire area. We'll see what happens. One of the things that makes Lake Worth attractive to many residents is the fact that it really is probably the last "Old Florida" beach town on the Southeast Florida coast. While Delray is very nice, there is some prentension that has crept in with all the gentrification; lots of the people in Lake Worth want to avoid the same fate.

[rainroosty]

I have been living in Lake Worth, by the water, for 30 years now and I think Lake Worth Beach is the BEST beach in the county. It's not littered, the sand is beach sand and just go onto the pier and look down in the water and try to spot any rocks.
That's my alternative viewpoint and I'm sticking with it because I believe it to be true. I'm thinking now that I'll go take some pictures and post them in this section of the forum. :-) My days are filled with appointments so give me some time....