Old-World Seaside Charm Meets Contemporary Beachside Living in Boynton Beach Florida

At 16.25 square miles, Boynton Beach, Florida might seem like a blip on a Florida visitor's radar - too small to consider for a visit, let alone a place to live. However, the little town offers many advantages over bigger, more famous areas of South Florida, and for a lot less money.

Boynton Beach is a small, tropical strip of land on Palm Beach County's east coast. Located just seven miles south of the more famous West Palm Beach, Boynton is also a mere hour's drive from exotic Miami. It shares the same breathtaking weather and lifestyle without the high costs, heavy traffic, or crowding.

Many people are familiar with Henry Morrison Flagler's discovery and development of Palm Beach, but the story of Boynton Beach is not as commonly known.

It all began two years before Flagler's involvement when, in 1894, Civil War Major Nathan Boynton happened on a little piece of South Florida paradise and decided to stay. He not only encouraged other visitors, who eventually began to populate the lush area, but he built the historic Boynton Hotel. The town that sprang up was named for Boynton.

In time the new residents realized that there was a market for the abundant fruits and vegetables which grew so easily in the climate. They built a thriving business, growing and selling produce. By this time Henry Flagler's brand-new Florida East Coast Railroad was in place and allowed residents to ship their crops.

The town began to thrive and grew steadily. Producing fruits and vegetables is no longer its primary source of income. Today's Boynton has become a popular place to visit or live because of its climate, beautiful beaches, and remaining small-town feel.

One of the most attractive things about this little town is that it is centrally located. Visitors can find affordable accommodations and still be within driving distance of some of Florida's most desirable attractions. A few facts:

Boynton is:

• 13.7 miles from Palm Beach International Airport
• 26.7 miles from Ft. Lauderdale Airport
• 56.9 miles from Miami
• 14 miles from downtown West Palm Beach
• 217 miles (approximately 4 hours via car) from Disney World

There are numerous shopping areas nearby, including the Boynton Mall and the Boca Town Center, a huge, elegant shopping mall in trendy Boca Raton.

Boynton not only proudly hosts a number of excellent restaurants of its own, but is within a short driving distance of hundreds of eateries, from casual to elegant. These include the world-famous Breakers Hotel, on Palm Beach. Boynton is just a ride over a bridge from the Palm Beach experience.

From sight seeing to education or medical help, there is local access to almost any need or want imaginable. A few examples include:

Palm Beach:

• Flagler Museum
• The Breakers Hotel
• Worth Avenue

Hospitals:

• Bethesda Memorial Hospital
• JFK Medical Center
• Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center
• West Palm Beach VA Medical Center

Colleges:

• Palm Beach State College
• Florida Atlantic University
• Palm Beach Atlantic University
• Broward College
• University of Phoenix
• Keiser University

Partly because of its size and partly because of the hard-working Boynton Beach CRA, the town has managed to maintain a great deal of its original sleepy, seaside feel. At the same time, however, the city welcomes progress.

In the last few years several elegant waterside housing areas have been built and a downtown marina park was developed. This project includes boating, waterside dining, outdoor activities, and more.

The famous Boynton Inlet boasts some of the area's finest fishing and boating. Thousands of visitors and locals flock to this area all year round.

Although Boynton is famous for its beaches, surfing, and other water sports, both locals and visitors are also minutes away from theaters, fine dining, sight seeing, or one of the many area festivals.

Two great reasons to stop by and visit the little town by the sea are its reasonable housing costs and winter weather. Rents are within reach and, even when we're not in a recession, it's possible to find budget-friendly, charming condos very near the Intracoastal Waterway.

There's no doubt that Nathan Boynton would be proud and amazed if he could see how his little stretch of beach has grown up.