Summer vacation looks a bit different this year so we're helping you embrace the STAY-cation!

We're all trying to stay closer to home this year and while that might mean your typical summer vacation was canceled, it doesn't mean there's no way to enjoy the summer. So, we've compiled a list of staycation spots within driving distance of Boca Raton. Stay safe and enjoy! 

1. Boca Resort & Beach Club

YOUR SUMMER RESTORED

South County’s oldest, the most historic hotel remains it's most lauded. Addison Mizner took inspiration from Spanish castles when designing the Boca Raton Resort, which opened in 1926. Now a member of the Waldorf Astoria family, this lavish property delivers the perfect mini-getaway for couples, families, and solo excursions. Children love learning to surf and bodyboard at the on-site Flow House Boca and are certain to cap off any activity with a decadent sundae at Serendipity. Adults flock to the award-winning spa and mark many a date night with superb sushi at Morimoto.

2. Eau Palm Beach

PALM BEACH RE-IMAGINED 

Just south of Palm Beach is an equally posh enclave you don’t hear as much about: Manalapan. That’s how the locals like it. It’s every bit as luxurious but a lot more private than its glittering neighbor. Manalapan’s hospitality gem, Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa, feels deliciously removed, yet its vibe is so au courant and so cheeky! that you actually want to be seen. A big attraction here is the decor, masterminded by the King of Cheek himself, potter/ designer Jonathan Adler. Adler, whose manifesto is “Minimalism is a bummer,” was fearless in blending turquoise, navy, sunny yellow, and bursts of silver, punctuated by needlepoint and prints of Slim Aarons photography. Suites are a riot of color and texture, guaranteed to make you smile. Eau Spa, a true altar of self-indulgence, is worth the staycation alone. The experience begins at a wishing well, where you set your intentions for the day, followed by a moment of reflection in the Self-Centered Garden, where bucket chairs swing from the ceiling over a pool of shallow water. Following a snack of Champagne and cupcakes, the perfect spa day continues with a custom concoction at the Scrub & Polish Bar and treatments like the coveted Hydra- Facial MD or The Imperial Geisha, which, as the name suggests, is fit for royalty. Eau’s fine-dining concept, Angle, has been closed for a reimagining and will reopen this month. We can’t wait to see its transformation. In the meantime, it’s hard to find fault with sipping a Mango Mule and nibbling on a Cubano taco en plein air at the Breeze Ocean Kitchen. 

3. Sundy House

Boutique Inn & Tropical Gardens

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Sundy House is a storied gem in Delray Beach. John Shaw Sundy, the former construction superintendent of the Florida East Coast Railway and mayor of Delray Beach, built what is now the boutique inn in 1902. The Victorian-style structure served as the family’s home, the storefront of their feed and fertilizer business, and the school where John’s wife taught Delray’s pioneer children. Today, its current owner, environmentalist Tom Worrell, has fully restored the main house and a number of cottages tucked away in the surrounding Taru Gardens. Sundy House’s rich history and unbridled beauty grows bountiful here. Along the tranquil paths, visitors will find turtle- and fish-filled ponds, waterfalls, streams, benches, gazebos, and the oldest documented Royal Poinciana tree in Palm Beach County, planted in 1919. More than 500 varieties of foliage flourish around this landmark and stretch across a full acre. There’s also a hidden cenote, a freshwater pool where guests can swim and take in the sounds and sights of nature. Inside, Old Florida touches like bamboo, archaic stone, wooden mantels, and handpainted details—coexist with the Queen Anne revival architecture. The symbiosis between the interiors and omnipresent botanical elements makes for an ideal escape, where guests can easily forget they’re blocks away from Atlantic Avenue. The Sundy House restaurant also allows ample opportunities to appreciate the native flora and fauna, with multiple outdoor patios, floor-to-ceiling windows, and tables scattered throughout the gardens. For a mini staycation, make a reservation for the legendary brunch buffet, available on Sundays (Saturdays are à la carte). The spread occupies two rooms and features omelet, crepe, and carving stations; a selection of charcuterie and cheeses; hot dishes like paella and eggs benedict; fresh seafood including oysters and king crab legs; and a dessert and sundae bar. Mimosas, sangria, and Bloody Marys are all bottomless, and diners can customize the latter with accouterments at the greenhouse-style bar. Thankfully, there’s no better place to walk off the inevitable food coma than the peaceful gardens.

4. The Breakers

Experiences No Staycationer Should Miss

Palm Beach’s iconic landmark hotel is steeped in history and tradition, but thanks to constant reinvestment by the owner's descendants of The Breakers’ founder, Henry Morrison Flagler "it always feels fresh and relevant." In the past few seasons, the hotel has rolled out reinventions of its spa and fitness center, Flagler Steakhouse, the ultra-exclusive Flagler Club, and, most recently, Seafood Bar. And the changes keep coming. That’s probably why a staycation at The Breakers feels more like an extravagance than a mere hotel visit. Its grand spaces, with their Renaissance architecture and frescoed ceilings, evoke a sense of place: This is the real Palm Beach, a sanctuary for unapologetic luxury and service the way it should be. Yet there’s always something to discover and an energy that’s addictive whether traveling solo, with a special someone, or with children. 

1. Bungalows by the pool – This is your oasis away from the sun and the crowds. Like a cabana on steroids, a bungalow at The Breakers measures upward of 400 square feet and is appointed with a beach house–style furniture, private loungers, a semi-outdoor shower, a stocked fridge, and the best perk of all concierge service to cater to your whims. Don’t pass up the skinny pineapple margarita, served in a hollowed-out pineapple.
2. Seafood Bar – The Breakers’ classic restaurant has been reimagined in a big way. Inspired by a ship’s interior, the new space is more open and boasts an exhibition kitchen. Its beloved features, like the aquarium bar and sprawling ocean view, have been preserved, as have some of the most popular menu items, such as the crab cakes and seriously addictive Key lime pie. From the new batch of offerings, the tuna tartare tostada is a thing of beauty.
3. Cool kids’ stuff  – Traveling with children? The Breakers will keep them busy with all the activities they love, and then some. From the moment they walk in and are handed a “passport” to record their discoveries, they’ll find oodles of fun things to do: riding the waves in a Jet Ski–towed Banana Boat, blowing off steam in the interactive playground, taking a junior golf lesson, going on a nature scavenger hunt, and playing games in a huge arcade.

5. Four Seasons Resort Palm Beach

Laid- Back Sophistication on the Island's Best Beach

One of the island grande dames, the Four Seasons Resort Palm Beach has a Zen vibe that immediately calms the senses. Perhaps it’s the palette of cool neutrals, or the large-scale, modern floral arrangements in the lobby. Or maybe it’s the tranquil mood that permeates everything from the living room to the spa zone to the chill waterfront cabanas. Whatever it is, a weekend here feels like a far longer getaway.

One of the highlights is dining at the water’s edge. AB&G, the resort’s casual open-air restaurant, is separated from the sand by a clump of sea grapes, giving new meaning to the term “barefoot luxury.” Though it’s a splendid spot for lunch, weekend evenings bring a host of delights, including a view of the rising moon. On Saturday nights, AB&G features Hook’d, a seafood-centric experience with oyster and sashimi selections, market fish, and whole branzino to share (we recommend the curry spiced preparation). On Sundays, the place to be is Graze. Brunch here is lavish and interactive, with made-to-order specialties like chirashi rice bowls and an endless mimosa and Bloody Mary bar, plus a spread with diverse fare from monkey bread to stone crab claws. Be sure to grab a cabana for a post-prandial nap; you’re going to need it.