Spring Break in Delray Beach

by Donal Buckley ‘26

A trip away from USC was in the cards for me this Spring Break, and I was lucky enough to travel to Delray Beach, Florida. My friend Anthony calls it home and invited a group of our friends to come stay with him for the week. If you ever find yourself in Delray Beach, here are some exciting attractions and relaxing spots to visit during your stay.

The Beach

Of course, no trip to Delray Beach is complete without a visit to its esteemed coast. With the temperature in the mid-80s modulated by a cool breeze, it felt like we made it to Delray during the best time of the year.

I had never actually been to a beach in Florida before, and it was an entirely different experience than the ones I’ve visited on the West Coast. Primarily, the water was actually swimmably warm! It was much easier to take on the ocean because the water wasn’t nearly as cold as it is in LA.

It was fun to wade through the waves, but the beach offered more than just a pleasant swimming experience — it was also very relaxing. If you’re a resident, you can rent three beach chairs for free, and any extras cost a small fee each. Lying on the chairs, or even on a blanket in the sand, was super gratifying after we tired ourselves in the water. We weren’t wet for long either, as the sunshine dried us off in no time.

Putt’N Around

A classic staple of any beach vacation is mini golf, and Delray Beach certainly hit the mark for a fun putt-putt experience. Putt’N Around featured two courses — the Everglades and the Ocean — containing 18 holes each. With 36 holes in total, there was plenty of fun to be had.

What made Putt’N Around unique, to me, was its design. It felt like we were strolling through a tropical rainforest the whole time; the palm trees bordering every course coupled with unique themes created a beautiful ambience. It wasn’t just a game, it was an experience, but that didn’t take away our competitive spirit. I ended up winning one of the courses, which definitely improved the visit as well!

Silverball Retro Arcade

Another fascinating spot in Delray was the Silverball Retro Arcade, a staple entertainment center for locals and tourists alike. Silverball featured a plethora of 80s and 90s arcade games, ranging from classics like Donkey Kong and Pac-Man to games I never knew existed, like one based on The Simpsons. Of course, given its name, the arcade was home to the most pinball machines I’ve ever seen in one place. I had never really played pinball before going, but I felt like a pro once we left.

What made Silverball unique was that it doubled as a museum as well. As you played old games, you could read about their history and why each one was developed. I never knew how much thought was put into all these games, and I never knew how prominent pinball was back in the day. Especially considering how little prevalence pinball has now, it was nice to pretend I was transported back in time, experiencing something I wasn’t alive for.

Delray Yacht Cruises

At the midpoint of our trip, Anthony’s family took us onboard the Lady Atlantic via Delray Yacht Cruises. The three-story ship takes passengers down the Intracoastal Waterway, exploring Delray Beach history while admiring the huge, expensive homes that border the river.

Unfortunately, since we were on the top deck, we couldn’t really hear what the captain was saying about the river. Nonetheless, it was still a riveting experience as we judged houses we’d never be able to afford. What I found fascinating — but ultimately made sense — was that each house was also equipped with its own boat, jet skis, and/or kayak. It felt like we were living a vicariously rich life through admiring their homes.

Norton Museum of Art

On one of the later days of the trip, we took a gander out to the nearby Palm Beach. There, we explored the Norton Museum of Art. Although admission was around $18, we ended up getting in for only $5 with our student IDs. If you’re a student and want a discount, take advantage! Even if you’re not, the museum was a nice break from the scorching heat outside.

Overall, the museum was super informative and had a spectacular array of different art pieces. It offered both an outdoor and indoor area, as well as multiple floors to explore. Each section had art created for a specific purpose or by a specific person. For example, there were galleries that featured African American, Chinese, and European art; as well as a diverse array of pieces like sculptures, photography, paintings, and exhibitions by local students.

Palm Beach Boutiques

Another place in Palm Beach that we found especially enticing was the strip of shops that lead to the coast. Upon arriving, I immediately realized that I would not be able to afford anything here, but it was fun to window shop and get a peek into another side of Florida. It felt like we were transported to somewhere in Italy. The overall architecture was stunning, and the smaller alleyways provided great picture opportunities as well.

Green Cay Nature Center & Wetlands

Florida is famously known for its swamps and everglades, and thankfully, we were able to get a taste of that at the Green Cay Nature Center. A decently long walk, we trotted down the boardwalk as we made our way across a lake, weaving in and out of small islands of palm trees. It was particularly hot and sunny that day, so when we reached the trees, their canopies provided satisfying shade.

The best part of the wetlands was having the opportunity to observe the diverse array of wildlife that calls them home. There was an abundance of birds, fish, insects, and turtles living in the marsh. We also spotted the occasional frog, and although we didn’t see any alligators (contrary to stereotypical Florida), we did come across the largest iguana I’ve ever seen. It was honestly such a gorgeous ecosystem, I would’ve loved to visit more of them in Florida.

Downtown Delray Beach

No vacation is complete without shopping (where you can actually afford it)! While relatively small, Downtown Delray offers an abundance of gift shops, restaurants, and parks to spend the day visiting. Up to this point, I hadn’t bought any souvenirs, so I was hungry for something I could commemorate the trip with. I ended up buying a magnet and a crew neck so I could bring a part of Delray Beach back to USC with me. We also stopped for a sweet treat at an Italian ice cream shop and had lunch at a Japanese fusion restaurant before saying our last goodbyes to Delray Beach.

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