The Boca Museum, which is also a part of the Centre for the Arts, houses more than 4,000 works in its 19th and 20th century permanent collection and rotating exhibitions. A recent showing, "Degas in Bronze," featured 74 Degas sculptures posthumously cast in bronze from the artist's original composite and wax models. During my visit, I meandered amid the museum's outdoor sculpture garden with works by international artists Jorge Jimenez Deredia of Costa Rica, Julio Larraz of Cuba and Rabarama from Italy.
Another impressive exhibition of some 60 bold, colorful works was "The Masters of Latin America." The art of Fernando Botero, Diego Rivera and Francisco Zuniga embraced the intimate galleries.
Mizner Park presents a great people-watching arena both day and night. I enjoyed the parade of characters during a hearty and healthful lunch at Max's Grille and while I nursed a soothing pinot grigio at Grantedi's during dinner.
Just minutes from Mizner Park sits the luxurious, 356-acre, 1,043-room Boca Raton Resort and Club. This Shangri-La of eccentric architect Addison Mizner opened in 1926 with lush, tropical landscaping and gardens, Spanish-style courtyards, elaborate antiques and flowing fountains. The Spa Palazzo was part of a $100 million renovation and was modeled after the Alhambra, Spain's Moorish palace.
At the resort's entrance boldly stands "The Slave Girl," a sensual statue created by Italian sculptor Ettore Pellagatta, who did a restorative work at Vizcaya on Biscayne Bay.
Perhaps the most memorable venue of world-class art was the Norton Museum of Art in West Palm Beach, a 25-minute drive north on I-95. Everything from Old World paintings of European masters, impressionists and contemporary artists, along with Chinese artifacts, adorn the corridors around the dramatic spiral stairway. I arrived during a showing of Georgia O'Keeffe's painting and a whimsical collection from the personal wardrobe of fashion icon Iris Apfel, originally organized by New York's Museum of Modern Art.
Also on view was a special Elger Esser photography exhibit, the artist's largest U.S. museum presentation. Most of the sepia-tone photos were painting-size landscapes taken in France, Spain, Ireland and Italy.
It was also the first time that I had seen a section of a museum dedicated to the visually impaired. The original paintings were hanging near duplications in a Braille-type format, which I found quite fascinating.
Another good culinary bargain is high tea at the stately Chesterfield Hotel near the ritzy shops on Worth Avenue, the Rodeo Drive of Florida.
I decided to take a scenic, leisurely drive back to Boca from West Palm along Highway 1, passing the azure ocean and a myriad of mansions and towering palm trees. I stretched my legs and devoured some crispy calamari at Delray Beach's popular local hangout, Boston's on the Beach, located at 40 South Ocean Blvd.
IF YOU GO
Note that most of the museums are closed on Mondays.
The Boca Museum: 501 Plaza Real, Mizner Park, 561-392-2500, www.bocamuseum.org. The museum is open Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Wednesday 10 a.m.-9 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday 12-5 p.m.
Norton Museum: 1451 South Olive Ave., 561-832-5196, www.norton.org. Open Monday through Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sunday 1-5 p.m., and closed Mondays May through October and major holidays.
Mizner Park Centre for the Arts: 433 Plaza Real, 561-368-8445, www.centre4artsboca.com.
Boca Resort and Club: 501 East Camino Real, 561-447-3000, www.bocaresort.com.
Beverly Mann is a freelance travel writer.
