Delray Beach Wins Most Fun Small Town in America
A thriving, trendy beach town Delray Beach is a true hotspot and has made a speedy emergence on the travel and nightlife scene. New York Times recently pointed out, "East Atlantic Avenue has brought in a new energy: creative, stylish and yet attitude free." Just off Atlantic Avenue, the Pineapple Grove art district is sure to appeal with its colorful blend of shops, sidewalk cafes, bars, galleries, murals and public art.
Congratulations to Delray Beach, Florida, Winner of Rand McNally’s Annual Best of the Road contest for Most Fun Small Town in America!
Winning the nomination among hundreds of towns across the country, Delray Beach was one of five finalist to receive a visit from a pre-selected team during the The Best of the Road® Rally, which took place in June and July. The team visited the five finalists in the Most Fun category, after which it was determined that Delray Beach was indeed the most fun small town in America.
DELRAY BEACH, FLORIDA
Team that visited: Patricia Serrano of New York City and Anna Haas of Nashville ("Fresh Traveler")
What made it stand out: Located north of Boca Raton in South Florida's Palm Beach County, this town has a "Miami meets Manhattan in the '60s" vibe (think Panama hats and individually owned shops, not flip-flops and chain restaurants). "You can be a yogi beach bunny one minute, on a boat crusing the marina the next, then get your taste of great locally-sourced grub decked out in a dress you got at one of the many awesome vintage stores before you hit one of the town's night spots," the team says.
Don't miss: Kevro's Art Bar, an "authentic, intimate and creative space that harbors arts of all kinds," and the free Delray Downtowner, a door-to-door, eco-friendly golf cart service.
Biggest surprise: Delray is "a great snorkeling and scuba diving destination," Serrano and Haas say, with a century-old steamship sunk in shallow water and some of the best visibility on the East Coast.
Video: Not a Town for Beach Bums
