Boca Raton

BOCA RATON. In the 1920s, Palm Beach architect Addison Mizner bought thousands of acres in present-day Boca Raton, intent on developing a new Venice. Shortly after he completed his first big projects, the real estate market went bust, taking most of his plans with it. Fortunately, the city survived, and Mizner's Mediterranean-inspired architecture was replicated, giving the town a unified aesthetic and a decidedly pink tint. Now home to various technology industries, Boca boasts an affluent population who enjoy elaborate shopping venues, stunning beachfront parks, innovative restaurants and an atmosphere of cultivated leisure.