Things To Do in Delray Beach

At N Zone Sports, coaches develop players both on and off the field. Instead of cultivating a highly competitive atmosphere, they allow each child to get ample time in the spotlight—so long as he or she demonstrates a sufficient grasp of sportsmanship and teamwork. Tikes as young as 3 years old can prove their mastery of the concepts of flag football, soccer, cheerleading, basketball, or baseball or by shaking the hand of someone who just poured Gatorade over their heads.

Hot Shots Paintball’s 20 acres of sprawling terrain play host to paint slingers dashing around nine outdoor fields during adrenaline-pumping speedball, woodsball, and scenario games. Strewn with tires, a maze of plywood walls, and even an old bus, the fields conceal players from advancing enemies and stealth bombers migrating south for the winter. After epic battles, Swamp House Grill serves up classic American eats Tuesday–Sunday, and the onsite pro shop plies players with extra field-paint ammunition. Paintballing friends can also plan fun paintball-team events, birthday parties, and corporate outings for effective team-building exercises that don’t involve gluing the sales staff to people in marketing.

With both tennis legends and current ATP pro players haranguing the hard court, the 20th annual Delray Beach International Tennis Championships treats racket watchers to 10 days of singles and doubles action. On opening night, two world No. 1 titans of the '80s tennis scene, Ivan Lendl and Mats Wilander suit up with seasoned skills and considerably longer shorts to square off against one another. First-round singles and doubles action kicks off the morning of February 27, with the second round then quarterfinal stakes lining up in the succeeding days. Although not included in this Groupon, February 28 sees American Andy Roddick unpacking his more than 100 mph serve as he tries to take the title and nougat-centered tennis ball won last year by Aussie Mark Philippoussis.

Resplendent with creatively displayed, informative exhibits and beaming with an array of interactive events, Sandoway House Nature Center delights visitors eager to engage with wildlife and local ecosystems. Meander through the popular shark exhibit, taking thrilling ganders at now-harmless jaws from more than 80 different species, including a replica of the world-record-holding great white jaw and pictures of it earning its other world record in hot-dog eating. The Florida reptile room showcases a plethora of native slitherers along with a variety of invasive species, and daily shark feedings display the predator's ravenous ferocity. Groupon guests spend their $5 credit at the gift store, and members take advantage of a blanket discount of 15% off goods, stocking up on crack-your-own geodes ($3.50), or grabbing handfuls of mixed fossil shark teeth to create edgy jewelry or exciting dentures ($2/bag). Members also receive free admission to the center for one year, as well as a newsletter and invitations to special events.

Servicing the local community for 30 years, the Adolph & Rose Levis Jewish Community Center provides an outlet for fitness, cultural education, and childcare. Exercisers can get their fill of endorphins inside the gym or by participating in a group fitness class or sports league. Meanwhile, kids hang out with their peers and engage in fun, educational activities during summer camps and after-school programs. With an emphasis on Jewish heritage, the JCC also offers adult-oriented classes in the arts, as well as frequent musical and cultural events.

With rolling hills and lush, green woods in the background, expert instructors lead students out into the great blue Pacific for custom surfing lessons. During lessons, wave tamers certified in CPR, first aid, ocean safety, and mermaid diplomacy bestow burgeoning surfers with all necessary skills and ocean awareness, which helps surfers to keep their bearings and tackle whitecaps safely. Surf techniques and etiquette can be tailored to ease rookies into their comfort zones or amped up to challenge and heighten the skills of more experienced boarders.

Tamalpais Surf Club also rents boards and wetsuits for surfers looking to paddle out on their own, and their lending inventory includes vintage boards from renowned shapers. To throw more adventure into the mix, the team organizes yoga-surf retreats and surf camps in exotic locales such as Costa Rica and Hawaii, where groups can immerse themselves in the country's culture, cuisine, and bilingual waves.

FLA Aquatics owes its growth from a 65-member operation to the home of multiple state, national, and international champions to 2000 Olympic coach Duffy Dillon, who—as noted in the Sun Sentinel—was recently inducted into the Broward County Sports Hall of Fame. Dillon has amassed an experienced staff of certified instructors who have passed a national level-two background screening, including head coaches with level-five certification from the American Swimming Coaches Association. The company's multiple locations offer programs for all ages, including very young children learning to safely enter the water, competitive high schoolers, and adults seeking to train for a triathlon or start a floatie-based fashion trend.