I live in this area! Actually right between the Fort Lauderdale airport and Delray, but I spend most of my time in Delray.
1. How is the drive from Fort Lauderdale Airport north to Delray? Is there a lot of traffic to contend with?
It depends on the time of day. Obviously rush hours are the worst. Other times of day, traffic is really not an issue most days. I'd say around 35 minutes. As mentioned, drivers are not great around here, but the worst times of the year to drive are the "cold" months (late-October to around mid February). We get lots of "snowbirds" around then.
2. Are there opportunities for shelling at any of the beaches near Delray? This is one of my favorite hobbies.
There are some shells on the shoreline in Delray but nothing too spectacular. I've found sea glass and sand dollars fairly often. I would say if you go a little earlier in the day you'll probably have better luck, just based on my experiences.
3. Any great restaurants or activities in the Delray area?
Downtown Delray is a really popular area, Atlantic Avenue is where most people go. My boyfriend works at Deck 84, which is really popular and is right on the Intercoastal which is really nice. Boston's is popular, as is Cafe Luna Rosa. I really really like Mussel Beach, which is a great seafood restaurant. There are lots of shops along the ave, and usually you can find some music, etc. There are often events going on like arts festivals in that area, and it's also a historic district. The night life is good, there are museums in and around the area, mini golf, things of that nature. There are also a lot of nature preserves, I love the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens. If you enjoy nature trails with a lot of birdspotting, a little west of the downtown area you can find the Wakodahatchee and Green Cay wetlands.
Boca Raton is a little more upscale and you can find things like higher-end shopping, an iPic theater, and things of that nature in that area.
I really hope you enjoy your trip. I love this area and I hope you do, too.
