Weston

Tucked beside the Everglades, the luxurious Weston community of Bonaventure combines tropical flair with unmatched amenities, creating a haven of recreation around the central — and private — Bonaventure Town Center Club. “There’s a great sense of community here,” says Melissa Hoff Roth, a broker associate with the Hoff Group at Compass and a resident of Weston since she was 9. “Bonaventure is unique in how it's set up, and there’s a lot of pride in that.” The community was originally constructed in the 1970s, although the newest housing addition, Botaniko, was only completed in 2022. Bonaventure has a distinct resort-like feel with hotels, spas and a golf club, but it also highlights convenience with nearby highways, grocery stores and restaurants. It may be less than 20 miles from Fort Lauderdale, but Bonaventure feels like a world of its own. The contemporary playscape at Bonaventure Park attracts adventurous kids hoping to scale its geometric tower. Golfers tee off at the Bonaventure Golf Club, a public course with a nationally famous waterfall on its third hole. But for many residents, the biggest perk of living in Bonaventure is gaining access to the Bonaventure Town Center Club, a massive complex fully outfitted with pools, courts, gyms, shuffleboard, a roller-skating rink and even a bowling alley. The club overlooks one of the community’s reservoirs, which are all stocked with bass and bream and provide opportunities for anglers close to home. But vigilance is key when fishing in South Florida. “We do see the occasional alligator sunbathing by the lake,” Hoff Roth says. Several types of bass also roam the lakes at nearby Markham Park, a nearly 670-acre expanse with a dozen miles of trails. Remote-control pilots practice in the model airfield, pups enjoy off-leash time in the dog park and there’s even a disc golf course and archery range here. Weston Regional Park serves as the community’s sports hub, accommodating everything from soccer to pickleball. The local YMCA is also on the grounds. Bonaventure’s single-family homes sport an eclectic mix of Spanish Revival, Mediterranean and traditional ranch styles. Each subdivision is different, unified only by the pristine sidewalks that flow from development to development, creating a walkable ecosystem. Detached homes along the community’s outer edges can range from about $400,000 to $900,000. The heart of the neighborhood, however, is home to the new, contemporary Botaniko development, where multi-million-dollar models are the norm. Sleek, straight lines and modern architecture set this area apart from the rest of the community, as does its guard-gated status. Here, buyers can expect to see luxury price tags starting at $2 million and topping out at around $4 million. Condo complexes also dot the community, with two-bedroom units typically selling between $200,000 and $400,000. Many of these structures, along with single-family homes outside Botaniko, date to Bonaventure’s original construction in the 1970s and lack the latest hurricane preparedness features like impact-resistant windows or roof straps. “A lot of times, that’s why people decide to sell, and the buyer would have to undertake those updates immediately. Insurance is astronomical if you don’t,” Hoff Roth says. The city of Weston adores events. In addition to annual traditions such as the Royal Egg Hunt, the Fourth of July Hometown Celebration Parade and Weston World Fest, the city is known to host artisan markets, classic car shows, food fairs and more. “The YMCA also hosts all sorts of events, and there’s always an amazing turnout,” Hoff Roth says. After a day on the golf course, duffers head to Shoppes on the Green to cool off with gelato from Delicious by Carlotta Gelati or fill up on something healthy from My Organic Corner. Zona Blu serves modern Sardinian cuisine, highlighting the Italian island’s flavors with an award-winning menu by chef Andrea Fadda. International fare continues across the street at Westgate Square Shopping Center, which hosts Italian, Argentinian and Venezuelan cafes. There’s also a Key Food Supermarket here, although the Publix Super Markets at Weston Lakes Plaza and Country Isles Plaza are more popular. A 5-mile trip brings shoppers to Sawgrass Mills, the largest shopping mall in the neighboring city of Sunrise, which has everything from Target and Walmart to Lululemon and an Adidas outlet store. Students can attend either Eagle Point or Indian Trace elementary schools, both of which receive grades of A-minus on Niche. After a few years at Tequesta Trace Middle, which scores a B-plus, students can move on to A-minus-rated Western High, known for its robust AP and dual enrollment programs. The school offers an Advanced International Certificate of Education through the University of Cambridge as well as a STEM Academy that allows students to explore topics such as robotics, solar energy and rocket science. As part of Broward County Public Schools, students can apply to attend any district school during specific enrollment periods, making it possible to study at other highly regarded institutions such as A-plus-rated Cypress Bay High. Despite its location at the edge of the Everglades, Bonaventure is surprisingly convenient, with direct access to Interstates 595 and 75. Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport is an 18-mile trip down I-595, and Naples is a straight 90-mile drive west on I-75 (known to locals as Alligator Alley). Commuters can also catch Broward County buses along major streets such as Weston Road.

Country Isles is a close-knit, waterfront community 20 miles from Fort Lauderdale. Residents enjoy a peaceful pace of life enriched by a verdant atmosphere and walkability to shopping, dining and neighborhood events at the local town center. Country Isles is one of several planned communities in the coveted Weston area, known for its family-friendly amenities shielded from the bustle of nearby cities. “It’s always in demand,” says Lori Lipkin, a real estate agent with Charles Rutenberg Realty. Lipkin has lived in the area since 1993, where she raised three daughters. “There’s still no place else in South Florida that can rival Weston for schools and parks and the overall community feel.” Country Isles offers an “upscale feeling” at diverse price points, according to Lipkin. Most homes were built in the 1980s and 90s, though buyers will find many homes have been remodeled or significantly updated, often with in-ground pools. Two-bedroom homes can start below $500,000, though most three- and four-bedroom homes fall between $600,000 and $900,000. Waterfront builds on the neighborhood's north side can fetch up to $1.5 million. Cul-de-sacs are filled with ranch-style homes featuring vaulted ceilings and Spanish-inspired details such as terracotta roofs and curved entries. The community is meticulously landscaped, with mowed lawns and native flora framing each single-family home. As one of the first neighborhoods in Weston, Country Isles set the aesthetic standards for the area. “Once you drive into Weston, the landscaping and the overall feel is unlike any other neighborhood,” Lipkin says. “You don’t drive out of your neighborhood and see one shopping center after another.” Neighborhood schools are conveniently located next to parks with athletic fields and ample space to play after the final bell. Families can walk their children to Country Isles Elementary, which has recently wrapped up a $1.8 million construction project updating the school’s media center and essential building facilities. Niche gives the school a B-plus. Tequesta Trace Middle School also has a B-plus and is adjacent to the football, track and baseball fields of Tequesta Trace Park. Teens graduate from Cypress Bay High, an A-plus-rated school with an internationally recognized television production program. Country Isles Park is a 4-acre plot of green space with a playground, walking paths and covered gazebos and picnic tables. Mature oaks offer shaded relief to joggers, dog walkers and parents watching their kids play. Residents can also walk to Heron Park, which has a vast expanse of grass ideal for soccer games or throwing a frisbee around. One of the primary draws of the neighborhood is its proximity to the Weston Town Center, an area hub for shopping, dining and local events. The outdoor mall is walkable, with fountains and tree-lined sidewalks creating a beautified community gathering space, in addition to a functional shopping destination. The center features clothing boutiques, a Publix Super Market and more than a dozen restaurants representing cuisines around the world. Residents can walk to monthly artisan markets with live music or attend annual events such as the Weston Food and Wine Festival or the family-friendly Halloween Extravaganza. Residents can walk to major amenities, though cars are necessary for driving kids to school or commuting to work. The beaches of Hollywood or Fort Lauderdale are 20 miles away, which locals can reach on I-595.

Driving down the brick-strewn Isles at Weston Avenue and under this area’s arching, Mediterranean-style gateway might just feel like entering a resort. But it can be an everyday experience with a home in this neighborhood. The Isles at Weston is a gated development full of several hundred modern, spacious homes. It’s a neighborhood that’s a draw on its own, but the area’s highly rated schools and proximity to transportation arteries are magnets, as well. “That is one of the newest communities in Weston. It is very well located,” says Ruth Rutenberg, a local Realtor with City Group Consulting, LLC. The houses around the Isles at Weston come in a mix of shapes and sizes, with Earth-tone facades, but they all have Mediterranean influences like terracotta roofs. Expansive floor plans are universal here, averaging more than 3,500 square feet. Most of the lots around the Isles at Weston stretch between one-tenth and one-fifth of an acre — plenty for front and back lawn space and an inground pool. Water views are common, thanks to the community’s multiple lakes. And those looking for a change of scenery can use the network of sidewalks here to reach the neighborhood’s recently remodeled clubhouse. “It's very nice. It looks like a mansion,” says Patricia Gimenez, a local Realtor with Coldwell Banker Realty. The clubhouse has party rooms, pool tables and a playroom for children. Prices can start in the $700,000s for single-story options, but are often between $1 million and $1.8 million for multistory homes of more than 2,500 square feet. “Weston is quite a hot market,” says Rutenberg, a longtime Weston resident. The Broward County Public Schools are renowned, boasting a B-plus grade on Niche. The Isles At Weston are steps from the A-minus-rated Manatee Bay Elementary. Students at Manatee Bay Elementary can participate in a Spanish and English dual language program. Programs in film, speech and debate, and visual and performing arts are options at nearby, A-minus-rated Falcon Cove Middle. The area’s A-plus-rated Cypress Bay High is home to a dedicated FBI STEM Academy teaching cyber technology skills. Youth sports are a big deal in Weston, supported by the city’s extensive park system. “There’s so much for the kids to do, and that’s really why Weston is a premier community in South Florida,” Rutenberg says. The 30-acre Vista Park sits adjacent to The Isles at Weston, providing residents with close access to multiple ball diamonds and a few multipurpose fields that can be used for football, soccer, lacrosse and more. Indoor recreation is available just a few miles outside the Isles at Weston, at the Weston Community Center, where locals can sign up for classes ranging from karate to robotics and coding. Weston Commons shopping plaza offers residents tons of dining options, including Little Hen, which is popular for brunch. The complex also has some chain options like Bonefish Grill and Chili’s, plus a Publix for those who need to grab ingredients for a home-cooked meal. The Weston Road Shopping Center across the street is home to a location of popular South Florida chain Merkado 31, renowned for its Peruvian food. Among this neighborhood’s appeals is how close it is to the highway. Residents can head right down Florida State Road 818 here to get to Interstate 75, which connects to Florida State Road 826 for trips down to Miami. Commuters can also use I-75 to reach I-595 for drives east to Fort Lauderdale. That includes the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, just over 20 miles away. The city of Weston organizes a lot of outdoor events, Rutenberg says — opportunities for locals to get out and enjoy more of what she calls a family oriented community. The list includes the periodic WestonNights outdoor concert series at Weston Regional Park. Weston Regional Park hosts outdoor movie screenings, too, and an annual Fourth of July extravaganza complete with live music and fireworks. The celebration follows an annual Fourth of July celebration through town.

Situated in the center of Weston, The Ridges is a private enclave of immaculately landscaped streets and remote lakes. Two manned gatehouses greet visitors to the area, which comprises large, Mediterranean-influenced homes. Situated within reach are top-rated schools and plenty of retail opportunities to explore. Once through the lush foliage and stately palm trees surrounding the community, The Ridges opens up to wide streets paired with neat sidewalks. Many homeowners have a swimming pool, screened-in patios and lakefront views. Thanks to the presence of a homeowners association, residents of The Ridges enjoy resort-style amenities, including a clubhouse, playground, miles of walking trails and plenty of spaces for grilling and picnicking. Homes in the community were built in the late 1990s and range in price from $418,000 to $3.28 million, with housing options ranging from townhouses with attached garages to expansive Mediterranean villas on the lake. All the homes here feature red terra cotta tiled roofs, warm-hued stucco walls and rounded arches, lending to the neighborhood's tropical ambiance. The Weston Branch Library is also right next door, making it convenient for locals to pick up the latest bestseller. Just next to the library is Library Park, a scenic green space with a fountain, walking paths and a shaded pavilion. Visitors can check out a gripping mystery and read it beneath the shade of the pavilion, surrounded by palm trees and the serene sound of the fountain. The Ridges boasts a community pool to cool off on hot Floridian days. Sporty residents can make use of the area's tennis and basketball courts. Local anglers can fish at one of the community's lakes. And gatherings are made easy with shady tiki huts and grilling areas providing the perfect setting for celebrations. Living right next to the Everglades, residents have direct access to Florida's incredible ecosystem and its diverse life. Locals can go on airboat tours at Holiday Park, taking in the area's natural beauty and getting close encounters with native wildlife. When residents crave retail therapy, Weston Town Center is just minutes away. This vibrant, open-air plaza offers a variety of boutiques, restaurants and a Publix Super Market for groceries. It's a hub for shopping, dining and entertainment and hosts several events throughout the year. It is a popular spot for locals and is only a 3-minute drive away. The town center has plenty of great dining options. Locals head to PANNA and Bocas House Weston for Latin comfort food, Yum Korea for fast-casual Korean BBQ and street food, Smoke on the Water for cocktails and cigars and Luciano's for decadent Italian gelato. Some of the restaurants stay open late and play music like jazz or have live performers. Young kids attend Everglades Elementary School, which has an A-minus score from Niche and was ranked the seventh-best public elementary school in Broward County. Next, they attend Falcon Cove Middle School, which has an overall Niche grade of A-minus and was ranked the ninth-best public middle school in Broward County. Teenagers attend Cypress Bay High School, which has an A-plus overall Niche rating and was ranked the second-best public high school in Broward County. The neighborhood is bordered by major highways, making work commutes simple. Trips to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, downtown Fort Lauderdale and Hollywood Beach are all within 30 miles via I-595 East. Meanwhile, Weston Hospital is just a couple of miles away, making for convenient trips to the doctor.

Part of Emerald Estates’ appeal is impossible to miss. The entrance to this gated development in Weston curls past not just a shopping center that places several eateries and a Publix supermarket right in residents’ backyard, but also a city park, complete with a lake. The neighborhood’s proximity to an assortment of amenities is one of its biggest assets. “That one is in a very nice location because it’s in the southern part of the city, close by the highways, and exits,” says Patricia Gimenez, a local Realtor with Coldwell Banker Realty, who has over a dozen years of experience. “It is in a pretty nice area of the city.” Emerald Estates was developed in the 1990s, so the majority of the housing here is similar in age and most is still in good condition. “It’s a very well-established community,” says Ruth Rutenberg, a local Realtor with City Group Consulting, LLC. This community branches into multiple subdivisions, with names like Opal Creek, Emerald Courts and Sapphire Sound. However, the homes throughout have a cohesive style, drawing from Mediterranean influences with arching entryways and terra cotta roofs. Floor plans range from about 1,400 to 3,000 square feet, and homes here are organized snugly but neatly along winding sidewalk-lined streets. The neighborhood features traditional single-family homes exclusively, priced from the $600,000s to $1.1 million based on factors like square footage and location — some properties sit along one of the community’s lakes. But the area also offers condos in The Palms at Weston, a 55-plus community next door to Emerald Estates. “That is a high-end 55-plus community with a restaurant, with activities,” says Rutenberg, a longtime Weston resident. “It has a dining room area where they serve lunch every day, an attended lobby and valet parking.” The condos in The Palms start with prices in the $300,000s and top out in the $600,000s. The local public schools, part of the Broward County Public Schools system, attract people to this area. The district had a B-plus overall rating on Niche, and kids in Emerald Estates enter the A-minus-rated Everglades Elementary to start, where they can participate in activities like a drama workshop and a speech and debate team. Students can then try their hand at sports teams ranging from flag football to golf at the A-minus-rated Falcon Cove Middle. The area’s Cypress Bay High is A-plus rated and facilitates career and technical programs in topics like engineering and health science. Many in this area are within walking distance of Emerald Estates Park, a 5-acre respite just outside the gates of the housing development. Locals head to the park for the playground or to fish in the lake. There's also a half basketball court and a pair of tennis courts there. Vista Park, a 30-acre greenspace with several athletic fields, is located just down the road, too. “It’s very family oriented,” Rutenberg says of Weston. “There are so many options for sports-related activities.” Grabbing groceries on the way home isn’t too much of a hassle in Emerald Estates. Residents can’t help but pass the Weston Commons shopping center when returning to their neighborhood. This plaza is anchored by a Publix supermarket, and also features Bank of America, Wells Fargo and Chase locations, a Pet supermarket, and a Sally Beauty Supply. On days when it’s easier to eat out, Weston Commons offers spots like El Gallo Taqueria, which Gimenez says has a nice ambiance. Little Hen here is a hotspot for brunch, too. Locals simply have to hop onto Weston Road and then Griffin Road to merge onto Interstate 75 for commutes out of town. I-75 links with Florida State Road 826 for drives down to Miami, just over 30 miles away. Drivers can use I-75 to reach Interstate 595 for commutes to Fort Lauderdale as well, roughly 20 miles away. Also, people in this area can quickly access multiple stops in the Broward County Transit system along Weston Road. The city organizes myriad community events that Emerald Estates residents take advantage of throughout the year. Weston Regional Park, just about 5 miles away, is a frequent site for city programming, including periodic movie nights and the WestonNights outdoor concert series. The park also hosts an annual Fourth of July celebration with music and fireworks, which follows a parade through the city.

Bordering the Florida Everglades, the gated community of Windmill Ranch Estates offers more than just striking, waterfront homes and highly rated public schools. The neighborhood is also one of the only horse-friendly communities within the city of Weston. “It’s a beautiful area, and people love living here. Residents like the privacy of estate living rather than a close community, and it has a lot of prestige,” says Patricia Lewis with ONE Sotheby’s International Realty, who has over 30 years of experience and currently lives in Weston. Windmill Ranch Estates has a CAP Index crime score of 1 out of 10, making it one of the safest neighborhoods in Broward County and the state. Residents here can experience a calm, slow-paced lifestyle with plenty of resort-like amenities and everyday shopping necessities within reach. The private neighborhood sits about 20 miles from Fort Lauderdale and around 33 miles from Miami, and access to Interstate 75 allows for quick commutes into major Florida cities. The dog-friendly Windmill Ranch Park is a main feature of the neighborhood, with a shaded playground and multipurpose athletic fields located right next to Everglades Elementary School. Home to the largest racquet sports center in Weston, the Midtown Athletic Club sits right outside of the neighborhood within walking distance, with 25 outdoor tennis courts, two outdoor swimming pools, a training room and over 100 fitness classes per week. More resort than fitness club, though, the facility offers spa and salon services, a café and complimentary childcare for select membership levels. Golfers can play at The Club at Weston Hills, home to two 18-hole championship courses designed by famed architect Robert Trent Jones, Jr. This private club also offers a fitness center, restaurant, outdoor heated swimming pool and a tennis center with eight lighted courts. Most dining in the area is concentrated along Weston Road and Bonaventure Boulevard, with both familiar fast and casual restaurants and local favorites. For fine dining, Acquolina Weston serves Italian-American fare in an elegant, yet casual setting. The Weston Town Center is a popular spot for dining and shopping, including authentic spots such as Graziano’s Mercado Weston, an Argentinean café, which has one of the largest wine selections in the state. For groceries, the town center also has a Publix. Locals often head about 10 miles away to Sawgrass Mills Mall for retail and big-box department stores, including Target, Walmart and over 350 stores, like Nike and Saks Fifth Avenue. One of the major draws to Windmill Ranch Estates is zoning for top public schools in the state. Primary students can attend Everglades Elementary and then head to Falcon Cove Middle, which both score A-minus grades on Niche. Cypress Bay High School earns an A-plus grade and ranks in the top 20 public high schools in the state. The high school offers over 30 Advanced Placement courses, as well as the Advanced International Certificate of Education through the Cambridge University, a college preparatory program that awards students up to 45 hours of college credit. Additionally, Cypress Bay boasts a nationally ranked and award-winning television production program, and the school’s FBI Cyber/STEM Academy specializes in information technology and cybersecurity. With a single entrance off Royal Palm Boulevard with a 24-hour guard, the streets of Windmill Ranch Estates wind through palm-lined waterways and feature a variety of luxury homes. “It is the premiere neighborhood of Weston. All of the properties are unique, and plots were bought in the 90s, where approved builders could construct unique floorplans that didn’t match the uniformity of other nearby neighborhoods,” Lewis says. Custom builds sit on up-to-4-acre lots, accented with lush tropical foliage. Common architecture here includes Spanish-inspired tile roofs and stucco siding, Italianate-inspired arched columns, balconies and fountains, Mediterranean mansions with porte-cochères, and modern mansions with angular features. Nearly every home has a gallery pool with waterfront views, vaulted ceilings and marble floors. Custom interior features range from wine cellars and wet bars to home theaters and steam saunas. Prices fall between $1.8 million and $15 million depending on floor plan, which can range from 2,500 to 15,000 square feet. Despite the area’s lack of sidewalks, locals often walk or jog the streets safely, as traffic is not busy on the private residential streets. With Interstate 75 within about 1 or 2 miles, residents can easily get around Broward County. Public transportation is available along Weston Road via Broward County Transit, though residents here get around by car. For air travel, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport is about 20 miles away, but Interstate 595 expedites the commute to under 30 minutes. Miami International Airport is about 30 miles away, though access to I-75 makes the travel time only about 40 minutes. Windmill Ranch Estates is at an especially high risk of aggressive winds, primarily during hurricane season, though Weston is declared a non-flooding zone. Just as most neighborhoods in Florida, the area is at risk for high heat during the summer months.