South Atlantic Info
Here’s our locals’ recommendations for the South Atlantic coast.
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The south Atlantic coast of Florida rocks! It’s got the big time hip scenes of South Beach
in Miami, rock and rolling Ft. Lauderdale, and all the ritz oozing around Worth Avenue in Palm Beach, but then just when you thought it’s all glitz, its north end has the cool old inlet town of Ft. Pierce and Stuart’s serious fishing.
Starting in the north end of this region, Ft. Pierce and its beaches have really been passed over by time with remote beach parks and an old waterfront that has only recently started to get spruced up. A little further down the beach, Stuart, immodestly called the Sailfish Capital of the World, is also the beginning of Hutchinson Island, a wonderful skinny barrier island of unspoiled beauty reaching all the way north to Fort Pierce. There are lots of free beaches and it’s safe to kayak in the moonlight at St Lucie Inlet State Park where rentals are reasonable. A fun beach to look for is Bathtub Beach, considered the best, and features a natural pool formed by an offshore reef for a safe, popular swimming spot.
Juno Beach, dog friendly, quiet, and wide, is a beautiful spot to watch a meditative sunrise before you land in the world of the truly Rich and Famous, Palm Beach and West Palm Beach, with the must do stroll down Worth Avenue. Truly fabulous restaurants, shops, and people are sprinkled everywhere. It shouldn’t be missed. Called the Gold Coast, not for what one sees on the necks of locals, but from Spanish galleons full of gold, wrecked along the coast.
These environs are Florida’s wealthiest playgrounds. Not to worry, Ft Lauderdale, the “Venice of America”, beckons just to the south with its waterways and lovely beaches. Life’s a party here, as a lot of the funster stuff moved here from Daytona some years ago. Go see Butterfly World, the first indoor butterfly park in the US. Nearby Dania has jai alai, a Basque game that makes for a fun night out.
Ready for a Latin beat? Miami is not your granny’s retirement spot anymore. The “Littles”, Haiti and Havana, are here, Hollywood stardom is here, some of the best of Florida is here, mixed in with just the craziest stuff you’ll ever see (World Erotic Art Museum with a giant golden penis). When you’re finished with all the wackiness, the best place to eat in all of Miami is in a Citgo Station, yes, trust us, a gas station on 2465 SW 17th Ave. Called El Carajo, it’s a well kept secret by the locals. Inexpensive to boot, even in Miami.
The kids will love the Monkey Jungle, “where humans are caged and monkeys run free”. Pull yourself together and make for the Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Recreation Area, all 494 acres of which will thrill all: ocean views, mangroves, trails, boardwalks.
The southern tip of Miami Beach, South Beach, is unquestionably the most action-filled, with cutting edge art galleries, art deco buildings, restaurants, gorgeous bodies; i
t has been declared by some as the hippest place on earth. Safe, clean, straight, gay, everything in between can be seen on Ocean Drive, along a big wide beach. To see is to believe, it’s bipolar heaven.
Biscayne National Park offers stunning formations of living coral. Rent a kayak (90 minutes, $16) to paddle around the clear waters to see amazing fish. If you’re not going on to the Keys, this is a wonderful chance to see the Park’s barrier islands, about 7 miles away, to climb a beautiful lighthouse on Boca Chita Key. Elliott Key is a ferry ride away with some quiet beaches.
Check out Homestead, on your way to the Keys. You gotta see the Fruit and Spice Park, a 32 acre botanical garden and research facility. Here’s why: they have 500 varieties of fruit, nuts, sapodilla, longan, mamey sapote, black sapote (“chocolate pudding fruit”), miracle fruit, jaboticaba, cecropia (“snake fingers”), coffee beans and wax jambu. Who knew? You’re free to sample that wax jambu, incidentally. Elsewhere, quaint tea rooms, antique shops, exotic birds, and potters occupy the restored original cottages of Flagler’s multi-ethnic railroad builders of 1903.
Pack some of Knaus Berry Farm’s fruits and baked goods from this famous fruit stand, or try their fresh and creamy strawberry and mango shakes. Long lines form out front from sunup to closing time when the fresh sticky cinnamon buns come out of the oven.
The South Atlantic Coast region is chock full of life, sunshine, and culture, and the ocean water is sparkling tropical blue. Come on down!
Watercolor by Peter Bailey