BEACHES AND OUTDOOR GEMS

South of Stuart, the Jonathan Dickinson State Park offers awesome biking and hiking trails, ranging from normal to rugged terrain, mangroves and river swamps. Primitive campgrounds and water stations are available throughout the park. Outdoor enthusiasts enjoy the kayaking and boating experiences during the winter months.

Have you ever dreamed of riding horseback on the beach? Your dream becomes a reality on the beaches of Hutchinson Island during the cooler months and is just one of many gems to be enjoyed in St. Lucie County.

Sebastian Inlet State Park, situated directly between Indian River County to the south and Brevard County to the north, is an excellent choice for family camping. Spread over more than 600 acres, the park is part of the Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail and offers myriad activities including swimming, surfing, geocaching and scuba diving.

Merritt Island is one of only six places in the world where you can see bioluminescence in nature. Night tours are a must as you kayak along the Banana or Indian Rivers and get close to nature. Dinoflagellates and comb jellies glow in the dark river waters. Think neon and maybe a hint of Avatar. This could be a once-in-a-lifetime adventure.

Outside of Deltona, the St. Johns River Eco Tour invites passengers to tour the St. Johns River by boat. Once a main highway for trade and commerce, this river has been designated an American Heritage River. It is home to Florida native wildlife and tropical plants, making it perfect for photo ops.

The seaside community of New Smyrna Beach evokes an atmosphere of Old Florida in its sidewalk cafes, boutiques and charming B&Bs and boasts one of the finest beaches on the Atlantic coast. NSB provides a perfect venue for surfing, world-class fishing, boating and kayaking. And like Daytona Beach, cars are permitted to drive on 13 miles of hard-packed white-sand beaches found here.