Florida is known for its beaches, and there are many inviting ones along the Treasure Coast, where the occasional treasure hunter scans the sand with a metal detector in search of valuable remnants from the shipwrecks.
On Jupiter Island, there are two great beaches for observing wildlife, the Hobe Sound National Wildlife Refuge and The Nature Conservancy's Blowing Rocks Preserve.
Sea Turtle Beach on Hutchinson Island gets its name from the loggerhead and green turtles that nest there. Farther south, Bathtub Reef Beach in Martin County is a favorite among families with small children, as the reefs that surround the shore make for tranquil waters.
Several area beaches, including Ocean Reef Park on Singer Island and Coral Cove Park in Tequesta, are ideal for snorkeling.
In addition to beaches, there are many other opportunities on the Treasure Coast to see and interact with native fauna. Visitors can learn about the endangered Florida manatee at the Manatee Observation and Education Center in Fort Pierce and touch stingrays at the Florida Oceanographic Coastal Center in Stuart. In Jupiter, take a tour of the Busch Wildlife Sanctuary, which serves as a home for injured wild animals undergoing rehabilitation.
Several wildlife-watching boat tours are also available, including the Florida Dolphin Watch and River Lilly Cruises, which provide trips on the St. Lucie Aquatic Preserve, where you might spot alligators, turtles and otters.
The Children's Museum of the Treasure Coast, one of several family-friendly museums in the region, is located in Indian Riverside Park in Jensen Beach. Its interactive exhibits include a miniature Floridian town complete with a grocery store, a veterinary clinic with stuffed cats and dogs and a beach-themed area for babies and toddlers. In Jupiter, you can climb up to the top of the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse & Museum, circa 1860, which is on the National Register of Historic Places.
At Superplay USA, an indoor entertainment center in Port St. Lucie, the entire family can enjoy bowling, laser tag, miniature golf and an arcade. For Disney-caliber entertainment, consider staying at Disney's Vero Beach Resort, which offers a swimming pool and water slide for guests, in addition to basketball, tennis and volleyball courts. Boating, canoeing and kayaking are also available on the Loxahatchee River, which runs through the Jonathan Dickinson State Park, south of Stuart.
