The Official 2009 RVers Guide to Florida

REGION 2 maintained and family friendly, with playgrounds and facilities. Vero Beach is the only true metropolis on this island known as North Hutchinson. It spreads to the mainland, a vital city that hosts McKee Botanical Gardens. In addition to the natural attractions, the arts and museums also flourish along the Treasure Coast. The Elliott Museum in Stuart features a wing dedicated to Martin County and a genuine Seminole Indian chickee domicile. St. Lucie County offers the Navy SEAL Museum at Pepper Park in Fort Pierce. This museum honors the birthplace of the elite Navy fighting corps. Here, the first frogmen trained for the D-Day invasion in World War II. Recreational divers today are more interested in Urca de Lima, the southernmost treasure fleet shipwreck. The St. Lucie County Historical Museum acts as a “window into the past,” with artifacts from Spanish shipwrecks, military material from Old Fort Pierce and the Seminole Wars, a reconstructed Seminole Indian encampment and other interesting exhibits. Also in the area are Hobe Sound Nature Center and Wildlife Refuge and Jonathan Dickinson State Park, where visitors can meander down nature trails or canoe out to deserted peninsula beaches. Tranquil Martin County reflects an older, less-tamed Florida. The county takes pride in its preservation efforts. Many beaches, for example, have turtle nesting areas, and lucky visitors may glimpse a sea turtle lumbering across the sand. Martin County’s natural character also can be enjoyed at Jonathan Dickinson State Park in Hobe Sound, where visitors take guided nature tours, canoe on the Loxahatchee River and camp amid towering greenery. Fishing enthusiasts will want to try the waters off Stuart, known as the “Sailfish Capital of the World.” In the city, the Florida Oceanographic Coastal Center and the The House of Refuge at Gilbert's Bar provide convenient and intriguing alternatives to the beach. Nearby, visitors also will be met by a number of unusual geological phenomena in the area, including Blowing Rock Preserve on Jupiter Island, the site of Florida’s largest out-cropping of Anastasia limestone. At high tide, surging waves erupt through the blowholes in the rugged gray stone, sending plumes of water up to 50 feet in the air. Jupiter’s historic triangle provides families with a peek into the area’s history. The historic complex is comprised of the Florida History Center and Museum, a Florida cracker-style building; the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse, the county’s oldest structure; and the DuBois Pioneer Home, the county’s oldest home and repository for historical artifacts. At the Palm Beaches, Florida’s Treasure Coast meets the Gold Coast, a name reflecting the region’s 47 miles of golden sand as well as its incredible wealth. Ever since railroad mogul Henry Flagler brought his railroad to town and erected fabulous hotels for his passengers, Palm Beach has been synonymous with luxury. One of the favorite pastimes for modern-day visitors is to simply drive around the island and gaze at the magnificent mansions, then head to one of its landmark restaurants to spot a star or government somebody. Despite its reputation as a playground for the rich and famous, Palm Beach County also has a lot for the budget-minded traveler to enjoy. For a wild time on the western edge of West Palm Beach, visitors can drive through the Lion Country Safari’s 500-acre wildlife preserve and spot more than 1,000 free-roaming wild animals, from giraffes and bison to elephants and lions. On a smaller scale, the 22-acre Palm Beach Zoo at Dreher Park features more than 500 exotic and domestic animals, including several endangered species. At Knollwood Groves in Lake Worth, families can explore native Seminole Indian culture at Hallpatee Seminole Village or enjoy alligator wrestling shows, airboat rides and guided Everglades tours. Visitors who seek a more urban safari instead may look no further than the West Palm Beach boutiques of Worth Avenue and the dining and nightlife of Clematis Street. Boynton Beach, Delray Beach and Boca Raton are quieter, but they still please visitors with scenic beaches as well as a variety of performing arts, shopping and dining. Delray Beach exudes yesteryear charm that shows in its accommodations as well as its downtown shopping district and new cultural loop. On its outskirts, the history of its Japanese immigrant population is told at The Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens, a superbly serene oasis. A developing orchid garden nearby provides more sanctuary for the soul. Sports fans of all ages will enjoy the Sports Immortals Museum, showcasing the largest sports memorabilia collection in the world. You will find a world of tropical adventures and getaways to suit any taste in Southeast Florida and the Keys. Enjoy upscale pleasures and prime recreation. Experience the area’s one-of-akind blend of cultures or drift further south into an island state of mind in the truly unique Florida Keys. On the banks of the New River in Broward County, Fort Lauderdale is no longer just a spring break capital for the college crowd. In recent years, billions of dollars have been invested in new facilities and attractions to appeal to families and couples, including the $56 million New World Aquarium; the $50 million Las Olas Riverfront entertainment and retail complex; renovated historic properties and cultural activities in “Old Fort Lauderdale”; the African-American Research Library and Cultural Center; Bass Pro Shops’ massive Outdoor World store in Dania; and a major expansion at Sawgrass Mills, the world’s largest outlet mall. Downtown Fort Lauderdale is home to the Museum of Discovery and Science, Florida’s most visited museum, which lets kids of all ages explore science, space and the environment. The museum’s five-story Blockbuster 3-D IMAX theater offers thrills of its own with larger-than-life films. This “Venice of America” offers visitors miles of scenic waterways, all of which offer their own experience. A fleet of water buses - quiet and environmentally friendly electric ferries - can transport 70 passengers at a time. The Jungle Queen sails the waterways on daily sightseeing and dinner cruises through Old Fort Lauderdale, past the palatial estates of Millionaires Row. Popular with cyclists, walkers and skaters, the Fort Lauderdale Beach Promenade runs along Atlantic Boulevard. Thanks to a $20 million renovation, it provides scenic and easy access to miles of golden sand beaches. Besides new attractions, visitors also enjoy excellent diving and golfing here. Shoppers will want to explore the unique boutiques of Las Olas Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale and a thriving antiques district in Dania. Other familiar sites in Broward include Lauderdale-by-the-Sea’s living reef and 600-foot-long fishing pier; the 136-foot Hillsboro Lighthouse at Pompano Beach; Hollywood’s Boardwalk, popular for dawn-to-dark walking, cycling and skating; the Stranahan House, where Fort Lauderdale began as a trading post in 1893; the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, which presents Broadway musicals, plays, dance, opera, film and children’s theater; and the 34 2009 FRVTA RVers GUIDE TO FLORIDA

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of The Official 2009 RVers Guide to Florida

The Official 2009 RVers Guide to Florida Contents RV Friendly Logos Meet Roadie Behind the Wheel Region 1 - Southwest Florida Region 2 - Southeast Florida Region 3 - Tampa Bay Area Region 4 - Orlando & Space Coast RV Rentals Region 5 - Florida Panhandle Financing Your RV Region 6 - Northeast Florida Region 7 - North Central Florida Florida Regional Shows Region 10 - Out of State Members Indian Mounds in Florida Springs in Florida What’s Your Type? Lighthouse Tour Insurance, Who Needs It?

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