Official VISIT FLORIDA Travel Guide 2008 - (Page 45) Access to this treasured oasis has recently become even more convenient with the addition of direct flights from Europe to the Melbourne International Airport (MLB). However, the Orlando International Airport (MCO) is only about a one-hour drive from Indian River County, and the Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) is the same distance from Martin County. For visitors travelling by car, all three counties offer exits from the Florida Turnpike and Interstate 95, the main motorway on Florida’s east coast. The Tropics begin in Indian River County At the northern end of the Treasure Coast is Indian River County, ‘where the tropics begin’. Vero Beach, the county seat, was recently ranked in The Great Towns of America as one of the top 100 holiday towns nationwide. Other area highlights include the town of Sebastian, which offers great fishing, boating, surfing, swimming and other water pursuits. Nearby, the first National Wildlife Refuge in the U.S., Pelican Island, can be viewed up-close by boat or from an observatory. Other must-sees include McKee Botanical Garden,Vero Beach Museum of Art, Riverside Theatre and the fun-filled Captain Hiram’s Sand Bar. This naturally diverse county offers a wide selection of accommodation. Disney’s Vero Beach Resort has been joined by several outstanding properties: The Vero Beach Hotel & Club, an oceanfront luxury hotel; Costa D’Este, a new Gloria and Emilio Estefan beach resort that’s an elite Personal Luxury Oceanfront Hotel; and The Caribbean Court, a tropical boutique hotel. The accommodation and dining establishments cropping up in the area suit a wide range of styles and budgets. Natural beauty reigns in St. Lucie County Visitors enter the heart of the Treasure Coast as they head south into St. Lucie County, which includes Port St. Lucie, Fort Pierce and The Hutchinson Islands. The county’s natural beauty appeals to the active holidaymaker as well as families and couples looking for a relaxing holiday. The Hutchinson Islands boast 34 kilometres of spectacular beaches and centuries-old shipwrecks that attract divers from around the world. Over 13 artificial reefs enhance divers’ options. Fort Pierce is known for its world-class fishing. For those who love a good game of golf, St. Lucie County offers the PGA Golf Club and Village, the first PGA facility open to the public Green turtles Central East 45
For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.