St. Lucie County

“Great weather, horses, and a beach – it just doesn’t get any better than that,” said Allen Hayes, owner of Horseback on the Beach. He was right. The excursion that took us along the water’s edge on Hutchinson Island felt like a scene right out of a movie with a cool ocean breeze, turquoise water and the most good-natured horses imaginable. The beach was virtually empty except for us and I assumed it was private. It wasn’t. It’s one of St. Lucie County’s 21 miles of beach that are more popular with sea turtles than crowds.

Nature lovers can enjoy 11,000 acres of parks and preserves, and eco-sites such as the Manatee Observation Center, Great Florida Birding Trail and the Oxbow Eco-Center. Hungry after all that activity? Head over to the seaside fishing village of Fort Pierce, where you’ll find several restaurants that showcase the turquoise water of the River Lagoon. We stopped in at On the Edge and found the atmosphere of this open-air thatched eatery as good as its fresh seafood.

During our time in St. Lucie, we stayed at the Club Med Sandpiper, which is a desti­nation in and of itself with its full roster of activities that includes everything from fly­ing trapeze and circus school to more tra­ditional leisure pursuits of tennis and golf. This all-inclusive resort is especially known for its food and entertainment. “Dining is a focal point for us,” said Ralph Cipollo, executive chef, and after sampling their Alaskan salmon with shitake mushrooms, we wholeheartedly agreed.