Introduction
Port St. Lucie: 120 miles N of Miami; 120 miles S of Orlando
Port St. Lucie and Fort Pierce are two true Old Florida towns -- reminiscent of the pre-neon, pre-condo-maniacal Florida, a sleepy world apart from the Gold Coast and Miami. Both towns thrive on sport fishing, and a seemingly endless row of piers juts out along the Intracoastal Waterway and the Fort Pierce Inlet for both river and ocean runs. Visitors can dive, snorkel, beachcomb, and sunbathe in an area left untouched by the overdevelopment that has altered its neighbors to the south and north.
Most sightseeing takes place along the main beach road (the strip across from the Ocean/A1A). Driving along Florida A1A on Hutchinson Island, you'll discover several secluded beach clubs interspersed with 1950s-style homes, a few small inns, grungy raw bars, and a few high-rise condominiums. Much of this island is government owned and kept undeveloped for the public's enjoyment.
