Hobe Sound: 45 min. N of Palm Beach; 12 miles S of Stuart
Once just a stretch of pineapple plantations, the towns of Martin County, which include Hobe Sound, Stuart, and Jensen Beach, retain much of their rural character. Between the citrus groves and mangroves are modest homes and an occasional high-rise condominium. Although the area is definitely quiet, the atmosphere is pure small town. Even in historic downtown Stuart, the result of a successful, ongoing restoration, expect the storefronts to be dark and the streets abandoned after 10pm. Martin County did suffer some damage in 2004 and 2005 due to Hurricanes Frances, Jeanne, Charley, Katrina, and Wilma, and such parks as Jonathan Dickinson State Park were closed for a bit, but everything has since reopened and is fully functional.
