Side Trips in Vero Beach and Sebastian
60 miles NW of West Palm Beach
Many visitors to the Treasure Coast come to fish, and they certainly get their fill off the miles of Atlantic shore and on the inland rivers. But if you want to fish freshwater and nothing else, head for "The Lake" -- Lake Okeechobee, that is. The state's largest, it's chock-full of good eating fish. Only about a 1 1/2-hour drive from the coast, it is located in what is known as the Freshwater Frontier and makes a great day or weekend excursion.
Planning a Trip to Lake Okeechobee
Getting There -- From Palm Beach, take I-95 South to Southern Boulevard (U.S. 98 W.) in West Palm Beach, which merges with S.R. 80 and S.R. 441. Follow signs for S.R. 80 West through Belle Glade to South Bay. In South Bay, turn right onto U.S. 27 North, which leads directly to Clewiston.
Outdoor Activities in Lake Okeechobee
Boating -- Head out on the Lake with Okeechobee Airboat Tours, Hwy. 78 West, Okeechobee (tel. 863/532-3713), and catch a fast glimpse of osprey, roseate spoonbills, bald eagles, and dozens of alligators. Tours start at $50.
Sky Diving -- Besides fishing, the biggest sport in Clewiston is jumping out of planes, due to the area's limited air traffic and vast areas of flat, undeveloped land. Skydive Spaceland Florida, 1090 Airglades Blvd. (tel. 863/983-6151) operates a year-round program from the Airglades Airport. If you’ve never jumped before, you can go on a tandem dive, where you’ll be attached to a “jumpmaster.” For the first 60 seconds, the two of you free-fall from about 12,500 feet. Then a quick pull of the chute turns your rapid descent into a gentle, balletlike cruise to the ground, with time to see the entire lake from a privileged perspective. Dive packages range from $99 to $179, depending on how many people are jumping and what level of skydiver they are. (Note: You must be 18 or older and less than 240 lb.)
Fishing -- Fishing on Lake Okeechobee is a year-round affair, though the fish tend to bite a little better in the winter, perhaps for the benefit of the many snowbirds who flock here (especially Feb-Mar). RV camps are mobbed almost year-round with fish-frenzied anglers who come down for weeks at a time for a decent catch.
You'll need a fishing license to go out with a rod and reel. It's a simple matter to apply:T he chamber of commerce and most fishing shops can sign you up on the spot. The cost for non-Florida residents is $17 for 3 days, $30 for 7 days, or $47 for the year.
You can rent, charter, or bring your own boat to Clewiston; just be sure to schedule your trip in advance. You don't want to show up during one of the frequent fishing tournaments only to find you can't get a room, campsite, or fishing boat. All tournaments are held at Roland Martin's marina . For more information on tournaments, check out www.rolandmartinmarina.com.
There are several marinas where you can rent or charter boats. If it's your first time on the lake, we suggest chartering a boat with a guide who can show you the most fertile spots and help you handle your tackle. Roland Martin, 920 E. Del Monte (see above), is the one-stop spot to find a guide, tackle, rods, bait, coolers, picnic supplies, and a choice of boats. Rates for a guided fishing tour are $350 for a half-day and $450 for a full day, for one or two people. You need a fishing license, which is available here for $17. There are also boat rentals: A 14-footer is $79 for a full day only; a 21-foot pontoon is $200-$250 for a full day. If you want a guide, rates start at $350 (for two people) for a half-day, though in the summer (June–Oct), when it’s slow, you may be able to get a cheaper deal.
Where to Stay near Lake Okeechobee
If you aren’t camping, book a room at the America’s Best Value Clewiston Inn, 108 Royal Palm Ave., Clewiston (tel. 863/983-8151). Built in 1938, this allegedly haunted, Southern plantation–inspired hotel that’s now part of the Red Lion/America’s Best Value chain, is the oldest in the Lake Okeechobee region. Rumor has it that a very friendly, pretty female ghost roams the halls at night. Its 52 rooms are simply decorated and nondescript and could use a major scrub. Its kitschy, old Florida Everglades Bar & Lounge has a 1945 mural depicting the animals of the region. Rates range from $103 to $125 a night.
Another choice, especially if you're here to fish, is Roland Martin (see above), the "Disney of fishing." This RV park (no tent sites) has modest motel rooms, efficiencies, condominiums, apartments, RV hookups, and trailers, with two heated pools, gift and marina shops, and a restaurant. The modern complex, dotted with prefab buildings, is clean and well manicured. Rooms were recently revamped and have goose down pillows and comforters and rates that start at $120 a night. Full-hookup RV sites are $40/night and include power, water, sewage, and cable TV.
Camping -- During the winter, campers own the Clewiston area. Campsites are jammed with regulars who come year after year for the simple pleasures of the lake and, of course, the warm weather. Every manner of RV, from simple pop-top Volkswagens to Winnebagos to fully decked-out mobile homes, finds its way to a lakeside campsite.
Okeechobee Landings, U.S. 27 East (tel. 863/983-4144), is one of the best; it has every conceivable amenity included in the price of a site. More than 250 sites are situated around a lake, clubhouse, pétanque courts, pool, Jacuzzi, horseshoe pit, shuffleboard court, and tennis court. Full hookup includes a sewage connection, which is not the case throughout the county. Rates start at $40 a day or $240 a week, plus tax, including hookup. Also see Roland Martin, described above.
Where to Eat near Lake Okeechobee
If you aren't frying up your own catch for dinner, you may want to reconsider it, as dining options here are few and far between. Lightsey’s at 1506 S. Parrot Ave., Clewiston (tel. 863/763-4276), started as a fish company and has expanded to a full-service restaurant. Any catch of the day can be broiled, fried, grilled, or steamed. Try the frogs’ legs, gator, cooter (turtle), and catfish, and if you’re hungry, go for the all-you-can-eat catfish option. Open daily from 11am to 9pm and 11am to 10pm on weekends. At Roland Martin’s there’s Scotty’s Tiki Bar, 920 E. Del Monte Ave. (📞863/983-3151), a popular waterfront biker and boater bar known for, gasp, gator tail. And the Okeechobee Livestock Market, 1055 US Hwy 98 N., (tel. 863/763-3127) understandably has some of the best burgers in the state. So good, you may be tempted to leave not with a doggy bag, but with your own steer. Good luck.
Another Side Trip: The Martin Grade Scenic Highway
Stretching 12 miles from western Palm City to the edge of Lake Okeechobee, The Martin Grade Scenic Highway, 29751 SW Martin Highway, Indiantown, is a veritable tunnel of ancient oak trees with wispy moss hanging down like curtains centrally located between Stuart, Indiantown, and Okeechobee. It’s a stunning drive in which old Florida is frozen on a stretch of undeveloped beauty with barrier islands, lagoons, and rivers to the east, and the sound of birds chirping overhead. Put the windows down, pumarvel at the beautiful kaleidoscope of colors created by the canopy of trees that seem to create a halo above you, and drive slowly to take it all in. No one’s in a rush on this road; in fact, when you’re on it, it seems like time is standing still.
