Below St. Lucie Inlet the coastline becomes truly tropical with a profusion of palm trees and exotic flowers. Here the laid-back Treasure Coast gives way to the bustling Gold Coast with its burgeoning development and fewer anchorages than you might wish.

You will also notice an increase in population–both on and off the water–as well as an increase in boat and home size. Large estates with manicured lawns line the waterways in Hobe and Jupiter Sounds and they get more opulent in Palm Beach, where there are more “yachts” than “boats.” The “water highway” widens at Lake Worth and continues past Boynton and Delray Beaches.