Beyond the upscale ambience of Palm Beach and the small-town charms of the Treasure Coast lies a world of waterborne adventures that both regions share. Groups can get their feet wet or simply enjoy the view while lounging on deck.
Yachting
People come to Palm Beach expecting to see a little bling. They might browse the chic boutiques of Worth Avenue, take in a polo match, play a little croquet—or go yachting. Your group can live the high life on the high seas on a jaunt with Delray Yacht Cruises, featuring two vessels, the Lady Atlantic and Lady Delray, that cruise the Intracoastal Waterway past some of the area’s most elegant mansions and estates.
“It’s a beautiful way to see the best of Palm Beach,” says Meghan Christian, the company’s assistant vice president, adding that private group charters can range from two-hour brunch treks to full four-hour sit-down dinner cruises featuring live entertainment. “We can do pretty much anything for corporate and social groups.”
Motorized Kayaking
Groups can enjoy a kayak adventure, minus the tired arms, with Motorized Kayak Adventures. Launching from various points in Fort Pierce, the company explores the mangrove forests of the Indian River Lagoon, called one of the most biologically diverse estuaries in North America and extending 156 miles from Volusia County down through Indian River and St. Lucie counties.
“Going through these mangrove tunnels is like going back in time. It’s almost like being on another planet. We rarely see other kayakers when we go out,” says Billy Gibson, co-owner of Motorized Kayak Adventures, which can host up to eight guests at a time on battery-powered kayaks that need only be steered, not paddled.
Mangrove tunnel tours are offered during the day, though Gibson says he’s toying with the idea of night tours using lighted helmets.
For now, the company offers sunset kayak excursions to Round Island Park near the Indian River County/St. Lucie County line, while other kayak treks focus on local birds and wildlife.PageBreak
Bioluminescence
On summer nights, northern sections of the Indian River Lagoon shimmer and glow when the water is disturbed—by an oar, for example—as tiny bioluminescent creatures produce a living light show, illuminating schools of fish, manatees, stingrays and anything else out for a night swim.
“It’s the same biochemical reaction as a firefly,” notes Elisabeth Mahan, co-owner of A Day Away Kayak Tours in Titusville, north of Vero Beach. “At the peak of the season, there are 140,000 of these single-cell organisms in one liter of water. We live in a world today where so few things awe people anymore. This definitely has that ‘wow’ factor.”
A Day Away can accommodate up to 96 people on weekend launches, with two-night launches on Saturday.
Fishing for Fun
Some tourism officials in Palm Beach make reference to the county’s “two coasts”—that is, one bordering the Atlantic Ocean and the other bordering Lake Okeechobee, the second-largest freshwater lake in the U.S. Hiking and camping are popular pastimes here, as are fishing expeditions offered by scores of marinas dotting the Okeechobee Waterway, a manmade channel connecting the Atlantic to the Gulf of Mexico.
Set at the midway point between the two, Roland Martin Marina offers guided bass fishing trips on the lake, accommodating up to 155 people at a time, though groups of 10-40 are the ideal size, says Ramon Iglesias, the marina’s general manager.
“We also rent boats and if groups want to stay, we have 106 total lodging spaces,” he says.
Cat Fancy
The catamaran Mariah sails the windswept waters off the coast of Palm Beach. Yes, you’ll blast through waves, but the cat’s double-hull stability makes it similar to riding a bus, says Larry Havill, the vessel’s owner and captain.
“There’s less potential for seasickness and more stability for walking around the vessel,” he says.
Accommodating up to 49 on private charters, the Mariah gets its momentum from billowing sails, as guests relax on deck, taking in a spectacular panorama of ocean and sky.
“Catamarans are less formal, and you get into the scenery more,” Havill says.
But there’s plenty of opportunity for socializing, with finger food and full meals among the catering options. Most three-hour excursions are not narrated, though if a guide is desired, Havill can provide one.
If seas are rough, or if the group prefers it, the Mariah also can sail the mile-wide Lake Worth Lagoon. PageBreak
Catching Air
Wind also propels the sport of kiteboarding, and the calm waters of the Indian River Lagoon provide a protected place to learn with Endless Windz, an operator offering lessons in Vero Beach and Sebastian.
“We’ve had as young as 12 and as old as 65-plus learn kiteboarding,” says Mike Brad, owner of the company. “All of our lessons take place in no more than waist-deep water. It’s actually not as difficult as a lot of people think.”
But for the daredevils in the group, Brad also offers flyboarding (www.flyboardz.com), which uses an underwater apparatus to propel the rider into the air.
“It’s a little more extreme,” Brad says.
Water Sprites
If time is short, the Palm Beach Water Taxi offers quick shuttle service to destinations throughout the county along with two-hour narrated sightseeing cruises and private charters. Two boats hold 16 and 40, respectively.
Meanwhile, land and sea combine on a 75-minute journey with the Diva Duck Amphibious Tour, which cruises past the neighborhoods of old West Palm Beach as well as the magnificent homes on the island of Palm Beach. The “diva” part, however, doesn’t just come from a Palm Beach location; the owner is a former opera singer.
House of Refuge
Groups can experience the sea from dry land at Gilbert’s Bar House of Refuge in Stuart, the oldest historical site in Martin County and the last surviving house of refuge—or sanctuary for shipwrecked travelers—in the state. In fact, a shipwreck just offshore is popular among divers, though you don’t have to don fins to go back a hundred years to the days of treacherous sea travel. The museum’s exhibits will transport you there.
Groups also can gather in the house’s indoor meeting room, which can hold about 50, or outside on the patio, which is right on the shoreline.
“If it’s wavy, you get sea spray,” says Lisa Djahed, marketing coordinator of the newly renovated Elliott Museum, which along with the House of Refuge, is administered by the Historical Society of Martin County.
The Elliott Museum is due to announce a merger with the Maritime & Classic Boat Museum in nearby Jensen Beach, Djahed says, though details were not final at press time.
