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Starting just at the northern tip of Miami Beach is a stretch of beautiful, wealthy communities that goes on for at least 50 miles (80 km). As diverse in their own ways as the Greater Miami area, they add immeasurably to the cultural richness of South Florida and make an unsurpassed choice for beaching it, too (see Gold Coast Highway A1A).

Palm Beach, on the Gold Coast, is the winter playground and shopping mecca of the rich (see Worth Avenue, Palm Beach). If you continue on A1A north of Palm Beach, the megalopolis gives way to the smaller, quieter towns of the Treasure Coast. These include Vero, the largest; Jupiter, which has no barrier islands; Stuart, with its charming historic district; rural-feeling Fort Pierce; and, at the northern extension of the Treasure Coast, the little fishing village of Sebastian. Vist these if you want to experience South Florida beach life without the hurly-burly of Miami.

The amenities are little better than camping out, but this is a chance to get up close and personal with the Everglades.

A gourmet restaurant on the campus of a great culinary school. Try the escargot in a garlic and white wine cream sauce.

A collection of wood-frame cottages, set among tropical palms and just steps from a faultless beach.

Evokes a pre-Civil War atmosphere with its décor.

Fresh fish from Lake Okeechobee, and a genteel air. Antiques and antebellum-style reproductions abound.

Tennessee Williams is said to have written A Streetcar Named Desire here; presidents and royalty have stayed, too.

You can travel to the wonderful islands of the Dry Tortugas by seaplane or ferry from Key West. Companies offering trips include the Yankee Freedom and the Fast Cat. The day-long tours include food and snorkeling gear. Camping overnight is also possible.The most visited island is Garden Key, the site of Fort Jefferson (see Dry Tortugas National Park).