A perfect beach-hopping cruise along the A1A

Stuart Beach is located right in the town of Stuart, and makes a great stop after visiting the Elliot Museum, the Florida Oceanographic Center, or one of the many restaurants around. Free parking abounds, it's spacious, and you'll find amenities like lifeguards, a snack bar, showers, a playground, and bathrooms. It's clean, with sand that's not too rocky, and water great for surfing and fishing. This Treasure Coast gem is the kind of beach that, anywhere else in Florida, would be teeming with tourists. Instead, it gets enough visitors that it's well developed and has lots to do, but never feels jam-packed.

A hop, skip, and a jump away (about 0.4 miles, if we're being technical) is another off-the-beaten-path gem of a beach, Fletcher Beach. It's just south of where the A1A veers back onto the Florida mainland, but it's still well worth checking out. The water makes for great swimming, and again, surf fishing is popular here as well. As far as amenities go, you'll find a bathroom and parking, but no lifeguards or snacks. That's what keeps the untouched, undeveloped atmosphere of the beach and makes it feel so secluded, though!

Ross Witham Beach, with limestone rocks surrounding it, has the feel of a private grotto, which make it unlike other beaches on this stretch of the Treasure Coast. If you come at high tide, you'll see the waves crashing against the rocks! But the limestone isn't the only unique feature of Ross Witham. It's also the beach closest to the Georges Valentine Underwater Archaeological Preserve. This underwater museum of sorts protects the wreck of an Italian barkentine ship called the Georges Valentine, which in 1904, ran into shallow water during a storm and sank. Seven of the 12 crewmembers were lucky enough to make it to the house of refuge located right off the shore, and five perished in the disaster. The wreck is a popular dive site to this day.

If you're a fisherman, then definitely leave a few hours to spend at Tiger Shores Beach. It's a favorite for casting out a line. Reportedly, some fishermen like to stick a PVC pipe in the sand to use as a fishing rod holder. Also, feel free to bring along some cold beverages (in cans, since glass is banned on Martin County's beaches). Otherwise, this is another great beach that's mostly quiet and uncrowded!

Hobe Sound Beach is special in that the drive to the beach, through a tree tunnel on SE Bridge Road, is as magical as the beach itself. Once you reach the beach access, you'll be treated to cool breezes, breaking waves, and a guarded but largely quiet stretch of sand. You're free to bring your dog, and if you're into surfing or fishing, this is another spot to indulge in your favorite pastimes. Hobe Sound is especially lovely in the morning, or at sunset, so plan your trip to make the most of the natural beauty here.

If you need a break from all that beaching, head to Harry & The Natives. The quirky joint serves up delicious down-home cookin', Old Florida vibes, live music, and a full bar, making it perfect for breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner, a quick snack, or a few drinks. The original cypress cabin changed hands and names a number of times after it opened as a cafe in the 1940s. Then, a man named Jack MacArthur bought it and named it The Farm in the 1950s. His son Harry grew up helping out around the restaurant, and though Harry left in 1976 to work and travel around the world, he came back to the restaurant in the 1980s, eventually remodeling it into the funky eatery it is today, dubbing it "Harry & The Natives.” The menu features diner staples and Southern cuisine, along with some more offbeat offerings (gator hash, lobster burgers, and orange pie, anyone?) so there's something for everyone.

As you make your way to the southern part of Martin County, you'll encounter the Hobe Sound National Wildlife Refuge. It's the largest contiguous section of undeveloped beach in Southeastern Florida, and not only does it offer a taste of what Florida is like in its natural state, it's also one of the busiest sea turtle nesting areas in the Southeastern US. Stop by the visitor center to learn all about the turtles, and then check out the Indian River Lagoon Beach, a "mellow" stretch of shore that's perfect for really immersing yourself in nature. You'll find plenty of hiking trails here as well. There's also the Jupiter Island portion of the Refuge, which offers 3.5 miles of Atlantic Ocean beachfront.