Hobe Sound Nature Center, Hobe Sound

I stumbled on this place on my way to Coral Cove Park, and it was a very pleasant surprise! I didn't go inside the building although I wish I did to see the animals, but I instead took the longer trail around to the beach. It only took about 10-15 minutes, and I didn't run into any wildlife but it was a very nice little trail! Just watch out for those mosquitos when you get in the shaded area just before reaching the beach. Now the beach is gorgeous to look at- tree-lined, soft sand, and calm water- but I wouldn't swim it. Even the kids with their families there were playing in the sand near the water but weren't swimming in it. It looked a bit mucky, even though the beach itself was clean, it looked like more of a boating area although wading the warm shallow water only up to my knees was nice, besides the very muddy sand I was stepping on. This is a great place to stop along the way of a bigger destination. Parking was easy and it was a free pit stop!

My father and I anchored up for the night here, arriving mid-afternoon as we head into the final leg of my journey with him down the intracoastal waterway. I enjoyed a swim to the beach from the boat and he and the dog used the tender to reach the beach. It was low tide and the depth of water was about 4-6 feet. We have a flat bottom boat so getting in here during that time worked out well. With the tide out, the beach is walkable and wraps around the point of the beach. There are multiple trails stemming up from the beach. The paths all lead up to the Hobe Sound Nature Center. It was closed but I was happy to see that there were restrooms that were unlocked. I didn't use them but peeked my head in and they were clean and cool. The beach is lovely and has a nice sandbar at the tip of the beach that is fun to wade around in during low tide. The scenery is pretty at sunset. If you are driving through the area or looking for a sweet spot to anchor on the ICWW, the beach at the Hobe Sound Nature Center is the spot.