COVER STORY
14
The wood plank walkway at Oxbow EcoCenter in northern Port St. Lucie
stretches off into the distance. Wide, flat or gently rolling paths take walkers
through several types of landscape and habitat, offering a taste of Florida ‘s
natural vegetation.
from Martin County or Palm Beach.
The Treasure Coast is naturally beautiful, say tour guides
and promoters of ecotourism in all three counties.
“We have so much here; we are so fortunate,” says Rozeta
Mahboubi, executive director of the Martin County Convention
& Visitors Bureau. “In Martin County we have focused
on preserving so much of our natural resources. Ecotourism
fits perfectly with what we have been doing.”
Ecotourism focuses on nature — the environment, habitat,
wildlife, marine life. Some who call themselves ecotourists
travel with a specific plan to educate themselves about some
aspect of nature. Others may be vacationers who decide to
try a simpler, less expensive trip, or who decide on a whim to
take a boat tour or go on a nature walk.
“When they get here, there are generally two categories of
tours for them,” Mahboubi says. “One is the self-guided tour,
and the other is with a guide.”
Tourists who visit Jonathan Dickinson State Park in southern
Martin can do a little of both. The federally designated
Wild and Scenic Loxahatchee River runs through the park,
which offers boat tours, hiking trails, full-service campgrounds,
talks, guided walks, an education center, Trapper
Nelson’s historic cabin and more.
Ecotourists “can come to the Treasure Coast, stay in one
county and drive up and down all three counties to experience
different things,” Mahboubi says. “They get three for the
price of one.” >>
/www.QuailCreekPlantation.com
/www.heathcotebotanicalgardens.org