Recently, on the OnlyInYourState podcast, which is hopefully soon to be your new favorite United States travel podcast, we recorded an episode focusing on Hobe Sound, Florida. By we, I mean Sara H. and myself, your hosts that bring you the best hidden gems every week for an ultimate audio adventure. We were taking a look at the popular article about Hobe Sound that was published not long ago and wanted to go even further with it. Because I live less than 90 minutes from this charming beach town, I decided to take a trip up the turnpike to see what all the fuss was about. And let me tell you - Hobe Sound and the surrounding area are an absolute MUST-VISIT. Let's take a look at the history behind Hobe Sound, the beauty in nature, and some of my personal favorite stops.

If you want to follow along on an audio adventure with our podcast Not Your Average Bucket List, make sure to click below!

The drive up to Hobe Sound from South Florida isn’t a strenuous one, especially if you happen to beat morning traffic. I cruised up the FL turnpike before merging onto I95 and headed east at exit 96.

Driving into Hobe Sound, it’s extremely rural. There are stretches of farms, new developments getting ready for construction, and cows with swishing tails happily grazing in fields.

I started off my day by visiting 3Natives for some sustenance. I knew I was going to be doing a lot of walking, climbing, and moving around so I wanted to keep it light.

I ordered the PB&A bowl, which consists of acai, granola, peanut butter, banana, and strawberry. It was light and refreshing, and tasted extremely fresh.

3Natives also offers wraps, too, so I scored myself a Veg Head, which was hummus, romaine, cabbage, carrot, cucumber, red pepper, pico de Gallo, and sprouts. Everything is made to order and you could taste that in every bite.

I left 3Natives with a full belly and headed east a bit more until I reached Zeus Park. This circular park in town is lined with humongous old-growth trees, making it the perfect place to stop and walk, bring a book, or pack a picnic.

I decided to stop in the Community Butterfly Garden to see if there were any butterflies cruising by and spotted two!

The Butterfly Park is located where Olympus meets Adonis and Venus in the NW quadrant of historic Zeus Park.

Parking is free and even if you just spend a few minutes sitting on a bench taking in the sights and sounds, it’s well worth it.

Down the road a few miles, I ventured on toward Jonathan Dickinson State Park, which to my surprise, boasting a plethora of recreational activities of all types.

I paid the $6 fee to enter and was given a map, a checklist of things to do, and a guide for important information. From there, it was like a choose your own adventure of where to stop, which hike to take, and what to do.

I stopped first at the Gator Culvert, which was a wooden platform on the side of the road that stretched over a small stream. Apparently, this is where some gators hang out below, and lo and behold I was able to see one!

Don't worry about getting too close here. I was high up on a platform and kept a safe distance.

I drove toward the Loxahatchee River, where boats and kayaks are available for rent, and found the Kitching Creek Nature Trail . I knew I had a bunch to do in the area, so I wanted a short hike of less than two miles, and this was perfect.

There is very minimal shade here, so be forewarned. But the chances of seeing wildlife are aplenty! I spotted a hungry gopher tortoise grazing in the grass and tons of birds.

The trail is well marked, and with the help of your map, you should be able to follow along nicely, and make the loop in well under an hour.

While there was still so much to see in Jonathan Dickinson State Park, I had to continue on. But I am already planning a trip to stay at the Safari Glamping Tents inside the park for an overnight, and make sure to take the pontoon tour to see the mysterious trapper’s island!

I kept driving south from the park entrance and made my way down to Jupiter to see the Jupiter Lighthouse. I didn’t really no what to expect, but this place really is a historical gem.

Paying a $12 entry fee at the front office, I was guided into the area and put my name down to climb the stairs - all 139 of them.

People go up in groups in order to avoid confusion and chaos, because these spiral stairs up to the top are quite steep and don’t give much room for people coming up and down at the same time.

While my calves were burning, I reached the top and marveled at the 360-degree views of Jupiter, the inlet, the channel, and the ocean.

If you can make it up the stairs (there are certain areas on the staircase to step aside and take a breath if need be) I highly recommend doing so.

The views are stunning, plus there is a volunteer at the top to answer any questions you might have about the maritime history.

The lighthouse isn’t the only area of interest here either. There are beautiful trees, strung with lights, to sit and enjoy. There is a museum, gift shop, and even the lighthouse grounds, which deserve to be marveled at.

From the Jupiter Lighthouse, I made my way out of the park and back north a bit on the oceanside up to Blowing Rocks Nature Conservancy.

Parking was free, and there was even a welcome center where you can see what the wildlife and history of the area are, as well as make a small donation to the Conservancy.

While the rocks weren’t a’blowin when I visited (tide was too low) the walk along the dunes was an absolute blast. The trail that takes you through the tunnel of trees is a perfect photo op.

The conservancy even offers garbage pails at the entrance to the beach to take with you and collect trash as you walk. Luckily, there wasn’t much trash to be collected, which means everyone was doing their part.

On the way out of town, in the small area of Tequesta, I stopped for a bite to eat at Mood Restaurant. But perhaps that’s a story for another time. :)

Have you visited Hobe Sound and the surrounding area before? Let us know about your experience and any other hidden gems! I guarantee you I'll be back before the year ends in order to keep exploring.