North Palm Beach, FL Outdoor Activities

Based out of sunny Jupiter on the shores of the warm Gulf Stream, Scuba Works—named Best Dive Center in 2010 by CityVoter—guides aquatic adventurers on scenic diving tours. Helmed by a PADI-trained and certified diving instructor, the intrepid staff continually add to expertise with routine continuing-education courses. In addition to tours, Scuba Works offers basic and advanced open-water scuba-certification classes and stages annual productions of Jacques Cousteau's autobiographical opera, Dive In!.

The five-star, PADI-certified staff at Jupiter Dive Center, a waterside school, mentors divers of all experience levels in progressive PADI courses. In the multiday courses, instructors teach to general open-water certifications and specialized styles, such as wreck diving and night diving. Guides also lead certified divers on guided day or night charters into the artificial shipwrecks and coral reefs blanketing the local sea floor. Though specific sites vary according to daily conditions, excursions drift past herds of sea life, including colorful schools of fish, peaceful anemones, and sea turtles out-swimming hares arrogantly napping in their own scuba helmets. Dive-shop staff outfits divers' bodies with high-end scuba gear, such as Scubapro suits and instruments.

Nestled above a wildlife refuge, Lazy Acres Farms spreads its dirt-and-grass paddocks out over 5 scenic Floridian acres. At the heart of the boarding and training facility, a 12-stall, center-aisle barn flanks a large, lighted arena filled with all-weather footing. There, head instructor Shannon Reilly, who has ridden since age 4 and has taught for more than 15 years, coaches pupils in English and Western riding styles, whether they’re learning for pleasure or to prepare for Lady Godiva costume competitions. Certified by the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association, Reilly treats special-needs children and adults to therapeutic lessons, and Lazy Acres is also home to Reilly Hyland Animal Sanctuary, a nonprofit haven for abused and neglected creatures. Outside the ranch, trail rides wind through paths of western Palm Beach County, where equestrians bask in the fresh air while looking out for A-list gators hiding from the paparazzi.