Scenic and historic State Highway A1A winds through the modern, understated, elegant small towns of southern Florida, shaded from above by an impressive canopy of Australian pines. In addition to the towns of Hillsboro Beach and Highland Beach, the highway leads to the tiny hamlet of Gulf Stream. Located directly on the Atlantic Ocean about 20 minutes from Palm Beach International Airport, Gulf Stream is home to just over 700 residents, who enjoy the town’s privacy and uniqueness. Gulf Stream is a picturesque area replete with luxurious, private homes, such as those found in Place au Soleil, which are priced from the mid-$150,000s to more than $1.6 million. Fantastic condominiums and townhouses, such as those at El Cortijo, range from $100,000 to more than $2 million.

Formerly a part of Boynton Beach, Ocean Ridge is located halfway between the exclusive Palm beaches and Boca Raton, about 15 minutes from the West Palm Beach International Airport. Nearly 2,000 residents enjoy the town’s low-key, low profile Florida lifestyle. Also located along State Highway A1A, Ocean Ridge offers elegant Spanish-style mansions at Pelican Beach, Tropical Shores and Ocean Harbor Estates, priced from $400,000 to $9 million. In nearby Manalapan, buyers can choose from a plethora of architectural styles from “Old World” to Mediterranean to Mizner to contemporary. Prices are diverse -- ranging from $400,000 to $15 million -- as are neighborhoods, which are home to young families, first-time buyers, working professionals, empty nesters and senior citizens. The Ritz-Carlton Palm Beach is located on seven sandy acres overlooking the Atlantic Ocean in exclusive Manalapan, not far from the world-renowned shops of Worth Avenue in Palm Beach. There are just over 300 residents in Manalapan.