St. Lucie County: A special place
Halfway between Miami and Orlando, St. Lucie is blessed with natural beauty and offers a plethora of great things to see, do and experience. This is where you’ll find 21 miles of beautiful beaches on Hutchinson Island; the majestic Indian River Lagoon, with its breathtaking scenery and amazing recreational options; the Old Florida downtown and cultural life of Fort Pierce; and the challenging golf courses and quiet hideaways of Port St. Lucie.
SEE AND DO
Outdoor activities abound here. Take a guided kayak tour on the Indian River Lagoon or the St. Lucie River. Hike at the D.J. Wilcox Preserve through wetlands and scrub ecosystems that harbor manatees, alligators and all sorts of marine life. Go horseback riding on the beach with Beach Tours on Horseback; this is the only place in South Florida where you can still do this.
Fort Pierce features a number of cultural venues. Learn about the history of America’s amphibious forces at its National Navy UDTSEAL Museum. This state-of-the-art facility is the only museum of its type in the world and constantly adds new exhibits. Tour the A.E. Backus Museum & Gallery to view the nation’s largest collection of artwork by Florida’s preeminent painter as well as the state’s only permanent multimedia exhibition on the Florida Highwaymen. Attend a performance at the historic Sunrise Theatre.
Listed among the top 75 golf resorts in America, Port St. Lucie’s PGA Village Golf Resort attracts duffers from around the world. Port St. Lucie is also the springtraining home of the New York Mets from late February through late March.
Photography buffs, grab your camera and head to Jetty Park where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Indian River Lagoon at the opening of the Fort Pierce Inlet waterway to truly capture the panoramic beauty of this region.
DINE AND PLAY
In Fort Pierce, 12A Buoy serves up tantalizing Caribbean-inspired dishes and local seafood. For delicious Italian fare, head over to Tutto Fresco in Port St. Lucie.
St. Lucie County also schedules a full calendar of special events from January through May. Among them are the Downtown Fort Pierce Farmers’ Market every Saturday (year-round), Port St. Lucie’s Taste of Little Italy in January, and the Fort Pierce Oyster & Seafood Festival in April.