From surfing to shipwrecks, autumn is the perfect time for exploring this South Florida destination
Ever been caught choosing between “fun” and “educational” when planning a vacation? Between a museum and a beach? Surf lessons or historic site explorations? This fall, choose Martin County, encompassing the communities of Port Salerno, Stuart, Palm City, Jensen Beach, Indiantown, Jupiter Island, Hobe Sound and Hutchinson Island, and offering beautiful beaches and 75+ parks – not to mention the most bio-diverse lagoon ecosystem in the Northern Hemisphere, the St. Lucie Inlet, all within two hours or less driving time of four international airports: Palm Beach, Ft. Lauderdale, Miami and Orlando.
Stuart, the County seat of Martin County, was ranked #3 in the 2015 Annual Best Small Town to Visit Guide by Smithsonian Magazine and was also ranked #9 by House Beautiful in The 50 Most Beautiful Small Towns in America.
Florida’s hidden gem blends education, environment and culture into one memory-making getaway.
Learn about this destination
When travel incorporates learning the experience leaves a lasting impression. Martin County is not only the place for unwinding and reconnecting, but also the destination where brain-stimulating expeditions unfold.
Start at the Florida Oceanographic Coastal Center on Hutchinson Island. With aquariums, nature trails, a butterfly garden, children’s pavilion, visitor center, gift shop and more, whether you’re 2 or 92, there’s something extraordinary about touching a stingray, seeing a sea turtle up close, or witnessing a feeding frenzy in a 750,000-gallon game fish tank.
Then, head to the Hobe Sound Nature Center. For a one-of-a-kind adventure, Hobe Sound National Wildlife Refuge, a coastal refuge bisected by the Indian River Lagoon into two separate tracts of land totaling over 1,000 acres on Jupiter Island, offers the onsite Hobe Sound Nature Center with both on and off-site native wildlife presentations and field experiences to local natural areas.
Make waves for the House of Refuge at Gilbert’s Bar, the only remaining House of Refuge on the east coast of the United States. Built as one of 10 along the east coast of Florida, it is the oldest structure in Martin County and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Houses of Refuge were designated as havens for shipwrecked sailors and travelers along Florida’s sparsely-populated Atlantic coastline. Run by the United States Lifesaving Service, the Houses played a critical role in a time when sailing ships dominated world commerce. The historic structure has weathered many storms and provided needed shelter for shipwreck survivors, including those of the Georges Valentine, an Italian brigantine whose wreckage remains just 100 yards off the rocky shoreline. The House of Refuge continues to withstand the test of time, while offering a look at a bygone lifestyle along the sea. Want to delve deeper? Dive the Georges Valentine Shipwreck Site off the coast of Hutchinson Island. On July 19, 2006, the Georges Valentine Shipwreck Site was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. On October 16, 2006, it became the eleventh Florida Underwater Archaeological Preserve.
Open to the public, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on school days, visit the free Environmental Studies Center, established in 1972 and operated by the Martin County Public School System. Students visit the Center each year to participate in hands-on field investigations and to explore the St. Lucie Estuary, Indian River Lagoon, Hutchinson Island’s beaches, mangrove swamps and freshwater ponds and wetlands. The Center is home to a wide variety of marine life and other species: a loggerhead sea turtle, gopher tortoises in their habitat, a juvenile American alligator, freshwater turtles, saltwater aquariums and touch tanks containing various marine organisms from the Indian River Lagoon.
Children will delight in the Children’s Museum of the Treasure Coast. Join for story time, interactive learning exhibits like the Town Market where children can role play shopping for produce, dairy, meats and dry-goods, complete with shopping carts and checkout station, and ever-changing programs like movie nights.
At Blowing Rock Preserve, named for its rocky Anastasia limestone shoreline – the largest on the U.S. Atlantic coast, get a glimpse at what South Florida barrier islands looked like a century ago. Visitors can see one of the state’s rarest surviving landscapes – an intact Florida dune habitat with beach sunflower, bay cedar, sea grape and sea oats.
Always evolving exhibits at the Elliot Museum keep visitors returning again and again for hands-on experiences. Named after prolific inventor Sterling Elliott, the Elliott Museum hosts a dynamic and interactive collection of antique automobiles, vintage boats, an extensive baseball collection and a deep trove of Treasure Coast histories and stories. In addition, the museum displays an array of traveling exhibits designed to challenge and inspire families and children.
Get outdoors
Favorable year-round temperatures make Martin County the go-to spot for exploring nature. Building restrictions have limited structures to four stories, preserving breathtaking views throughout the county, yielding Old Florida charm accented by Key West style at every corner. With more than 75 parks, outdoor expeditions in Martin County are limitless.
Snorkel at Bathtub Reef Beach where a man-made reef extends into the ocean allowing visitors to venture out while remaining in a protective area.
Kayak, hike, bike and go birding at Halpatiokee Regional Park or discover the pristine, and often deserted, beach at St. Lucie Inlet Preserve State Park.
Trails at the Hobe Sound Nature Center allow for hikes through estuaries, barrier islands and the sand pine scrub. Hobe Sound is also home to Jonathan Dickinson State Park where the Loxahatchee River, Florida’s first federally designated Wild and Scenic River, runs through the park. Ranger-guided tours of the 1930’s pioneer homestead of Trapper Nelson are available year-round. Enjoy paved and off-road biking, equestrian and hiking trails. Boating, canoeing and kayaking along the river are all highlights. TIP: Gear up with paddleboards, kayaks and more at Treasure Coast Paddle or South River Outfitters.
There’s a reason Martin County reigns supreme for sport fishing and holds the distinctive title of “Sailfish Capital of the World.” Boasting more than 20 marinas, a dozen fishing and sightseeing charters, plus a variety of bait and tackle shops, the area offers an abundance of boating and fishing excursions and the opportunity to pursue 800 species of fish within a 10-mile radius of the St. Lucie Inlet, which connects the Intracoastal Waterway to the Atlantic Ocean.
With numerous thriving natural and artificial reefs along Martin County’s shores, the area truly lives up to its reputation as the “Treasure Coast.” Each reef offers a bounty of rich aquatic life, creating ideal locales for saltwater anglers and recreational divers. Offshore, the prevailing north current allows boaters to begin at the southern end of a one-mile-long series of 14 artificial reefs that provide excellent fishing opportunities. Martin County’s Artificial Reef Program offers over 100 outstanding sites for fishing and dive exploration – and the number continues to grow. There is no better way to appreciate the area’s natural treasures than to fish and explore these waters.
Numerous charter boats are located throughout Martin County and can provide full, half-day or custom charters. From novice to experienced, the professional captains and mates provide for an angler’s every need and offer advice to insure a memorable off-shore fishing experience. The months of November through mid-March are prime months for sailfish – spring and summer months see the return of dolphin, wahoo and kingfish, as well as marlin. Not into fishing? Take a sailing lesson at the U.S. Sailing Center of Martin County where options are available for beginners and pros. Or, catch one of the many regattas held here throughout the year, notably the Junior Olympic Festival, Laser Masters, 420 Midwinter Championships and OptiFest.
Expand cultural horizons
No matter when you visit, there’s always a special event on the calendar. With exceptional juried art festivals and events, acclaimed performances at the Lyric Theatre and the Local Barn Theatre, and an on-going farmer’s market, it’s always a good time to be in Martin County.
This fall plan to visit during:
- The Market on Main, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., Sundays in Stuart Florida’s Downtown Center
Featuring top quality fresh produce, cut flowers (seasonal), honey, freshly-baked breads and pastries, hot sauces, handcrafted soaps and lotions, grass fed/local beef, poultry, and eggs, goat milk and cheeses, organic spice blends, artisan crafts and handmade jewelry, as well as a myriad of freshly prepared gourmet foods for breakfast and lunch – the Market on Main is the area’s premier destination for the finest local goods. - Jammin’ Jensen, 6-10 p.m. Thursdays in Downtown Jensen Beach on Jensen Beach Boulevard
A free event featuring local artists displays, crafts, music, vendors and family entertainment. - 19th Annual Downtown Stuart Craft Festival, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., October 20-21 in Downtown Stuart
The 19th Annual Downtown Stuart Craft Fair continues with more than 100 crafters exhibiting and selling their work in an outdoor gallery. Photography, paintings, sculpture, jewelry and more showcased from local and traveling crafters, makes this event a feast for the senses. - 70th Annual Indiantown Rodeo at Timer Powers Park, 9 a.m.-9 p.m., October 19-20 in Timer Powers Park
This Indiantown FL Rodeo is sanctioned by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association and the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association and features bareback bronc riding, barrels, bull riding, saddle bronc riding, steer wrestling, and team roping.
If you go
Travel around Martin County in style and rent an environmentally-friendly electric Duffy boat or opt for a scooter or bicycle. Ready to refuel? The word fresh takes on new meaning with most Martin County restaurants utilizing locally-sourced produce and fresh caught fish, served alongside ingredients from local and organic farms within the county to please even the pickiest of palates. At day’s end, rest easy at brand name chains like Courtyard by Marriott, Best Western, and Hampton Inn – even the Hutchinson Island Marriott offering a resort-style setting. Or, choose from one-of-a-kind boutique properties such as the Old Colorado Inn, Seminole Inn and Pirates Cove Resort and Marina. Along the Indian River in Jensen Beach you will find charming smaller family owned bed and breakfast properties and independently rented villages and cottages, while RV and camping facilities – even timeshares – spell family fun.