MARTIN COUNTY, FLORIDA—MAY 2019—Visiting a new place is exciting, yet overwhelming. Martin County is no different. Located on Florida’s Treasure Coast, just 45 minutes from Palm Beach International Airport, an hour from Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International Airport, 90 minutes from Miami International Airport and two hours from Orlando International Airport, Martin County is packed with family-friendly activities to guarantee a successful vacation for travelers of all ages.
Martin County, like other destinations, has much to offer travelers and locals alike. In terms of eco-adventure, the county is home to the most bio-diverse lagoon ecosystem in the Northern Hemisphere along with the most bio-diverse estuary in North America—The St. Lucie Inlet. You’ll learn about the more than 4,300 species of plants and animals in the ecosystem, some of which are threatened and/or endangered such as manatees, Florida scrub jay, sandhill cranes and many others.
Martin County also has a thriving arts and culture scene celebrating not only the arts (dance, music, theatre and visual arts), but historical preservation as well. Opportunities abound for visiting and exploring powerhouses of yesteryear like downtown Stuart’s historic Lyric Theatre, a silent movie house of the 1920s that is a current-day, renovated, multi-use arts venue. Many other significant historical landmarks also exist throughout the county, so plan some time to experience them all.
And, as all good Florida travelers know, disconnecting from reality and relaxing on a charming, peaceful beach juxtaposing dazzling water while surrounded by natural dunes is about as good as it gets. Martin County has four awesome beach communities that will grant you the desires of your (vacationing) heart: Bathtub Beach, Jensen Beach, Hobe Sound Beach and Stuart Beach. You’ll want to check them all out and get to know each one well.
But where do you start? What type of family vacation works best for you and your family? You, my friend, are in luck! Martin County has polled residents to find out the area’s coolest adventures and subsequently prepared a personality quiz of sorts for visitors to plug in answers to simple questions about their interests and learn what locals would direct them to do. Funded in part by a Visit Florida grant, it is an innovative way to explore Martin County’s remarkable restaurants, beachfront beauties and awesome accommodations. Before planning your trip to the crown jewel of Florida’s Treasure Coast, take the quiz online so you can discover Martin County like a local!