If you’re driving down Florida’s east coast between Cape Canaveral and Miami, you’ll go by way of a fantastic area often known as the Treasure Coast. It covers three counties — Indian River, St. Lucie, and Martin — and will get its identify from historic shipwrecks and their accompanying loot.
Lucky explorers have discovered bonafide sunken treasure right here as not too long ago as 2020, and one haul (in 2015) of over 350 gold cash was price round $4.5 million. Of course, most guests discover one other sort of treasure right here: uncrowded seashores, glorious seafood, huge parks, and a no-worries way of life that’s good for a soothing household trip.
Here’s the way to highway journey this coast as a household, together with actions all ages can get pleasure from.
Stay on Hutchinson Island
Of the three counties on the Treasure Coast, St. Lucie is within the center, so staying right here helps you to be centrally positioned. And if you happen to’re staying on the coast, you may as properly be on an island, proper?
Room at Hutchinson Island Plaza Hotel & Suites
Hutchinson Island stretches over 20 miles alongside the coast, crossing into all three counties. We stayed on the waterfront Hutchinson Island Plaza Hotel & Suites in Fort Pierce. This resort is a good funds possibility, with aggressive nightly charges, free parking, and continental breakfast included. Depending on the kind of room you ebook, there are mini fridges, microwaves, balconies, and pull-out sofas handy for households.
The resort has a small non-public seashore on the inlet, good for when the youngsters need to splash round otherwise you simply need to dig your toes within the sand. And anglers will recognize the fishing. Another factor we cherished? Being strolling distance from Jetty Park, a scenic spot for fishing, swimming and sunrises.
Beach exterior Hutchinson Island Plaza Hotel & Suites
See Top Attractions
There are so many nice points of interest right here for households. Where do I start? Museums, murals, boat excursions, gardens — I can assure nobody might be bored.
For outside enjoyable with youngsters past the parks, go to McKee Botanical Garden. All ages will love the gorgeous landscapes, the walk-through Stickwork sculpture surrounded by towering palms, and the Hall of Giants. But particularly for youths, their new Children’s Garden is a should. Better than a daily treehouse, there’s a pirate shipwreck in a tree plus a splash backyard, fairy forest, monkey bridge, and extra.
Children’s Garden at McKee Botanical Gardens
If you’re fortunate sufficient to be there in summer season, don’t miss their annual Waterlily Celebration when these blooms are at their peak.
Another must-see for flower lovers is Heathcote Botanical Gardens. The bonsai assortment is first-rate, and the Children’s Garden is whimsical enjoyable with its playhouse, pioneer cabin, and fairy backyard. The house is designed in backyard “rooms,” such because the Japanese Garden with its statuary and water options and the Butterfly Garden, one other child favourite, the place tons of of butterflies feast on the crops on sunny days. We additionally loved a picnic lunch on this peaceable setting.
Playhouse at Heathcote Botanical Gardens
When on the Treasure Coast, you’ve received to see shipwreck treasure, and the Mel Fisher’s Treasure Museum is the place to do it. See an enormous assortment of salvaged treasure and maintain a gold bar rescued from a Spanish galleon. Check their web site for a coupon for $5 off admission.
More family-friendly museums nice for wet days or escaping the warmth embrace the Children’s Museum of the Treasure Coast, the National Navy SEAL Museum, and the Stuart Heritage Museum, which is free!
Hit the Parks
It’s straightforward to get near nature right here. Parks and seashores abound. Fort Pierce Inlet State Park and Jetty Park, talked about above, deserve high spots in your checklist, however there are a lot extra.
Fort Pierce Inlet State Park
Here are a number of parks households can discover pretty near the resort:
- Museum Pointe Park, waterfront trails, palm timber, and picnic tables
- Frederick Douglass Memorial Beach Park, the place you may go horseback using on the seashore
- Bear Point Sanctuary, with mangrove strolling trails and an commentary platform
- Vitolo Preserve, extra mangrove trails and one other commentary platform
- Jack Island Preserve State Park, widespread for birdwatching on the lagoon
Go farther and discover parks and seashores all through the tri-county area. Three others I like to recommend are Jonathan Dickinson State Park, Sebastian Inlet State Park, and — my favourite for the large sprays of water in opposition to the limestone — Blowing Rocks Preserve.
Eat Hearty
Want laid-back, family-friendly eating places the place it’s all about nice service and nice meals? You can get the traditional Florida seashore city eating expertise, the place the seafood is contemporary and flip flops and T-shirts are commonplace apparel, at each Archie’s Seabreeze and Little Jim Bait & Tackle.
Don’t neglect to thrill the youngsters with ice cream. It’s trip, in spite of everything. Shops promoting ice cream appear to be all over the place. Overwhelmed with alternative, we turned to on-line opinions to assist us resolve, and there was a transparent winner. Stop by Cream Republic for small-batch ice cream in a spread of artistic flavors which can be all the time altering. You can anticipate traditional chocolate and fruit flavors, however if you happen to’re feeling adventurous, strive one thing new. Past creations embrace cookie butter, black walnut with salted caramel, strawberry cheesecake, taro, pistachio, tres leches, banana pudding… And there are boozy creations for adults, too.
Small-batch ice cream at Cream Republic
The service is heat and pleasant, and the decor inside is charming. If the climate’s nice, sit exterior (canines welcome) and calm down with a cup or cone.
About the Author
Cheryl Rodewig is storyteller, marketer, and award-winning characteristic author specializing in journey. Her Venn diagram consists of minimalism, waterfalls, French, and the em sprint. Find her at cherylrodewig.com or on Twitter at @cherylrodewig.