Where: In St. Lucie County on Florida’s central eastern coast.
Length: 42 miles.
How to get around: Car or bicycle.
Best time to visit: Come for a long weekend and enjoy Friday Fest and the Saturday morning Farmers Market, a tradition since 1997, at the Marina Square.
Fun fact: Pepper Park is the eastern point of original natural inlet. The 1715 Treasure Fleet was a Spanish treasure fleet returning from the New World to Spain. At two in the morning on Wednesday, July 31, 1715, seven days after departing from Havana, Cuba, under the command of Juan Esteban de Ubilla, eleven of the twelve ships of this fleet were lost in a hurricane near present-day Vero Beach, Florida. Because the fleet was carrying silver, it is also known as the 1715 Plate Fleet (plata being the Spanish word for silver). Some artifacts and even coins still wash up on Florida beaches from time to time.
The original inlet, known as the Indian River Inlet, existed nearly 2 miles north of the present inlet, near Pepper Park on North Hutchinson Island.
For more info: Check out visitstluciefla.com or stop by the Seven Gables House Visitor Center, a century-old home operated by the St. Lucie County Chamber of Commerce that provides tours and information.
Located on Florida’s Atlantic Coast just south of Vero Beach and north of Jupiter, the Treasure Coast Scenic Highway is well stocked with beautiful beaches, museums, and historic restaurants.
The area has natural attractions at literally every turn, as you travel along Hutchinson Island with the Atlantic Ocean to the east and Indian River to the west. For a more up-close view of the waterfront, snorkel in Pepper Park, pitch your tent along the Fort Pierce Inlet at Jetty Park.
Fort Pierce Inlet State Park is the ideal place to fish, swim, and snorkel. At the west end of the Marsh Rabbit Run Trail, visitors can climb an observation tower for a bird's-eye-view of the Indian River and the island.
Cool off inside the Navy SEAL Museum or stop by Archie’s Seabreeze, a no-fuss historic eatery with a tradition of food, family, and music.
Also carve out time to spend in historic downtown Fort Pierce, where you can browse the Saturday morning farmers’ market or attend the Friday night festival along the riverwalk.