Sitting along Florida’s well-known Treasure Coast, Fort Pierce is aptly called the “Sunrise City” by locals and visitors. This community is one of Florida’s older towns and is surrounded by astonishing natural splendor, including plenty of wildlife and amazing beaches. But in addition to this, Fort Pierce also offers historical sites, numerous parks, interesting museums and endless outdoor activities for you to enjoy. Because there is so much to do in the area, it’s a great place to spend a couple of weeks or months in a vacation rental just taking it all in. Below are some of the many things to do in Fort Pierce extended stay trips.
History and Architecture
When you’re going to be staying in a place for a while, it’s great to learn about its history and culture. For instance, the Sunrise Theater in Fort Pierce began its life in 1923 as a stage for vaudevillian performances, and is now a protected building and listed with the National Register of Historic Places. However, this historic site wasn’t always so fully respected and preserved as it is now.
During the economic problems of the early 1980s, the downtown section of Fort Pierce went into a decline – as did this building. Fortunately, it was lovingly restored by the Saint Lucia Preservation Association and now hosts Broadway performances, major orchestral events and other popular entertainment from local groups and well-known entertainers. A visit to this theater is an absolute must whenever you happen to be staying in the area.
Another interesting historical footnote about Fort Pierce is the fact that the well-known Harlem Renaissance writer, Zora Neale Hurston lived in the area right up to the end of her life. This makes it a big draw for those who enjoy and appreciate her works. Currently, the community holds a festival her name every year to honor her memory and accomplishments. The community has also recognized her contributions by designating a local nature path to be the Zora Neale Hurston Dust Tracks Heritage Trail. Many tourists and locals enjoy using this trail every year.
Museums and Research Institutions
If you love a good museum, you definitely won’t want to miss the St. Lucie County Regional History Center. This engaging museum has exhibits covering much of the history of the area, including information about prehistoric Native Americans, the later historic Seminole Wars and the many shipwrecks that occurred along the coast over the years. The Gardner House – built in 1908 – offers fascinating tours that provide visitors with an educational vignette into life in the early 20th century in Florida.
Without a doubt, one of the most exciting museums in the area is the National Navy UDT-SEAL Museum. Thousands of service men trained at this spot throughout World War II to become members of Underwater Demolition Teams and other units in the military. In many ways, Fort Pierce was the birthplace for the later Navy SEAL program that has become so famous today. The museum presents the history of these and other programs with a number of displays and exhibits, including support boats and a military helicopter.
If you’re interested in learning more about the amazing undersea wildlife in and around the Fort Pierce area, the Santa Lucia County aquarium is a great place to start. This museum includes the popular and well-known Smithsonian Marine Ecosystems Exhibit. This is a large, highly detailed model of the kind of coral reef ecosystem that exists just offshore and gives nature lovers a good idea just what’s down there without necessarily having to scuba dive to see it. You and your family can watch the animals in this natural space and you’ll even get a chance to feed them.
Next, there is the exciting Manatee Observation and Education Center. This is a nature education and wildlife observation facility located right on the waterfront in downtown Fort Pierce. Manatees are huge, beautiful mammals that are becoming much harder to find these days because of man’s impact on their environment. Making a visit to this center is a great opportunity to see these impressive, gentle creatures in their natural habitat.
The Great Outdoors
Of course, anyone who comes to Florida is going to want to take advantage of all the outdoor activities this tropical paradise offers, including the amazing beaches. Fort Pierce can certainly provide all of this and more for its visitors. But before you head off to the beach, you can choose to hit the Fort Pierce Farmers Market to pick up a few fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables and maybe some flowers.
As for beaches, the nearby Fort Pierce Inlet State Park offers beautiful beaches and sand dunes on more than 300 acres you can explore. It’s positioned perfectly between the Indian River Lagoon, Tucker Cove and the Atlantic Ocean. Once at the park, there are any number of ways for you and your family to have a fun, energetic time. In addition to just having a picnic on the half-mile long beach itself, you can enjoy a nice swim, scuba diving, surfing and snorkeling. You’ll find it hard to be bored.
If you prefer wildlife, Dynamite Point is a big draw for birdwatchers. At the right time of year, you can see clouds of migratory birds swirling in the air. And in addition to the birds, you can take advantage of the trails at Dynamite Point if you’d like to do a bit of hiking or just want to ride your bike.
The Savannas Preserve State Park runs 10 miles between Fort Pierce and Jensen Beach. It’s well known for its freshwater marshes and is the largest coastal savanna in this area. There is a convenient environmental education center nearby that will provide you with plenty of interesting information and trivia about the freshwater marshes in and around Fort Pierce – all of which are endangered these days along the Florida coast because of the impact construction and development has had.
You can also choose to take a horse, bicycle – or your own feet – and travel down the many miles of beautiful and well laid out trails available in this park. And there are the fishing, kayaking, canoeing and picnicking activities as well. Along the way, you can enjoy nature, viewing all the local flora and fauna to be found at this relaxing and refreshing locale.
For something a bit closer and smaller, try Avalon State Park. This park is located only 4 miles north of Fort Pierce and has a fantastic beach you won’t want to miss. You’ll also find lots of local wildlife there, including endangered sea turtles. You’ll have the chance to appreciate the amazing but extremely delicate dune ecosystem. This fantastic natural location is a great spot for fishing, hiking, swimming or just sunbathing, but try to make sure you leave it as you found it when you go.
No one wants to be bored on their vacation, but that’s not likely to happen when you visit peers. As must be clear from all of the items listed above, there are plenty of things to do in Fort Pierce extended stay trips, from outdoor sports and nature to culture, history and just plain family fun. And this is only a short list of the many fun and exciting activities available to you and yours when you are saying in a vacation rental near Fort Pierce, Florida.