A beach for several water sports, trails through wetlands, and museums offering very different historical perspectives: St. Lucie invites discovery along the coast and river, as well as in protected areas. Which ones interest you depends on whether you want to experience nature, follow the traces of history, or combine both.

Coast, river, and viewpoints

At Fort Pierce Inlet State Park, a half-mile-long beach stretches along the shore. Swimming, snorkeling, surfing, and scuba diving are all possible there. The Marsh Rabbit Run Trail offers a different view of the surrounding area: at its western end, you can climb an observation tower overlooking the Indian River and the island. The beach and viewpoint represent different ways to discover the state park.

Oxbow Eco-Center and Preserve in Port St. Lucie also combines landscapes with visitor amenities. The site on the North Fork of the St. Lucie River covers 225 acres. Boardwalks, viewpoints, an observation tower, and walking trails lead through pine flatwoods, wetlands, and riverside habitats. At the Eco-Center, interactive exhibits and live animal ambassadors complement the nature experience, with a focus on local wildlife, habitats, and water resources. Oxbow Preserve and Trails is open daily from sunrise to sunset. Check opening hours before your visit.

Trails through protected areas

Savannas Preserve State Park offers more than 17 miles of multi-use trails for hiking, cycling, and horseback riding. Visitors can also canoe, kayak, or fish in the wetlands. The park protects a distinctive section of basin marsh that once extended across all of South Florida, before rapid suburban growth. So, exploring the park means encountering not only a natural area, but also a type of landscape that once covered a much larger part of the region.

A different focus awaits you at Steven J. Fousek Preserve. The 494-acre site consists of three separate preserves: Paleo Hammock, at 80 acres; Hackberry Hammock, at 114 acres; and Teague, at 300 acres. The habitats found there include hydric hammock, wet prairie, prairie hammock, basin swamp, and depression marsh. Several interpretive trails provide access to the preserve. The names and areas of the three sections make clear that this is not a single, uniform landscape.

History in museums and landscapes

At the St. Lucie County Regional History Center in Museum Point Park, views of the Indian River are part of the visit. Exhibits feature artifacts and portrayals of the Ais, Creek, and Seminole ways of life. The center also presents the development of the fishing industry and the local history of pineapple cultivation. Indigenous history, the economy, and agriculture thus feature as distinct subjects within one museum.

The National Navy UDT-SEAL Museum in Fort Pierce is dedicated exclusively to preserving the history of the U.S. Navy SEALs and their predecessors. Interactive exhibits explore this subject. The museum is located on the training grounds of the original Naval Combat Demolition Units and Underwater Demolition Teams, the Frogmen. Another trace of history can be found at Fort Pierce Inlet State Park: during World War II, Dynamite Point was a Navy Frogmen training site. Together, these places show how naval history is present both in museum exhibits and at a historic training site.

Markets and getting around

Experience another side of local life at the Downtown Fort Pierce Farmers Market. It takes place every Saturday at Marina Square in historic downtown Fort Pierce. Its weekly schedule makes the market an easy reference point for planning your visit; if you’re attending an event, it’s worth checking the latest dates in advance.

Area Regional Transit, a free public transportation system administered by the county, provides a way to get around St. Lucie County. It serves Fort Pierce, Port St. Lucie, St. Lucie Village, and the county’s unincorporated areas. Buses run on eight fixed routes throughout the county. Since routes and service information can change, check the latest details when planning your travel.

Discover more destinations: Fort Pierce, Port St. Lucie, Lake, Taylor, Orange, Columbia County, Monroe, Madison County.

For the main travel overview: Florida.