Fort Pierce offers travelers several distinct ways to explore the area: the history of the Navy SEALs and their predecessors, culture in Downtown, and nature and waterfront experiences. When looking for suitable accommodations, it’s worth first considering which of these interests you’d like to shape your stay.
Military History and Local Artistic Tradition
The National Navy UDT-SEAL Museum preserves exclusively the history of the U.S. Navy SEALs and their predecessors; it is the only museum with this specific dedication. It is located on the training grounds of the original Naval Combat Demolition Units and Underwater Demolition Teams, known as the Frogmen. Interactive exhibits make the history of the Navy SEALs the focus of a visit to the museum.
The self-guided Highwaymen Heritage Trail explores another facet of the area’s cultural heritage. Designed as an educational and cultural experience, it honors 26 internationally renowned landscape painters from Fort Pierce. It shifts the focus from military history to a group of artists whose origins are themselves part of the local heritage. Those interested in art history will find a distinctive way to explore it here, without the need for a guided program.
Historical context is also central at Jetty Park: four kiosks provide information about Fort Pierce in connection with World War II, the Navy SEALs, and the Vietnam War era. The topics thus span more than a single period. At Dynamite Point in Fort Pierce Inlet State Park, different periods also come together: the site served as a training ground for Navy Frogmen during World War II and is now known for birdwatching.
Downtown: Theater and Recurring Events
Downtown Fort Pierce is a walkable waterfront district characterized by historic buildings and a marina. Cultural attractions include the historic Sunrise Theatre in the heart of the historic downtown. Its Mainstage seats 1,200, while the Black Box Theatre seats 210. The different capacities offer a concrete sense of the venue, which presents touring music and Broadway shows as well as comedy, ballet, and opera. As schedules change, check current dates for a specific performance.
Recurring events in Downtown also include the Farmers Market and Art Walk: local vendors offer their goods every Saturday, while Art Walk events take place monthly. If these dates are a reason for your trip, it’s a good idea to check the specific dates in advance. This lets you include the cultural program and market as distinct parts of your plans, without assuming a particular event date.
Beach, Marine Life, and Birdwatching
Fort Pierce Inlet State Park offers an 800-meter-long beach for swimming, snorkeling, surfing, and scuba diving. These four activities offer different ways to spend time on the water. Check beach conditions and conditions for your planned activities before your visit. Those who prefer to experience nature by observing can consider birdwatching at Dynamite Point, where present-day nature watching meets the history of the former Frogmen training site.
At the St. Lucie County Aquarium, visitors can explore living models of six of Florida’s marine and estuarine ecosystems. A touch tank also offers close-up encounters with native marine life. The exhibit thus combines the exploration of different ecosystems with a hands-on experience at the tank. This complements the beach experience with a focus on natural history, without requiring the two experiences to offer the same thing.
Fort Pierce offers a range of interests to choose from: the history of the SEALs and the Highwaymen, performing arts and events in Downtown, as well as the beach, marine life, and birdwatching. This leaves room to put together an itinerary based on your own interests, rather than treating the individual offerings as a set route.
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