The Treasure Coast (2026 Update)

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Tucked between the salty sea air of the Atlantic Ocean and the slow, sweet sway of Old Florida charm, Martin County is a region where you go to the coast —not just geographically, but spiritually. Spend your days basking on the beaches of the Treasure Coast, followed by spending barefoot nights drifting like a paddleboarder. It’s a place where the words “rush hour” don’t belong in the thesaurus. Despite its laid-back charm, there are plenty of great things to do in Martin County, especially if you enjoy being on the water. With its “no high-rises, no hype” mantra, Martin County is one of the few places in Florida where you can escape the chaos.

It has everything we love in a destination: spectacular, diverse scenery; fun outdoor adventures; towns with charm and artistic vibes; a slow-paced tempo suited to vibrant fun; endless opportunities for mouth-watering seafood and sunset cocktails – often paired with live music and laughter, and even great coffee shops! And then, of course, there are the PERFECT winter temperatures – 80s every day. Oh, my heaven. If you’re not sure what to do in Martin County, be sure to check out the below.

1. Play on the Martin County Beaches

You might think there are no opportunities left in Florida to experience uncrowded white sandy beaches. Well, you haven’t yet traveled to Martin County and its 22 miles of beaches (and over 100,000 acres of parks and conservation lands). The Florida Coral Reef tract starts here and reaches down through the Florida Keys. The Treasure Coast is named so due to the fleet of Spanish ships that lost their treasure here during the 1715 hurricane.

People still find treasure here. Sometimes it washes up on the beach, and handheld metal detectors can reveal gold, silver, and other artifacts. Pick a beach along Hutchinson Island and enjoy a few hours of relaxing beach time. We found the water temperatures surprisingly pleasant, although slightly colder than the much warmer summer bath-like temperatures. We swam at the guarded Stuart Beach but also visited Jensen Beach (also guarded and popular) and Tiger Shores, which is a more hidden beach that Treasure Coast residents love. Other under-the-radar beaches are Chastain Beach and Virginia Forest Beach.

2. Eat Breakfast at Jan’s Place, Jensen

Ask any local where they recommend for breakfast in Martin County, and they’ll say Jan’s Place. Known for its large servings of classic Southern breakfast and old-style hospitality and charm, it’s a local favorite with a homey vibe. This veteran‑owned gem dishes up classic American breakfast, brunch, and lunch with a few creative twists. The Breakfast Chimichanga is a great shout if you’re feeling hungry or if you want to sample the best seafood (of course you do, you’re on the coast); another standout dish is the Neptune from the Sea Benedict, stacked with shrimp, scallops, crab, and crowned with a luxurious lobster‑sherry sauce.

3. Learn at the Florida Oceanographic Coastal Center, Stuart

Time to ditch the science textbook and head for a real-life lesson on our ocean friends at the 57-acre Florida Oceanographic Coastal Center on Hutchinson Island. Florida Oceanographic has the mission to “inspire environmental stewardship of Florida’s coastal ecosystems through education, research, and advocacy.” They offer educational programs and conduct research and restoration programs that lead to healthy coastal ecosystems.

They have a 750,000-gallon Game Fish Lagoon (with nurse sharks), a Sea Turtle Pavilion, and a Sea Star Touch Tank Pavilion where we learned of the powerful sterilizing and healing qualities of the horseshoe crab’s blue blood.

There are horseshoe crab blood banks set up to take the blood without harm for important medical purposes. The blood goes for at least $50K! Don’t miss the stingray feeding session where you’ll learn about the different types of stingrays and their survival features. You’ll then get a chance to feed the stingrays, putting a piece of fish between your fingers, laying your hand on the bottom of the tank like a dinner plate, and waiting for the nearest stingray to take a bite.

It feels like a puppy dog nuzzling at your hand. You’ll fall in love with them, if you don’t already love these ocean butterflies.

4. Sunset sail on Schooner Lily, Stuart

Board the historic Schooner Lily as you set sail on the St Lucie River for about 2 hours under the guidance of Captain Fred, owner of Treasure Coast Sailing Adventures. There’s not much for you to do except watch as they hoist the sails, learn more about the biodiversity of the estuary (the most diverse in the Northern Hemisphere), soak up the scenery and sailboat silence, look for wildlife (if you’re lucky, you might see dolphins), and marvel at the bright orange sunset sky.

We were fortunate to sail during a full moon so on the way back were able to complete our sunset sail with a full moon rise. Martin County is something special.

As the Schooner Lily is a sailing tall ship, you’ll be happy to know that your enjoyment of this beautiful area is not harming the environment. You can bring your own snacks and beverages.

5. Go canoeing in Savannas Preserve State Park

Ok, so some of Savannah Preserve State Park is outside of Martin County, but it’s right on the border, so we think it deserves a spot on this list. This state park is one of Florida’s original “savannas” – a term for a vast freshwater marsh, which stretches for more than 10 miles along the Treasure Coast. It’s the largest intact freshwater marsh on the east coast of Florida.

Today, the park preserves over 6,000 acres of pine flatwoods, wet prairie, scrubby flatwoods, basin marsh, and Atlantic scrub ridge. It’s a habitat for Florida’s rare wildlife species, such as the Florida scrub‑jay, gopher tortoise, and sandhill crane, and has 17 miles of multi‑use trails (the most famous is the Hawks Bluff Trail). We recommend hiring a canoe or kayak and exploring the marsh. Keep an eye out for alligators!

6. Relax in Port St. Lucie Botanical Gardens

If you love botanical gardens, Port St. Lucie Botanical Gardens is a 21‑acre oasis on the St. Lucie River and was created after the city transformed a former residential development site into a living classroom and sanctuary back in 2010. It has a dozen themed gardens, plus a Butterfly Garden and a glass‑enclosed Orchid Room, and is complete with a two‑acre fountain lake. It’s the perfect place to take a picnic and enjoy being in nature.

7. Horseback ride through the South Florida Wilderness, Palm City

Leave the noise and beach fun behind as you head for a quieter Martin County experience in the rural, equestrian community of Palm City. Kathy McLaughlin, owner of Greenridge Stables, had me at her enthusiastic greeting: “I absolutely love my life.”

This is the kind of woman I want to follow (and celebrate this Women’s History Month). A lady determined to follow her passion and love for horses and help many people along the way grow into strong, responsible humans. She and her husband have fostered many children and helped put them through college.

Her niece, Ryan, guided us along the trail through the South Florida wilderness and was filled with happy chatter. I also loved her friendliness and love for horses, nature trails, and living a kind, full life.

Melissa brought up the rear and was wonderful in helping the girls feel comfortable in the saddle. Greenridge Stables runs private horse-riding tours no matter how small your group is – and rides range in time depending on experience.

Beginners will be more than happy with the one-hour horseback ride, which takes you on a loop through the nearby tranquil preserve, Hawk’s Hammock. We were delighted for Ryan and Melissa to lead us into a short trot. Savannah now wants lessons to learn how to do it properly.

The horses were beautiful – very calm and steady with their own personalities. There is just something about being around horses. I highly recommend you do it often to improve your inner Zen. Phone to book your horseback riding adventure. Greenridge is delightfully old school! (772) 288-7234

8. Go for a sunset paddleboard, Port Salerno

Our timing on our visit to Martin County was perfectly aligned with the full moon, which brings calm waters with it. This meant we had an opportunity to do something our family had not done before – a sunset stand-up paddle board session.

It’s one of the most unique family adventures we’ve had. We started with a quick instruction on paddling before heading out as a group across the channel to a nearby island. The wake was pumping, and we had to sprint paddle, timing our run in between boat cruises and catching their wake behind us.

Savannah was on the front of my board, as we soon realized it would be too extreme for her paddling experience and comfort level. I was impressed with my ability to keep us both on top of the board and paddle at a fast pace despite all the challenges.

I was even more impressed with Kalyra getting herself across okay with a huge grin. The short paddle across to the island got us there in time to turn around and watch the tangerine sky created by the setting sun.

The island was just a short strip of white sand with some red mangroves. The island in the middle of the St Lucie River Inlet is sometimes known as Disappearing Island (amongst other names) for its vanishing trick during high tides. We parked ourselves here for about an hour searching for animals in their natural habitats, from hermit crabs and jellyfish, as well as the abundance of bird life soaring across the pink skies.

Then we sat down to watch the huge, round orange orb of the full moon rise, creating a staircase below it. It was by far one of the best moonrises I’ve ever seen. After we’d had enough, Leisa handed out safety lights, and we paddled back across as a group in darkness. This time there weren’t many boats to navigate around. It was spooky and thrilling at the same time.

Leisa from Zeke’s Surf and Paddleboarding has been running these tours for over a decade. You will enjoy her relaxed, friendly leadership. You can also go kayaking if stand-up paddleboarding isn’t for you.

9. Eat Dinner at Shrimpers Grill & Raw Bar

As you’re in the Port Salerno area, after your paddle tour, stop at one of the many seafood restaurants along the Manatee Pocket Waterway. Most popular is the Twisted Tuna with its live music and dancing patrons. We dined across the small canal at the open-air deck of Shrimpers Grill & Raw Bar – and had the bonus of hearing the rock band. Shrimpers was voted #1 Waterfront and Seafood Restaurant. You’re bound to find a seafood dish you’ll love pairing with a bowl of Bahamian conch chowder. I enjoyed my blackened dolphin – otherwise known as Mahi Mahi. Phew! Not the porpoise kind (I did ask the waitress just to be sure!). And Craig had his steak and calamari.

10. Take a Hobe Sound Mural Tour

We love to hear the stories of the locals when we travel, and what better way to do that than on an art mural tour with Nadia from Hobe Sound Murals. Nadia Utto began her non-profit in 2009 after realizing the walls of buildings in the US weren’t utilized like they were in European countries. There were no stories being told through the powerful mural medium. And so, she put her artistic skills to use to create a “sense of place” for this small, low-key artistic community. There are over 20 murals created by over 40 regional artists and 100 residents and visitors.

We wandered a couple of blocks with Nadia, learning about the murals and the stories they told, from environmental messages to historical events and characters. After our tour, Nadia gave us a quick intro to mural painting and then gave us a square on the wall in the now-closed Taste Casual Dining Restaurant. What a thrill for my girls (especially our budding artist, Savannah) to contribute to a mural. Every mural in the Hobe Sound Community has a hidden feature for you to find, from dog paws to African birds. Can you see the hidden mural I created? I think it should now be my signature mark, being Australian!

While painting at Taste Casual, grab yourself some appetizers and a margarita – the muse of all muses.

11. Drive the Enchanting Bridge Road, Hobe Sound

After checking out the community murals, take a drive down Bridge Road to see the gnarled trunks of the banyan trees reaching over together to create a canopied tunnel. In this region, you also have Hobe Sound Beach and Jonathan Dickinson State Park

12. Watch live music at Jammin Jensen

If you’re looking to connect to the community, then you’ll want to check out the local art festivals and outdoor live music. Martin County is big on community connection. Every Thursday is Jammin Day in Downtown Jensen. It’s a free weekly mini-outdoor festival with a streetside collection of local artisan stores, food, and live music. It reminded me of the Asian night markets, wandering from store to store while the nearby bars belted out music. Amongst the garden and art gallery cottage sections, we found a quieter trio playing some cool old 70s tunes.

13. Attend the Annual Downtown Stuart Art Festival

We were visiting the Treasure Coast during the annual Downtown Stuart Art Festival. Osceola Street transforms into rows of gallery style booths filled with every medium of art. I was impressed with the unique quality of art on display. You can tell this community embraces artistic living. I saw many pieces I want to buy from the artists when we finally buy a house, especially these vinyl record pieces of art for our home bar!

14. Eat Lunch at Stuart Boathouse, Stuart

While enjoying Downtown Stuart, grab a table on the outside deck of Stuart Boathouse where you’ll find a variety of seafood, steaks, and salads. My marinated grilled octopus over a white bean cassoulet with Andouille Sausage and topped with chimichurri was delicious and perfectly paired with the setting. 

And Craig enjoyed another burger which is popular here. Their outdoor setting and views are a Stuart standout.

15. Dine at TideHouse Waterfront Restaurant

Across the St Lucie River is the TideHouse Waterfront Restaurant with views from every table. It’s a quieter and more isolated Stuart dining experience. They are known for their happy hours Mon-Fri from 3pm-6pm with live music. We enjoyed lunch here with a delicious Tidehouse avocado chopped salad, a Mahi Mahi topped with pineapple salsa, and the Macadamia Crusted Fresh Catch.

16. Shop and caffeine up at The Roasted Record, Stuart

Our long-term followers know we’re always searching for good coffee. We found it in Martin County. I was impressed with the coffee scene. The Roasted Record had me at vinyl and coffee. Browse through the collection of classics while you enjoy a delicious coconut milk latte.

Finding a delicious coconut milk latte is as challenging as digging up gold on the Treasure Coast Beaches. Stop looking, you found it. Pair it with a carrot, apple, and walnut muffin. #TasteExplosion

The Roasted Record was inspired by nights spent on a porch smelling freshly home-roasted coffee and listening to vinyl music and drinking beers. Isn’t that where all great ideas start? So glad the owners followed through with it. And yes, they do sell beers here too!

16. Visit Bunkhouse Coffee Bar, Jensen

In this cute yellow bungalow in Downtown Jensen, you’ll find great coffee and OUTSTANDING smoothie bowls at the Bunkhouse Coffee Bar. From the Bondi acai bowl to my favorite, the Pitaya Bowl loaded with liver cleansing goodness, you’ll be plant powering your way to the beach.

They also have a range of vegan and gluten free treats. Sit outside the pretty garden or on a stool at the bar to chat with, Kelly the friendly owner. Interesting history: The Bunk House was used to house soldiers in WWII at what is now Jonathan Dickinson State Park. It was floated up the river in the 60s to this location.

17. Have a coffee at Gilbert’s Coffee Bar, Stuart

For location, Gilbert’s Coffee Bar can’t be beaten. Its prime spot in Sunset Bay Marina and Anchorage overlooking the south fork of the St. Lucie River (watch for manatees) makes it a popular place to grab a coffee or avocado toast. My first time trying a pistachio latte will go down as a memorable risk. It’s also a popular place for sunset drinks (or daytime ones too!)

18. Stay on a houseboat

We were all overly excited to be staying on a houseboat in Port St Lucie on the Treasure Coast. We’re talking open-air decks and a hot tub! Our houseboat was docked on a large piece of secluded property on the St Lucie River. Inside was spacious with three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a large open-air kitchen and living space.

There were three outside decks at various places on the boat, and a section on the wooden pier with a grill. We enjoyed grill our breakfast here on our last morning.

We also loved the hammock on the back garden, and huge mango tree. There were kayaks and paddle boards we could take out to explore the river and mangrove region across the river. And we loved the views looking back over the houseboat, it looked like we were immersed in the jungle.

19. Take the kids to the Children’s Museum of the Treasure Coast

If you’re looking for things to do with kids, then the Children’s Museum is a great idea. It’s designed to offer children and families somewhere to learn about the coast and the natural environment through hands-on activities. The museum offers educational programs and cultural experiences, as well as a place where children can expand their curiosity. It’s especially good if your children are really small and enjoy learning through play and sensory activities.

20. Visit the Stuart Heritage Museum

The Stuart Heritage Museum is a small and quirky museum dedicated to preserving the local history of Stuart. It’s nestled in an old 2-story building that was built in 1901 by George W. Parks. The first floor used to be the Geo. W. Parks Grocery and General Merchandise Store and the second floor was where he lived. The museum contains 10,000 objects and artifacts from the 1880s to the 1950s. If you have some time to spare, then this is one of the top attractions in Stuart to check out.

21. Check out The Blowing Rocks Preserve on Jupiter Island

The Blowing Rocks Preserve is located on Jupiter Island and is known for housing the largest outcropping of Anastasia Limestone on the Atlantic coast. Anastasia Limestone is almost always found underwater, but here on the coastline, you can see the stone on the shoreline. The area is a place of outstanding natural beauty. It’s cared for by The Nature Conservancy and is a popular place to go hiking and explore the sea caves. The Blowing Rocks Preserve got its name from the spectacle that takes place during high tide when strong winds and waves form geyser-like explosions against the rock.

22. Visit The House of Refuge Museum

For history buffs, you simply cannot miss a visit to the House of Refuge Museum in Gilbert’s Bar. The structure is the oldest building in Florida and is the only remaining House of Refuge. The houses were built to be havens for shipwrecked sailors and travelers. They were operated by the United States Lifesaving Service and there were 10 houses built around Florida, but only this one remains standing. The historic structure is now a museum dedicated to preserving the legacy of inventors and their inventions. You can see insightful exhibits about American inventors, including showing replicas of their inventions and copies of their patents.

Video: Watch us explore Martin County

You can watch our video of our time in Martin County. Subscribe to our YouTube channel here.

Where is Martin County and the Treasure Coast?

Martin County is what I consider to be Old Florida charm. It’s made up of 10 closely-knitted communities in Southeastern Florida, just below Indian River County. It starts at Lake Okeechobee in the West, and traverses inland to the Treasure Coast on the East. It includes the small towns of Stuart, and Jensen, as well as Hobe Sound, Hutchinson Island, Indiantown, Jupiter Island, Palm City, Port Salerno, Rio, Sewall’s Point, and Tequesta. The Treasure Coast is located on the Coast of Florida (Atlantic Coast), between Orlando and Miami and just north of Palm Beach, and is the beachy-side of Martin County.

The city of Stuart is a charming place to base yourself, since it’s filled with art galleries, boutique stores, and a beautiful riverfront. We can understand why it was named Coastal Living’s 2016 “Happiest Seaside Town” as well as several other acknowledgments for it being a beautiful USA town.

Jensen is the other major town in Martin County with a more laid-back party vibe. Both places have easy access to each other AND to the many beautiful beaches along nearby Hutchinson Island. That’s the beauty of this Treasure Coast region – with the Intracoastal Waterway, St Lucie River, and the Atlantic Ocean, you are utterly spoiled for water attractions and activities.

You’ll also find smaller, historic towns and fishing villages located in the area, and out west is Indiantown, a cattle and citrus country with a rich Seminole culture and history.

How to get to Martin County

If flying, you have a few options for airports. The closest is West Palm Beach (45 mins), but if that doesn’t work, Fort Lauderdale is also not too far away (1.5 hours). We flew into Orlando, as the flight times were best. We could arrive early in the morning and fly direct from our home in Raleigh. It was only a two-hour drive to our accommodation, so it ended up being the fastest route for us, including the drive – and cheaper is a bargain! We use DiscoverCars.com for car rentals – we always get the best deals!

Best time to visit Martin County

The best time to visit Martin County is during the balmy winter months of November through April, when daytime temperatures hover between a comfortable 70–80°F (21–27°C) and humidity takes a well-deserved vacation.

The winter season is also the dry-season, and brings blue skies, cool breezes off the Atlantic, and perfect conditions for exploring the outdoors, water sports, and beach hopping.

Summer (June to September) turns up the heat, and the rain, with daily highs reaching the upper 80s°F (30–32°C) and frequent afternoon thunderstorms. It’s also hurricane season, so while the lush landscapes look extra vibrant, it’s wise to keep an eye on the forecast.

If you don’t mind the occasional soak and want to avoid crowds, May and October are the sweet shoulder seasons where there are often fewer tourists and lower hotel rates.

Where to stay in Martin County

Martin County is reasonably small, so it’s not a big deal which town you choose to base yourself in. However, Stuart, the county seat, is our prefered base as it has a laid-back atmosphere combined with a vibrant arts scene. It has eclectic shops, galleries, and restaurants, is just steps from the St. Lucie River and close to the beach.

For a quieter, upscale experience, head to Jensen Beach, known for its scenic beaches, boutique shopping, and cozy cafes. Hobe Sound will offer a more rural charm and a small-town vibe.

Remember, Martin County is a popular winter destination because of that year-round sunshine. Avoid disappointment and book your accommodation early. Check the map below to browse hotels and vacation rentals.