Fort Pierce is on Florida’s Treasure Coast, between Vero Beach and West Palm Beach. If it is fishing, beautiful beaches, historical museums, or tasty seafood that you are looking for, then Fort Pierce with a restored downtown area along the waterfront just could be your diamond in the rough.

Where to Stay:

That is a tough one because if you want to stay downtown by the waterfront, there are currently no hotels to stay at. There is a hotel planned for this area but it is years away. There are some choices out by the interstate but that is about 5 miles west. That will put you away from the water and you don’t want to do that. The best you will be able to do is to stay on the inlet or the beach and who can really complain about that?

Hutchinson Island Plaza Hotel & Suites

The Hutchinson Island Plaza Hotel & Suites is located on South Hutchinson Island on the Fort Pierce Inlet and offers waterfront accommodations in a relaxed tropical atmosphere.

1230 Seaway Dr, Fort Pierce

Day One:

Grab a Coffee at The Old Florida Coffee Company

You will discover a match made in heaven when you combine a delicious fresh roasted cup of coffee with a tasty crepe at the Old Florida Coffee Company in the historic P.P. Cobb Building. They offer a full menu of coffee and frozen drinks made with their very own roasted coffee, delicious pastries, and locally famous Street Crepes, a large selection of vintage and specialty sodas, candies, and snacks, and roasted coffee in a bag to take home with you.

100 Avenue A Suite C, Fort Pierce

Historic Downtown Fort Pierce

Historic Downtown Fort Pierce has been revitalized and is alive with history. Visit the museums and art galleries to learn about the area. Downtown Fort Pierce features charming boutique shops, live entertainment, restaurants, and a vibrant atmosphere. Walk around and do some window-shopping, enjoy a cold beer, grab a meal, enjoy dessert, and admire the historical Mediterranean-style buildings.

Fort Pierce City Marina

Situated on the waterfront of the Indian River Lagoon is the charming main artery of downtown Fort Pierce. The Fort Pierce Marina is a great place to admire the spectacular boats and yachts in the harbor or charter one for yourself. There is a playground for kids, an onsite restaurant, a gift shop, and exciting photo opportunities. 

Fort Pierce Farmers Market

The Fort Pierce Farmers Market is an extraordinary waterfront shopping experience with a fantastic array of local vendors offering a wonderful and diverse selection of delicious foods, farm-fresh produce, meats, cheeses, seafood, baked goods,( take a breath) crafts, coffee, tea, honey, juices, smoothies, flowers, plants, handcrafted gifts, and so much more… plus great live music every Saturday, downtown along the Indian River Lagoon in Historic Downtown Fort Pierce. It’s a Saturday morning tradition.

The Manatee Observation Center

The Manatee Observation Center in Fort Pierce is a small center educating the public on the plight of the manatee and the fragile ecosystems in which these sea cows currently live. Videos and exhibits teach boaters how to avoid hurting the creatures – and how our lifestyle has indirectly eradicated most of the manatee population. You will be able to learn about the manatee and watch them swim around. Manatee sightings are common in winter in waters along the museum’s observation deck.

Admission to the Manatee Observation and Education Center costs $1 for all adults over the age of 5. Children and members may access the center for free.

Lunch at 12A Buoy

It does not look like much from the outside and can be a bit tricky to find because it is located in a shipyard. The first thing the waitress will tell you is that they have a small kitchen and it may take a while for you to get your food. If that is OK, then plop yourself down on the rustic outside deck, order yourself a beer, and realize that you have no worries. When the food does arrive, it will be hot, and you will have some of the best-cooked, freshest seafood in the Fort Pierce area in front of you.

Address: 12A Buoy 22 Fishermans Wharf, Fort Pierce, FL 34950

A. E. Backus Museum & Gallery

Discover a vanishing landscape through the artwork of Florida’s preeminent painter and Fort Pierce native, A.E. “Bean” Backus who specialized in painting Florida’s natural beauty for most of his creative life. The museum and gallery are located on North Indian River Drive and have an extensive collection of works by noted state, regional, and nationally known artists as well. Backus taught and mentored the group of entrepreneurial African American artists who became known as the Florida Highwaymen.

The A.E. Backus Museum is located on the banks of the Indian River in Veterans Memorial Park, in Historic Downtown Fort Pierce.

Pizza & Beer Flights at Sailfish Brewery

Sailfish Brewing Company is located in the heart of downtown Fort Pierce. We stopped in for a flight of their brews and a pie from their scratch pizza kitchen before heading to the Lyric Theatre to catch a show.

Catch a Show at the Sunrise Theatre

The historic, beautifully restored, and intimate 1,200-seat Sunrise Theatre is located in the heart of historic downtown Fort Pierce.

The theatre hosts a variety of live entertainment events throughout the year and includes both locally produced and national music, comedy, dance presentations, and even opera and ballet for those looking for an extra-classy blend of art and culture.

Honestly, there’s not a bad seat in the house. Check the Sunrise Theatre website for upcoming shows and buy tickets well in advance.

Day Two:

Sunrise at Jetty Park

They don’t call Fort Pierce The Sunrise City for nothing. So, head on over to Jetty Park first thing in the morning to catch the sun rising over the Atlantic Ocean.

Jetty Park is a great place to sit on a bench and watch the birds, and boats, or just people watching. At Fort Pierce, Jetty Park is located on the edge of South Hutchinson Island where the Fort Pierce Inlet meets the sea. There are restrooms and changing facilities and numerous restaurants surrounding the park. Plant yourself on one of the bench swings and watch the boats pass along the Fort Pierce Inlet.

Breakfast at The Sunrise City Cafe

Relax, you don’t have to worry about missing breakfast because the Sunrise City Cafe serves up big country skillets all day. This charming restaurant is a breakfast & lunch cafe located in Historic Downtown Fort Pierce. Breakfast favorites include Lesly’s Famous Shrimp & Grits and the Downtown Skillet.

Remember what Mom always said. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day.

204 Orange Ave, Fort Pierce, FL 34950

Navy SEAL Museum

The National Navy SEAL Museum is dedicated solely to preserving the history of the United States Navy SEALs. Located in Fort Pierce, the Museum resides on the training grounds of the original Navy combat divers, the Frogmen.

SEAL stands for SEA, AIR & LAND. The displays are captivating. Inside the Navy, SEALs museum is videos, weapons, documents, and other artifacts that chronicle the storied history of these elite units, from inception to the present. Everything you see on display was either used in combat or training by a real Navy SEAL.

You can climb aboard a Sikorsky UH-60 “Black Hawk” Helicopter. This craft is a four-bladed, twin-engine, medium-lift utility helicopter. On January 25th, 2012, a team of United States Navy SEALs raided a compound killing nine Somali pirates and freeing hostages U.S. citizen Jessica Buchanan and Danish citizen Poul Hagen Thisted. This is the Black Hawk helicopter that flew them to safety.

Also on display is the lifeboat upon which Captain Richard Phillips was held hostage for five days before being rescued on April 12, thanks to the accuracy of Navy SEAL snipers.

The National Navy SEAL Museum is located at 3300 North Highway A1A in
Fort Pierce.

Fort Pierce Inlet State Park

Situated on nearly 350 acres of scenic coastline, Fort Pierce Inlet State Park is a popular destination for surfers, birding, and those just looking to spend the day in Florida’s natural beauty. The beautiful half-mile beach welcomes visitors for swimming, snorkeling, surfing, and scuba diving.

The state park offers the best surf fishing as well as fishing in the inlet. It is an ideal spot to catch many species. If you like to fish, this is one of the best places you can fish without a boat! You can catch various species of fish including bluefish, snook, red drum, flounder, and trout. 

Dinner at Cobb’s Landing

Cobb’s Landing is a Tiki Hut on the waterfront near the Fort Pierce Marina. This tropical-themed spot serves up a seafood-heavy menu that includes tacos & pasta. Start off with a mojito or tropical cocktail from the mojito bar as you take in the breezes of the water. Cobb’s Landing has a relaxed and casual atmosphere. On the weekends you can enjoy live entertainment.

200 N Indian River Dr #4424, Fort Pierce, FL

Day 3

Start your morning at Heathcoat Botanical Gardens

Heathcote Botanical Gardens is celebrating more than thirty years as St. Lucie County’s first botanical garden where visitors can enjoy five acres of a beautiful subtropical wonderland. Spend the morning roaming the pathways of this beautiful garden.

The botanical gardens began as a nursery but transformed into a botanical garden welcoming visitors from all over the world. The Heathcote Botanical Gardens consists of an assortment of specialty gardens where there is always something beautiful in bloom.

Pierced Ciderworks

There are several breweries in the Fort Pierce area. If you’re looking for something to drink, one or two of these will do you. If wine is your drink you will want to visit the Summer Crush Winery. This family-owned winery offers wine tastings.

Pierced Ciderworks is located in the historic part of downtown Fort Pierce. They brew cider in a historic building that is over 117 years old. With industrial decor, this is a great spot to sit at the bar or enjoy a live band in the garden and enjoy an ice-cold cider. They have many flavors to choose from and they have flavors to go. I asked to take home a 4 pack of popular flavors. What was packed for me were flavors such as Tropical Coconut, Red Velvet Cake, Peach Habanero, and the popular ‘Merica Dry.

If beer is your choice, you should make a point to check out the brews at the Sailfish Brewery. Try the Sunrise City IPA for a real taste of Fort Pierce.

Lunch at Lorenzo’s Italian Restaurant

Lorenzo’s Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria is one of the most popular pizzas in Fort Pierce. Located downtown, you can order by the slice or have a seat inside their cozy restaurant. Lorenzo’s is a true taste of Sicilian-style cooking. All Dinners are prepared to order. All sauces, dressings, garlic rolls, and desserts are all made fresh at Lorenzo’s.

222 Orange Ave, Fort Pierce

Time for Cake from The Cake Lady

For dessert, take a walk across the street from Lorenzo’s and get ready to eat a cupcake from The Cake Lady. You will think you were having dessert in heaven. They usually have at least 10 varieties to choose from and they are all scrumptious! She has been featured on The Food Network, and she will custom-make you a cake for that special occasion. You know what they say, “A Party without a Cake is just a meeting. Take some cupcakes home or enjoy your treat right in this Instagram-worthy shop. “There is never a bad time for cake”.

The Cake Lady 205 Orange Ave, Fort Pierce

Al’s Family Farms

Fort Pierce and nearby Indian River County were big names when the citrus industry was booming. Billboards everywhere advertised “Fresh Fruit from Florida”. Al’s Family Farms has been family-owned and operated since the 1980s. The farm’s store is full of freshly picked oranges, grapefruits, and lemons, that are natural, vibrant, and chockfull of vitamin C. The farm still operates a packing house and a facility where they turn oranges into orange juice. Al’s Family Farms in Fort Pierce strives to grow, harvest, pack, and ship only the highest quality, local, Florida fruit. Why not take home a bag from your Florida vacation?

Dinner at Crabby’s Dockside

One of the newest restaurants on the waterfront is Crabby’s Dockside. Start off with a rum punch as you enjoy the incredible views of the Fort Pierce Inlet. The restaurant has two stories of indoor and outdoor dining areas with a beautiful view of the marina. Crabby’s menu is strong fish and seafood with a Caribbean flair but you will find pizza, burgers, sandwiches, and steaks.

Day 4

A Trip to the Beach

One of the activities that you will remember most about your trip to Fort Pierce will be your time spent at the beach. With miles of sandy beaches, Fort Pierce is ideal for beach lovers. Spending a day relaxing on the beach, taking a walk, and swimming in the clear water is such a treat.

Lunch at The Taco Dive Beachside or Burger & Wings at Hurricanes

These are not your average hole-in-the-wall restaurants. Choose from several dive tacos including shrimp, steak, and chicken at the Taco Dive. Pair those with some queso, guacamole, and fresh salsa.

If tacos aren’t your thing, just next door is the original Hurricane Grill & Wings. This was a popular lunch spot for me when I was in the Fort Pierce area to photograph news stories. This was the flagship restaurant that started its successful franchise. They have gone on to open over 70 restaurants around Florida, so they must be doing something right.

St. Lucie County Aquarium

The St. Lucie County Aquarium is a public aquarium in Fort Pierce. It contains the Smithsonian Marine Ecosystems Exhibit, which is a 3000-gallon model of a coral reef ecosystem; the exhibit was retired in 2000 from the National Museum of Natural History. The aquarium is small but there are activities for the kids to do to keep them occupied for an hour.

420 Seaway Dr, Fort Pierce, FL 34949

Dinner at The Fort Steakhouse

When I visit a city and spend a few days there, I like to make my last meal in the town one to remember. We decided on The Fort Steakhouse in downtown Fort Pierce. This steakhouse sources the best prime beef from surrounding Florida ranches. Enjoy a juicy steak with a classic cocktail. This is the place to come to celebrate special events such as birthdays, and anniversaries, and wrapping up a four-day vacation in Fort Pierce.

Hopefully, this 4-day itinerary will give you some ideas of what you can find to do in Fort Pierce, Florida. And if you’ve visited the town before and have any additional places you’d recommend, feel free to leave them in the comments below! I might just have to visit again and make an update.