Disconnect to reconnect in Martin County, where numerous Atlantic beaches span nearly 22 miles along the coast and include individual access strips that allow for more private spots to enjoy the surf and sand or larger, guard-protected areas like Stuart Beach, Hobe Sound Beach and Sea Turtle / Jensen Beach. There are also numerous beaches along the Indian River Lagoon such as the beach at Indian RiverSide Park. 75-plus parks, unlimited golf and a region overflowing with culture welcome visitors. In Martin County you’ll find every kind of family activity to tickle your fancy, from rodeos to high-end shopping, art galleries and one-of-a-kind museums to eco-friendly sea turtle adventures. Located just off A1A and accessible by a plethora of scenic avenues, Martin County is 45 minutes from Palm Beach International Airport, an hour from Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International Airport, 90 minutes from Miami International Airport, and two hours from Orlando International Airport. This is a place for escaping, for making memories that last longer than tan lines.
Plan to visit during annual happenings like the Stuart Boat Show, Jensen Beach Fine Art or the Port Salerno Seafood Festival each January. Attend ArtsFest in March, the Annual Classics at the Beach Car Show in April, or the Sailfish Regatta in May. You can plan a second fall trip in October for the Stuart Airshow, the Pineapple Festival in Jensen Beach and the annual Indiantown Hoe-Down Rodeo. From flip-flops to cowboy boots, Martin County truly has it all. Surf, boat, sail, kite-surf, dive and snorkel on Hutchinson Island. Cast a line in Port Salerno, a fishing village where award-winning seafood tempts the pickiest of palates. Tee off at the world class golf facilities in Palm City, also home to waterfront parks which provide access for boating, paddling and fishing enthusiasts. In Stuart/Sewall’s Point, shop eclectic boutiques, stroll the river walk and find fresh ingredients every Sunday at the Green Market. Immerse yourself in Key West style in Jensen Beach, the Pineapple Capital of the World, with free access points to the beaches. Catch a show at the landmark Lyric Theatre, built in 1926 as a silent movie house. Indiantown welcomes the inner cowboy in everyone with cattle ranches, rodeos and one of the last Indian trading posts. Connect with nature at Jonathan Dickinson State Park on Hobe Sound. Step back in time on Jupiter Island with a visit to the Loxahatchee River Environmental Center.
The word fresh takes on new meaning with most Martin County restaurants utilizing locally-sourced produce and fresh caught fish, served alongside ingredients from several local and organic farms, to please one and all. As the sun sets, relax at one of Martin County’s host of lodging options, from brand name hotels to one-of-a-kind bed and breakfasts. Rest easy at brand name chains like Courtyard by Marriott, Best Western, and Hampton Inn — even the Hutchinson Island Marriott offering a resort-style setting. Or, choose from one-of-a-kind boutique properties such as the Old Colorado Inn, the Historic Seminole Inn and Pirates Cove Resort and Marina. Smaller bed and breakfast properties and independently rented villages and cottages set the scene for romance while RV and camping facilities – even timeshares – spell family fun.
Fast Facts and Trivia
- Blowing Rocks Preserve, Hobe Sound, was included for the second year in a row on Conde Nast Traveler’s Best Beaches in Florida list. Conde Naste listed Martin County’s Blowing Rocks Preserve as #3 of the “10 Best Beaches in Florida.”
- Stuart, the county seat of Martin County, was the first and remains the only Florida Town to be awarded #1 for “Happiest Seaside Towns in America” by Coastal Living Magazine.
- Martin County has ranked t #3 small town to visit on the annual Smithsonian Magazine’s list of “The 20 Best Small Towns to Visit”
- Martin County was ranked #9 in on House Beautiful’s list of “The 50 Most Beautiful Small Towns in America.”
- Only in Your State ranked Stuart as one of the “8 Most Beautiful, Charming Small Towns In Florida.”
- Stuart is #8 in a “12 Amazing Places in Florida that are a Photo-taking Paradise” article by Only in Your State.
- Stuart is located on the eastern point of the Okeechobee Waterway, a 54-mile-long waterway and Florida’s only cross-state canal, which extends from the Atlantic Ocean in Stuart to the Gulf of Mexico in Ft. Myers, giving Stuart the nickname of ‘The Panama Canal of Florida.’
- Martin County is 45 minutes from Palm Beach International Airport, an hour from Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International Airport, 90 minutes from Miami International Airport and two hours from Orlando International Airport.
- Comprised of the communities of Port Salerno, Stuart, Palm City, Jensen Beach, Indiantown, Jupiter Island, Hobe Sound and Hutchinson Island, Martin County offers numerous Atlantic beaches spanning nearly 22 miles along the coast and including individual access strips that allow for more private spots to enjoy the surf and sand or larger, guard-protected areas like Stuart Beach, Hobe Sound Beach and Sea Turtle / Jensen Beach.
- There are also numerous beaches along the Indian River Lagoon such as the beach at Indian RiverSide Park, in addition to 77 parks throughout the communities.
- 16 distinct natural communities create the mosaic that is Jonathan Dickinson, the largest state park in Southeast Florida.
- The Loxahatchee River (Seminole for river of turtles) is a 7.6 mile river located at Jonathan Dickinson State Park. It is a National Wild and Scenic River, one of only two in Florida.
- At Blowing Rock Preserve, named for its rocky Anastasia limestone shoreline–the largest on the U.S. Atlantic coast, catch a glimpse of what South Florida barrier islands looked like a century ago.
- Martin County offers an abundance of boating and fishing excursions and the opportunity to pursue 800 species of fish within a 10-mile radius of the St. Lucie Inlet, which connects the Intracoastal Waterway to the Atlantic Ocean.
- The Stuart Heritage Museum is located in the oldest commercial building in Stuart and Martin County.
- The Wreck of George Valentine is Martin County’s only underwater archaeological preserve and an underwater site on the National Register of historic places.
- The Georges Valentine is located only 100 yards south of Gilbert’s House of Refuge in Stuart, it is one of only 12 Underwater Archaeological Preserves in Florida, scattered from the northwestern Panhandle down to the Florida Keys. These sites contain not only interesting archaeological features, but also an abundance of marine life that make the parks living museums in the sea. Each site is interpreted by an underwater plaque
- The St. Lucie Inlet’s ecosystem provides habitat for over 4,300 species of plants and animals, including more than 30 threatened and endangered species such as manatees, wood storks, sand hill cranes and peregrine falcons.
- With some 77 parks and over 100,000 acres of parks and conservation land, outdoor expeditions in Martin County are limitless.
- Sailfish Splash Waterpark features two four-story water slides, a gentle and relaxing 1,000-foot lazy river, an interactive water playground and an Olympic-class competitive swim venue.
- The House of Refuge at Gilbert’s Bar is the only remaining House of Refuge. Built as one of ten along the east coast of Florida, it is the oldest structure in Martin County and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Houses of Refuge were designated as havens for shipwrecked sailors and travelers along the sparsely populated Atlantic coastline of Florida.
- The Lyric Theatre was built in 1926 as a silent movie house and was operated until the depression when it was closed and eventually sold. On November 12, 1993, The Lyric Theatre was named to the National Register of Historic Places. It now seats 500 and has a 22’x 30′ stage and features whisper-perfect acoustics.
- The Florida Oceanographic Coastal Center features a 750,000-gallon Game Fish Lagoon.
- Hobe Sound National Wildlife Refuge is a coastal refuge bisected by the Indian River Lagoon into two separate tracts of land totaling over 1000 acres. The 735-acre Jupiter Island tract provides some of the most productive sea turtle nesting habitat in the United States.
- Martin County’s Artificial Reef Program offers over 100 outstanding sites for fishing and dive exploration–and the number continues to grow.
- St. Lucie Inlet Preserve State Park is a classic Florida barrier island accessible only by water, boat, kayak or SUP. This classic Florida barrier island is accessible only by boat, but it is worth the ride.
- A boardwalk takes visitors across mangrove forests and hammocks of live oaks, cabbage palms, paradise trees, and wild limes to a neatly preserved Atlantic beach. During the summer months, the island is an important nesting area for loggerhead, leatherback and green turtles. They come ashore at night to dig holes in the beach sand where they lay their eggs. The preserve is a favorite for nature students interested in learning about the native flora and fauna of Florida barrier islands.
- Martin County holds the distinctive title of “Sailfish Capital of the World.”
- Named after prolific inventor Sterling Elliott, The Elliott Museum hosts a dynamic and interactive collection of antique automobiles, vintage boats, an impressive baseball collection and a deep trove of Treasure Coast histories and stories.
- The first resort to open on Hutchinson Island in 20 years is the stunningly beautiful Hutchinson Shores Resort and Spa.
- One of the oldest bald cypress trees in the entire Southeastern U.S. sits in Barley Barber Swamp. It is estimated to be over 1,000 years old.
In the Press
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