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Port St. Lucie: A Trip to Yesterday

Port St. Lucie, Florida, located on the "Gold Coast," is a step back to a time before Florida was inundated with condos, spring breakers, and famous, Mouse inspired, theme parks. Port St. Lucie has something for every visitor. An active vacation can include diving, snorkeling, sport-fishing, golf, tennis, and just about any outdoorsy adventure imaginable. For some prime sun bathing, cross over to Hutchinson Island and its pristine, white sand beaches. Or for a more historical view of the area, take a trip 10 miles north to the memory rich town of Fort Pierce.

Fort Pierce: Old Florida with a Modern Twist

Fort Pierce, Florida is a blend of Old Florida, a pristine locale relatively undisturbed by modern growth, and the hustle and bustle of a modern, tourist-centered Florida. The city traces its origins to 1838, when Lt. Col. Benjamin Pierce, the brother of Franklin Pierce, the 14th U.S. president, built a U.S. Army fort here during the Second Seminole War. Fort Pierce remained a fishing and agricultural community dependent on the river until Henry Flagler connected the Florida East Coat Railroad through the area in the 1890s.

Sun worshipers and outdoorsy types will appreciate Fort Pierce Inlet State Park. This 340 acre park has some of the best surfing in the area, and the beach's gentle slope into the ocean makes for great swimming or wading (for the little ones). The area is also a nature preserve, so hiking in the park will bring you up close and personal with countless species of native birds that inhabit the area.

Anglers can rent a charter at the Fort Pierce City Marina, where more than a dozen captains wait to take you deep-sea fishing, dolphin watching, or cruising up and down the coastline. Golfers will want to journey south 11 miles to Port St. Lucie to the PGA Golf Club at the Reserve. Three 18-hole public courses, all reasonably priced, were designed by the likes of Pete Dye and Tom Fazio. The South Course is a classic "Old Florida" course, and winds through wetlands and gives players a view of the native wildlife.

Main Street in downtown Fort Pierce is an eclectic melting pot where historical scenery blends with modern chic. Snoop around in the specialty and novelty shops, nosh in an extensive selection of restaurants, or visit the art galleries and beautiful Ft. Pierce City Marina.

For those interested in military history, check out the UDT-SEAL (Underwater Demolition Team) Museum. This unique museum chronicles the history of the U.S. Navy Frogmen and their successors, the Navy SEAL teams. The display shows some of the missions by these clandestine soldiers, the equipment they use, and is a fitting tribute to these special fighting men.

If you feel the need to take in some of the more popular tourist spots in Florida, Orlando and theme parks like Disney World, Epcot, Universal, and Sea World are less than 2 hours away. For a walk on the wilder side, pop down to South Beach, Miami's famous art deco hub.

Fort Pierce offers everything a Florida vacation can muster. Whether you want to see how Old Florida lived back before the huge tourism explosion, or you want to relax on a quiet beach and enjoy some of the native habitat, Fort Pierce is the place to be!