Discovering Fort Pierce: Murals, Markets and the Manatee Observation Deck

Fort Pierce doesn’t get the attention that Stuart or Vero Beach do, but it’s worth the roughly 20-minute drive north from most of our Port St. Lucie properties — a genuine working waterfront town with a growing arts scene layered on top.

What to see

• The Manatee Observation and Education Center — a free deck overlooking the water where manatees are commonly spotted, especially in cooler months
• Downtown murals — a growing collection of large-scale public art scattered through the historic district
• Fort Pierce Farmers Market — one of the best on the Treasure Coast, right on the waterfront
• Fort Pierce Inlet State Park — excellent surfing and fishing at the north jetty

A good half-day trip

Combine a Saturday morning at the farmers market with a wander through the murals downtown, then finish at the Manatee Center before heading back for a pool afternoon. It’s an easy, low-key day trip that shows a different side of the Treasure Coast than the beaches alone.