Fort Pierce, FL Road Trips

Fort Pierce has a population of 47,000 in 2020; Fort Pierce is also a part of the Port St. Lucie metropolitan area, or the Treasure Coast, an area populated at almost 650,000. Fort Pierce is a small railroad city along Florida's east coast, being the location of a mid-sized rail yard with track rights owned by the Florida East Coast Railroad, with track all the way to Miami and Jacksonville, and South Central Florida Express, with track from the downtown yard to Clewiston and Sebring. FP is becoming more and more modernized, but slowly and steadily. Downtown is considered the hot-spot of the city due to its blossoming commercialism, amazing Spanish-colonial buildings, celebrities performing at the Sunrise Theatre, and an amazing Christmas display yearly at Avenues A and Orange. There's a lot of fun going on with the marina and many interesting shops on the thoroughfares of Orange Avenue and Avenue D. Fort Pierce is also a college town, home to the primary campus of Indian River State College and its public safety training complex.

1 Arcade Building. At one time, the largest commercial building in the city, and was a big part of the redevelopment and renovation of the city and its downtown. (updated Jun 2020) 2 Avalon State Park, State Road A1A North, North Hutchinson Island (Four miles north of Fort Pierce Inlet State Park, via Highway A1A and the North Causeway.), ☏ +1 772 468-4007. 8AM to sundown. $2. 3 Boston House, 239 S. Indian River Dr. An unusual mixture of Neo-classical and Georgian architecture. 4 Fort Pierce Inlet State Park, 905 Shorewinds Dr (4 miles east of Fort Pierce, via North Causeway), ☏ +1 772 468-3985. 8AM to sundown. A popular fishing destination and home to the infamous Jetty Lounge, home of the original Treasure Coast RumRunner. $6. 5 Heathcote Botanical Gardens, 210 Savannah Rd, ☏ +1 772 464-4672. $8 adults; $6 seniors; $3 children 6-12; young children free. Members and veterans free. 6 Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, 5600 N US-1, ☏ +1 772 242-2400. Run by Florida Atlantic University. 7 Manatee Observation and Education Center, 480 N Indian River Drive, ☏ +1 772 466-1600. Closed Monday, Tu-Sa noon-5PM, Su noon-4PM. Learn about manatees and the fragile ecosystems of the Treasure Coast at the Manatee Center. $1. 8 Navy UDT-SEAL Museum, 3300 N Highway A1A, ☏ +1 772 595-5845. Tu-Sa 10AM-4PM; Su noon-4PM; closed on Mondays, Easter, 4th of July, Christmas Eve and Day, New Years Eve and Day. The Navy Seal Museum has exhibits, the history of the SEALS, and scuba adventures for the brave ones.

You can go boating in the Fort Pierce Inlet or stroll along the beach and catch a tan. The historic downtown contains outstanding "Spanish-colonial revival"-style buildings, and in downtown you can catch a performance at Sunrise Theatre. 1 A. E. Backus Gallery and Museum, 500 N Indian River Drive, ☏ +1 772 465-0630. W-Sa 10AM-4PM; Su noon-4PM. This museum houses the greatest paintings of A. E. "Beanie" Backus and the Florida Highwaymen. 2 Pineapple Playhouse, 700 W. Weatherbee Road, ☏ +1 772 465-0366. Th-Sa 8PM evenings, 2PM Su matinee. Founded in 1973, the St. Lucie Community Theatre performed all across the county until settling down at the Pineapple Playhouse at the border of Fort Pierce and Port St. Lucie. Many plays are put on from September to May each year, so grab a ticket while you have a chance! $18 for adults, $10 for students, $15 per group ticket. 3 St. Lucie County Aquarium featuring the Smithsonian Marine Ecosystems Exhibit, 420 Seaway Drive, ☏ +1 772 462-3474. Tu-Sa 10AM-4PM, Su noon-4PM. Visitors can explore six different Florida marine habitats and learn about the complexity and importance of marine ecosystems. The largest aquarium is a model of a Caribbean coral reef. Other displays include living models of seagrass, mangrove, estuarine and nearshore habitats, as well as a deepwater Oculina coral reef. There are several smaller aquarium displays and a touch tank for you to meet local sea creatures. Feeding Frenzy tours daily at 10:30AM and Snack Time tours daily at 2:30PM. Behind-the-Scenes tour Saturday at 2PM. $3-4.

1 2nd Street Bistro Tap House and Eatery, 122 N 2nd Street, ☏ +1 772 293 9191, [email protected]. Daily 11AM-11PM. Historical 1929 building, with antique memorabilia throughout, outdoor deck and bar with 50 local draft and craft beers on tap. Fresh local food made daily. Open daily for lunch and dinner, with kitchen open late on Friday and Saturday nights. Saturday and Sunday it's open at 10AM serving Bloody Mary Bar and Bottomless Mimosas along with brunch. (updated Feb 2018) 2 12A Buoy, 22 Fishermans Wharf, ☏ +1 772 672-4524. 11AM-10PM, closed on Tuesdays. A local seafood restaurant, the 12A Buoy is a favorite amongst the residents as well as its visitors. Try the Lobster Mac'n'Cheese, their marvelous Key Lime Pie, and the Tuna and Scallops dinner. Enjoy pure Floridian seafood while sitting near the riverfront. (updated May 2015) 3 Cobb's Landing, 200 N Indian River Drive (downtown). Su-Th 11AM-10PM; F Sa 11AM-11PM. A local favorite place to get a bite to eat. Have a drink at the Mojito Bar, with the recommended drink being the Pineapple Mojito. (updated May 2015) 4 Hurricane Grill and Wings, 2017 Seaway Drive (Easy access from US-1), ☏ +1 772 467-9464. 11AM-10PM. Hurricane Grill and Wings is a national chain born on the Treasure Coast in Fort Pierce. Wings served in many sauces of your choice. There are many menu items to serve a variety of tastes. (updated Jun 2015) 5 Joy's Ice Cream Plus, 4959 US-1 (in Towne South Plaza on US-1), ☏ +1 772 461-5544. M-Th 11AM-9PM, F Sa 11AM-10PM, Su noon-9PM. Family owned ice cream shop, a local favorite.

1 Archie's Seabreeze (Archie's), 401 South Ocean Drive, ☏ +1 772 460-3888. Su-Th 11AM-9PM; F Sa 11AM-10PM. Bar and grill on Hutchinson Island. (updated Jul 2020) 2 Boozgeois Saloon, 720 U.S.1, ☏ +1 772 466-4255. This cocktail bar and liquor store has a tremendous selection of any liquor you would enjoy. A small business considered a favorite among the locals. (updated May 2015)

A majority of hotels in Fort Pierce are at the "crossroads" of the city, such named because the Turnpike and I-95 are closest by distance here. It gives you a chance to change your traveled highway if your plans call for such. 1 At Home Inn, 7025 Okeechobee Road (On a side road behind the McDonald's), ☏ +1 772 577-6237. Free Wifi, heated pool, and BBQ area. (updated Jul 2020) 2 Comfort Suites, 6505 Metal Drive (Exit west from I-95/east from Turnpike. Turn on Crossroads Pkwy going south and), ☏ +1 772 409-1420. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: noon. Part of Choice Hotels. A smoke-free hotel with a hot breakfast every morning and an outdoor pool. Starting at $80/night. (updated Jul 2016) 3 Fairfield Inn & Suites, 6502 Metal Drive, ☏ +1 772 462-2900. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon. Rooms and suites with microwave, work desk, free internet, flat screen TV. Guests have access to free parking, free breakfast, pool and fitness center. $85/night. (updated Jul 2020) 4 Hampton Inn & Suites Ft. Pierce, 1985 Reynolds Dr, ☏ +1 772 828-4100. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon. Free breakfast every morning, outdoor temperature-controlled pool, fitness center, and free WiFi. All rooms are non-smoking. $87/night. (updated Jul 2020) 5 Holiday Inn Express & Suites Fort Pierce West, 7151 Okeechobee Road (East of Turnpike, West of I-95), ☏ +1 772 464-5000. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. This hotel gives travelers free in-room WiFi, free breakfast every morning, an outdoor heated pool, and a fitness center. $110/night.

Fort Pierce, like many cities has many major highways running through the city. Major highways include I-95, US-1, and Florida's Turnpike. By Interstate 95, you can access Fort Pierce by: Exit 126 at Midway Road. Going west will take you to Okeechobee Road, which is what the locals call State Road 70. Going east will take you to the beach. Exit 129 at Okeechobee Road. There are many hotels and fast food restaurants near by. Going west will take you to Okeechobee and further to Bradenton. Going east will put you closer into the heart of downtown. Exit 131 at Orange Avenue. Going west will take you out to the "country" area of the city with many ranches. Going east will take you into downtown. Exit 138 at Indrio Road. Services are east of the exit. By Florida's Turnpike, you can access Fort Pierce by: Exit 152 at SR 70, or Okeechobee Road. One special thing about the Okeechobee Road area between I-95 and the Turnpike is that it is considered to be a crossroads, where two highways are within a driving range of less than a mile. Businesses, from hotels to restaurants, are abundant in this State Road 70 corridor. Businesses along State Road 70 don't just exist at the cross roads, but also run along to US-1. US-1 and A1A run through the heart of downtown, and A1A almost parallels US-1. A1A runs along the barrier islands of the east coast, from Miami to the Jacksonville area. The local name for A1A on Hutchinson Island South crossing onto US-1 is "Seaway Drive". Fort Pierce is home to the St. Lucie County International, the local airport.

In Fort Pierce, the roads are the easiest way to get around. Major roads lead to the highways, and Downtown Fort Pierce can tend to get crowded at any time of day, but you can take in the view of the Spanish-colonial style buildings as you drive through Downtown. The cities of Fort Pierce, Port St. Lucie, Jensen Beach, and now Vero Beach are all served by bus with Area Regional Transit (ART) and GoLine IRT. Service extends from 43rd Street SW in Vero Beach to Avenue D in Fort Pierce via the northern routes, and from St. Lucie West in Port St. Lucie to the Treasure Coast Square Mall in Jensen Beach. The following are the local ART routes serving Fort Pierce: Route 1 takes you from the Treasure Coast Square Mall in Jensen Beach through Port St. Lucie to the city hospital, the civic center, and the Prima Vista Crossings shopping center, ending in Fort Pierce at the Intermodal Transit Facility. Route 2 runs a loop from the Intermodal Facility to the airport and the Taylor Creek Commons. Route 3 takes you through southern Fort Pierce along Okeechobee Road to the Intermodal Facility. Route 7 is a loop route from the Intermodal Facility through Lakewood Park via 25th Street and Kings Highway to Vero Beach and the Taylor Creek Commons. Route 8 runs along 25th Street and Airoso Blvd., from the Intermodal Facility to the Port St. Lucie Community Center. There is only one transfer point in Fort Pierce: the Intermodal Facility on Avenue D for Routes 1, 2, 3, and 7; for Indian River County transfers, there is a stop at IRSC on Route 3 and South Point Plaza on Route 7.

Fort Pierce may be an interesting city, but there is one area (numbered streets and lettered avenues) that is considered a "ghetto" or a "hood", where crime is abundant, and there has been at least one shooting a year. Exercise caution when in that area, and keep your windows up when driving, particularly at night.