Stuart, Florida, located on the Atlantic coast of Florida, is a city famous for its scenic beaches, colorful downtown area, and silky waterways. Known as the “Sailfish Capital of the World” and named “America’s Happiest Seaside Town," Stuart hosts a plethora of activities to enjoy under the sun as well as under a roof that ensures fun, relaxation, and excitement for visitors as well as locals of all ages.
Along with beautiful museums, amazing walks, adventurous activities, and unique restaurants, let’s dive deep into this coastal town's points of interest and look at 20 memorable things to do in Stuart, Florida, that will make your trip unique, fun, and exciting.
1. Beat The Heat At Sailfish Splash Waterpark
The Sailfish Splash Waterpark stands on two acres of land across central Stuart and is home to several adventurous and exciting rides, such as a huge water playground, two four-story-tall water slides, a 1000-foot lazy river, a 253-foot closed flume slide, a competitive lap pool area, and many other adventurous rides and slides.
They also have a shaded picnic area, gift shops, large deck space, and, most importantly, free Wi-Fi, making this waterpark a must-visit during your trip. The waterpark is also facilitated for any kind of party you may have lined up. Also, you can relax even with kids around, since the lifeguards are very friendly and observant.
2. Discover Marine Life At Florida Oceanographic Coastal Center
Being so close to the ocean comes with the big perk of getting to house marine life like stingrays, sharks, and turtles in conservation centers. The Florida Oceanographic Coastal Center boasts a 57-acre marine life nature center that offers knowledge, fun, and intrigue to people of all ages.
This marine life center houses numerous stingrays, sharks, sea turtles, and various other gamefish and sea-dwelling creatures found locally. Visitors can choose from various activities like the stingray touch tank, marine life feeding, sea turtle class, ecosystem class, and much more.
3. Chill At Stuart Beach
Right across from the coastal center is one of the best Stuart FL attractions, Stuart Beach. This beach offers blue Atlantic waters, a sandy stretch of beach, and an amazing place to chill. This beach was once named one of the best beaches in the South by USA Today, hinting at its popularity as well as its family friendliness.
Furthermore, this beach also features picnic areas, beach volleyball courts, and basketball courts, as well as amenities and facilities like bathrooms, showers, and restrooms for the convenience of its visitors. Likewise, paved parking close to the beach is also available for anyone with a vehicle.
4. Live Among The Fishes At Bathtub Beach
Yet another beach to add to this list when you visit this small town is snorkeling at Bathtub Reef Beach. This is considered by both locals and visitors to be one of the most fun things to do in Stuart FL. As such, it is a very popular place for swimming, surfing, and scuba diving. The beach features a reef formed in the shape of a bathtub close to the beach, hence the name.
The beach is big enough to not be crowded, has free parking, has A/C in the bathrooms, and even has a covered pavilion for you to find shade under. The highlight of this beach definitely has to be the shallow-water snorkeling experience, that is highly recommended for people of all ages.
5. Experience Flying By Parasailing
Parasailing in itself is an amazing activity to experience. On top of that, mix in the amazing beaches in this city, and you will have yourself a must-do activity while here. It may seem very scary at first, but the scenic beach and the water around said beaches make it a very peaceful ride through the sky.
The places that offer parasailing around the beaches feature state-of-the-art parasail boats and very experienced, friendly, and professional flight crew, making flying through the sky very safe, secure, fun, and exciting. Moreover, you can even take a dip in the waters after your flying sessions are over.
6. Go Fishing For Sailfish
This city isn’t just called the “Sailfish Capital of the World” for nothing. The opportunities for fishing for sailfish are unlimited here. There are numerous charters and guides providing visitors with boats, equipment, and personnel for a successful chance at sailfish fishing on the Treasure Coast. Sailfishing is one of the (if not the) best Stuart Florida activities.
Some more species of fish, along with sailfish, available around the waters of Stuart include blue marlin, white marlin, and swordfish, which are also available for fishing. Some of the popular spots for sailfishing are St. Lucie Inlet, Jupiter Inlet, the Gulfstream, Indian River Lagoon, and Hobe Sound.
7. Get Competitive Golfing
If you were ever thinking, “What to do in Stuart FL?” golfing in one of the charming and lavish clubs here would definitely be in the top 3 answers. Some of the best courses in the city include Champions Club at Summerfield, Florida Club, North River Golf Club, Martin County Golf Course, and Hitting Bays at Sailfish Sands.
All these places offer some of the best golfing experiences you can find in this coastal city, along with amazing food and beverage choices, friendly and dedicated staff and crew, as well as charming, beautiful, and pleasing décor. Furthermore, some of these courses are challenging even for skilled golfers, so be prepared to not always be on par.
8. Sail The Open Ocean
When in the heart of the Treasure Coast, sailing is something that cannot be missed. There are various different marinas that allow locals and visitors to slip their sailboats into the water, like Stuart Beach Marina and the Conch Street Marina. Plus, most locals here own motorboats or sailboats, making it a lot easier to get into sailing if you are visiting.
In addition to the marinas, the Atlantic Ocean and the Indian River Lagoon offer sailors incredible play space to quench their sailing thirst. What’s more? The local sailing community is active throughout the year, organizing events like the Stuart Sail & Powerboat Show in February for sailing enthusiasts from all over the world.
9. Satiate Your Inner Eater
Due to its proximity to the ocean, you can find all kinds of seafood here, ranging from sailfish to lobsters to octopus and tuna. In spite of that, various other places also specialize in other cuisines, which are sure to satisfy your needs. They have signature and unique dishes featuring seafood that will make anyone want a second serving.
Some of the more popular places around the city include King Neptune, The Gafford, Riverwalk Café & Oyster Bar, Gettin’ Crabby at the Stern House, Namaste Grill, Sailor’s Return, Luna, Thai Bistro, Bonefish Grill, Mario’s Italian Restaurant, and countless more, all of whom serve some of the most incredible dishes in existence.
10. Learn Stuart's History At The House Of Refuge Museum
The one thing that is necessary to do while in this city in Florida is learn about its history, and the House of Refuge Museum does just that. This local museum is akin to a time capsule stored near a scenic beach that feels like stepping back in time a few decades ago. The museum offers exhibits showcasing artifacts, photographs, and interactive displays as well.
Established in 1887 as a reservation for shipwrecked sailors, a really interesting fact about this museum is that you can check out shipwrecks underwater by snorkeling or free-diving. The history that this museum tells of and the preservation done on the shipwrecks are fascinating and worth a visit.
11. Get Imaginative At The Children's Museum Of The Treasure Coast
If you are ever in Stuart with your family and kids, an interesting place to visit is the Children’s Museum of the Treasure Coast. This vibrant and playful space provides a fun and exciting setting for the young ones to learn and flourish. The museum itself offers a variety of exhibits and events for children to learn about science, technology, and art interactively.
The museum also features a mini-grocery store, a rooftop garden to chill out in, a pirate-themed play space, a giant carrot that kids can ascend, a mock workshop for cars, a firetruck, and a great deal more. This place is an absolute gem of a museum for people who have kids or for kids themselves.
12. Take A Stroll Down Riverwalk
Aside from all the engaging activities to do, even simpler things like walking are great around this city. Particularly, taking a stroll down the riverwalk along the St. Lucie River is very serene, picturesque, and relaxing. The trail leads visitors through sites in and around the city, showcasing the local aesthetics, architecture, and style.
The walkway takes visitors through the outskirts of the historic downtown area, through several restaurants, and under various bridges, exiting into an amazing park at the end. This little walk will surely be on everyone’s list as “one of the most fun things to do Stuart Florida”. Besides that, during the weekends, live music and a farmers market can also be found here.
13. Enjoy A Show At The Lyric Theatre
The Lyric Theatre is a non-profit arts center located in the heart of the city and is open from Monday through Saturday. This theatre calls itself home for the performing arts that “entertains, educates, and stimulates artistic growth” and features shows such as stand-up comedy, music, movie screenings, dances, and presentations.
The theatre itself is a beautiful space resembling something out of the movies and can seat enough people to liven up any format of show being presented on stage. Visitors are sure to have a really good and artistic time watching some of the greatest pieces of art this little town has to offer.
14. Dance Around At Rock'n Riverwalk
If you are in the mood for something to dance to, rock out to the Rock'n Riverwalk, which is Florida’s signature concert series. This event is hosted by a non-profit organization, free for anybody and everybody to see. They feature acts of music genres like Rock, Blues, Country, Classic Rock, Progressive Rock, Reggae, Americana, and significantly more.
These concerts happen every Sunday afternoon all year, featuring performances from local and regional bands against the backdrop of the water. The music coupled with the food, drink, and merchandise booths on the walkway gives this a very festive and lively vibe, uplifting people to dance.
15. Get Around With The Tiki Taxi
Not a literal taxi-cab, but a cruise featuring a tiki-themed boat, the Tiki Taxi cruise offers visitors a cruise around the city as well as some really good music during the trip. The cruise itself costs you only $10, and the tiki features a bar with a huge selection of soft drinks, beers, wines, and cocktails.
Traveling on a floating tiki house will be one of the most fun and memorable things for you to do in Florida. They also host private parties where you can rent out the whole tiki boat for you and your family and friends as well. Also, the normal $10 cruise lets visitors ride the tiki taxi for the whole day.
16. Feel Adventurous Kiteboarding
One of the most fun things to do in Stuart Florida, is kiteboarding, or kitesurfing, which is an exciting and adventurous water sport that combines certain aspects of 3 different things: wakeboarding, surfing, and parachuting. You can use a huge kite to propel a surfboard under you, use the wind to gain speed, or lift yourself over the water.
This adventurous new sport is thrilling, scary, and memorable at the same time. Also, the waters beyond the coast of this city are ideal for kiteboarding because the winds that pick up over shallow waters are both strong and constant. The city is filled with kiteboarding schools and places to rent kiteboards if you ever decide to try it for yourself.
17. Go Back In Time At The Rare Earth Gallery
The Rare Earth Gallery is an interesting place, to say the least. It is a contemporary art exhibit and shop that features unique little trinkets, paintings, sculptures, etc. by local and regional artists with a focus on promoting such unique art to anyone with an interest. They regularly organize exhibitions, events, and art classes and workshops for visitors to attend.
Moreover, the gallery presents various different pieces of art and sells them at a price in order to promote local artists to their visitors. New art pieces and products are also added to the exhibition on a regular basis, ranging from art on ceramics, pottery, clay, glass, and other mediums as well.
18. Travel To A Forgotten Era At Elliott Museum
Another interesting place to add to the list of things to do in Stuart Florida is visit the local history exhibits at Elliott Museum to get transported to a time forgotten in the present. This museum features an extensive collection of vintage cars, boats, and mementos from the 1950s and upwards, all in mint condition, clean, and eye-catching for anyone who visits.
In tandem with the exhibits, the museum also features the history of the River Road and the Florida East Coast Railway in detail. The 1950s-style diner and the 1940s-style service station are also worth mentioning since both of them are replicas made specifically for this museum. This is a must-visit site in the city, and for $16 for entry, it is a steal.
19. Get Pampered At Salt Of The Earth
One thing that will never be unenjoyable on a trip is relaxing and pampering yourself at a spa. The Salt of the Earth spa not only makes sure to heal and soothe your body but also works to please your eyes with its amazing aesthetics and ambience. The spa features cozy cottages for you to relax in while the expert masseur works on your body.
Additionally, they also offer salt therapy, or “halotherapy,” which involves rooms filled with pink Himalayan salt to emulate the salt caverns of Europe. This is supposed to encourage healing, decrease anxiety, and give relief from the symptoms of painful illnesses. A visit here will definitely leave its imprint on your mind.
20. Shopping At B & A Flea Market
Last but not least on this list is one that many have recommended over the years: shopping at the B & A Flea Market. This is the largest and oldest flea market in Stuart and is flocked by more than 400 vendors selling unique ornaments, furniture, antiques, and other collectibles that are locally produced, which are likely to get your attention.
This flea market also features music by local performers and amazing staple foods from Stuart, like kettle corn, sandwiches, funnel cakes, and everything in between. You are bound to find something that piques your interest in the flea market, or at least find souvenirs for your trip back home, for sure.
