Ahh, home. These two little towns have been instrumental in making me who I am. That might be funny because I’m definitely not a Florida person, but as I lived in these towns for a total of 12 years, they were home for a majority of my life. Stuart was named the 2016 America’s Happiest Seaside Town, and I have to agree with this! With its cute shops and palm-lined streets, it is a fun place to visit and to call home. Read on to see some of the best places to eat, visit, and enjoy during your trip to the Treasure Coast!

• Jammin’ in Jensen

On Thursday nights in Downtown Jensen Beach, you will find the street closed off and lined with creators and vendors selling unique items! Pop into a beachy restaurant for dinner before walking through Downtown to find boutique clothes and handmade goods while listening to music played by local musicians!

• Downtown Stuart

What doesn’t Downtown Stuart have? The best foods, incredible music and shows, shopping, and all of the dreamy beach views can all be found in this little area. Grab ice cream at Kilwin’s while shopping at some of Stuart’s favorite shops, and catch some live music being played on the boardwalk stage. Eat at Luna’s, catch a show at the Lyric Theatre, and walk the boardwalk out into the middle of the St. Lucie River. Downtown Stuart is a favorite of mine for Christmas shopping.

• Luna’s Pizza

Luna’s is simply the best! Stop by for the best garlic knots in Florida. The pizza and salads are good too, but Luna’s is pretty much known for those beautiful garlic knots. I mean, just look at them here! 🙂

• The Lyric Theatre

I may be a little biased because I got to perform here a few years ago in a Manneheim Steamroller tribute concert, but the Lyric Theatre is an excellent place to watch a live theatre performance or even just a free showing of a Hitchcock original during the summer. The Lyric is right in the heart of downtown, and you can practically smell the garlic knots from nextdoor!

• Find Some Manatees

You will have to drive a little bit to get there, but head to Manatee Lagoon in Riviera Beach to see manatees in this FPL-made warm water lagoon, which is known to attract lots of sea cows! Side note, the gift shop is filled with adorable manatee stickers, dolls, and other gift ideas! Grab something for a manatee lover you know 🙂

• Walk the Bridge at Sunset

The bridge between Stuart and Jensen Beach is one of the best spots in the area to watch the sunset. Enjoy a nice walk with a gorgeous view over the river. There are even parks on either side if you’d like to picnic and watch!

• Pelican Cafe

The Pelican Cafe is a cute little restaurant at the base of the Roosevelt bridge where you can eat outside right next to the water. It is a beachy little place with delicious options!

• Picnic at the Jensen Beach Causeway

The Jensen Beach Causeway is an underrated area which is great for picnicking and fishing. I have great memories of sitting in the sand for hours and getting on a friend’s boat to jet around in the river for an afternoon. There are grills and bathrooms as well, so it really is great for a day on the water!

• Spend a day at the beach

As you can probably guess by the name of the town, Jensen Beach is home to several miles of beachfront condos, hotels, and homes. There are many beaches to choose from between Jensen and Stuart, so here are a few of my favorites:

Santa Lucea Beach This quiet beach is doesn’t have the nice restaurants or amenities of some other beaches in the area, but it is sure to have a little bit more room to settle down on a towel for a few hours, and it isn’t a far walk from some of the bigger beaches down the coast!

Stuart Beach Stuart Beach is THE party spot of the Treasure Coast! Grab some food at the beach shack restaurant, take a photo with the famous murals on the walls of the changing rooms, take a short break to play some basketball or volleyball, or play with your little ones on the playground! Stuart Beach has all of the amenities and it a popular spot to enjoy the beautiful weather.

There you have it! These sweet places are sure to give you the best time on your trip to the Treasure Coast. Did I miss anything special? Comment with your favorite places below!