{"id":173299,"date":"2026-03-01T00:10:18","date_gmt":"2026-03-01T00:10:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/173299\/"},"modified":"2026-03-01T00:10:18","modified_gmt":"2026-03-01T00:10:18","slug":"this-idyllic-but-underrated-florida-city-is-often-called-the-jewel-of-the-treasure-coast","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/173299\/","title":{"rendered":"This Idyllic But Underrated Florida City Is Often Called The \u2018Jewel Of The Treasure Coast\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

Stick a pin anywhere on a map of Florida, and you\u2019re likely to have identified a great vacation destination. Between bustling, energy-filled cities like Miami<\/a>, Fort Lauderdale<\/a>, and Orlando<\/a> and a never-ending parade of picturesque beach towns<\/a>, there\u2019s quite literally always someplace new to explore in the Sunshine State. If you\u2019re seeking a destination that gives you the best of both worlds\u2014the dining and attractions of big cities, plus the nature and serenity of smaller towns\u2014look no further than Port St. Lucie. Located on Florida\u2019s Treasure Coast, a 21-mile stretch of eastern coastline from Vero Beach<\/a> to Stuart, Port St. Lucie has all that\u2014and then some. As the largest city in St. Lucie County, Port St. Lucie is home to big draws like the 54-hole PGA Golf Club and Clover Park, a major spring training site for the New York Mets. At the same time, you\u2019ll find easy access to gorgeous natural preserves and pristine beaches. Keep reading for the 15 best things to do in Port St. Lucie, Florida.\n<\/p>\n

What To Do In Port St. Lucie, Florida
\n See The Botanical Gardens <\/p>\n

Credit: <\/p>\n

Courtesy of Visit St. Lucie<\/p>\n

Celebrating 15 years in 2025, the Port St. Lucie Botanical Gardens is a bedrock of the community, welcoming all to enjoy its shaded walkways, flowering native gardens, and acres of wetlands and mangrove forests. Spend an afternoon exploring the 21-acre property situated on the St. Lucie River. Major points of interest include a colorful hibiscus garden, orchid room, palm walk, and butterfly garden that\u2019s also popular among hummingbirds<\/a>.<\/p>\n

pslbg.org<\/a>; 2410 SE Westmoreland Blvd., Port St. Lucie, FL 34952; 772-337-1959<\/p>\n

Join Locals At Tradition Square <\/p>\n

Credit: <\/p>\n

Courtesy of Visit St. Lucie<\/p>\n

It doesn\u2019t get more idyllic than Town Center at Tradition Square, a large greenspace in the heart of a healthy-living community that\u2019s surrounded by local boutiques, restaurants, and businesses. The popular gathering space hosts near daily events ranging from exercise classes to paint and sip classes. Every Sunday brings the Tradition Neighborhood Market, an open-air farmers featuring buyable goods from farmers, bakers, artisan crafters, artists, and more.<\/p>\n

traditionfl.com\/community<\/a>; 10807 SW Tradition Square, Port St. Lucie, FL 34987; 772-207-0057<\/p>\n

Take A Jungle-Eco Cruise <\/p>\n

Credit: <\/p>\n

Courtesy of Visit St. Lucie<\/p>\n

Join Eddie and Steph Hamrick for a cruise around the North Fork of the St. Lucie River Aquatic Preserve on their 36-passenger boat called The River Lilly II. The local couple and wildlife enthusiasts offer both jungle-eco (departing daily at 11 a.m.) and relaxation cruises (departing daily at 5:30 p.m. or 6:30 p.m.) year-round. On either you\u2019ll have the chance to see and learn about native wildlife including alligators, turtles, and dozens of species of native aquatic birds.<\/p>\n

riverlillycruises.com<\/a>; 500 East Prima Vista Blvd\u00a0Port St Lucie, FL 34985; 772-489-8344<\/p>\n

Play At A Legendary Golf Course <\/p>\n

Credit: <\/p>\n

Brian Oar – Fairways Photography<\/p>\n

Florida is known for having a huge number of gorgeous golf courses across the state, but perhaps none are as prestigious as the PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie. Owned and operated by the PGA of America, the renowned facility features 54 holes, designed by legends like Tom Fazio and Pete Dye, that are all open for public play. Book a tee time or spring for a Stay and Play package. if you\u2019ve ever dreamed of becoming a pro golfer, this might be the next best thing.<\/p>\n

pgavillage.com<\/a>; 1916 Perfect Drive, Port St. Lucie, FL 34986; 800-800-4653<\/p>\n

Enjoy The Outdoors At A Nature Preserve <\/p>\n

Credit: <\/p>\n

Courtesy of Visit St. Lucie<\/p>\n

Port St. Lucie\u2019s location on the St. Lucie River and near the Atlantic Ocean has created the perfect environment for some truly remarkable natural preserves. Hiking biking, and horseback riding trails abound at McCarty Ranch Preserve<\/a>. Folks can enjoy the 300-acre lake system by fishing, canoeing, or kayaking and even spend the night at a primitive camp or RV site. Another great day-use site is Spruce Bluff Preserve<\/a>, which includes two self-guided interpretive trails, a prehistoric Native American mound, and excellent birding. For time in nature with a bonus educational component, visit the Oxbox Eco-Center and Nature Preserve, where you can explore boardwalks, pedestrian trails, and observation towers to see native flora and fauna, then head into the eco-center to learn about what you saw through displays, workshops, lectures, and public events.<\/p>\n

stlucieco.gov<\/a>; 5400 NE St. James Dr., Port St. Lucie, FL 34983; 772-785-5833\n<\/p>\n

\u00a0Stroll The Boardwalk <\/p>\n

Credit: <\/p>\n

Courtesy of Visit St. Lucie<\/p>\n

For scenic views as far as the eye can see, take a sunset stroll along Port St. Lucie\u2019s Boardwalk at The Port District, which runs along the St. Lucie River for nearly 1,000 feet between Tom Hooper Park and Veterans Park at Rivergate (where you\u2019ll also find boat ramps and a pavilion). Access the boardwalk from either end using paths that wind through mangrove forests before opening to the 10-foot-wide boardwalk and observation deck.<\/p>\n

cityofpsl.com<\/a>; 772-878-2277<\/p>\n

Watch A Baseball Game <\/p>\n

Credit: <\/p>\n

Courtesy of Visit St. Lucie<\/p>\n

Every year locals look forward to the return of the New York Mets, who play their spring training games at Clover Park. It\u2019s a great opportunity to see some of your favorite MLB teams pay for a fraction of the cost of a regular-season game. If you don\u2019t happen to visit during the spring training season, you can catch the Port St. Lucie Mets minor league team playing home games at Clover Park all summer long.<\/p>\n

stlucieco.gov<\/a>; 31 Piazza Drive, Port St Lucie, FL 34986; 772-871-5476<\/p>\n

Where To Eat In Port St. Lucie, Florida
\n Start Your Day With A Hearty Breakfast <\/p>\n

Credit: <\/p>\n

Courtesy of Visit St. Lucie<\/p>\n

Open for breakfast seven days a week, there\u2019s hardly anything you can\u2019t find on the menu at Berry Fresh Caf\u00e9. The popular breakfast and lunch spot\u2019s m.o. is making sure everything is fresh as can be. Juices are pressed fresh daily, fruits and veggies are almost always sourced locally, and all proteins are farm-raised and cage-free. Start your meal with an order of cinnamon-sugar dusted blueberry fritters for the table, then make the very difficult choice between sweet (think challah French toast or lemon ricotta pancakes) or savory (omelets, hashes, Benedicts, and biscuits).<\/p>\n

berryfresh.cafe<\/a>; 1718 SW St. Lucie West Blvd., St. Lucie West, FL 34986; 772-336-5291<\/p>\n

Have An Authentic Greek Lunch <\/p>\n

Folks have been extolling the wonders of Think Greek\u2019s excellent dishes since it began as a food truck in 2014. Owned and operated by a family of first-generation Greek Americans, you can count on all the classics like spanakopita, souvlaki, dolmades, and moussaka, as well as some fun fusion dishes like Greek honey garlic wings and their award-winning Gyropitakia (fried wontons loaded with a blend of lamb and beef, goat cheese, chives, and cream cheese).<\/p>\n

thinkgreekfl.com<\/a>; 644 SW Port St. Lucie Blvd., Port St. Lucie, FL 34953; 772-800-3128<\/p>\n

Sample Cuban Cuisine <\/p>\n

Another great spot to grab lunch is Babablu\u2019s Cuban Caf\u00e9, which like Great Greek was featured on Guy Fieri\u2019s Best Bite in Town TV show. You can\u2019t go wrong with a Cuban sandwich during any time of day, but if you\u2019re looking for something a little heartier, try a plate with a meat of your choice, rice, beans, and plantains, or French fries. Popular options include ropa vieja (shredded beef stewed in Spanish wine sauce with peppers, onions, and tomatoes) and churrasco (skirt steak served with housemade chimichurri).\n<\/p>\n

babaluscubancafe.com<\/a>; 1002 SE Port St. Lucie Blvd., Port St. Lucie, FL 34953; 772-207-5165<\/p>\n

Have Dinner With A View <\/p>\n

Located off Tradition\u2019s Town Square overlooking Tradition Lake, Meating Street Seafood & Steakhouse is the place to go for a delicious dinner with a view. The modern, light-filled dining room provides the perfect atmosphere to enjoy anything from an indulgent surf and turf meal to plated house creations like short rib ragu or Tuscan shrimp. Reservations are recommended. If you\u2019re an early diner, take advantage of the restaurant\u2019s Sunday through Thursday pre-fixe special that includes a choice of salad, entr\u00e9e (bouillabaisse, pork chop, prime rib, salmon, and more), and chef\u2019s dessert for just $34.95. Not ready for a full meal so early? Happy hour at the bar is another great option.<\/p>\n

meatingstreet.com<\/a>; 10553 SW Meeting St., Port St. Lucie, FL 34987; 772-348-3805<\/p>\n

Treat Yourself To A Seafood Super <\/p>\n

Credit: <\/p>\n

Courtesy of Kyle G’s Steak & Seafood<\/p>\n

It\u2019s hard to imagine a Florida vacation without at least one seafood-centric meal on the itinerary. In Port St. Lucie, you can get your fill at Kyle G\u2019s Oyster and Wine Bar. At this elegant restaurant, you can always get an excellent chilled oyster and martini, but the fun doesn\u2019t stop there. Middleneck clams, whole Maine lobster, and snow crab legs are also great starters. For dinner, fish dishes range from Cajun Cod with crawfish-oyster stuffing to Floribbean Mahi-Mahi with jasmine rice, coconut rum sauce, and mango salsa.<\/p>\n

kylegoysterandwinebar.com<\/a>; 1724 SW St. Lucie West Blvd., Port St. Lucie, FL 34986; 772-807-1220<\/p>\n

Where To Stay In Port St. Lucie
\n Book A Walkable Stay <\/p>\n

Credit: <\/p>\n

Jeff Herron<\/p>\n

For a comfortable place to set up home base in the heart of all the action, snag a room at the Courtyard Port St. Lucie Tradition, which is conveniently located in easy walking distance to all the shops, restaurants, trails, parks, and gorgeous greenspaces of the Tradition community.<\/p>\n

marriott.com<\/a>; 10251 SW Innovation Way, Port St Lucie, FL 34987; 772-732-9300<\/p>\n

Stay At The Beach <\/p>\n

Credit: <\/p>\n

Courtesy of The Lucie<\/p>\n

One of the best things about Port St. Lucie is its easy access to the beach. The white sands and crystal-clear waters of Jensen Beach and Hutchison Beach are just over 10 miles away, so it\u2019s a quick drive to have a day of fun in the sun. If you want to wake up with a view of the water, reserve a room or suite at the sprawling Hutchinson Shores Resort & Spa<\/a>, for all the amenities you could dream of, or opt for its sister stay The Lucie<\/a>, which offers a more intimate boutique experience.\n<\/p>\n

\u00a0Rent A House Or Condo <\/p>\n

Credit: <\/p>\n

Courtesy of Right Direction Rentals<\/p>\n

If you\u2019ve got a larger travel group or simply desire a little room to spread out, consider booking a rental home. Right Direction Rentals offers a large collection of all-sized homes in Port St. Lucie, as well as in the nearby community of Jensen Beach for those seeking waterfront views.<\/p>\n

rightdirectionrentals.com<\/a>; 772-873-0515<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Stick a pin anywhere on a map of Florida, and you\u2019re likely to have identified a great vacation…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":173300,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[12],"tags":[171,173,172],"class_list":["post-173299","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-port-st-lucie","tag-port-st-lucie","tag-port-st-lucie-headlines","tag-port-st-lucie-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/173299","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=173299"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/173299\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/173300"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=173299"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=173299"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=173299"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}