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Then again, they can simply think about all of the above while luxuriating under the sun on a white sandy beach.
Originally known as East Florida, St. Lucie County was established in 1905 with Fort Pierce as the county seat. The city was developed as a fort during the Seminole Wars and, with the later advent of the railroad, it became a prominent Florida town. Today the city of 38,000, with a downtown waterfront along the Indian River, attracts visitors to enjoy its shops, galleries, and historic buildings. The Seven Gables Visitor Information Center is housed in the 1875 Cobb Building, which was one of the first trading posts on the Treasure Coast.
Ft. Pierce is the place to learn about all things underwater. Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution exhibits examples of marine technology and sea life. The Manatee Observation and Education Center delves into Florida's manatee population, giving visitors the opportunity to view sea cows in their natural habitat. Another Ft. Pierce facility recognizes two-legged denizens of the . Navy Frogmen and Navy SEALS. Located where the frogmen first trained in 1943, the UDT-SEAL Museum pays tribute to these elite naval combat units with outdoor and indoor exhibits including patrol crafts, diving gear, and memorabilia.
Nature lovers' hearts beat faster when exploring St. Lucie County. The Ft. Pierce area is included in the Great Florida Birding Trail. Ft. Pierce Inlet State Park sees its share of plovers, willets, terns, gulls, and loons. A favorite spot with campers is The Savannas, a 550-acre recreational area with fishing, nature trails, and canoeing. Heathcote Botanical Gardens may be small but is very impressive, with a Japanese garden and exotic tropical flowers.
The county is a haven for sports fans, whether observing or participating. The world's fastest ball game (with speeds almost 175 miles an hour) is played at Ft. Pierce Jai Alai. Meaning "merry festival" in the Basque language, jai alai was first played in the . in the early 1920s but originated more than 300 years ago in northern Spain, where church walls were the first playing courts.
The speed of the ball is a bit slower but every bit as thrilling when the New York Mets take to the baseball field in Port St. Lucie. The Mets play their spring training games at Thomas J. White Stadium, and during summer the minor league St. Lucie Mets display their talents at the 7,100-seat ballpark.
Although St. Lucie County boasts many fine golf courses, the sport takes center stage at Kolter Resort/PGA Village, where three award-winning courses await golfers of all levels of experience. But it's more than just a place to play the game--beautiful on-site guest accommodations include efficiencies, villas, and townhouses. And while at the Village, golfers can take lessons and sharpen their skills at the one-of-a-kind PGA Learning Center.
For a galloping good time, sit tall in the saddle and enjoy a horseback ride along the beach at Frederick Douglass Memorial Park on South Hutchinson Island. Hutchinson Island has a number of parks and offers vacationers many ways to enjoy water-related activities, including boating, fishing, snorkeling, shelling, and surfing. It's a popular area with divers, who take the plunge and explore Florida's first Underwater Archeological Preserve. Opened in 1987, the preserve includes part of a Spanish fleet, the Urca de Lima, that sank in 1715. One of the reasons the Treasure Coast is so named is the gold and silver lost at sea in shipwrecks.
More of the interesting past can be explored at the St. Lucie County Historical Museum. But don't forget to enjoy the present by basking under the sun on one of the Treasure Coast's finest jewels, a gorgeous beach.
Contact: St. Lucie County Tourist Development Council, 2300 Virginia Ave., Ft. Pierce, FL 34982; (800) 344-TGIF
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