The following post was originally shared in 2017 and is being re-posted for Terri Webster’s Sunday Stills photography challenge. The theme this week is City Sidewalks. I can’t think of a more perfect place to stroll along and sing this iconic Christmas song than the town where we live. Enjoy!
In 2016, Coastal Living Magazine readers voted Stuart, Florida “America’s Happiest Seaside Town.” It ranked above some amazing coastal towns in California, Oregon, Maine and the Carolina’s’ to earn that distinction. I imagine the voting criteria included things like, location, affordability, and activities for families. While those things are important, I think what makes Stuart special, and therefore its residents happy, is sea air, salt water, sunshine, a strong sense of community, picturesque scenery and a laid-back attitude that makes everyone feel welcome.
About Stuart:
Stuart is in Martin County Florida, which is located on the East coast of Florida, just north of West Palm Beach. This area is commonly referred to as the Treasure Coast. I wrote about how this coast got its name here. There is water in virtually every direction, with two rivers and the Atlantic Ocean lapping at its shores. People come here for the beaches, great fishing and a myriad of outdoor activities that can be enjoyed all year long. They stay because it feels like home. Downtown Stuart exudes laid-back, old Florida charm, with its quaint shops, historic Lyric theater, art galleries and abundance of good eateries.
It is the kind of place that invites you to take a lazy stroll down Osceola Street while savoring an ice cream cone or caramel apple while pondering the meaning of life, or just the current moment. Take a dizzying spin around “confusion corner,” see the iconic bronze statue that symbolizes Stuart’s other moniker, “the sailfish capital of the world”, shop the Green Market on a Sunday morning, visit the Stuart Heritage Museum for a history lesson, or spend the entire day lounging on a beach. Any one of those is guaranteed to make you feel happy.
On a balmy summer evening, or a crisp fall night, take a stroll along Riverwalk; stop at the band stand next to the Boat House. Depending on the night, you will hear some great local musicians. Continue on toward the bridge, cross under to Sailor’s Return and watch the sun setting over one of Stuart’s prettiest marinas in town. Head back toward the Pelican Café and watch the lights from the Roosevelt bridge cast a golden glow on the river below.
Kick off your flip flops and sit for a while in this tropical setting. The music is always great here, food is reasonably priced and bottles of wine are half priced on Wednesday night. That’s enough to make me smile!
On another day, head East, across the river bridges to Hutchinson Island, the jewel of Martin County. Launch a kayak or paddle board from MacArthur Boulevard and paddle toward the St. Lucie Inlet. The ocean spills into the river at Sailfish Point, creating an array of blues and greens in the crystal clear water that will leave you refreshed; body and soul. If you are lucky, you might see a stingray or dolphin along the way. Didn’t bring your boat or board? TC Paddle Watersports at the Mariott Resort will fix you up with the right gear. Getting exercise while enjoying nature in the great outdoors, who wouldn’t smile at that?
While on Hutchinson Island, visit the House of Refuge and Gilbert’s Bar. The 1876 refuge was built to house stranded sailors along this coast. It is the last refuge still standing in the US. See the Coquina Rock shoreline that serves as a foundation for the Refuge, and creates one of the most picturesque views along this stretch of beach. Watch the ocean splash against the rocks, feel the wind in your hair and the salt on your skin – now, that’s happy. Turn around, walk across MacArthur Boulevard and watch the sun set over the river. It will delight your soul.
It comes as no surprise that Stuart, Florida was voted “happiest seaside town in America in 2016.” We believe it still is!
Picture Retirement 
Sounds like a fab place to live, no wonder people are so happy. I love living near the sea, although here we don’t get the beautiful and consistent good weather that you have in Florida. My husband and I want to spend sometime in Florida, perhaps these seaside Town will make the perfect base for few months?
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Gilda, there are many beautiful places to have an extended stay in Florida.I will be showcasing cities along our coasts all summer. You will begin to notice subtle and not so subtle differences as we travel the State.I hope that will help you narrow your plans. Summer is the most economical time to visit, but it is also the hottest and most humid. I strongly suggest December through May as your target dates, unless you can take the heat. It goes without saying that it is always a beautiful place to visit.
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Great write up for our beautiful area.
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Thank you Chuck.
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I don’t know much about Florida even though my first port of entry from South Africa to America was Miami. However, this little seaside place looks like a great spot to spend some chill time. When we read “water on all sides” we can’t help but extrapolate what this means in terms of climate change and climate adaptation… sea level rise etc. Wonder how they deal with flooding? and how proactive this community is to the issue of sea level rise?
Peta (& Ben)
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Peta and Ben, it is indeed a great place to spend some chill time. No doubt, climate change and rising tides have had an affect on our shoreline. Our county is responsive and even proactive in many instances when it comes to protecting our most valuable resource. I would not want to live anywhere else in the world.
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looks so beautiful 🙂
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Thank You!
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Suzanne, really beautiful images and the town looks amazing!
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Hi Suzanne,
We’ve been hearing about Stuart for a while…based on the great info in your article it may be time for a visit! Sounds great.
#MLSTL
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Nancy, it is a wonderful place to raise kids, or to live out retirement. We moved here when our daughter was entering middle school and stayed for retirement. It’s perfect for us. Keep me posted if you decided to visit when you get back to Florida. We would love to connect with you guys.
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I absolutely love Florida! My daughter wants to go on a mother/daughter trip. I will forward this to her!
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Theresa, if you come to Florida, do check out the East Coast. We know you will love it here. Thanks for dropping by.
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I love places like this Suzanne – there’s nothing like being near water, a small town atmosphere, friendliness, a few attractions, and good food. We live in a similar type of area in Australia and I would never swap it to move back to the city (even though our kids love city living, our lifestyle surpasses it in every way – and I can see yours does too!)
Thanks for linking up with us at MLSTL and I’ve shared on my SM 🙂
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Hi Leanne, we love it here and while I do miss the city from time to time, I would never live there again. I enjoy the mlstl linkup and always find interesting blogs to follow. Thanks for hosting that forum.
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We will have to check out Stuart. While my husband and I recently moved to Florida, we landed in Orlando for now (that’s where we found jobs first.) But being on the coast is our ultimate goal for retirement.
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Hi Jennifer, our little town has it all when it comes to what we wanted for our retirement years. I’m sure you will find a good fit when the time comes. You can’t go wrong by choosing the coast.
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I loved this tour around Stuart! Many years ago we enjoyed a few vacations the Treasure Coast. It is such a beautiful area.
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Thanks Beth. We love it here and I love showing folks around. One day….
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A perfect post for the theme, Suzanne. How lovely to walk the local sidewalks and enjoy such an eclectic view of your community. That sailfish fountain is amazing!
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Thank you Terri, it was the first thing that popped into my mind when I saw the theme. I updated it with our date night photos from a few nights ago.
We have several sculptures around town by the same artist that made the sailfish, but that was the first, and definitely, the most sought out by photographers.
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Stuart looks like a lovely place to visit, Suzanne. I’m looking forward to the day when we can travel again!
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Me too Christie. Maybe soon!
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A beautiful post, Suzanne. And, yes, I did immediately start singing “City Sidewalks.” You make many great points on what can make a community special. Thank you for taking me on this virtual tour. I can (almost) taste the ice cream and caramel apple. The Roosevelt bridge photo is stunning! Stuart, Florida is now on my list. I am enjoying catching up reading my favourite bloggers, today, Suzanne. We have had a few challenges this month and I am behind on my reading. Happy holidays to you and your loved ones.💕
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Erica, I am sorry you have had a challenging month and hope things are better now. If you ever do come to Florida I would love to be your tour guide. And, of course, the Vosbikian Inn is always open to you!
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Erica, the caramel apple we shared on our date was completely indulgent and worth every calorie. We love our small town and can’t wait to see it vibrant again.
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It looks like a lovely place, Suzanne. I especially love your fantastic photo of the House of Refuge – the wind and the waves!
Jude
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Jude, that is by far my favorite place in our town to take photographs. The view constantly changes.
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