Middle Cove Beach is a one acre beach park on Hutchinson Island in Fort Pierce. There are no…read morerestrooms or lifeguard but there is parking for at least 12 vehicles. Middle Cove Beach is known for its natural beauty and peaceful environment. It is a tranquil spot for visitors seeking a quieter beach experience. This beach is a great escape from the more crowded beaches. Visitors to Middle Cove Beach will appreciate the clear water, gentle waves, and wide, soft sandy beach, along with the scarcity of other people. It is the ideal beach for swimming, fishing, and wildlife watching sea turtles and bird species. Middle Cove Beach is a popular sea turtle nesting site during the summer months. This dog friendly beach is open every day from sunrise to sunset.

This past Saturday, I decided I needed some much-needed sun and drove over to Hutchinson Island. I…read moreusually park near the jetty and walk over, but unfortunately that section of the beach was closed due to sand restoration from erosion. Luckily, if you drive a bit further down the road, you can find other access points along the island. I kept going and found a small parking area with a beach entrance. I got there early, so I had no problem finding a spot--but just a heads up, parking is very limited. I always recommend getting to the beach early, especially in spots like this. The entrance itself is a little tight, and there's a random piece of wood sticking out of the ground that could easily trip someone if you're not paying attention--definitely something to watch out for. That said, this stretch of beach is really nice and much less crowded. You can even see the area where they're adding sand in the distance. It's a great option if you're looking to avoid the usual tourist crowds... although I'm sure they find their way here.

A real beautiful beach, was very clean and super quiet. No one on the beach when I went so I was…read moretoo excited about that. There's a small parking lot. Beach access isn't wheel chair accessible for those who may need it. I can't wait to come back.

It is a bit of an adventure to get out here but the view makes it worth it. This park was named in…read morehonor of Sam J. Pendarvis who was born on November 1, 1888 in Florida. He was a pioneer who settled on the North Fork of the St. Lucie River about 1908. He died August 6, 1968. This park is also located on the north fork of the St. Lucie River in the area where Pendarvis lived. The park has picnic table pavilions, a restroom, and a boat launch. I loved catching site of an osprey high up in the tree. The park is kept in a very natural state. You can only go in one direction as you drive along the loop that encircles the park. Even though it seems very out of the way, I saw several people enjoying the picnic tables and sitting near the small beach area during my visit.

In 2013 St. Lucie commissioners renamed Dollman Park on Hutchinson Island in honor of environmental…read moreadvocate Jane Murray Brooks (September 7, 1927-January 20, 2013.) Jane and her husband John Brooks who has his own park named in his honor down the road were among the co-founders of the Conservation Alliance of St. Lucie County which fought against development on natural lands. Jane worked as a social worker for St. Lucie County Schools and her passions were social and environmental causes and birding. She was also active in the Audubon Society, the Native Plant Society, the Democratic Women's Club, and Heathcote Botanical Gardens, and was a member, and chairwoman, of the county's Land Acquisition Committee. Jane was especially instrumental in saving the Hutchinson Island site formerly owned by Henry G. Dollman from becoming a golf course and water park. Instead it was turned into a public beach and nature preserve. She passed away at the age of 85. Jane Murray Brooks Park is a 143 acres. Five stars for protecting the environment but one star for actually being able to explore or hike this park. One trail straight off the parking lot is overgrown. The other one is also over grown before it dead ends. Worst of all is the mosquitoes. I didn't take more than two steps down the trail before I was covered head to toe in mosquitoes. I had so many on me I even ended bringing them back into the car with me. No wonder no one was using this park. It made me think about when the Spanish first came to Florida. They complained bitterly about the mosquitoes too.

This park is named for Joseph Frances O' Mara. He loved the beauty of the Indian River Lagoon and…read morehis parents donated part of the land for the park in his honor. Adjacent to the parking lot is a picnic pavilion. A boardwalk takes you from the parking lot across the wetlands as you travel through a red mangrove swamp. The mangroves are an important part of the ecosystem because they prevent coastal erosion and provide a home for fish, mollusks, crab, and shrimp, that are the basis of the food chain for the marine life in the coastal communities. The biodiversity of this area makes it popular with researchers. The boardwalk ends at an overlook that people use for fishing the Indian River Lagoon. There is also a floating dock.

This beach was named Bob Graham Beach on March 8, 1983 when it was dedicated to Daniel Robert…read moreGraham (November 9, 1936 - April 16, 2024). Graham was a lawyer, author, and democratic politician who served as the 38th governor of Florida from 1979 to 1987 and as a Florida senator from 1987 to 2005. He was famous for his work days in which he spent a day in different parts of the state working various regular jobs. Some of the jobs he worked included a police officer, a bank teller, a construction worker, a marine biologist, and rehabilitation aide. Working these jobs enabled him to understand the issues facing people living in Florida. Bob Graham established the Save Our Coast Program which resulted in the acquisition of additional Martin County beach property. Bob Graham Beach Park has a shower and parking. Less than a mile north is Jensen Beach Park where you can find lifeguards, restrooms, and food. If you are looking for a more secluded beach experience, Bob Graham is the better choice. The Hutchinson Island Coastal Trail connects this beach to Beachwalk Pasley Beach to the south. It takes about 15 minutes to walk between the two parks through beach dune, coastal strand, maritime hammock and mangrove habitats.

One of many beaches on Ocean blvd., in Martin County. This beach is closer to Jensen Beach where we…read morehad lunch. They have a private parking lot no fee, and its steps away from the beach. This is a relaxing beach and it wasn't packed when we were there. They have a shower for rinsing off. In my case, for cooling off. The waves at the beach are intense so I was not able to go in but the shower cooled me off nicely. If you need the restroom or need to change your clothes, drive north for the main Jensen beach next to the Hutchinson Island Resort.

Tiger Shores Beach is one of several free beaches north of the Elliot Museum. This beach is north…read moreof Stuart Beach and south of Virginia Forrest Beach. The beaches on this end of Hutchinson Island tend to be less crowded than those south of the Elliot Museum near Gilberts Bar. Over here you are more likely to find parking at the beaches on but there aren't restrooms or lifeguards. There is however a shower and benches. This beach is popular with swimmers, anglers, and even treasure hunters. In the 1970's a local surfer discovered cannons in the water off the beach. Researchers believe they may belong to a Spanish ship carrying gold that wrecked off the beach in a hurricane in 1715. From the parking lot you follow the trail nestled between condos up the sand dune through coastal vegetation to the white sandy beach. There were a number of sea turtle nests roped off among the sun bathers. Even if you don't end up finding a piece of eight the calm clear waters and unspoiled natural beauty make this a good choice if you are looking for a more secluded beach experience.

Public beach with its own parking lot. All parking is free and was safe. Located on Hutchinson…read moreIsland in Stuart, FL. This is the Treasure Coast! Parking lot has a beach shower and foot shower. Dogs allowed on beach, leashed. People were NOT following this rule when I visited. Extremely rude and annoying, especially on the beach! Water can be a bit rough and no lifeguards, so I recommend only for strong swimmers. Beach is pretty but not super wide. Not sure about tides? I visited in early afternoon and you can see how it looked then from my pictures.

Ross Witham Beach is a scenic and historic beach in Stuart. It is named for Ross Witham who was…read moreknown as the turtle man for his environmental conservation and study of sea turtles. He served as the the Marine Turtle Coordinator for the Florida Department of Natural Resources and authored more than 30 papers on sea turtle and spiny lobster biology. He served as a mentor to many volunteers instructing them on how to identify and protect sea turtles. He released 28,000 sea turtle hatchlings from the beach that bears his name. He died in 2004 at the age of 87 and his ashes were scattered in the ocean during the time the sea turtle hatchlings leave the beach in order to begin their lives in the ocean. The beach is known for it's rocky looking outcroppings known as the Anastasia formation which was named by E. H. Sellards in 1912. The formation was deposited during the deposited during the late Pleistocene and the "rocks" are really sand and coquina limestone embedded with mollusk shells and sparry calcite. It forms cliffs and caves that form a habitat for sea life. It is not very comfortable on bare feet but it makes a lovely backdrop for pictures. Ross Witham Beach is located directly in front of Gilbert's Bar House of Refuge. Built in 1876 it is the only remaining house of refuge in existence. It was run by the United States Life Saving Service to rescue ship wreck victims off the coast of Florida. It is open for tours and looks like it did in 1904. A hundred feet off the shore of the beach and 22 feet deep is the Georges Valentine Underwater Archaeological Preserve Shipwreck Dive Site.The Georges Valentine was an iron hulled screw steamboat built in 1869. In October of 1904 the boat was sailing with a crew of 12 and a cargo of mahogany that was being taken from Pensacola to Buenos Aires. They encountered a storm and the boat sank in front of the house of refuge where seven of the crew members were rescued. In 2006 the wreck was added to the National Register of Historic Places. The depth of the wreck is shallow so you can park at the beach and snorkel or dive. I love the laid back Caribbean atmosphere of Stuart. This beach has so much beauty and history associated with it. It is a wonderful place to take pictures, experience history first hand, snorkel and dive, or just worship the sun.