I remember the Florida Oceanographic Coastal Center fondly from my childhood, and it's good to see…read morethat they've expanded on their property for a nice little afternoon outing. Admission is $20 for adults, with child and military discounting. There's a lot of outdoor walking space around the main lake/lagoon where you can see the nurse sharks and sea turtles amongst the many other fish there. The weather was really nice the day we went, so we took a stroll through the nature trails. They are mostly boardwalk trails with a few covered stops with benches. The main trail is a 1 mile loop but there is also a 1/3 mile loop that is good for kids. The main trail will take you to the Indian River Lagoon for some nice storefront views! The main building has some cool artwork made of reclaimed beach litter that makes you really think about proper waste disposal. There's also a few tanks with cool fish and such to see. The entire center has a few different spaces for bathrooms that are easy to access. I'd recommend coming here for a nice day in the fresh air and sunshine to enjoy the flora and fauna of Florida!

Really nice place to understand marine life and see some. Kids would love the place. Starts off…read morewith stingray petting tank cool even if you have done it before. Then the starfish area. Each leg has something different to see and handle. Then we went inside the building and checked out the tanks and all interactive things. Walked up to 3rd for nice view of the place and back down to watch the feedings. There is talk about stingrays but no food. Next they feed the fish in the huge open air aquarium. Nurse sharks, rays, jacks, and lots more. The feeding was interesting as was the talk after about pollution and algae. Next off the green sea turtles feeding. They were having romaine lettuce. They put colored pole with a shape that each knows. They swim over bump the Pole and get fed. These had boat injuries so they would never be in the wild. Again another talk about them while they are being feed. Good for adults and great for kids. Highly recommended.

Great place with awesome food , its to bad that its only available for members and not for the…read morepublic , but they do offer the place for weddings and special events. I would highly suggest looking in to have your next special event there.

This is a member-owned organization that, in my experience, is poorly governed and driven by…read moreinternal politics rather than fairness or professionalism. I worked as the bookkeeper at Stuart Corinthian Yacht Club for just under a year. During that time, there were significant leadership changes, including three different Commodores and four Treasurers within roughly 11 months. My direct supervisor was the Treasurer. I was terminated abruptly by the then-Commodore, after he overrode the Treasurer. I was given no prior warning, had no disciplinary actions or write-ups, and was not provided earned vacation pay. I was also excluded from the Christmas bonus. Prior to this, I had been asked to remain in my position despite earlier leadership turnover, and I did so in good faith, fully committed to the club's success. I believe my termination stemmed from reporting verbal harassment by a board member to a prior Commodore. After that report, my work environment changed noticeably. The Treasure recognized the hostility and approved a remote work relationship. Membership turnover was extremely high during my tenure, with multiple members leaving within a short period. In addition, the club was reportedly cited by the state twice in under three months, including one incident that resulted in a temporary shutdown (public record). This is a closed club, so prospective members or employees may not see these issues firsthand. Based on my experience as an employee, I would strongly caution anyone considering working here or considering membership to carefully evaluate the leadership culture and internal dynamics.

Had our wedding here in February! Great location with lots of potential! Basically you're given a…read moreblank palette to make into whatever dream you desire. All vendors have to be approved through them, so I highly recommend getting a wedding planner to help navigate that process. Also everything is a la Carte, including the downstairs area, definitely pay attention to what is actually included. Gorgeous venue overall and the view is spectacular!!

Located within Indian Riverside Park in Jensen Beach, this historic mansion once belonged to a Coca…read moreCola heiress sits on top of a 4,000 year-old Indian midden named Mt. Elizabeth. The midden which is a ancient garbage dump was created by the Ais Indians. It was originally 60-feet high but now is only 40 feet high. Inside it archaeologists have found broken pottery, tools, fish bones, shell ornaments, and other refuse from their every day lives. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on September 14, 2002. The midden and surrounding property were purchased by explorer William Henry Racey in the late 1850's. His son, Charles Racey built a three story wood frame family home on the mound in 1891. He farmed a pineapple and citrus plantation on the land. The home burned to the ground in 1921 and the Racey family sold the property to judge Edward Seann. In 1936 Atlanta businessman Willaford Leach and his wife Anne Bates Leach, a Coca Cola heiress, purchased Mt. Elizabeth and the surrounding property. They built the Mediterranean Revival mansion that sits on top of the mound and named it Tuckahoe, a Native American word that means welcome. The estate was completed in 1939 and added to the National Register of Historic Places on November 30, 2005. The Leach's property was 54 acres of riverfront woodland and lawns. The couple entertained in the mansion and hosted the society in Martin County. Their parties were attended by socialites and WWII soldiers from Camp Murphy. Mrs. Leach founded the Garden Club and was a benefactor for the original building for the Bascomb Palmer Eye Institute in Miami. The University of Miami named a hospital after her. After the Leach family moved out of the mansion in 1950 it was sold to the Catholic Church who gave it to the Sisters of St. Joseph. They added a dormitory and used it as a 2 year degree religious college until 1972. The Florida Institute of Technology then purchased the property and offered 4 year degrees in marine science. The mansion was used by the college administrators. The college closed the campus in 1986 leaving the building and surrounding land vacant for the next 10 years. Martin County purchased the property in 1997 and created Indian RiverSide Park which opened to the public in 2001. Renovations on the mansion were completed in 2009 by the Friends of Mount Elizabeth. Bert Bender from Key West was chosen as the architect of the renovation. The created an Art Deco design for inside the mansion. A wedding suite and grooms room were added as well as a catering kitchen and banquet room. Today the mansion is operated by the Martin County Parks and Recreation Department. It is rented for weddings and private events. Historical tours of the mansion take place every first and third Wednesday through May at 10 and 11 a.m. On the day I visited the mansion was being used for a prom while a wedding was taking place in another part of the park. I love how Martin County preserved 4,000 years of history in a way that is still benefiting the community of Martin County today.

Stopped in for dinner and as always was a great experience. This is a upscale casual establishment…read more The food is always very good. Had a fantastic burger that was loaded with all the goodies. Had Stephanie as my server and she was terrific which made the meal even better. If you haven't tried this place you are missing out. By the way their Happy Hour is very good also.

I recently brought a very special guest to Sophia's for their first visit, and from start to…read morefinish, the experience exceeded every expectation. We were greeted warmly upon arrival and swiftly escorted to our table, which offered a lovely view of the bar area and a musician playing genuinely cool, soulful music. The energy in the room was vibrant, welcoming, and effortlessly chic -- the kind of atmosphere that immediately lets you know you're somewhere special. Our server, Lizzie, was an absolute standout. She was warm, welcoming, and incredibly knowledgeable, with such a bright and genuine spirit. Her guidance through the menu was thoughtful and spot-on, and she truly elevated the entire dining experience. We began with the specialty oysters and the tuna poke. The tuna was clearly sushi-grade and incredibly fresh, served with house-made wonton chips that were nothing short of outstanding. The oysters were beautifully presented and came with a phenomenal variety of accompaniments that complemented them perfectly. For entrées, we chose the sweet potato-crusted grouper with truffle fries and plantains, as well as the crusted snapper served with mashed potatoes and asparagus. Both dishes were expertly prepared, flavorful, and beautifully plated. I must also note that the portion size of the fresh Florida fish was incredibly generous -- easily enough to feed two people, which was a wonderful surprise and tremendous value. We also requested a customized margarita, and the bartender nailed it -- perfectly balanced and exactly what we had in mind. From the ambiance to the service, cocktails, and exceptional food, Sophia's delivered a truly memorable dining experience. We left impressed, happy, and already planning our return. This is a gem in Hobe Sound, and we will absolutely be back.

We had a great time at the botanical gardens. It's very peaceful and relaxing being surrounded by…read moresuch beautiful plants. It was free to get in so we gave a donation. It's so important for places like this to exist and get funding. It looks like you can have an event here. They also have different events and provide a lot of information about the plants they have such as where they are native to and the history. They also had a great gift shop with lots of ecofriendly useful gifts for all ages.

We stopped by at the tail end of our honeymoon while visiting family, and volunteer Rick was super…read morenice to talk to. He explained the gardens and gave us a map for us to navigate our way around. Beautiful and nicely kept botanical gardens. We came on a Tuesday and it was nice and quiet with maybe a small handful of other people also visiting. It was a pleasant walk around the grounds, talking in the Floridian sunshine and beauty of the gardens. It's not a large garden but it's still very worth a visit in my opinion!

Went to brunch with friends who recently moved to Stuart, and this was such a great find for their…read morenew go-to spot. From the moment we walked in, the staff was incredibly friendly and attentive. They had our table ready quickly, and we didn't even need a reservation for our party of seven, which was a nice surprise. The menu had a wide variety of craft cocktails, along with delicious appetizers, and everyone at the table loved their meals. It was one of those brunches where everything just hits right--great food, great service, and a relaxed atmosphere.

When is La Grande not so Grande?…read more Been wanting to visit this classic restaurant in historic downtown Stuart since my move to Stuart. Tucked in the old Post Office Arcade building, its partially hidden walkway leading to the restaurant only adds to what lies ahead. As you enter you step into a world that speaks to a time of classic old world elegance. Antiques, elegant draping window coverings and a beautiful fountain at its center, this restaurant brings to mind what a dining experience was like in the nineteenth century. Unfortunately, the service and food sadly do not match the exquisite ambience. SERVICE : The service, or should I say lack of service was evident from our first step in the door. We waited for several minutes before anyone noticed we were standing there waiting. Once noticed, we explained that we had a 7 pm reservation which the hostess of course could not find. She scanned the restaurant (which was empty at the time) and told us she would see if she could find us a table. After several minutes we finally were seated. Another 15 minutes past before someone walked past and asked if we had been taken care of, which of course we had not. He assured us that he would get someone as soon as possible, which added another 10 minutes to our already extended wait. Eventually our "server" showed up. You'll note that I put the word server in quotes because this person was anything but a server. So as not to bore you with specifics, let's just say I have a problem calling someone a "server" who is totally incapable of serving! A person who doesn't understand "medium rare", who misses several ordered sides and charges us for dishes we never received clearly doesn't deserve the term "server". THE FOOD: There were three people in our party. For appetisers, we ordered the Martier Escargot which had a bitter taste because of the burned butter, the Blueberry Brie Crostini, which turned out to be the best dish of the evening was outstanding, and the potato goat cheese puffs were light and delightful. For our entree's, we ordered the Cedar Plank Salmon which was overcooked, dry and tasteless, the New Zealand Lamb Chasseur which was fine except for the missing asparagus (which our server assured us he would get back out and immediately forgot) and finally the 12 oz Prime New York Strip which was cooked well done instead of the medium rare requested. I do need to mention that the garlic risotto was fantastic, creamy and tasty. Unfortunately, we had to enjoy it at home as our server didn't bring it until we were completely done with our meals! As far as desserts go, after our 1 1/2 hour stay, we decided to forego any additional pain and accordingly skipped dessert. Finding our server throughout the night was a challenge of hide and seek and this includes getting our final bill which, as mentioned above, took three trips to get right! The Ambiance: This is an absolutely beautiful restaurant that cries for matching service and a creative efficient kitchen that produces dishes that represent their grand names. THE BOTTOM LINE: As with all my reviews, we come to what I like to call the "customer so what". Would I come back? The answer... as a walk through to see what elegant dining looked like in the 19th century... absolutely! Perhaps you could sit at the bar and enjoy a Manhattan but, to dine? The offerings, as mentioned, were a mixed bag but unless you're into the pain of some of the worst service you'll ever experience, absolutely not!

We went as a group of approximately 42 ladies from our community. We had a tour of the farms and…read morethen a superb lunch. The owner lady, Diane, was marvelous in telling us all about her clean farming methods, companion crop planting, good stewardship of the earth, how she came to have this 40 (?) acre farm. The tour was very interesting and tasty, as she let us try the different greens that are grown there. After the tour, we settled down for a delightful lunch prepared by the chef from a nearby restaurant named Ellies Cafe (?). Started with Butternut squash soup, which I am not usually a fan of any squash soups, but it was great, served with a freshly baked crouton. Then we had a chicken breast with a wonderful sauce, and a bean salad, broccolini salad that was superb, and a tossed mixed green salad with watermelon radish. It was all so good, that I had to clean my plate... absolutely had to. After that, we were treated to a dessert of a 2 layer cake made with fresh raspberries and strawberries and a whip cream like frosting. All the components of our lunch (except maybe the chicken, I think) were grown at KaiKai Farms. Before we left, we had a chance to purchase some fresh produce and local honey that they also have. I prepared the broccolini the next night and it was marvelous. The drive out to KaiKai is not too bad, I actually arrived there in less time than I thought. They have a farmers market every Saturday from 8:30 am until 1:30 pm. Definitely check out their website or facebook page as they have chef curated dinners (from local restaurants) scheduled that I am sure are well worth the drive. You can also have events like weddings and parties there. I will definitely go back.

The demonstration and food was amazing. The chef from Chefs Table in Stuart is phenomenal. We will…read moredefinitely go there for dinner. The setting and service at Kai Kai farms was wonderful. We would definitely go back there as well

We decided to check this short harbor cruise out as it looked like a lot of fun with the tiki vibe…read moreand we were not disappointed! The meet up place was easy to find, and the staff was very friendly and welcoming. We only had 10 people on our cruise so it took the smaller of the two boats which I don't think made much difference for the overall experience, but was nice to have the smaller group of 10. The tour went by the lighthouse and north of the inland waterway past Jupiter Island, with our helpful captain, pointing out many of the celebrity homes along the way. It was a lovely way to spend a couple hours on the water and the all you can drink beers and seltzers didn't hurt, lol! Please note if the tour you've signed up for doesn't have at least six people you will be moved to another tour, which is what happened to us and we didn't realize we were only getting a two hour tour when we had paid for a three hour tour until it had already started. Seems like there was a little bit of disconnect in the information sharing, but we still had an excellent experience and would definitely come again when visiting the area.

Excellent evening boat excursion up the inlet waterway. A group of us brought snacks and enjoyed…read morethe complimentary drinks. The crew was friendly and very helpful throughout the cruise. This is a great idea for taking the out of towers friends and family. If you have a big enough group of people, the price isn't so bad. If you have a smaller group I would suggest getting the individual tickets. It was a fun day in the water.