Things to Do in Stuart and Port Salerno
A walkable river downtown and an old fishing village on the Manatee Pocket.
See top-rated activities »About Stuart
Stuart grew up as a railroad and fishing town on a bend of the St. Lucie River, and its downtown still faces the water. Flagler Avenue and Osceola Street hold most of the restaurants, galleries and shops in restored buildings from the early 1900s, and the riverwalk boardwalk links them to the waterfront park and its view of the Roosevelt Bridge. Evenings are the best time to visit, when the sidewalk tables fill and the city’s seasonal concert series brings live music to the riverfront.
Two small institutions anchor the old downtown. The Lyric Theatre, built in 1926, is a restored stage that books concerts, comedy and touring shows through most of the year. The Stuart Heritage Museum, in an old feed store a short walk away, packs the town’s pioneer, railroad and fishing history into a free museum run by volunteers who often grew up in the stories they tell.
South of downtown, Port Salerno wraps around the Manatee Pocket, a protected harbor near the St. Lucie Inlet that has sheltered commercial fishing boats for more than a century. Today its docks are lined with seafood restaurants, marinas and charter boats, and it is the departure point for many fishing and sandbar trips. Boaters also use it to reach St. Lucie Inlet Preserve State Park, a barrier-island beach best reached by water.
For families, Sailfish Splash Waterpark, run by the county in Stuart, has slides and pools during its warm-weather season. Halpatiokee Regional Park, the county’s largest, combines ball fields with hundreds of acres of wetland preserve and miles of frontage on the South Fork of the St. Lucie River, with trails for hiking and mountain biking. Paddlers can launch from the park into the river’s quiet South Fork, where cypress, oaks and the occasional alligator line the banks, a very different scene from the busy downtown waterfront only a few miles away.
Don’t Miss
Restored early 1900s streets of restaurants and shops beside a boardwalk on the St. Lucie River, with events from Stuart Main Street.
A 1926 theater on Flagler Avenue, restored as a performing arts venue with a season that runs most of the year.
Free local history museum in the old Stuart Feed Supply building, full of pioneer and fishing-era artifacts.
A working harbor near the inlet with seafood restaurants, marinas and fishing charters.
The county’s largest park, with wetland trails, mountain biking and miles of South Fork river frontage.
A county-run waterpark with slides and a lazy river, open seasonally in the warmer months.
An undeveloped barrier-island beach at the inlet, a favorite destination for boaters and paddlers.
Top-Rated Tours, Tickets & Activities in Stuart
Viator
ViatorTours, tickets, prices and reviews from Viator (a Tripadvisor company) and Tiqets — prices are per person, from, and were checked October 27, 2026. Best of Martin County may earn a commission when you book, at no extra cost to you.
Plan your time in Stuart
Tell us when you are coming and what you enjoy. A travel specialist will put together hotel, activity and travel options for you — free, with no obligation.
Get free trip quotes »Stuart — FAQ
Is downtown Stuart walkable?
Yes. The historic blocks along Flagler Avenue and Osceola Street, the riverwalk and the waterfront park are all within a few minutes’ walk of each other, with public parking garages and lots nearby.
Where do fishing charters leave from in Stuart?
Most leave from marinas on the St. Lucie River and from the Manatee Pocket in Port Salerno, which is closest to the inlet and the ocean.
More of Martin County
