The Sunshine State is not short of enticing destinations, but one small town has been quietly racking up the accolades while remaining firmly under the radar.
But the gem of the Treasure Coast is starting to shine more brightly after it was named the best coastal small town in America.
Stuart in Martin County has long been known to sea anglers for the wealth of sailfish in the rich waters off the St Lucie River.
But the town’s 18,000 souls look likely to see their numbers swell as word spreads of its landlocked attractions.
‘Most residents would say that living in Stuart, Florida, feels like a continuous vacation,’ noted Treasure Coast MLS Search.
The town is oldest and perhaps best-known claim to fame is as the ‘Sailfish capital of America’ dating back to 1938 and acting as a magnet for generations of sea-anglers
But its long-overlooked landlocked attractions are finally starting to surface
The town is oldest and perhaps best-known claim to fame is as the ‘Sailfish capital of America’ dating back to 1938 when a group of sports reporters were invited to a fishing trip where more than 1,000 of the creatures were landed.
‘In the 1940s and ’50s, this was as prolific a spot for sailfish as there was in the world,’ Captain VJ Bell told Florida Travel & Life.
‘And we still have days here that’ll rival fishing anywhere, with stretches where you might catch double digits of sailfish for days.’
Visit Florida has more recently dubbed it ‘America’s Happiest Seaside Town’, but it was its designation as the best coastal small town in America earlier this year by USA Today that has shoved it into the spotlight.
Stuart beat off competition from the likes of Pismo Beach, California, Saugatuck in Michigan and Newport, Rhode Island, by offering a ‘calm and charm that is hard to find in more heavily populated areas’.
‘When I think of Stuart, the first thing that comes to mind is the abundance of water,’ said local realtor Maria Wells.
‘Stuart offers breathtaking natural beauty with its pristine beaches, scenic waterways, and lush vegetation.’
Eight separate beaches and the Sailfish Splash Waterpark add to the appeal along with what Discover Martin County boasts is ‘the most biodiverse estuary in the Northern Hemisphere’.
The Banyan Tree Tunnel in St Lucie Blvd provides an unparalleled journey to work for some
The Stuart Heritage Museum illustrates a town history stretching back to Spanish pirate ships
The town has fewer than 20,000 inhabitants but house buyers are increasingly taking interest
The city’s river walk offers views of the beach for those who prefer to keep their feet dry
One hundred artificial reefs create a habitat for more than 800 species of fish to ensure that the sailfish do not have things all their own way.
And the abundance of aquatic wildlife makes the town a fitting home for the Florida Oceanographic Coastal Center which has been educating visitors about the riches of the reefs since 1964.
The city’s elevated river walk offers views of the beach for those who prefer to keep their feet dry and the Lyric Theatre, the Stuart Heritage Museum and the Elliott Museum are part of a thriving cultural scene.
Country music star Jason Aldean made headlines when he paid $10.2 million for an oceanfront mansion in the Galleon Bay neighborhood in 2022.
But most homes remain a little more affordable with an average price of $406,128, according to Zillow, up 1.5 percent in the last year.
And reviews on the website bestplaces.net seem to back up the plaudits.
‘This town still has that ‘small-town’ feel, low crime and good schools,’ wrote one.
‘A great place for kids to grown up. Low taxes and are property values are finally recovering.’
‘Stuart is a place to visit when you want to relax and enjoy yourself without a horde of people to deal with,’ wrote another. ‘If that is what you are looking for, I guarantee you won’t be disappointed.
The Sailfish Splash Waterpark is one of the town’s top family attractions
The town’s St Lucie River is hailed as ‘the most biodiverse estuary in the Northern Hemisphere’
The average home price now stands at $406,128, according to Zillow, up 1.5% in the last year
‘Sweet place to live,’ concluded a third.
‘Most of our neighbors and us get together always informally to sit on each others patios and chat.
‘The children all play together and are free to do so as long as they stay on our street. Its great.
‘Too many odd bugs and scary poison frogs, but still is good.’