Things to Do in Fort Pierce, FL: A Simple Local Guide

"There is plenty to do in Fort Pierce, and most of it sits on or near the water. You can walk a historic downtown, visit a museum about the Navy SEALs, surf or kayak at a state park, watch boats at the city marina, and eat seafood by the inlet. This guide covers the best things to do in Fort Pierce, FL, in plain words.

The people who live at Creekside, a new townhome community at 8100 Cobblestone Dr., will have all of this as their home town. If you are still choosing where to live, this list shows what daily life here can look like. You can read more about the homes on the Creekside community page.

Downtown Fort Pierce waterfront with shops and the river walk.png

Start with downtown Fort Pierce

Downtown is the best first stop. Visit St. Lucie, the county's tourism office, calls it a walkable waterfront district. It says the area has historic buildings, locally owned shops, art galleries and colorful murals.

Plan on a slow afternoon. Walk the river walk. Look at the murals. Step into a few shops. Then sit down for a meal. We wrote a full guide to downtown Fort Pierce if you want street names and building names.

The Sunrise Theatre is on 2nd Street. Visit St. Lucie says it first opened in 1902. Today it hosts concerts, comedy and touring shows. Check the theater's own schedule before you go, because shows change every month.

Visit the Navy SEAL Museum

Fort Pierce has a strong link to the Navy SEALs. Visit St. Lucie says the SEALs began training here during World War II. The National Navy SEAL Museum tells that story. You can find hours and tickets on the museum's own website.

The museum sits next to Pepper Park, which is a beach and a park on North Hutchinson Island. So you can see the museum and then walk over to the sand. That makes it an easy half day for a family.

Spend a day at a beach

Fort Pierce has more than one beach, and they do not all feel the same. Some have lifeguards. One welcomes dogs. One is known for surfing. We wrote a whole post on Fort Pierce beaches so you can pick the right one.

In short, here is how Visit St. Lucie describes a few of them:

Fort Pierce Inlet State Park is known for surfing, tide pools and a kayak launch on the calm south side of the park.
Walton Rocks Beach is pet friendly and known for seashells.
Waveland Beach is family friendly and has a lifeguard.
Pepper Park has a playground and is next to the Navy SEAL Museum.

Always check the park's own page for hours and fees before you go. Those can change.

Watch the boats at the city marina

The Fort Pierce City Marina is in historic downtown. The city says it is publicly owned and open to the public. It has been open since 1937. You do not need a boat to enjoy it. You can see the boats, read about the marina and have lunch nearby.

If you want to know more, read our Fort Pierce marina guide. It explains what the marina is, who uses it and how to find the official marina page.

Boats tied up at the Fort Pierce City Marina in downtown Fort Pierce.png

Go to a farmers market

Downtown Fort Pierce has a farmers market. Visit St. Lucie lists it on its events pages. Days and times can change by season. So check the Visit St. Lucie listing before you head out.

A market is a good way to meet people who live here. It is also a good place to try local food.

Eat by the water

Fort Pierce is known for seafood. Many restaurants sit by the inlet or the marina. Visit St. Lucie keeps a Top 10 list based on TripAdvisor reviews. We walk through it in our post on the best restaurants in Fort Pierce, FL.

Restaurants change owners, menus and hours. Call or check the restaurant's page before you go.

Try the water yourself

The city's marina page calls the Fort Pierce Inlet the best all-weather inlet on the East Coast. It also says the inlet and the Indian River Lagoon give easy access to the Atlantic Ocean. It lists day trips, diving, snorkeling, kayaking and fishing.

You do not have to own a boat to try it. Many visitors take a tour or book a guide. Visit St. Lucie has a page on water tours that is a good place to start.

Art and history

Downtown has a monthly Art Walk, says Visit St. Lucie. It also says seven of the fourteen places and districts on the National Register of Historic Places in the area are in downtown Fort Pierce. Two of the buildings it names are Old City Hall, built in 1925, and the P. P. Cobb Building.

If you like history, plan an hour to walk past these. They are on the main streets, and you can see them from the sidewalk.

A simple Saturday plan

Not sure how to put it together? Here is one easy way to spend a day, using places named in this post.

Morning: Go to the farmers market if it is running that day. Check the listing first.
Midday: Walk the downtown waterfront and see the murals. Stop for lunch.
Afternoon: Go to a beach. Pick one with a lifeguard if you have kids.
Evening: Eat seafood by the water, or catch a show at the Sunrise Theatre.

You do not have to do it all. Fort Pierce works best when you pick one or two things and take your time. That is part of why people like living here.

If you are comparing Fort Pierce with other cities, keep a short list of what matters most to you. Write down the three things you would do every week. Then check that your new home makes those three things easy. That one habit saves many buyers from a bad fit.

How this fits a move to Creekside

A long list of fun things is nice. But a home has to work on a Tuesday, not just on a weekend. So think about what you will really do each week. Will you walk downtown? Will you go to the beach on Saturdays? Will you meet friends for dinner?

Creekside is a townhome community with two floor plans, the Pearson End Unit and the Pearson Interior Unit. Both have three bedrooms and two and a half baths. The builder lists a club house, pool, fitness center, pickleball and a tot lot as community amenities. Opening dates for those are not published, so call us and we will find out where things stand.

If you want to know how the two plans differ, read our Pearson End Unit and Interior Unit comparison. If you are weighing the whole city, see living in Fort Pierce, FL.

Common Questions

What are the best things to do in Fort Pierce, FL?

Walk downtown, visit the Navy SEAL Museum, spend a day at a beach, watch boats at the city marina, and try a local seafood restaurant. Most of these are on or near the water.

Is Fort Pierce good for families?

Many families enjoy it. Waveland Beach has a lifeguard, Pepper Park has a playground, and downtown has markets and events. Always check each place's own page for hours and rules.

Do I need a boat to enjoy Fort Pierce?

No. You can walk the downtown waterfront, eat by the water, and visit the beaches without a boat. If you want to be on the water, tours and guides are available.

Is there a farmers market in downtown Fort Pierce?

Yes. Visit St. Lucie lists a downtown farmers market. Days and times can change, so check its listing before you go.

Are there new homes in Fort Pierce?

Yes. Creekside is a new townhome community at 8100 Cobblestone Dr. by D.R. Horton. It has two floor plans. Call 561-704-0091 to ask about today's options.

Do the things to do change through the year?

Yes. Events, hours and market days can change. Use the links in this post to check the official page before you plan a trip.

Want to see Creekside and ask about the area? Call Simon Karim at 561-704-0091 or schedule a Creekside visit.