{"id":1708,"date":"2013-09-19T19:43:35","date_gmt":"2013-09-19T23:43:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/students.com.miami.edu\/~travelwriting\/?page_id=1708"},"modified":"2013-09-19T19:45:33","modified_gmt":"2013-09-19T23:45:33","slug":"martin-countys-stuart-offers-break-from-floridas-big-city-bustle","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/students.com.miami.edu\/travelwriting\/?page_id=1708","title":{"rendered":"Martin County’s Stuart offers visitors alternative to Florida’s big-city bustle"},"content":{"rendered":"

Posted September 19, 2013<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

By RIANNA HIDALGO<\/p>\n

STUART, Fla. \u2014 Jeff Hinkley lives in Stuart not because it was his dream home, nor because he wanted to be close to relatives or follow the trail of a promising career. He lives in Stuart because one day in March 1989, his truck overheated driving up the coast of Florida.<\/p>\n

But what he found in Stuart \u2014 roughly two hours north of Miami in Martin County \u2014 was more than an unfortunate rest stop. He found a quaint, coastal town with easy access to water and sunny beaches. He found officials dedicated to keeping growth in check and high-rises off the shore. He found green parks and a friendly, laid back vibe.<\/p>\n

He also found his new home.<\/p>\n

Hinkley is still here 24 years later, selling shimmering copper art at the weekly Green Market downtown.<\/p>\n

\u201cCall it coincidence or call it fate,\u201d he said as reggae music pulsed from the corner booth. \u201cWe weren\u2019t really considering living in Stuart at all. We were just lucky.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Residents aren’t the only ones who can take advantage of Stuart\u2019s old-town charm.<\/p>\n

While it might not be the first place that comes to mind for a weekend getaway, anyone looking to escape the fast-paced, honk-ridden life of Miami might findthat visiting Stuart is like taking a deep breath.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen you\u2019ve lived in a big city your whole life and you come here, it\u2019s almost like Nirvana,\u201d said Karen Sandler, a resident of Stuart. \u201cIt\u2019s just beautiful. It\u2019s easy living.\u201d<\/p>\n

A town of roughly 16,000, Stuart is known as \u201cThe Sailfish Capital of the World,\u201d which is reflected in an 18-foot bronze statue of a sailfish leaping toward the sky.<\/p>\n

A slogan or a statue, however, doesn\u2019t quite capture the essence of Stuart. For visitors to really get a feel for it, taking a stroll through the streets of historic downtown is vital.<\/p>\n

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Blue and white sail shades cover the RiverWalk Stage, where residents sometimes gather to hear live music (Photo by Rianna Hidalgo).<\/p><\/div>\n

An ideal time to go is during the weekly Sunday morning Green Market, where people can\u00a0stock up on produce, artwork and food from friendly vendors.<\/p>\n

October through May,\u00a0they can head straight to the live local bands performing on the RiverWalk Stage, an outdoor concert venue that sits on St. Lucie River.<\/p>\n

From there, a slew of restaurants are just steps away, including Spoto\u2019s Oyster Bar.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are blessed with wonderful restaurants right on the water,\u201d said Joe Catrambone, president of the Stuart Chamber of Commerce. “People love to dine out and see the boats and the river.”<\/p>\n

Just a couple blocks inland, Osceola Street is lined with locally owned shops that embody Stuart\u2019s homey character. There are upscale art galleries and chic boutiques, but there are also quirky, popular stops like Earthtones, described by employee Rose Ingolia as a \u201creally cool eclectic hippie store.\u201d<\/p>\n

The familiar reds, greens and yellows of Bob Marley paraphernalia deck the walls, while chair hammocks and alarmingly large wind chimes descend from the ceiling.<\/p>\n

For entertainment, The Lyric Theatre on Flagler Avenue was once a silent movie house that now offers an eclectic array of live theater, concerts and movie screenings.<\/p>\n

LuAnn Bolnick, who has lived in Stuart for 30 years, also suggested walking through downtown in the evening.<\/p>\n

“It’s a nice place to people watch,” she said.<\/p>\n

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The Roosevelt Bridge casts a beautiful glow in downtown Stuart at night (Photo by Rianna Hidalgo).<\/p><\/div>\n

At night along the river, the Roosevelt Bridge and boardwalk are lit up with a soft, golden glow.<\/p>\n

Live music from restaurants and bars like Sailor\u2019s Return waft to the river, a convenient accompaniment to a romantic walk.<\/p>\n

Another night spot is Terra Fermata, a fairly new Tiki bar and beer garden reminiscent of a backyard party, only with more creative lighting and a live band almost every night.<\/p>\n

For those who\u2019ve grown acclimated to South Beach, seeing such a diverse mix of ages and people might be surprising. On one recent Saturday night, older couples got groovy on the dance floor, young adults hung out by the bar and children played bean bag toss in the corner.<\/p>\n

\u201cEven if you don\u2019t drink, go to Terra Fermata and check it out,\u201d Ingolia said. \u201cIt\u2019s just a really fun place to hang out.\u201d<\/p>\n

One could easily spend a whole day downtown, but with two rivers and the Atlantic Ocean nearby, visitors itching to get off the land and into the water have a surplus of opportunities. Catrambone said Stuart is a \u201chaven\u201d for anyone who likes diving, sailing, fishing or boating.<\/p>\n

A traditional wooden schooner named Lily sets sail from the Riverwalk Pier downtown three times a day, and there are plenty of places to rent kayaks and other outdoor gear. Bicycling and golfing are also very popular.<\/p>\n

To venture beyond Stuart for a taste of celebrity history \u2014 and seafood \u2014 visitors can go to Dolphin Bar and Shrimp House on Jensen Beach, which was once the famed resort owned by movie star Frances Langford.<\/p>\n

To take an additional step back in time, there\u2019s the House of Refuge, the oldest building in Martin County, where shipwrecked sailors found safety.<\/p>\n

The Elliot Museum is worth visiting whether one is interested in Stuart history or not. It has everything from an expansive collection of signed baseball items to 55 Model A trucks that move from a three-story stacking system onto a viewing turntable when the visitor selects one.<\/p>\n

The idea of robotically stacked vintage cars might get a few hearts racing, but all in all, Stuart is a place of relaxation and escape from the modern, fast-paced world of fast food and tall buildings. You won\u2019t find either in Stuart.<\/p>\n

\u201cIts serenity,\u201d Catrambone said. \u201cIf you want to just chill out, this is the place.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hinkley, for his part, may have stumbled across Stuart by chance, but staying here is no accident.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve done just enough traveling around that I\u2019ve realized, Stuart is a really nice place to come back to.\u201d<\/p>\n

IF YOU GO<\/strong><\/p>\n

Where to stay<\/strong><\/p>\n