We had family visiting for the holidays and this was one of our top activities. Captain Nancy is so…read moreknowledgeable about the area and all the various life in this wonderful area. We had a great tour out to the island and then parked for a bit to watch the birds come in. She provided us with water, wine, cheese, crackers, fruit and shrimp. We also had the opportunity to feed the catfish and seagulls

Captain Nancy is Awesome!! She's incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about the aquaculture and…read moremarine life, and you will learn a ton about the history, current status, and potential future of Manatee Pocket and the Indian River Lagoon. Such a great captain and host, she introduced us to her friends on Bird Island and served us great sandwiches. Highest recommendation!!

Visited Cuba through this tour company and couldn't have been more pleased. Cuba is beautiful. We…read morewent on tour with Chris and he made it effortless, ate at good restaurants, hotel was excellent and clean, helped us at customs so everything went smooth. Itinerarys was perfect that he custom made for us.. I would highly recommend USA Cuba tours to visit this beautiful island with Chris... You won't be disappointed!

From the owner: We specialize in providing legal travel and tours to Cuba for US citizens…read more Usa-Cuba Tours makes Cuba travel easy, since we do all the heavy lifting for you. Our tour members are treated as honored and respected guest while on one of our many tours. Our tour members believe that Cuba is the most beautiful island in the world. One glimpse the natural beauty of this tropical paradise and you'll never dream about another place. Your mind will be occupied by the accumulated feelings and impressions of this amazing island. The magic in Cuba is everywhere - it can be seen and even heard. You can feel it in the food and drink, architecture, and in the smiles of the local people. Come Join Us!

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!

Wonderful exhibits. Knowledgeable volunteers. Animals are very healthy. Great value.read more

What a lovely, little museum. There are 3 buildings, the entrance with gift shop, a side building…read morewith video, and the house of refuge itself, all surrounded by a lovely, well kept garden. Al, the volunteer guide, was great. Gave us lots of background information, then let us free to see the museum ourselves. The displays are lovely, filled with objects and lots of history. Make sure you go to the "immersive" exhibit in the lower level. An amazing artwork.

The house of refuge is one of Stuarts most historical sites! The House of Refuge near Gilbert's…read moreBar, in Stuart Florida, is the oldest structure in Martin County. It's the only remaining House of Refuge of the original ten built by the U.S. government along the Florida coast in the late 1800s to shelter shipwrecked sailors and travelers. These houses provided food, shelter, and assistance to those stranded due to storms or other maritime disasters. The Gilbert's Bar House of Refuge played a crucial role in saving lives during a time when shipwrecks were common along the treacherous Florida coastline.

This museum is a labor of love. It is chock full of everything someone collected at some time and…read moretells many stories about the area. We were greeted warmly and let to go on our own through the rooms filled with so much stuff. I especially liked the Seminole corner, though their definition of the term Seminole is incorrect.

A fun and informative look back on the history of Stuart and Jenson Beach. I particularly loved…read morethe photos and books on Trapper Nelson. Enthusiastic tour guides greet you and lead you through the exhibits. There are photos, maps, and realia that explore local history. There is a free coffee every week for seniors.

I have been part of a group of seven travelers trying to resolve a dispute with Big Five Tours &…read moreExpeditions.  In reading past reviews it appears the company performs well when all goes well.  However, when confronted with an out of the ordinary challenge, a test on just how good a business is, Big Five FAILED. Our group of 13 had planned a major trip to Morocco in October 2023.  Then on October 7, 2023 Hamas attacked Israel and many of us were reluctant to travel due to unrest in the region, plus the State Department issued an alert to US citizens traveling abroad to take caution. Here is how Big Five FAILED.  Owner, Ashish Sanghrajka discussed the concerns with the group.  The discussion was held via Zoom and was recorded.  Mr. Sanghrajka said those hesitant to travel could POSTPONE, not cancel, the trip provided we re-book within twelve months and with the understanding costs such as pre-paid fees and taxes would not be recovered.  Our group of 13 considered the proposal a win-win and most accommodating.  We thought this must be an example of the premium service one could expect from a Virtuoso advisor and we were elated.  Big Five is a member of Virtuoso, a global network of luxury travel advisers that prides itself on quality and premium customer service. In the end, 6 people took the trip as scheduled and 7 postponed with plans to reschedule.  Five months later those of us who postponed worked with Big Five to create a new itinerary for a trip this month (October 2024).  At that time Big Five told us each person would receive a $1,142 credit toward the new booking, far less than any of us envisioned.  We paid approximately $8,000 per person and we did expect to lose some of the money, but not 86%.  Requests for an accounting of where the funds went were unanswered and an effort to resolve the dispute led to Big Five advising they would no longer rebook the trip and ended our business relationship. Owner Ashish Sanghrajka now says we canceled the trip and forfeited all the money, which is NOT true.  HE offered us the opportunity to POSTPONE, that was his idea. We have him recorded on Zoom making this offer. Now he is denying he made the offer and saying that we canceled and are not entitled to a refund. We are a group of senior, seasoned, savvy international travelers: some lawyers, some law enforcement officers, some business owners, artists and photographers, all of whom took him at his word.  Big Five still owes our group of 7 much of the $56,000. Use Big Five at your own great financial peril.

What a great safari tour operator. Our trip was perfection! I would definitely recommend them.read more

The Port St. Lucie Museum and History Center opened to the public yesterday. It is part of the…read morebrand new Port District which has a new playground in Pioneer Park, and will soon have an outdoor stage and event space, tiki bar, beer house. pizzeria, taqueria, cafe, fire pit, waterfront restaurant, hiking trails through the conservation tract in the southern portion of The Port District , and the boardwalk along the St. Lucie River will extend under the Port St. Lucie Blvd. bridge adding 3,300 feet of pedestrian walkway along the river. The Port St. Lucie Botanical Gardens are next door. The Port St. Lucie Historical Society is now operating out of two historic houses have been moved to the property, the Peacock House, built in 1917, and the Peacock Lodge, built in 1952. The Peacock House was owned by Oliver L. Peacock Sr. and his namesake son, known as Sonny. They are among the founding fathers credited with the creation of Port St. Lucie. The Peacock family owned a 4,614-acre ranch in St. Lucie West. In 1968 the house was moved to the family's ranch on Glades Cut Off Road in Port St. Lucie and placed next to the hunting lodge that was built on the property in 1952. By 2006 the Peacock house was abandoned and in 2015 the Hunting Lodge was being used for storage. The city was about to demolish the buildings when the historical society stepped in and had them moved to their current location. In 2019 both buildings were given new foundations, roofs, and fresh coats of paint. In 2022 the Port St. Lucie Historical Society began renovations on the hunting lodge to turn it into a town museum. The Peacock Lodge has two rooms of exhibits on the history of Port St. Lucie, a meeting room, and a kitchen. I have been watching the restoration progress on these buildings over the past 5 years and it was wonderful to step inside the hunting lodge and see how beautifully it has been restored. There is no admission fee to visit but there is a donation box if you can contribute. I was even gifted a copy of "Port St. Lucie at 50: A City for All People" History Book written by by Nina Baranski and produced by the Port St. Lucie Historical Society. The PSL is hosting a dinner on October 16 at the Santa Lucia River Club. Tickets are available online. If you visit Pioneer Park or the Port St. Lucie Botanical Gardens stop by the new museum and support the Port St. Lucie Historical Society.

I love history and going to museums and this one is one of the best I've been to. Started coming…read morehere years ago on my first trip to this area and have been a big supporter ever since. Their car collection is really cool, especially and how they manage it with the automated machine. A perfect way to spend some time outside of the beach when you're in the Stuart area.

I had an amazing experience with my toddler at this museum. It's small but has plenty of little…read morefinds waiting to be discovered. Climbing aboard "Rusty" ( the yellow bus) was my son's favorite thing to do. He truly thought he was driving it and enjoyed playing there. They have a coloring table and some things to play with for little kids to keep things interesting and enjoyable. Depending on when you visit they have different exhibits that rotate throughout the year. It was great to see all the cars they have ( just remember if you have little kids, they can take pictures but not touch the cars). Overall not a bad way to spend a few hours, go out and explore what Stuart/Jenses has to offer and not break the bank. Will come back again.

Awesome way to see the St. Lucie River and its inhabitants--gators! Captain Rick is a hoot, and…read moreobviously very knowledgeable about the river and the flora and fauna of the area. He was fun, an excellent boat-handler, and shared lots of stories and info with us. Thoroughly enjoyed our adventure and saw about 15 gators, many herons and other birds, and even some turtles. I will definitely do this again.

Ricky is great. Best airboat ride in Fort Pierce area. Reasonably priced and well worth the…read moreadventure.