Yikes! I'm living in Stuart over 2 years & this was the first time I was diverted to this crazy…read moreroundabout due to road closures, & yes - was thoroughly confused & highly intimidated by that railroad track being in the heart of it all! My IMAP stopped talking and if matters weren't bad enough, (when I decided which exit to follow after my brain finally unscrambled) some jerk started honking madly as I carefully drove straight ahead to reach US 1..It was unnerving at first but worth the adrenaline rush once I calmed down & laughed it off. Realistically though- future navigators -- please pay close attention to & avoid that RR track and ignore those nasty honkers!

What makes Confusion Corner in historic downtown Stuart Florida so confusing? It is the eight…read moreroads! that come together in one intersection. Hold your breath and say a prayer as you attempt to make it safely through Flagler Avenue, East Ocean, West Ocean Blvd, Colorado Avenue, A1A both North & South, and Dixie Highway where they join in a roundabout, creating a Stuart landmark. If that wasn't enough, throw a train track in there too. How do you know you are at Confusion Corner? Stand in front of the April Daze boutique and watch the show. You will know you are in the right spot as you watch the cars swing around and hear the horns honking. If you have driven in downtown Stuart, you have passed through Confusion Corner. This intersection is so famous that the legendary Charles Kuralt came to Stuart in 1979 to film an episode for his popular "On the Road" series. There is even a song about it on You Tube by Clifford Buckosh & Okeechobee Records and if you survive the drive you can purchase a T Shirt to commemorate it at Harbor Wear. Despite all the confusion, the only deadly accident to happen there took place in the 1940's. So buckle up that seatbelt, as you swing yourself around Stuart's Confusion Corner.

It's obvious that every source of electrical power generation has advantages and disadvantages, yet…read morethe generation of electricity remains one of the most controversial topics of our times. Whether these concerns are over global warming and its impact on the environment for future generations, the immediate risk and safety concerns of the surrounding communities or simply the cost justifications behind regulation or deregulation. There are groups on both sides of these arguments working tirelessly to justify their convictions for it or against it, but both sides can agree it's a vital part of our existence. In the case of nuclear power those advantages are both a clean and environmentally friendly method of electrical generation that's affordable, safe and reliable. The St. Lucie Power Plant located off of A1A on Hutchinson Island approximately 8 miles southeast of Fort Pierce, has been producing safe, reliable and low-cost electricity since 1976 when its first nuclear reactor was put online producing about 1 megawatt of electricity (1 megawatt = 1 million watts) of electricity -- enough power to supply the annual needs of more than 1 million homes. The second unit of equal size began operating in 1983 doubling the capacity of this generating station. This location was chosen because of its low-risk seismic zone, although St. Lucie is located in the lowest hazard zone for earthquakes according to the (USGS) this facility was constructed to withstand earthquakes and other natural events stronger than ever recorded in the region. The plant is elevated 20 feet above sea level to protect against flooding and extreme storm surges and successfully withstood the back- to-back impact of two hurricanes in 2004. This nuclear-power plant was built to withstand winds in excess of 195-mph and also the effects associated with these types of events with an abundances of redundant controls and emergency power supplies. This facility has been rated as one of the top performing U.S. nuclear power plants and has maintained a reasonable safety record since its commissioning. Although we would like to assume there are no inherent risk, in this industry it's more about how these risks are managed and the over-sight by a variety of agencies that fully understand the complexity of this technology and assumes responsibility to protect people and property. This plant is one of the many reasons Floridian's have some of the lowest cost per kilowatt hour in the country and a record of reliability that rivals more regions in the U.S. In order to educate the public this plant operates a visitor center, called the Energy Encounter, it allows visitors to experience interactive exhibits on electricity, nuclear energy and the environment and the admission is free it's open to the public Tuesdays & Thursdays 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. a visit here may put your mind at ease and certainly give you a better understanding of the demands facing the country's energy producers in today's world, who doesn't expect the lights to come on when we flick the switch, it's not magic you know it requires a never ending commitment by the men and women living in our community that work in this demanding industry to provide this service for all of us, the most privileged people on earth.

The energy center has lots of information and cool demonstration "toys"…read more The power plant provides clean energy in "bulks" compared to solar or wind energy.

I love historic abandoned buildings so I was so excited to find this amazing 1914 Catholic School…read moreon Orange Ave. in Ft. Pierce. The school was built by James P. McNichol, a senator from Philadelphia who used to come to Florida in the winter to fish. The school, a wood church, rectory, and convent were built to serve around 30 Catholic families in the area. A pastor rode into town once a month. McNichol's deceased wife was named Anastasia, so the school was named for St. Anastasia. The first pastor of the church was Father Rupert Gabriel. The high school remained in the building until the fall of 1965, when the last of the students moved to the new St. Anastasia High School. In 1978, the Miami Diocese sold the property for $120,000. The church, rectory, and convent buildings have since been demolished. Today only the school remains and it was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places on August 10,2000. The school suffered damage Hurricane Frances and Jeanne. In 2008 a new roof was added by REG Architects and Summit Construction of Vero Beach LLC. They were able to stabilize the building. New windows were added in 2014 on the buildings 100th anniversary. Some of them have since been smashed. Ft. Pierce is currently looking for someone to take over the property and perhaps turn it into some kind of center for the arts.

My two brothers and I went out with Captain Bill for the North Fork tour. Bill was absolutely…read moreamazing. From the first minute, we felt like he was an old friend taking us out on his boat. The pontoon boat itself was clean, obviously well-maintained, and the seats were luxuriously comfortable. The tour started by traveling north from Stuart, through the widest part of the St Lucie River. Capt Bill pointed out many points of interest on the shore and had tales to tell about some of the ships. As we neared Port St Lucie, the river narrowed and the scenery changed dramatically to gorgeous mangroves and still waters. Captain was quick to point out and talk about the variety of birds and trees and plants we were witnessing. He was also loaded with stories about the architecture and the people who owned it. It was a 2 hour tour, and it ended far too soon. This trip was the very best part of our week in Florida. And all for less than $100 per person. You can not go wrong. This is a touring company that focuses perfectly on friendly, individualized attention to providing for the customer. A+ experience.

Had our second cruise with captain Bill! Both were magical. Our cruise yesterday was an early…read moremorning (6:30AM) peaceful adventure with glassy waters and plenty of bird and nature watching. Bill is an excellent captain and very knowledgeable on the wildlife in the area. We will definitely cruise with him again.

The Moores Creek Bridge is a 46 foot long single span, concrete, historic bridge on North 2nd St…read more in Fort Pierce. It was built by the Luten Bridge Corporation of Palatka Fl in 1925. The concrete bridge replaced a wooden one that connected a residential neighborhood with downtown Ft. Pierce and the water front. It was refurbished in 1997 by the city of Ft. Pierce and the Florida Department of Transportation. The bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places on August 17, 2001. It has been nicknamed the tickle tummy bridge for the feeling you get in your stomach when going over it due to the high arch.

The Stuart Welcome Arch was commissioned in 1925 by the Stuart Chamber of Commerce to celebrate the…read morecreation of Martin County, with Stuart as the county seat. At the time Stuart envisioned themselves becoming even bigger than Miami. The arch was designed by Nat C. Hogdon of Pfeiffer and O'Reilly Architects, in the ornate Mediterranean Revival style that was typical during Florida's land boom years. The arch was built by A. L. Doenges and completed on February 20, 1926 at a site donated by the development of Stuart Shores. The arch was placed where Stuart's boundary on A1A met the southern limit of Jensen Beach. Businesses and individuals from both towns donated to a campaign that paid for the arch. It was conceived as a way to welcome the many motorists coming to winter in Florida on the main route to Miami. On the Stuart side the arch reads "Atlantic Gateway to the Gulf of Mexico" on the crossbeam which commemorated the 1923 opening of the cross-state Stuart to Ft. Myers canal. Great fishing on the St. Lucie River that was supposed to lure people was ruined when the state started used the canal to flush polluted overflow from Lake Okeechobee out to sea. "Jensen" appears on the south side of the arch's crossbeam. The chamber had originally planned to build gateways at both the northern and southern boundaries of Stuart but the bust of the land boom caused by hurricanes and the Great Depression prevented additional construction. During the Great Depression, the town of Jensen went bankrupt and was dissolved, while Stuart lost most of it's land north of the St. Lucie River resulting in the arch now being located in an unincorporated area of Martin County called Rio. After construction the arch was vandalized in the 1940's during WWII when the brass was stolen. A 1949 hurricane toppled the crossbeam, and a car accident destroyed the east tower in 1976. In 1977 the east tower was rebuilt and in 1994 it was painted hot pink. In 1998 the arch was again struck by a vehicle, this time a garbage truck that took out the replaced crossbeam. The arch was repaired with a new beam featuring "Welcome to Rio" on the south side and "Welcome to Jensen Beach" on the north side. On September 15, 2004 the arch was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. Stuart never lived up to the it's 1920's hype and the arch saw less travelers with the building of Route 1 and Interstate 95. Even so, in 2006 Martin County paid an architectural firm in Key West $235,000 to restore the beloved landmark to the way it originally looked. A dedication plaque was installed during this time. Although arches were popular with the advent of motor travel this is one of the last few to still remain. Drive under it and remember when it was the main artery for snowbirds flocking to South Florida for the winter.

A new bright star has opened on the Treasure Coast!…read more A beautiful historic building, built in 1909 and stunning from the outside. Open the door and you are transported back in time to a beautifully decorated parlor room with small booths and tables. The chef has carefully crafted a wonderful menu. We had 3 appetizers and 1 entree and shared a dessert. The soup de jour was a Tomato Purée, which was very good, the Cheddar Bacon Biscuits were delicious and the Truffle Caviar Deviled Eggs were amazing. Our entree was a 10 oz Wagyu Sirloin which was good, though a little tasteless. And the Crème Brûlée was outstanding. Service was excellent, prices are reasonable and the experience was fabulous. Upstairs there is a fabulous "Speak Easy" and the is also outside seating and a bar. If you are local, this will become your new favorite restaurant and if you are visiting the Treasure Coast, this is a must visit restaurant. I highly recommend The Boston House as the #1 restaurant in Ft Pierce

Gaby, our waitress, was fantastic, and the steak was incredible. Unfortunately, the manager's lack…read moreof hospitality really impacted our experience and is ultimately why I'm giving this a lower rating. My wallet was recently taken, so I only had photos of my driver's license and passport with me. I completely understand that the restaurant has policies regarding alcohol and that they couldn't accept photos of my IDs. However, when the manager spoke to me about it, she was not apologetic or particularly kind about the situation. A little understanding and better communication would have gone a long way. We were also seated late, and our appetizers took quite a while to come out. The sodas were also extremely watered down. The furniture didn't feel particularly sturdy or comfortable either--the booth kept shaking, and whenever the person sitting behind me leaned back, it would push into my back. Honestly, these things may not have bothered me as much if the situation with the manager had been handled with more kindness. Gaby was wonderful, and the steak was great. The sides were just okay. Unfortunately, the overall experience, especially the manager's approach, left a negative impression.

This historical marker is located on Indian River Dr. at the courthouse in Ft. Pierce Fl. Marker…read moreF-60 was erected in 1961 by the Florida Board of Parks and Historic Memorials. It is located in front of the Rupert J. Smith Law Library. The historical sign says that St. Lucie County was formed in 1844 and recreated in 1905. It is believed that this part of Florida was named for St. Lucie of Syracuse (283-304 AD) who was a Christian martyr who died during the Diocletianic Persecution. The Spanish were the first European explorers to reach Florida in the 1500's. One of the earliest references to St. Lucie (English version) was the 'Santa Lucia' Spanish colony located between Stuart and Vero Beach. As noted by the sign, the native inhabitants at the time were the Tequesta. After Florida became a state the U.S. government sought to move native people, the Seminoles who had previously been moved from Georgia by the government into Florida, west of the Mississippi which resulted in the Seminole Wars. The army established forts around Florida to chase the Seminoles. Fort Pierce established in this area in 1837, became the county seat. It was named for Major B.K. Pierce, the brother of Franklin Pierce who set up the fort. The settlement that sprang up around the fort became the City of Fort Pierce. This sign gives a brief glimpse of the history in this area. If you are interested in learning more and seeing historical artifacts, you can visit the St. Lucie Historical Museum also located in Fort Pierce. The museum has several displays exploring St. Lucie's history from the earliest humans, the Tequesta and Ais people to today.

Great service at the Clerk of Court in Fort Pierce on Wednesday. Polite, friendly, and very…read morehelpful. I've visited many a Clerk's office in Florida and the service in St. Lucie far exceeds them all.

Must visit historic building. Very interesting museum upstairs. It's free and worth a visit…read more Oldest continuously operated commercial building on the east coast.

The Budd Adams-Cobb Cultural Center is in the upstairs of the historic P. P. Cobb building located…read morein downtown Ft. Pierce. The P. P. Cobb building was a trading post opened in 1896 by Peter Cobb. He operated it until 1931. The stores motto was Everything to Eat, Wear, and Use. A general store is still operated on the first floor. The cultural center is in a corner of the second floor. Bud Adams is Mr. Alto Adams, also known as Bud who made a financial contribution to preserve the P. P. Cobb building. He passed away in 2017 at the age of 91. He was a rancher and an environmentalist. The center has maps, vintage photos,drawing of archeological discoveries, and other materials. Jean Ellen Wilson is the centers administrator and it is staffed by volunteers. There is no admission to enter. I enjoyed my visit to the historic P. P. Cobb building. I especially loved the wall of vintage mail slots. If you are interested in old buildings and Treasure Coast history then you will definitely want to visit this link to the past.

Stuart was first settled in 1870. It was recognized as a town in Palm Beach County in 1914. In…read more1925, it was designated a city in the newly created Martin County. Stuart is known as the Sailfish Capital of the World because of the large number of sailfish in the ocean waters off the coast of Stuart. The Stuart Riverwalk located in the historic downtown has cute shops, art galleries, restaurants, and spectacular views of the St. Lucie River and the Roosevelt Bridge. The riverwalk runs along the edge of town on the banks of the St. Lucie River. Take in the boats, fish, birds, and the river. There is a health trail you can follow if you are looking for exercise. At the waters edge on Sundays the city offers the free Rock 'n Riverwalk concert series and the Green Market. You can pick up the $10 Tiki Taxi Cruises behind Mulligan's Restaurant where they pick every hour on the hour Thursday through Sunday. If you visit Stuart, this is an area you will definitely want to check out.

If you find yourself in Stuart, FL, this is a good point of reference spot. It's a nice spot to see…read morethe River view. It's most picturesque to me at night. It can be very windy on those super windy days. It is also a hop skip away from the quaint downtown area with shops to browse. On the weekend, you can find a farmers market on a Saturday morning!