Road Runner Travel Resort

The waters between Fort Pierce Inlet State Park (10 minutes) and Vero Beach (25 minutes) are a designated Aquatic Preserve, an exceptionally clear and protected stretch of Florida coast for swimming, fishing, snorkelling and scuba diving, and full of rare marine and avian life. In Fort Pierce, the Manatee Observation and Education Centre is an entertaining intro to the habitat of these local sea creatures, bringing its conservation efforts to life for visitors on boat trips of the nearby waters, spotting manatees alongside sea turtles, dolphins and birds. Or do it on foot: Avalon State Park (15 minutes) has a rare and still undeveloped mile of beach and dune ecosystem, rich in wildlife and a spectacular spot for serene strolls. Bigger treks can be taken at the Captain Forster Hammock Preserve 40 minutes away: this lush preserve of hardwoods and coastal wetlands is almost deafening due to songbirds like the Tennessee warbler and the pink bunting at certain times of year, and is a pristine wilderness for pottering around in all seasons. In town the UDT Navy Seal Museum in Fort Pierce reveals more about the special work of this elite unit from wartime to today, while the Modern Art Museum in Vero Beach hosts exhibitions and a world-class collection of painting and sculpture. The city is also justly proud of its farmers’ market and weekly jazz concerts in the Sunrise Theatre. For entertainments on another scale, it’s about an hour and 45 minutes to Orlando, home of Walt Disney World Resort, Sea World and a good dozen other headline attractions.