Always a delight to walk downtown Stuart and a part of that experience is to do the “Riverwalk.” A wide boardwalk stretches west of the picturesque Roosevelt Bridge and east to the Stuart Colorado Avenue Park. 

The Riverwalk is extremely inviting along the famous St. Lucie River.

Sunday is a popular day to visit the Riverwalk area. In the morning to early afternoon is the “Green Market.”  Not that large but inviting nonetheless.  We like to have the free samples particularly from Granny Gail’s Goodies.

  In the afternoon a free band plays along the water’s edge.  These bands are quite good.  People like to bring their lawn chairs as seating is limited in the stage area.

Parking can be a pain at any day of the week. There is parking west and east of the railroad tracks where the large Sailfish fountain roundabout is located.  Stuart is called “The Sailfish Capital of the World.”

  If all else fails, try behind the Stuart Heritage Museum.  A lot exists that some locals know about and is last to fill up.  Much of the parking downtown has a three hour limit.  A person does come around, checks and will levy a fine.  If you are lucky, you can catch the free tram that will take you to the center of downtown. 

It is slow driving in downtown Stuart, so take your time and enjoy the ambiance.  And, if all else fails, take your boat to the pier and dock it for free at the end of the pier.

If you are interested in local history, the Stuart Heritage Museum is a must. Once known as the Stuart Feed and Supply, a collection of historical potpourri is infused to tell about the life and times of the people who call Stuart their home.

Walking downtown Stuart has charm and character. There are a number of interesting stores.  It is hard not like the restaurants meeting all types of budgets.  There are actually too many restaurants to list.  If you want to be on the water there are four restaurants: Sailors Return, Pelican Café, Mulligans and Boathouse.  We have always enjoyed a casual meal at Osceola’s Café, Luna’s, Duffy’s, Black Marlin and the Riverwalk. We have always enjoyed the Happy Hours at Sailors Return and The Gafford.  The newest restaurant, Spritz City Bistro, is quite good and inviting.  A smooth tasting coffee can be had at the Stuart Coffee Company.  A stop in Kilwin’s Chocolates and Ice Cream is always a temptation.

Seeing the charm and ambiance of downtown Stuart brings many people to vacation and actually move into the area. Legend has it that Juan Ponce de Leon sailed up the St. Lucie, but the Indians were too fierce for him to land.  The first store was actually a ship at the end of the 19th century.  It is hard to imagine that one time in the early 1970’s this was a dying downtown.  A lot has changed since then, but the bones are still in place.