Things to Do on the Treasure Coast, Florida
Three counties, one long barrier-island shoreline and a coast named for sunken Spanish silver.
See things to do »The Treasure Coast at a Glance
Looking for things to do on the Treasure Coast, Florida? Start with geography. The name covers three counties on the Atlantic side of the peninsula: Martin in the south, St. Lucie in the middle and Indian River in the north, roughly from Jupiter Inlet to Sebastian Inlet. It sits between the Gold Coast of Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade and the Space Coast of Brevard, and it is noticeably quieter than either, with low-rise beach towns, long stretches of protected shoreline and a lagoon that runs the whole way up the coast.
The name is the best story here. In the summer of 1715 a hurricane drove a Spanish fleet carrying silver and gold from the Americas onto the reefs of this coast, and divers and beachcombers have been finding coins and artifacts from those wrecks ever since. Local newspapermen are generally credited with coining the name Treasure Coast in the early 1960s, after modern salvors began recovering the fleet’s cargo. Our beaches page tells that story and lists the sites where you can still see it.
Most visits mix three things. There are the beaches, which are mostly natural and uncrowded, with reefs close to shore in places. There is the Indian River Lagoon, a long, shallow estuary behind the barrier islands that is wonderful for kayaking, fishing and spotting manatees and dolphins. And there are the small downtowns, including Stuart on the St. Lucie River, Fort Pierce on its inlet and Vero Beach on the ocean, each with restaurants, galleries and a busy winter calendar.
This regional guide gives you a page for each county with highlights we chose to complement, not repeat, our detailed county guides: Best of Martin County, Best of St. Lucie County and Best of Indian River County. You will also find a guide to waterfront restaurants, a list of regional festivals and bookable tours where they exist.
Winter and spring are high season, when northern visitors fill the inns and condominiums and the festival calendar is fullest. Summer is hotter and calmer, the best time for snorkeling and the season for nesting sea turtles. For help putting a coastal trip together, request a free trip quote from our travel specialists.
Explore the Treasure Coast by Area
Top-Rated Things to Do in the Treasure Coast
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ViatorTours, tickets, prices and reviews from Viator (a Tripadvisor company) and Tiqets — prices are per person, from, and were checked October 28, 2026. Best of the Treasure Coast may earn a commission when you book, at no extra cost to you.
Treasure Coast Restaurants on the Water
River docks in Stuart, oceanfront tables on Hutchinson Island, seafood at the Fort Pierce inlet and beachfront lunch in Vero Beach: our list of Treasure Coast restaurants on the water picks 19 places that our county guides do not cover.
the Treasure Coast dining guide »
Treasure Coast Events and Festivals
The regional calendar opens with seafood in Port St. Lucie in January and art in Hobe Sound, builds to ShrimpFest in Sebastian and the Vero Beach Film Festival in spring, and ends with Halloween in downtown Stuart and the Jensen Beach Pineapple Festival in November.
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Get free trip quotes »Plan Your the Treasure Coast Trip
the Treasure Coast — FAQ
Which counties make up the Treasure Coast?
Martin, St. Lucie and Indian River counties on Florida’s Atlantic coast. Some definitions also take in Okeechobee County inland, but the coastal three are what most people mean.
Why is it called the Treasure Coast?
Because of the Spanish treasure fleet wrecked here by a hurricane in July 1715. Recoveries of its silver and gold in the 1960s gave the region its name.
What airports serve the Treasure Coast?
Palm Beach International (PBI) is closest to Martin County. Vero Beach Regional (VRB) has scheduled airline service to several East Coast cities, and Melbourne Orlando International (MLB) is about 30 minutes north of Sebastian.
When is the best time to visit the Treasure Coast?
November through April for dry, mild weather and festivals. May and June are warm with calm seas. Late summer and early fall are hot, humid and the heart of hurricane season.
Is the Treasure Coast good for a beach vacation?
Yes, especially if you prefer natural beaches to big resort strips. Most of the shoreline is low-rise, and many beaches are in state or county parks.