Posts Tagged ‘fort pierce’

We’d like to thank our Partner Business
Giordano’s Floral Creations
for sponsoring our free February raffle for
A Dozen Roses

Please visit them at
1310 W. Midway Road Fort Pierce, FL 34982
(772)465-4119 (800)638-4498
http://www.giordanosfloral.com/

And tell them ‘Thank You’ from Laura’s Emporium!

Have visiting family or friends?  Take them to some of St. Lucie County’s activities for an enjoyable day.  Keep scrolling down for more.

Oxbow Eco-Center
http://www.stlucieco.gov/erd/oxbow/index.htm
Located in northern Port St. Lucie, the 225-acre Oxbow Eco-Center is dedicated to fostering an appreciation of the ‘real Florida.’ Its 225-acre preserve on the North Fork of the St. Lucie River is a living laboratory of floodplain forest, sandy scrub and pine flatwoods, and swamps and wetlands. From dawn to dusk, you can wander trails, bridges, boardwalks and observation towers on your own. Or you can join a naturalist on a guided walk. The Center, a building constructed using green building technologies, houses an Exhibit Hall and Discovery Room. A life-size exhibit that takes you on a journey down the St. Lucie River to the Atlantic Ocean, is well worth the visit. Be sure to check the monthly calendar which offers a variety of programs for both youth and adults. Art classes, swamp tales, brown bag lectures are just a few.
Editor’s note: Captivating for any age, this is a great family outing. Trails, exhibits, Center are all free, as are many of their scheduled events.  Very reasonable charge for some.

FPL Energy Encounter
http://www.fpl.com/community/learning/energy_encounter_overview.shtml
Your self-guided tour begins with an Energy Treasure Hunt led by Hutch the parrot.  As you pass through the exhibits, press a button where you see Hutch and he’ll lead you further on the hunt.  Many of the exhibits are interactive – touch screens, controls, videos, and challenges keep the kids involved – and new ones are added regularly. The College of Turtle Knowledge exhibit is open year round. Turtle Walks are available in June and July (turtle nesting season), by appointment only, and they’re very popular so make your reservation early.
Editor’s note: Everything is free. FPL sponsors several educational programs for schools and Scouts can earn their Nuclear Science Merit Badge through FPL. 

St. Lucie County Regional History Center
http://www.stlucieco.gov/history/index.htm
The Saint Lucie County Regional History Center offers a unique view into the complex history of the Treasure Coast. Be sure to pay attention as you explore the grounds – you’ll find remnants of the Spanish Treasure Fleet that gave the region its name! Venturing into the museum will reveal major exhibits featuring the native Ais Indian population, the Seminole Wars and the Seminole tribe, the fishing, cattle and citrus industries and a recreation of P.P. Cobb’s general store, complete with product displays. In addition, there are displays dedicated to the Hill photograph collection and the region’s involvement in World War II. Round out your visit by touring the Gardner house, a lovingly-restored showpiece of life at the turn of the century.
Editor’s note: $4 for adults; $3 for seniors and $1.50 for children and well worth it.

For the next couple months we want to share all the amazing things Fort Pierce and St. Lucie County have to offer with our winter visitors and year-round residents who may not be familiar with some of these.

The National Navy UDT-SEAL Museum
http://www.navysealmuseum.com/
The National Navy UDT-SEAL Museum is the only museum dedicated solely to preserving the history of the Navy SEALs and their predecessors, including the Underwater Demolition Teams, Naval Combat Demolition Units, Office of Strategic Services Maritime Units and Amphibious Scouts and Raiders.  Located in Fort Pierce, Florida – the birthplace of the Navy Frogman – the Museum promotes public education by providing the opportunity to explore the history of the Navy SEALs in an atmosphere of respect and honor.
Virtual tours on their website are great, but no substitute for being up close and personal!
Reasonable admission fee.
By purchasing at their gift shop you can support the museum.
Editor’s note: My favorite is a t-shirt that states:
When it absolutely, positively must be destroyed overnight!
Call 1-800-HOOYAH!

The Manatee Observation & Education Center
http://www.manateecenter.com/
The Manatee Observation and Education Center is a waterfront wildlife observation and nature education center located on Florida’s east coast in downtown Fort Pierce. The Center lies just west of the Atlantic ocean and overlooks the nationally recognized Indian River Lagoon, a saltwater estuary and Moore’s Creek, a freshwater creek and historical resting spot for the Florida manatee. The Manatee Observation and Education Center’s primary purpose is to promote understanding and responsible actions for the fragile ecosystems of the Treasure Coast and their inhabitants.
Admission is a buck.  Check out the Calendar of Events, many activities (free and very reasonable) for adults and children.
Editor’s note: Manatees are not in tanks, they roam freely – best time to view in Moore’s Creek is during the winter months.

A.E. Backus Museum & Gallery
http://www.backusgallery.com/
The A.E. Backus Museum & Gallery, a 5,000 sq. ft. public visual arts facility, was established in 1960 by A.E. Backus, the preeminent Florida landscape painter, and a group of local art enthusiasts. The A.E. Backus Museum & Gallery features the Nation’s largest display of original paintings by Alfred Ernest Backus. Four additional exhibition wings feature changing exhibits of artwork by contemporary Florida artists. Located in historic downtown Ft. Pierce, a mere 2 blocks from Backus’ longtime home and studio and adjacent to the location of his original studio.
Small admission fee, free admission on Sundays.
Editor’s note: Next door to Manatee Observation Center, ample free parking provides convenient access to other area attractions, casual waterside dining and boutique shopping downtown.

Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute Ocean Discovery Center
http://www.fau.edu/hboi/OceanDiscoveryCenter.php
The Harbor Branch Ocean Discovery Center is the public gateway to Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute at Florida Atlantic University. The ODC houses interactive exhibits, small aquaria, a video theater, and other displays exploring the marine environment and depicting the research efforts of the Institute. ODC exhibit content is developed in close coordination with the Harbor Branch project managers by a team of award-winning educators and media specialists.  Exhibit content is continually evolving to showcase the ongoing research and conservation efforts of Harbor Branch and to give visitors a close-up look at the emerging technologies used by the marine research community.
Editor’s note:  Free admission – but drop some $ in the donation box and lots of cool stuff in the gift shop.

Tired of the same old Halloween stuff?
Looking for something different?

A bit of spooky and Fort Pierce history combined . . .
http://thegrimsociety.com/2010/10/08/spend-halloween-with-the-grim-society/

Laura’s Emporium Antique Mall
on busy U.S. 1 in Fort Pierce
has space available upstairs
5′ x 8′ and 4′ x 8′
$1.50 square foot