Blake Walsh

15 Free Things to Do in Port St. Lucie, FL

  • Published 2022/11/27

Port St. Lucie is a city in St. Lucie County, Florida, with hundreds of stories every tourist wants to hear.

The settlement was founded on St. Lucia’s Day in 1566, hence the name “St. Lucie.”

Before the area became a thriving city in a quaint setting, it already had a settlement called Spruce Bluff along the St. Lucie River.

The settlement had its school, offices, residential areas, and more.

Today, Port St. Lucie has blossomed into a vibrant yet peaceful land where tourists can have a great time.

Check out the free things to do in Port St. Lucie, Florida!

Hang Out by the Boardwalk at the Port

Aerial view of the Boardwalk at the Port

Robert Miller Online / Shutterstock.com

Unwind at the Boardwalk at the Port, and check out the calm and serene atmosphere in this quaint spot in Port St. Lucie.

The Boardwalk at the Port is accessible from Veteran’s Memorial Park or The Event Lawn.

If you ever find yourself in any of those places, you know there’s a quick escape you can go to nearby.

A simple walk in this area makes you feel like you’re in a different world, with the lush greenery taking over the view as you walk toward the end of the wooden pathway.

This Port St. Lucie attraction is also a popular place to enjoy watersports activities if you have the necessary equipment.

Enjoy wading through the waterways while aboard your kayak, or you can cast a line and go fishing instead.

Check Out the Treasure Coast Model Railroad Club

Get a good look at the inner workings of the railroad at the Treasure Coast Model Railroad Club on SE Becker Rd.

Discover the fun behind model railroading, and see some of the best layouts on display, portraying ideal railroad scenes.

Port St. Lucie’s Treasure Coast Model Railroad Club was founded in 1975 by three model railroaders.

This attraction in Port St. Lucie features the transition era between steam and diesel power of the US railroads, sometime between 1940 and 1970.

You’ll see most of the layouts on display inside the club headquarters.

Still, these models are also featured in nearby places like the St. Lucie Historical Society, South Florida Fairgrounds, and more.

Wander Oak Hammock Park

Nothing beats a relaxing walk along the quaint streets of Port St. Lucie, where you can admire your surroundings away from the busy areas.

Port St. Lucie’s Oak Hammock Park makes the perfect escape from the city noise with its peaceful atmosphere surrounded by towering trees.

Read a book, wander around, or lay a picnic blanket in a cool and shaded spot and relax and rest your mind.

If you want to do something a bit more interesting, you might want to check out The Devil’s Tree during the daytime.

At first glance, you might not think much about it other than as an ordinary tree, but countless crimes have occurred there.

Residents warn tourists never to come near it at night.

Likewise, Oak Hammock Park has instituted a strict curfew to keep adventurers from visiting after nightfall.

Explore the Spruce Bluff Preserve

Incredible nature trails and scenery have always surrounded Florida, and Port St. Lucie is no exception.

Port St. Lucie’s Spruce Bluff Preserve offers the perfect opportunity for visitors to disconnect from their phones and reconnect with nature.

Covering a total of 97 acres, the Spruce Bluff Preserve combines marsh and scrub with several interpretative trails.

During your journey, you’ll learn that Spruce Bluff was a pioneer settlement and former home of the Ais Tribe, an essential mark in Native American history.

This preserve also lets you in on a history lesson, focusing on how Native Americans used the native plants found along the Ais trail.

Enjoy the Celebration at the Italian Festival

If there’s one event you shouldn’t miss out on in Port St. Lucie, it’s the Italian Festival held every February at Tradition Square.

The three-day family street festival treats guests to a boatload of fun in the form of live entertainment, great food, and other activities.

The Italian Festival in Port St. Lucie lets you embark on a cultural journey in the most enjoyable way possible, and the best part is that you don’t even have to spend a dime to have fun.

Celebrate the Italian heritage by getting a good look at live cooking demonstrations or checking out the lively attractions in the area.

You’re also welcome to swing by the Aperol Spritz Piazza, where you can listen to live music, play bocce, and have a great time with your friends.

Regain Your Inner Peace with Yoga at Tradition Square

Enjoying your trip to Port St. Lucie doesn’t always have to be dynamic and full of extreme activities.

Sometimes, you’ll find great joy in slowing down and taking everything in.

What better way to calm your mind and restore balance than taking free hatha yoga classes at Tradition Square, Port St. Lucie?

That’s right.

You can take free yoga classes in Tradition Square every Tuesday and Thursday and learn from a certified instructor.

The classes will primarily focus on hatha yoga, the most common approach to yoga that focuses on shifting movements at a slow pace.

If you need a quiet day, bring your yoga mat and a bottle of water and head over to the gazebo at Tradition Square.

Spend a Day at Tom Hooper Family Park

Let your family experience the great outdoors by taking them to Tom Hooper Family Park on Rivergate Pkwy.

Tom Hooper Park is one of the many attractions in Port St. Luci, where you don’t have to spend a dime to make new memories.

You’ll see a slew of incredible sights as you walk along the boardwalk of this relatively secluded family park.

The 12-acre park also places you near the St. Lucie River, giving you a calming view as you enjoy a small picnic.

It’s also a great spot to cast your lines to fish.

Across the family parks are mangroves and an observation deck at the end of the 30-foot Boardwalk.

Revel in Nature’s Wonders at Savannas Preserve State Park

Marsh at Savannas Preserve State Park

romarti / Shutterstock.com

Spend an entire day at Port St. Lucie’s Savannas Preserve State Park, and you won’t regret your experience.

The scenic landscape and breathtaking surroundings are enough to get you entranced in nature’s best creations.

Savannas Preserve State Park is in Port St. Lucie’s Walton Rd, where you can do various outdoor activities like hiking, kayaking, and canoeing.

The grounds of Savannas Preserve State Park

Ebyabe, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

If you’re working on a tight budget, you can still enjoy the place by having a small picnic.

Savannas Preserve State Park is also a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts and wildlife photographers who want to capture the beauty of South Florida.

Join the Festival of Lights

Prepare to marvel at the annual Festival of Lights in Port St. Lucie’s Event Center Place and kickstart the holiday season.

Celebrating the holidays in Port St. Lucie is never a bad idea, and the Festival of Lights is one reason you should.

Make your way to the Event Center Place, and witness the holiday tree lighting together with your family and closest friends.

To further add to the excitement, the festival isn’t just about lighting up public spaces, as there is also a parade across the city.

Also, stay until the end of the event because the festival will conclude with a stunning fireworks display.

Swing by the Bluefield Ranch Preserve

You’ll never run out of natural scenery in Port St. Lucie.

Check out the Bluefield Ranch Preserve if you still can’t get enough of them.

This popular Port St. Lucie attraction on Bluefield Rd encompasses 3,285 acres, giving you miles and miles of astonishing views.

The Bluefield Ranch Preserve is an outdoor lover’s paradise you can explore by foot, bike, or even on a horse’s back.

The Bluefield Ranch Preserve prides itself on the largest stand of scrub in St. Lucie County, providing a home for several ecosystems.

During your trip, you might also want to watch out for bald eagles, alligators, hogs, quails, and other animals.

Wade through the Paleo Hammock Preserve

Go on a self-guided tour along the Paleo Hammock Preserve, and check out the best sites Mother Nature offers.

This attraction in Port St. Lucie encompasses 80 acres of archaeological significance to the city.

Get lost in your thoughts, and enjoy some much-needed relaxation in the heart of the Paleo Hammock Preserve.

While exploring this trail on Carlton Rd, enjoy the view of lush hammocks accompanied by towering oak and elm trees.

You might also catch a couple of barred owls, deer, and ibis along the way.

Watch the Sunset at River Park Marina

Nothing beats watching a stunning sunset with clear waterways at the forefront to reflect the burst of colors of the sun.

In Port St. Lucie, you should get the best seats in the house at River Park Marina.

The River Park Marina is on Prima Vista Blvd, where you can lay on the grass or occupy one of the pavilions during your visit.

The enchanting park will bring you incredible scenery of a lush tropical forest where you can relax under a cool shade for the day.

Right before the stars appear, you can sit back and find the perfect spot to witness the drowning sun in the background.

Join the Annual Strawberry Festival

If you like sweet treats in the form of ripe strawberries, then you’re sure to have a great time at the Strawberry Festival in Port St. Lucie.

This annual celebration in Port St. Lucie is a two-day event every March at the SE Civic Center Event Place.

Treat yourself to the smell of fresh strawberries scattered around the events center, and enjoy live entertainment while you’re at it.

There are also a bunch of free activities you can do at the Strawberry Festival, which means you don’t have to spend to have a great time.

Take your kids to the petting farm or the bounce houses, watch the pie-eating contest, join rock painting, or join the sack races.

Get Active at the Tradition Gazebo

The Tradition Gazebo is a popular place to engage in various outdoor and physical activities to help you energize your day.

One of the things you can do in the Tradition Gazebo is participate in free Zumba classes.

Get your blood pumping as you move to the beat, and sweat out while having a ton of fun.

Although the event is free, you’ll need to register ahead of time to reserve a class slot.

Besides Zumba, the certified instructor will also give you a crash course on salsa, cumbia, merengue, and different genres.

Other Free Things to Do Nearby

Take Your Dog to Walton Rocks Beach

A dog at Walton Rocks Beach

mstover / Shutterstock.com

Make summer more enjoyable with your furry friend when you take your dog to Walton Rocks Beach.

Walton Rocks Beach is in Jensen Beach, Florida, 31 minutes from Port St. Lucie.

Walton Rocks Beach is a great summer destination because of its pristine white sand and clear blue waters.

A dog enjoying the waters at Walton Rocks Beach

mstover / Shutterstock.com

Let your dog run around in the sand or splash in the waters while you catch some shade underneath an umbrella.

This attraction near Port St. Lucie also makes a fantastic surfing spot, so don’t forget to catch the waves if you’re up for it.

Final Thoughts

Stick to this list of the best free things to do in Port St. Lucie, FL, and you’re sure to have a good time.

It’s possible to make the most of your vacation without spending too much, so book your trip today!

What are you waiting for?

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