Tessy Takes On the Treasure Coast Kids Quest
Tessy Takes On the Treasure Coast Kids Quest

 

Tessy the turtle is so excited to go exploring in St. Lucie! She’s got her Treasure Coast Kids Quest passport, and she’s ready to get started.

DAY 1

Tessy began her quest at the Manatee Observation & Education Center in Fort Pierce. She was so excited because the blue flag was up, so that meant the manatees were out swimming! Tessy had a fun time spotting those gentle giants and learning about the Indian River Lagoon. She snapped a fun pic with Moe the Manatee, too!

Next, Tessy and her family went to lunch at Manatee Island Bar & Grill along the Fort Pierce Inlet. The seafood was delicious and she was able to relax in the cool dining room while watching the boats go by outside.

After her belly was full, Tessy wanted to visit the St. Lucie County Aquarium! There were so many cool things to see, including a huge fish tank that came all the way from the Smithsonian Museum in Washington D.C.! She also arrived just in time for the afternoon “Snack Time Tour” where she got to watch the aquarium experts feed the fish!

Next up, Tessy explored the St. Lucie County History Museum which was right next door to the aquarium. She learned all about how the Treasure Coast got its name and the history of Fort Pierce & Port St. Lucie. Her favorite part was exploring the outdoor artifacts and going on a treasure hunt made just for kids!

After all this fun, it was time for dinner. Tessy and her family decided to dine out in style at Crabby’s Dockside Grill on the water in Downtown Fort Pierce. Tessy even enjoyed a special treat after dinner with ice cream from Sweet Willy’s located downstairs!

Tessy Takes On the Treasure Coast Kids Quest

DAY 2

To start off the day, Tessy thought it would be best to get some fresh air. So she got her family to visit the Oxbow Eco-Center first thing in the morning. Along their hike she spotted many birds and enjoyed a relaxing walk along the St. Lucie River (afterall, this is a favorite past time for some other species of turtles!). At the end of the hike, she got to play on all the fun outdoor toys and take a selfie with the osprey wings.

Next up, Tessy went to the Downtown Fort Pierce Farmer’s Market where she picked up some fresh local treats such as fruits, veggies and snacks snack on between the activities planned for the remainder of the day.

Then, it was time to learn about the Navy Seals at the National Navy Seal Museum on Hutchinson Island. Tessy had a blast checking out the awesome Black Hawk helicopter and going inside the lifeboats and special ops vehicles! She even got an opportunity to try her skills out on the obstacle course.

After all this exploration, it was time to hit the beach for some relaxation! Directly behind the museum, is Pepper Park Beach –  so all Tessy had to do was grab her beach towel and sunscreen and head to the sand. Tessy and her family had a great time splashing in the waves and spending time together on the beach.

As the sun began to go down, Tessy and her family headed to dinner at Pie Hole just off A1A on South Hutchinson Island for some delicious wood-fired pizza!

Tessy Takes On the Treasure Coast Kids Quest

DAY 3

Starting the day off at Berry Fresh Cafe, Tessy enjoyed a stack of pancakes and fresh blueberry fritters. She loved the fun atmosphere and delicious breakfast and brunch foods.

Then, Tessy took her family to a guided hike at Savannas Preserve State Park where they were able to spot alligators and turtles from the observation deck. There were lots of cool lookout spots to stop and take photos along the nature trails.

To cool down, they headed to Bonefish Mac’s in Port St. Lucie for lunch. The family was seated at a table near a fish tank and Tessy was given coloring sheets and a goldfish snack while she waited for her meal to arrive – which was her favorite part, of course!

To end the quest, Tessy celebrated with some action at Urban Air Adventure Park! Here, she was able to jump, race and swing high with her family on the trampolines, race track and ziplines. She didn’t forget to grab a cool slushie from the snack bar on her way out!

Tessy Takes On the Treasure Coast Kids Quest
Kids looking for Seashells at the beach

Once Tessy received a stamp from every stop on the quest, she went to go pick up her prize from the Fort Pierce City Marina! She even got free fish food to go feed the fish off the marina docks. What a fun weekend exploring in St. Lucie!

Tessy and her family stayed at local accommodations in St. Lucie – you should too! Check out all of our places to stay.

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