During South Florida’s mild winter months a grayish brown lump with thick wrinkled algae-stained skin gets a ton of attention. The Florida manatees return from their summer homes along the rivers of the Carolinas, Louisiana, and sometimes even from as far north as Massachusetts. Some with calf in tow, others on their own, gather in shallow warm waters to graze on seagrass.
It’s estimated that about 6,000 manatees live in the shallow rivers, bays, estuaries and coastal waters in the U.S.—and they all come to Florida for the winter. They are gentle beasts, slow-moving, and often playful. When stressed or excited, they squeak at one another. But usually, they simply eat and rest.
Places to see manatees in and around Martin County include the Manatee Lagoon. Owned by Florida Power & Light, the wild manatees gather, sometimes by the hundreds, near the warm-water outflows of FPL’s Riviera Beach Next Generation Clean Energy Center.
Manatees can be spotted along the Treasure Coast in most of Martin County’s inland waterways, near docs, waterside restaurants, bridges, and rivers during the winter. A short drive to north to Ft. Pierce is a great way to learn about these fascinating winter visitors. The Manatee Observation and Education Center in Fort Pierce is a waterfront environmental education and wildlife viewing center. Closer to Floridays, the Hobe Sound Nature Center leads walks along the intracoastal waterway to look for manatees gathering between the Center and Jupiter Island, and Jonathan Dickinson State Park (JDSP) [https://www.floridastateparks.org/park/Jonathan-Dickinson ] offers canoes, kayaks, and guided tours in comfortable, dry pontoon boats—all great ways to spot manatees in their natural environment.manatee
Beyond the Treasure Coast, in central Florida, the manatees gather in shallow clear waters in Crystal River. Thousands visit Crystal River in January to celebrate the manatees’s return. By now, the crowds have thinned and vendors shuttered and gone…the perfect time to rent a kayak or go on a snorkel tour at the Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge. Whether you do it up fancy at the Plantation at Crystal River, or go local at JDSP, the manatees are waiting.
The Loggerhead Sea Turtle is the largest sea turtle in the world. Adults can weigh between 200 and 350 pounds and reach 3 feet in length. Ninety percent of Loggerheads nest in five counties on the eastern seaboard of Florida and their nesting activity is highly monitored.
3rd Saturday Gourmet offers unique food trucks from all over south Florida and local craft vendors in downtown Hobe Sound every 3rd Saturday from January through April from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. along Dixie Highway. Hosted by the Hobe Sound Chamber of Commerce, this fun and festive event allows you to peruse the local shops and vendors located on Mars and Apollo Streets as you struggle to decide which food truck will satisfy your hunger pangs. Pets are welcome, and the Hobe Sound Veterinarian Clinic will even have surprises for your furry friend.
Crawdaddy’s N’awlins Cafe & Raw Bar and French Quarter is serving up a 
If you missed the Hobe Sound Art Festival in early February, you can still get your art vibe on up the road in Stuart on the weekend of February 25th and 26th for the Stuart Art Festival. During the Festival, Stuart comes alive with on Osceola Street in Stuart’s historic downtown area. From art, to sculptures, jewelers, and photography, it’s a great way to meet the artists, sample scrumptious food, and explore this amazing seaside town. 
If morning hikes along waterways, through swamps and wetlands, sand dunes and hammocks are your bag, check out the