Sarah T.'s Profile

Oxbow trails are a great way to get to know St Lucie nature. I went for a hike in late Oct. 2010 and enjoyed the diverse trails.

We started on the River Otter trail which runs along the river. I have to say that this was my favorite trail. The thick, tall trees cast shade on the path and my hiking boots dug in to the soil to keep me trudging up and down the meandering terrain.

Other trails weren't quite as strenuous but were equally as enjoyable. The pine flatlands were serene with the sandy pathways through palmetto bushes and pine trees. There are observation towers throughout the flatland loop that give you a good overview of land.

My favorite part of the trails is the "Ecotone." This is the place where two ecosystems meet and change. For example, as we came out of the thick, shaded, musty River Otter trail you could experience a quick and visible change in scenery as we walked in to the more open pine flatlands. From what I understand, the ecotone takes place because of elevation. Just a few feet of elevation and the trees and foilage will visibly change.

Before I knew it, we had been there for two hours and hiked the whole park!
I highly recommend the Oxbow Ecocenter for those who want an afternoon with nature, to burn some calories, and to see some beautiful sights.

Went here two days in a row while attending a REALTOR conference.

I special-ordered a veggie omellette and, to my surprise, it came as a sandwich. At first I thought it was odd but it was soooo good. The flavors were outstanding. (However, I don't think it was vegetarian - had to be cooked in bacon fat or something bc it was too good to be true. Ignorance can sometimes be bliss.)

Had to wait both times but it's in Jackson Square and if you're there on the weekends there are artists with their wares all around the square so it's something to look at and do while you're waiting.

This is a fantastic park to visit!

They have:
- Baseball fields
- Canoeing / Kayaking
- Pavilions / Concession Stand
- Inline Skating / Outdoor Hockey Rink
- Tennis
- Soccer
- Football
- Playground
- Picnic Tables / Bathrooms
- Hiking Trails
- Mountain Biking Trails

Let me tell you about the trails - holy moly are they fantastic!! This is why we went to the park. The first time we went for the hiking trails which go for miles. We walked along the river, went over small foot bridges, and trekked on ample paths. One moment you're walking through a jungle and the next you're in a pine tree wilderness.

Then we went back for the bike trails and had a blast. I'm not an avid mountain biker but seemed to handle the twists, turns, and bumps well. You could bike for miles and the diverse scenery is quite enjoyable. The low-lying palm trees make it bumpy and a little challenging. Be sure to wear a helmet, bring a camera, and plenty of water! You'll love it - I promise!

I was so tickled to pick up a numbered print for half off when we visited the museum in early Jan 2010.

The staff at the gallery are very knowledgeable and gave us some great insight into the paintings. I learned so much about the highwaymen painters and the history of our area.

This English pub is just want Tradition needed! It's a great place to go after dinner in Tradition or try one of their menu delights. I was incredibly pleased to see over 3 vegetarian menu items!

With my fabulous glass of wine I also had fried green tomatoes and boy were they something to write home about!

Service was fantastic and we'll definitely become regulars.
It was also encouraging to find that the pub was mostly an older crowd - so it would be a good place to go and not worry about youngin's around. Wink wink.

Berry Fresh Cafe has great breakfast. Sometimes I get sick of eating at "chain" restaurants for breakfast (i.e. Bob Evans and IHop) so this cafe is super in providing good food and great service.

Check out the way they serve tea, too - it's so cool!

I had an omelete with incredible skillet potatoes - the best I had ever had! We sat at the bar and enjoyed the hustle-bustle of all the patrons.

I am definitely promoting it to friends and clients in from out of town.

I was thoroughly impressed with Club LaZen.
I grew up in PSL and kept thinking to myself "we're in PSL right now?" The club feels like it's straight of Clematis or South Beach. Our city was in dire need of an true upscale dance club.

There is Valet parking in front of the club, the red carpet, and the velvet ropes. I was waiting for the paparazzi but they didn't come.

We did the VIP on the 2nd floor so we didn't enter through the normal area and am not sure what that looked like. The VIP was worth it and all the waitstaff were incredibly friendly. A manned staircase leads down to the dance floor and the bar is just underneath the 2nd floor. A huge Buddah is near the bar and a DJ is upstairs. Psychodelic images rotate to the music as projected on the 2nd floor above the club.
I believe I saw go-go dancers at some point on an elevated stage but I was too busy trying to keep the liquid in my glass while on the dance floor.

Unfortunately two of our friends were wearing flip-flops and weren't allowed in (partially due to the fact that going to LaZen was a spur-of-the-moment idea) but it goes to show that they stick by their rules and want to keep the upscale image.

We look forward to going back and anticipate that La Zen will be packed every weekend. Also looking forward to trying out the restaurant Robinson's that is joined to the club.

My mom told me about this place and I was thoroughly impressed. It's on the corner in Tradition Square and has been packed the two times I've been there. They have indoor and outdoor dining but you have to watch tables like a hawk to snag one.

There is quite a huge menu and tons of bagels and spreads to choose from. I ordered a veggie omelette that came with a side of potatoes and an everything bagel with veg cream cheese. Let me tell you about this bagel - it was the best one I have ever had. Every flavor of the bagel was tantilizing and the experience has left me spoiled - no everything bagel is like theirs.

This place is good because it's quality food by owners who care about your business, unlike going to McDonalds or some chain restaurant.

When you walk in you won't be able to stop gawking. There is fishing paraphernalia all over the place but the neatest part is above the main bar: look up and it feels like you're under the ocean with fish above your head.

After you're done oogling and you're at your seat you'll now have the daunting task of choosing a dinner - the menu is huge. I always stick with the same thing: cheese and veg'wich - a three-tiered grilled cheese with slices of tomato and green peppers.
There is all types of fish and seafood, burgers, wraps, sandwiches, pasta - you're sure to find something on the menu.
They have a full bar and have two-for-one margaritas on the Fridays.
Saturdays they have live music after 10pm.

We brought some friends here and they thought their burger was bland but the experience of the restaurant made up for it. My parents go here at least every other week and my mom loves the tuna melt.

Eating outdoors is quite scenic if you get spot near the waterfalls. The plaza that this restaurant is in - The Shoppes at Veranda Falls - is quite exquisite for anything in Port St Lucie and is just off the turnpike exit on Becker Road.

One of the best campgrounds for familes and groups. If you've never camped before this is a great first-timers campground, especially for tent camping. We had 2 newbies on our trip and they did just fine.

There is so much to do here (but no swimming which is a bummer). Bring your bikes because you can spend the whole day riding. There is a great paved loop that winds under the huge oak hammock trees and will keep you shaded. Off of the paved loop are many different trails. The best trail is the Cypress Swamp Trail - with HUGE towering cypress that hang overhead as you meander through a boardwalk over brush, water, and cypress knees (stumps/roots). When we went recently with friends we saw a 5 foot alligator, a water mocassin snake, and some turtles. This trail is so fun because it starts out as a regular-sized boardwalk but then narrows to 4 planks and is called the "Catwalk" where you must be careful and pay attention where you step as you watch the water. I remember going here as a kid and being scared out of my wits on this trail but as an adult it seems shorter and less intimidating.

Other walking trails exist off the main path and then there is a 6 mile bike trail on the outer skirts of the park that is dirt and sand.

The campsites are incredible. Beautifully covered by the trees and each site with it's own unique layout. We had site number 61 which I highly suggest because it's bigger than most and is on the corner so you don't have neighbors to one side (not that we're anti-social). The only thing we noticed about this site was that kids would play in the brush and it got a little noisy in the mornings and afternoons with their banter.

There's a playgound with swings and a basket ball hoop towards the north side - back side - of the camp ground.

The bathrooms are okay - not anything to write home about. The bathroom in the middle of the campground is cleaner than the one to the west side.

There's a restaurant that sells a few supplies and necessities and was making all-you-can-eat pancakes every morning. During the day time they served Eddy's ice cream up until 4pm. Across from the restaurant is a history museum and I'm sad to say that we didn't get a chance to walk through.

Keep your food stowed away in your car and your coolers secured with bungee cords because racoons are smarter than they look. There's no hanging ropes or hammocks in trees (we learned that the hard way). Even though it doesn't explicitly state it, you're not supposed to have more than 2 tents per site - which we got really angry about b/c we had 4 set up on our big site and they made us move 2 to our other site. (We had a group of 8 people). Usually you're allowed to have campfires as long as there hasn't been a long drought - check with the ranger station before you reserve because this could really put a damper on s'more fixin'.

You can easily reserve your campsite at http://www.ReserveAmer...