Explore Hutchinson Island

HEADER.JENSEN BEACH-WALTON ROCKS BEACH

EXPLORE HUTCHINSON ISLAND
HUTCHINSON ISLAND is a narrow 23-mile barrier island bordered by the Atlantic Ocean on the east and the Indian River on the west creating an ideal habitat for more than 2,200 marine and wildlife species; 35 of these species are listed as threatened or endangered including manatees, dolphins, sea turtles, and alligators. Hutchinson Island is the quintessential A1A paradise and includes 39 beaches each with its own unique character; some with fantastic rocky banks and others ideally suited for beach recreation and water sports.

Enjoy shelling and beachcombing? Then you’ll likely find the beaches of Hutchinson Island offer some of the best opportunities around to find unbroken shells, sea-tumbled glass, and a variety of other gifts offered up from the deep. Here, the beaches are left naturally groomed by nature and treasures wash up onto the shores every day. These scenic beaches are also perfect for long relaxing walks, peaceful reading (and napping) or doing nothing at all.

Looking for something more active? Hutchinson Island is a favorite of water enthusiasts of all ages with offshore shipwrecks and natural reefs, it’s perfect for snorkeling and diving. Rather be surfing? The Island has got you covered there too.

Need a break from the action? How about a few extraordinary sightseeing options including the Elliott Museum, Florida Oceanographic Society, and the House of Refuge.

Working up an appetite yet? While much of what we love about Hutchinson Island is that it remains naturally wild and relatively free of commercial enterprise, the dining options on the Island are somewhat limited. However, you’ll likely find the huge number of fantastic dining options in nearby Fort Pierce, Stuart, and Jensen Beach well worth the short drive and a very fair trade off.

And at the end of the day whether you choose a beachfront inn, hotel, or resort to call home during your stay, you’ll discover why visitors from around the corner and around the globe find exactly what they’re looking for on extraordinary Hutchinson Island. If you’re interested in reading more about the recent happenings, here’s a link to our Hutchinson Island Journal (blog) page.

 

Don’t miss this…

 

STUART BEACH HUTCHINSON ISLANDThis spectacular island can be accessed from the mainland via A1A through Fort Pierce on its northern end, and through Stuart on its southern end. This is a pic of Stuart’s Beach – one of nearly 40 beaches you’ll find on the island, each with its own unique character. While you’re here, check out one of the permanent exhibits on display at the Elliott Museum called “Wheels of Change”. This exhibit includes a robot-controlled vehicle retrieval system (we’ve only ever seen something sort of like this in a NYC garage) that lets you pick one of the 50 or so classic vehicles housed there from the 3-story high stacked inventory. The vehicle gets pulled from the inventory and placed on a turntable so we can look/marvel at it; when we’re done with one, send it back to the inventory and choose another! Whether you choose to explore the museum or the beach (or both) the address 825 NE Ocean Blvd., 34996 will get you here.

 

JENSEN BEACH-2 OPTJENSEN BEACH: Extending roughly 22 miles from Ft. Pierce Inlet to St. Lucie Inlet you’ll find spectacularly beautiful Hutchinson Island. Hutchinson Island formed as a part of a chain of long, narrow and often low islands which comprise much of the coast of Florida and are known as “barrier islands”. This term stems from the fact that they form a “barrier” or “first line of defense” for the mainland against the high energy of the sea during severe storms and hurricanes. This pic was shot on Hutchinson Island’s Jensen Beach and if you decide to come and explore, here’s a GPS address you can use that will bring you near the entrance of Jensen Beach Park – 4191 NE Ocean Blvd, 34957.

 

 

JENSEN BEACH: Bounded on the east by the Atlantic Ocean, on the south by the St. Lucie Inlet, on the west by the Indian River, and on the north by the Fort Pierce Inlet you’ll find extraordinary Hutchison Island and through it, runs one of our favorite stretches of A1A. Named after James Hutchinson, this barrier island was proclaimed Hutchinson Island in 1807 through a Spanish Land Grant. Much of the island is left as natural as the day it was when discovered, making it a wonderful sanctuary for wildlife and from April through September, Hutchinson Island becomes one of the most important nesting areas in the world for loggerhead turtles. Here you’ll find an abundance of public beach outlets and according to FloridasHutchinsonIsland.com, parking is free at all of them! Making your way toward the southern end of the island you’ll find spectacular Jensen Beach where we shot this pic and if you decide to come here and explore, head to Jensen Beach Park near 4300 NE Ocean Blvd./A1A, 34996. We couldn’t find a specific address for the park but the entrance is near the intersection of NE Ocean & NE Causeway Blvds.



Expore A1A