Manatee Center and Backus Museum, Fort Pierce

On very cold days in winter, it's worth it to visit the Manatee Observation Center in Fort Pierce.You can stand at the second-floor observation deck and look down on the marina where manatees like to hang out. Below, there is also a cute butterfly garden on the water, with a walkway decorated in a butterfly theme, glittering sea-themed benches, and beach sunflowers. There is also an area where kids can measure themselves against the 10 feet length of a manatee! Here you also find a lovely pond with water lilies. Inside, the center is fairly old with a few modest tanks with fish and some lift-the-flap question and answer exhibits about manatees that kids enjoy, plus a fun gift shop with a sea theme. 

Behind the manatee center is a visitor center in a run-down house called Seven Gables.
Behind it is the A. E. Backus Museum & Gallery. Although the building is a bit musty and uninspiring inside, the paintings are wonderful! There is such a beautiful use of light in them, achieved with the use thick paint applied by palette knives more than brushes. There are also paintings by artists from the Highwaymen era. A. E. Backus set up quite a social scene in his art studio after returning from serving in the Navy during World War II. He hosted parties with live jazz groups, friendly debate, and a Bohemian air. Two of the original Highwaymen, a group of 26 African American landscape artists who sold their colorful impressionistic paintings door-to-door and along the Florida highways from the trunk of their cars in the 1960s, were taught by Backus: Alfred Hair and Harold Newton, whose paintings are shown below. Instead of working in the citrus groves as was expected of them, they succeeded as painters, using cheap upson board as their canvas, with frames made of crown molding painted in gold or silver to look like antique frames. They weren't allowed to enter traditional galleries, so they made their own way. Mary Ann Carroll, the only female in the group, was invited to First Lady Michelle Obama's luncheon in 2011.
Pierced Ciderworks is one block away in a yellow historic house. The interior area is small but outside there are chairs and picnic tables under a huge eucalyptus tree with colorful crocheted fabric around it! They have delicious sour berry hard cider you won't forget! Come when they have live music- it's wonderful! Especially come when HairPeace are playing- their harmonies are amazing. 
Fort Pierce city marina and town are nice to walk around. At Marina Square you can see pelicans bobbing around in the jade green water by the docks. There is a yellow gift shop that kids like to browse. It's especially nice to walk over to the historic Cobb building and have a cup of tea at Old Florida Coffee Company. Its big windows and attractive interior are a pure delight. 
While in Fort Pierce, you must go to the Heathcote Botanical Gardens, a tropical paradise with themed gardens and lovely flowers everywhere! They also have Christmas lights in December. 
A great place to go in Fort Pierce is the Smithsonian Aquarium, a small but well-cared-for aquarium in an area fronting the lagoon, with a white sand beach, playground, and walking path past bright turquoise waters filled with arching dolphins. Behind the aquarium is the St Lucie County History Museum, a memorable museum where you will learn a ton of interesting things! Continue to Jetty Park to see the blue water and walk along the waterfront on the pretty path. You can sometimes see manatees here by the rocks.

Directions

Manatee Observation Center is located at 480 N Indian River Dr, Fort Pierce, FL 34950. Open Tues-Sat 11-3. Entrance fee is $3.
A. E.. Backus Museum and Gallery, 500 N Indian River Dr, Fort Pierce, FL 34950. Open Wed-Sat 10-4, Sun 12-4, closed Mon and Tues. Entrance is $5.

Click on map for interactive view