Virginia Forrest Beach, Hutchinson Island

Virginia Forrest Beach, on Hutchinson Island, is a quiet beach where you can go for a long walk and collect shells. Even though it's quite secluded, there are plenty of fishermen along the shore. A short wooden boardwalk under seagrape trees takes you over the dunes to the beach. The dunes are dotted with sea oats. The beach is lined with pretty beach houses. There are no amenities such as lifeguards or showers. The sand is a little more golden brown than the dark grey sand of Hobe Sound Beach, so that's nice. There are many gorgeous shells. Swimming is a little iffy since there's no lifeguard. The water is a beautiful luminous blue-green and it's lovely to watch the waves catch the morning light. 

You can take a one mile walk down the beach, past Tiger Shores Beach, all the way to Stuart Beach, and then walk a mile back. Once at Stuart Beach you are right next to Elliott Museum and across the road from Florida Oceanographic Coastal Center, two places you can visit for some culture and education.
Soak up some local surf culture at Ohana Surf Shop on your way home. It is a two minute drive away. Island Trader Surf Shop is next door.

Directions

Virginia Forrest Beach is located on Hutchinson Island at 1981 NE Ocean Blvd, Stuart FL 34996. There is a small green sign with a beach umbrella and you turn into the parking lot immediately after that. There is parking on hard-packed dirt, under the shade of seagrape trees.

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