All Blog Entries by Carrie Pierce

As a mother of three kids, I know how hard it can be to keep the kids busy and entertained, especially right now with be quarantined. Below are a few fun ideas to try.

1. Do art activites. There are so many materials that are laying around the house that the kids can be creative and make some fun things. For more ideas on art activites, you can join the KIDS ART SPOT for a free trial. 

2. Try simple science experiments, such as: The Awesome Rainbow Milk Science Experiment, try the Ice Melting Experiment, The Rainbow Skittles Experiment or make some slime. For more ideas, check out The Best Kids Science Experiments to Try at Home.

3. Start a daily gratitude practice. You could do this at dinner as a family by taking turns talking about what

On March 3, 1845, Florida became the nation’s 27th state. Florida, you’re looking pretty great for 175 years old. Here are some fun facts that you may or may not know about our beautiful “Sunshine State”.

• Florida is known as “the sunshine state” because on average, Florida has 300 days of sunshine per year.
• Florida is the 3rd most populous state.
• Florida has more toll roads and bridges than any other state.
• The Fern Capital of the World is in a small town in Northeast Florida called Pierson. Ferns from farms in Person, FL are shipped worldwide.
• Britton Hill in the Florida Panhandle is the highest point in Florida at only 345 feet above sea level. Sugarloaf Mountain near Clermont, FL is the highest point in Florida’s peninsula at only

Gather the family and enjoy a fun-filled day at MacArthur Beach State Park at the 24th Annual NatureScaping.

There will be something for everyone in the family to enjoy, from children’s crafts, live animal shows, a Kayak obstacle course, door prizes and more! There will also be exhibitors, environmentally-themed vendors, Florida native plants for sale and food trucks.

This FREE event will be held on Saturday, March 7th from 10:00am – 3:00pm, with the live animal shows being held at noon and 1:30pm. MacArthur Beach State Park is located at 10900 Jack Nicklaus Drive, North Palm Beach. There will be no gate admission to the park for this event.

As you probably already know, Leap Year occurs every four years, but did you know that every year divisible by 4 is a leap year? Here are some other fun facts:

• Not only does Leap Year occur in every year that is divisible by four, it only occurs in century years that are evenly divided by 400.
• 4 million people in the world are leap day babies. These babies are called leapers or leaplings and there is a one in 1,461 chance of being a leap day baby.
• Astrologers believe that people born on February 29th have unusual talents
• There will be 8 years between leap years 2096 and 2104
• Women often choose this day to propose marriage to men. If the man refuses the proposal, he would be fined a kiss, a silk dress or twelve pairs of gloves.

If you are searching for something to do over the next few weekends, look no further. Martin County has some fun, family activities to enjoy.

Friday, February 21st from 6:30pm to 8:30pm, grab your blankets and chairs for a Beach Movie Night! Enjoy the beautiful February, Florida weather under the stars and watch "Deep" on a 20 ft. tall screen. There will be concessions provided by Sand Dune Cafe. This event is free and located at Jensen Beach 4191 NE Ocean Blvd. Please note that if there is inclement weather, the event will be cancelled.

Saturday, February 22nd and Sunday, February 23, come out and enjoy the 30th Annual Downtown Stuart Art Festival. There will be well over 200 artists displaying their works of art along Osceola Street.

It’s a Green Christmas is the theme for this years Annual Stuart Christmas Parade.  Presented by the VNA.

Bring the family, rain or shine on Friday, December 6th from 7pm – 9pm and enjoy this Martin County tradition since 1960! The Grand Marshal this year is Mark Perry, the Executive Director of Florida Oceanographic Society. There will be food vendors, including Classic Mobile Catering and Island Grill Food Truck, as well as lots and lots of candy thrown out from the floats to the children along the street. For a complete parade route, visit http://www.stuartchristmasparade.com/home.html.

Trophies are awarded to float and non-float participants.  For a complete list of award categories, visit: http://www.stuartchristmasparade.com/home.html. As

The popular Pineapple Festival is returning this weekend in downtown Jensen Beach. This 30-year old festival is one of the largest in the region and one of the few remaining true street festivals in South Florida.

Produced by the Jensen Beach Chamber of Commerce, the initial Pineapple Festival was held in 1988 in concurrence with the Jensen Beach Centennial Celebration. In 1990 Jensen Beach teamed up with Gregory Town, Eleuthera, Bahamas to start a popular attraction at the festival each year to have an authentic Bahamian Market that features island music, crafts and the Junkanoo parade. The Chamber not only produces the festival, but organizes it as well with the help of sponsors and hundreds of volunteers.

If you haven’t been, you need to come

Do you want a better understanding of the problems our local waterways face? Come out to the Florida Oceanographic Society’s annual Rally for the River and learn about a possible solution.

The Florida Oceanographic Society is a non-profit organization founded in 1964 with the mission to inspire environmental stewardship of Florida’s coastal ecosystems through education, research and advocacy.

This event is free for all ages along Flagler Park’s waterfront. Event Highlights to include: Oyster Shell Bagging Station, Mangrove Plantings, Hands-on Demonstrations, Waterway Discussions with Local Experts, Shoreline Clean-up, Educational Booths, Marine Mammal Rescue Ambulance, Children’s Activities and Face Painting.

If you would like to learn more,

Looking for something to do that the whole family will enjoy? Come out to McCarty Ranch Preserve this Saturday for fun, fun, fun!

This bi-annual event at McCarty Ranch is hosted by the City of Port St. Lucie and has free admission and parking. There will be live music from 3pm to 7pm, a petting zoo, pony rides, horseback riding, bounce houses, face painting, fishing tournament, hayrides and a bonfire. Food will be offered for purchase.

Want to make the most of your weekend? You can also camp at McCarty Ranch at one of their 13 primitive campsites or 6 RV trailer sites. Tent sites are $20 per night, plus tax and RV sites are $23 per night, plus tax. Every campsite has a fire ring with a foldable grill, a lantern hook and picnic table. There are

Instead of throwing your pumpkin in the trash, bring it over to Jupiter Creamery and feed it to the cows!

Bring your painted, carved or unwanted pumpkins this weekend out to Jupiter Farms and make some “moo” friends. On November 2nd and 3rd from 9am to 12pm, kids can have some fun smashing pumpkins and feeding them to the cows, pigs and chickens. Kids will also have the chance to name one of Jupiter Creamery’s newest baby boy calf, born on October 24th.

Jupiter Creamery is located at 18591 131st Trail North, Jupiter and is a non-profit farm that uses your donations to feed and care for the animals and land.  There is no charge for this event and bringing a pumpkin is not required. The recommended donation amount is $5 per person or $10 per family.