12 Best Things to Do in Jensen Beach, Florida (2026 Guide)

Why Jensen Beach Belongs on Your Florida Itinerary

Jensen Beach, Florida — the self-proclaimed "Pineapple Capital of the World" — sits on Hutchinson Island where the Indian River Lagoon stretches at its widest and most spectacular. Unlike the crowded resort strips of Miami or Fort Lauderdale, Jensen Beach offers an authentic Florida experience: pristine lagoon waters, world-class wildlife, a charming downtown, and some of the best water sports on the entire East Coast. Whether you're a first-time visitor or a returning fan, here are the 12 best things to do in Jensen Beach in 2026.

1. Jet Ski the Indian River Lagoon with Salty's Water Sports

The single best way to experience Jensen Beach is from the water — and nothing beats the freedom of a Sea-Doo GTX jet ski. Salty's Water Sports, Florida's only official BRP Sea-Doo partner on the East Coast, operates a full-service location in Jensen Beach with brand-new watercraft starting at $70 for 30 minutes. The lagoon at Jensen Beach is notably wider than at other Treasure Coast locations, giving riders more open water to explore. Dolphins frequently swim alongside riders, making every rental a potential wildlife encounter.

2. Take a Guided Dolphin Tour

The stretch of Indian River Lagoon between Jensen Beach and Nettles Island hosts some of the largest and most active dolphin pods on the Treasure Coast. Salty's Water Sports offers both Dolphin Jet Ski Tours (guided ride on Sea-Doo GTX) and Dolphin Cruise pontoon tours departing from Jensen Beach, with a 95% dolphin sighting rate. Your USCG-licensed captain will navigate to known feeding grounds where resident pods — some with calves — are regularly encountered at close range.

3. Watch the Sunset from a Pontoon Boat

Jensen Beach faces west across the Indian River Lagoon, creating some of the most dramatic sunset views in all of Florida. Salty's sunset cruises depart 90 minutes before sunset, giving guests time to explore the lagoon before anchoring in the perfect spot to watch the sky turn orange, pink, and purple. Dolphins are commonly spotted during the evening hours as they feed in the shallows — making the sunset cruise both a romantic experience and a wildlife tour in one.

4. Swim at Bathtub Beach

Bathtub Beach is one of Florida's most unique natural attractions. A natural reef just offshore creates a shallow, calm "bathtub" of warm water that's perfect for families with young children, snorkelers, and anyone who wants to swim without waves. The reef also supports a diverse community of fish, sea turtles, and invertebrates. Bathtub Beach is located on MacArthur Boulevard on Hutchinson Island, about 10 minutes from downtown Jensen Beach.

5. Explore Indian Riverside Park

Indian Riverside Park is Jensen Beach's crown jewel green space — a 55-acre park along the Indian River Lagoon with walking trails, a boat ramp, a butterfly garden, a children's playground, and stunning lagoon views. The park's waterfront pavilions are perfect for picnics, and the fishing pier is popular with locals. The park also hosts the annual Jensen Beach Pineapple Festival, one of the most beloved community events on the Treasure Coast.

6. Paddleboard or Kayak the Mangroves

The mangrove forests along the Indian River Lagoon near Jensen Beach contain a network of natural tunnels accessible only by kayak or paddleboard. Salty's Water Sports rents single and tandem kayaks and paddleboards, and the staff can point you toward the best routes through the mangroves. These sheltered waterways are home to manatees, sea turtles, osprey, roseate spoonbills, and dozens of other species that you simply cannot see from a motorized boat.

7. Visit the Elliott Museum

The Elliott Museum on Hutchinson Island is one of Martin County's premier cultural attractions. The museum features world-class art exhibitions, a remarkable collection of antique automobiles, and rotating exhibits on Florida history and natural science. The building itself is a stunning modern structure with floor-to-ceiling views of the surrounding landscape. The Elliott Museum is open Tuesday through Sunday and is worth at least two hours of your time.

8. Fish the Jensen Beach Causeway

The Jensen Beach Causeway is one of the most productive fishing spots on the Treasure Coast. Snook, redfish, flounder, and tarpon are regularly caught from the causeway bridges and adjacent shoreline. The area is particularly productive during the fall mullet run (September–November), when massive schools of mullet attract every predatory fish in the lagoon. No boat required — just a rod, some bait, and a Florida fishing license.

9. Dine at the Jensen Beach Waterfront

Jensen Beach's dining scene punches well above its weight for a small town. Nettles Island's waterfront restaurants offer fresh seafood with lagoon views, while downtown Jensen Beach has a growing collection of farm-to-table restaurants, craft breweries, and casual waterfront bars. The Dolphin Bar & Shrimp House is a local institution for fresh shrimp and cold beer with a view of the Indian River. For a more upscale experience, the waterfront restaurants along the Jensen Beach Causeway offer sunset views that rival any restaurant in South Florida.

10. Snorkel the Hutchinson Island Reef

Hutchinson Island's nearshore reefs are among the most accessible snorkeling destinations on Florida's Atlantic coast. The reefs begin in just 10–15 feet of water and support a diverse community of tropical fish, sea turtles, nurse sharks, and stingrays. The best access points are at Bathtub Beach and the Jensen Beach public beach. Visibility is typically best in the morning before afternoon winds stir up the water.

11. Attend the Jensen Beach Pineapple Festival

The annual Jensen Beach Pineapple Festival, held each December, celebrates the town's agricultural heritage with live music, arts and crafts vendors, food stalls, and — of course — pineapple-themed everything. The festival draws thousands of visitors to downtown Jensen Beach and is one of the most charming small-town festivals in Florida. If you're visiting in December, plan your trip around the festival weekend.

12. Take a Banana Boat Ride

For pure group fun on the water, nothing beats a banana boat ride. Salty's Water Sports offers banana boat rides that can accommodate up to 6 riders — perfect for families, bachelor/bachelorette parties, and anyone who wants to get soaked and laugh until it hurts. The banana boat is towed by a powerboat across the lagoon's open water, with the inevitable goal of flipping everyone into the warm Florida water. From $25 per person, it's the best value activity on the Treasure Coast.

Things to Do Near Salty's Jensen Beach

After your morning on the water, Jensen Beach and the surrounding area offer a full day of exploration. Here are the top spots within easy reach of our Jensen Beach dock — each worth adding to your itinerary:

Indian Riverside Park

A stunning 26-acre riverside park right in Jensen Beach with boat ramps, a fishing pier, picnic pavilions, a butterfly garden, and sweeping Indian River Lagoon views. This is the perfect spot to relax after a jet ski session — pack a cooler, grab a pavilion, and watch the pelicans work the shoreline. The park also hosts the beloved annual Pineapple Festival each December.

Nettles Island

A charming private island community just south of Jensen Beach with a famous fishing pier and some of the best lagoon access on the Treasure Coast. Our dolphin tour guides consistently find the largest pods in the waters around Nettles Island — it's prime dolphin territory, and the island's waterfront is a beautiful place to spend an afternoon.

Walton Rocks Beach (Dog Friendly) 🐾

One of the few dog-friendly beaches on the Treasure Coast, Walton Rocks Beach on Hutchinson Island is a beloved spot for locals and their four-legged companions. The Atlantic surf here is gentle enough for a relaxed beach walk, and the wide shoreline gives dogs plenty of room to run. Located about 10 minutes south of Jensen Beach on A1A.

Jensen Beach Causeway Park

A popular waterfront park along the Jensen Beach Causeway with boat ramps, a playground, and direct access to the Indian River Lagoon. This is a great spot to watch boats come and go, fish from the shoreline, or simply enjoy the lagoon breeze. It's also one of the best free sunset-watching spots in Jensen Beach — arrive 30 minutes before sunset for the best views.

The House of Refuge Museum

One of Florida's most historic landmarks, the House of Refuge is a 19th-century U.S. Life-Saving Station on Hutchinson Island — the oldest standing structure in Martin County. Built in 1875, it served as a shelter for shipwreck survivors along one of the most dangerous stretches of the Florida coast. Today it's a fascinating maritime museum operated by the Historical Society of Martin County, with original artifacts, period furnishings, and a dramatic oceanfront setting. About 15 minutes south of Jensen Beach on A1A.

Stuart Beach

A beautiful Atlantic Ocean beach in nearby Stuart with lifeguards, restrooms, a snack bar, and a relaxed local atmosphere. Stuart Beach is one of the cleanest and least crowded beaches on the Treasure Coast — a perfect complement to a morning on the lagoon with Salty's. The adjacent Chastain Beach offers additional parking and a quieter stretch of sand. About 20 minutes south of Jensen Beach via A1A.

Plan Your Jensen Beach Water Sports Adventure

Salty's Water Sports is Jensen Beach's premier water sports operator, offering jet ski rentals, pontoon boat rentals, guided dolphin tours, sunset cruises, kayak rentals, paddleboards, and banana boat rides. As Florida's only official BRP Sea-Doo partner on the East Coast, every watercraft is brand-new and maintained to the highest standards. Book online at saltyswatersports.com or call (772) 448-4516. Our Jensen Beach location is open seven days a week, weather permitting.