Jensen Beach, Florida: Your Ideal Small Town Vacation Spot

Last Updated on December 31, 2022 by Marybeth

A beautiful uncrowded beach; a charming downtown with shops and restaurants; waterfront watering holes; locally owned places to stay; friendly people:  all you need for your Florida vacation. Jensen Beach is one of the coolest towns we’ve seen in awhile. Well, except for Matlacha... and of course Indian Rocks… and also there was Flagler Beach…

If you drive into Jensen Beach along the winding river road full of so much to look at – besides the breathtaking view of the water – and then you stroll down the main shopping and dining streets, after which you sit by the water in the beach bar, and walk back to your very own cottage for the night, you might forget you haven’t visited the beach yet – but of course you won’t forget; just make sure you plan enough time to see and do all there is in this special place.

I searched and delved to try to find any heinous or shameful stories in Jensen Beach’s history, in vain. You know how I love a good bad-boy story. But Jensen Beach’s past is as sparkling clean and friendly as the town is today. At one time named “The Pineapple Capital of the World,”  1,000,000 boxes of pineapples were shipped from Jensen Beach during summers back in the day.  John Lawrence Jensen came in the late 1800’s and named the town after himself, grew those pineapples, and life was good and sunny.

Another guy, R. R. Ricou, built a fishing fleet of 100 boats and when the town burned down in 1908, he convinced his friend Henry Flagler (doesn’t Henry figure in almost every single one of my town’s histories? Sheesh) to build a new fire-proof train depot, and in exchange R. R.  built a large building to support the local commerce. That building still stands today. The Jensen Beach Inn  is on the second floor, and Pineapple Jack’s Bistro is on the first floor.

THE BEACH

Walton Rocks Beach

6700 S. Ocean Dr.

We chose this as The Beach because it is A DOG BEACH, YAY! For those of you who don’t like dogs (and, consequently, can’t be my friend) there is Jensen Beach Park, which has lots to offer: facilities, volleyball,  lifeguards, and a concession stand.

• PARK/WALK:  Parking is free and the beach is steps away.
• GO/RINSE:  Showers and bathrooms, and a hose to rinse off your pet.
  
• CROWD FACTOR:  Walton Rocks can get a little crowded with dogs and dog lovers, but everyone is happy.
• GUARDS:  Not at Walton Rocks.
• IMBIBE: No glass containers allowed, but as far as we could find out, yes you can bring your alcohol.
  
• BEST FRIEND: Obviously.
• WE LOVE:  The dogs can be off-leash! This rarely happens at a dog beach. That said, make sure your pooch plays well with others.
• WARNING:  Walton Rocks Beach is close to the clothing optional beach, Blind Creek Beach, which I find a tiny bit titillating (PUN INTENDED) but also slightly frightening, as I’ve heard that nude beaches can be a little gross. At least, not pretty. And I’m not talking about the sky, sand, or ocean.

THE BAR

Conchy Joe’s

3945 NE Indian River Dr.

• VIBE:  Locals hanging out, and friendly, laid back – but attentive – servers.
• ARRIVE:  By car or by boat. Plenty of parking for your car; we’re not sure what the rules are (or if there are any) to pull up by boat.
• SIT:  By the bar or near the bar for Happy Hour, or in the spacious restaurant part but you can’t Happy Hour it there.
• SIP: Happy Hour every day from 3 – 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. until closing.
• NOSH:  Try Conchy’s Shrimp Stack – fresh mandarin salsa, fresh shrimp (no seafood here is frozen first) and diced avocado served with fresh tortilla chips.
• LISTEN:  Reggae Thursday night thru Sunday night, steel drum music on Monday night.
• WE LOVE:  “Almost Free” Happy Hour menu, and their selection of craft beers.

I love how the bird photobombed my mermaid fountain photo

THE BUNGALOW

Driftwood Motel and Cottages

4150 NE Indian River Dr.

By now you know that we love staying in our own little bungalow or cottage…. What is it about a free-standing structure where we don’t have to share walls with anyone? Is it a throwback from childhood? The playhouse where you pretend to be something you’re not? “Hi honey, how was work? Here is your cup of tea,” when you’re six years old and your “husband” is five? (And yeah, right, tea? How about vodka??)

I think it’s just walking in to a “This is all we need” set of rooms where there is no laundry to fold, no stack of mail to sort, no yellowed to-do list magneted to the fridge from four years ago.

• VIBE:  Oh so cozy and quiet. And ahhhh, no laundry.
• WALK:  A very short walk to The Bar! But use caution, there isn’t really a dedicated sidewalk here.
• DECOR:  Old-Florida wood paneling in the front porch that we love, and otherwise light neutrals.
• SLEEP: A very comfortable bed and bed linens.  (Ahhh, someone else washed these sheets and made our bed!)
• EXTRAS:  Pet friendly! Private fishing dock, free wi-fi, full kitchens, and cable. Our unit, The Honeymoon Cottage, had a TV near the bed and also in the front room (enclosed porch.)
• RATES:  For us, in the off-season, our cottage for one night was around $130.
• WE LOVE:  The proximity to the river, and how surprisingly roomy our cottage was on the inside. “This is all we need.”

And here are some photos of the pedestrian friendly, eclectic town:

Jensen Beach is full of cool art galleries like the Then & Now Gallery

Mulligan’s Beach House, another festive beach bar

Every best beach town has a surf shop! Kirk’s Dive and Surf

Crawdaddy’s, a lush and shady retreat from the heat

Crawdaddy’s is not only shady-cool, but decor-cool, too

Talk about decor…  this building is no longer Bluezy’s Happy Snapper, but The Hoffman, German/American Food & Drinks (and painted a neutral beige now!)

Another intriguing bungalow-style motel, Caribbean Shores, that is now CLOSED! Sad to say – what a perfect location and cute cottages! If you have any info about this place, particularly if it may be opening again, please let us know!

Caribbean Shores, “Sandpiper” cottage

“Sandpiper” cottage front porch

Can you tell the deep satisfaction this quirky and welcoming town, Jensen Beach, gave us? Are you right now visiting a website and scribbling down the phone number to book your stay? When your workweek is in the rearview, wouldn’t you love to be trundling down that winding river road, with this view up ahead?

And because we wholeheartedly believe Jensen Beach will draw you in, let us know when you go, not if.

Jensen Beach is on Florida’s east coast, 30 miles south of Vero Beach and 45 miles north of West Palm.