This Charming City Is A Budget-Friendly Alternative To Fort Lauderdale

Fort Lauderdale is a popular spring break spot in Florida, one that has embraced seasonal tourism more than Miami Beach, as that city deals with crime. However, Fort Lauderdale's airport, together with Miami's and Orlando's, also makes Florida the worst state to fly into during spring break. While the coastal views from Fort Lauderdale Beach are scenic year-round, it's not necessarily cheap to stay at one of those beachfront hotels, either. If you're looking for a more budget-friendly alternative, one option is Port St. Lucie, where beaches, botanical gardens, craft beer, baseball, PGA golf, and a James Bond movie location are all within reach.

Port St. Lucie is the biggest city between Miami and Orlando, and you'd pass right through it while driving between them on Florida's Turnpike. As part of St. Lucie County, the city is only 10 to 15 miles from Jensen Beach and the beaches of Fort Pierce. So, you could still get your fix of fun in the sand nearby while also exploring some inland sights along Florida's Treasure Coast.

Per Champion Traveler, the lowest average cost per day for a trip to Port St. Lucie is $165 for a solo traveler, $344 for a couple, and $539 for a family. Compare this with Fort Lauderdale, where the lowest average cost per day is $205 for a solo traveler, $405 for a couple, and $626 for a family. Going by those numbers, you could save anywhere from $40 to $87 per day in Port St. Lucie.

In the James Bond movie "Moonraker," the North Fork of the St. Lucie River stood in for the Amazon River. It's no stranger, perhaps, than "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom" using this alligator amusement park in Florida to represent a crocodile-infested river in India. For $30, you can take a 1.5-hour "jungle-eco cruise" along the same route as Bond with River Lilly Cruises, which departs from the River Park Marina in Port St. Lucie.

If that's not budget-friendly enough, the Port St. Lucie Botanical Gardens (located further downriver) relies on suggested donations of $5 per person. Here, you can see Florida's beautiful plant life, like native palms and hibiscus flowers, in a landscaped setting. The gardens also include roses, orchids, butterflies, bamboo, and more. They're currently the top local attraction in Port St. Lucie based on reviews, ratings, number of page views, and user location on Tripadvisor.

For craft beer and an affordable bite to eat, head on over to the taproom and scratch kitchen at Hop Life Brewing Company. Founded by first responders with the St. Lucie County Fire District, it's got a 15-barrel brew house that's viewable through the taproom window. You can even get beer to-go in a 64-ounce growler. A hefty jug like that might be perfect if you're bound for one of those nearby beaches in Fort Pierce, such as Porpoise Beach or South Causeway Beach (where both parking and admission are free).

Port St. Lucie is 50 miles from Palm Beach International Airport, the gateway to Florida's golf capital. Even if you head straight from the airport to Port St. Lucie, you can still play a round at the PGA Golf Club in PGA Village. It ranks among Golf Digest's 75 best golf resorts in North America, and its three courses — promising "54 holes of championship golf" — all ranked among the magazine's top public courses in Florida. Beginners and families can try their hand at the six-hole short course, while history buffs can check out the exhibits of golf memorabilia in the PGA Gallery.

For baseball fans, Port St. Lucie is a good place to be from late February to late March. That's when spring training takes place at Clover Park, as the minor league ballpark hosts a major league team, the New York Mets. You don't have to spend money on gas, driving to see the Mets play the Miami Marlins or Tampa Bay Rays. Both Florida teams usually visit for home games in Port St. Lucie, along with other major league teams like the Houston Astros and St. Louis Cardinals. Tickets start at $25, which is cheaper than most seats during the regular season, and if you're low on cash, no worries. Clover Park has followed the trend of Florida theme parks where your cash will be useless. It only accepts credit or debit cards and mobile payment methods like Apple or Google Pay.