Shopping in Fort Pierce

At Concepts in Bloom, experienced florists create fragrant, colorful compositions using live flowers and hand deliver these gifts up and down the Treasure Coast from Stuart to Vero Beach. Like a child playing Tree No. 1 in the school play, the florists convey emotions through the medium of plants. They intertwine tulips, nestle delicate orchids inside bowls, and plant deep crimson roses into crystalline vases. The arrangements adhere to any occasion, from beribboned corsages for prom to flower-filled cornucopias for Thanksgiving. In addition to dazzling loved ones with vases and centerpieces, Concepts in Bloom treats sweethearts and friends to gift baskets laden with fruit, gourmet food, and skincare products.

With two locations, an accommodating staff of floral designers and artists, and more than 30 years in the business, Crafts & Stuff has carved out a respected place in the Palm Beach arts-and-crafts community. Art and craft supplies range from Prismacolor markers to jewelry-making kits, and share shelf space with an array of wedding accouterments. Nearlyweds can rent custom floral pieces and artists can bring in their glitter and macaroni masterpieces to be immortalized by custom framers who ply their trade on site.

Her Majesty Boutique's staffers aim to treat each woman who walks through their door like a princess—and dress her accordingly. In addition to top designers, such as Bebe, BCBG, and Calvin Klein, the boutique carries startup designers and is the only place to find looks by Dee's Designs & Beach Bridal Gowns. Jeans by 7 For All Mankind and True Religion stock closets with everyday wear, and Nina Canacci special-occasion frocks ready ladies for proms, pageants, or black-tie flag-football games.

Royal red drapes cordon off a trio of dressing rooms, all trimmed in black-and-white damask that pops against the shop's pink walls. A crystal-drenched chandelier illuminates shoppers as they twist and turn in front of mirrors or consult the Audrey Hepburn portrait hung outside. To polish off ensembles, shoppers can peer into a glass display case that glimmers with crystal and rhinestone jewelry or snag a straw beach bag to match a new swimsuit.

Mattress1One's immense inventory brims with top-quality slumbering surfaces from renowned brands such as Tempur-Pedic, Serta, Sealy, and Stearns & Foster. At multiple locations throughout Florida, knowledgeable staff members roam showrooms that brim with an array of mattresses forged from such materials as memory foam, high-tech innersprings, silk, and cashmere. They also curate an online Mattress 101 guide, which includes handy tips on selecting the ideal mattress size, keeping the mattress in tiptop shape, and mounting a rock-solid legal defense in case you accidentally rip the tags off.

Though Florida spans nearly 60,000 square miles, Jane Thompson manages to fit most of it onto 10 acres. Throughout her plant nursery, Thompson—who claims certification from and affiliation with such agrarian societies as the Florida Association of Native Nurseries—and her team tend to more than 60 native species that range from beach-dune sunflowers to coffee trees. By specializing in these native species, Indian Trails' growers supply property owners with plants that readily adapt to Florida's climate so that they thrive with little to no irrigation. Thompson also helps homeowners plan their landscapes through onsite demonstration plantings or design consultations, in which she offers essentials such as plant selection, construction of retaining walls, and transition of plants from the nursery to preschool.

Inside Learning Express Toys, children of all ages can find a host of entertaining and educational toys designed by brands such as Lego and Scientific Explorer. Seven days a week, staff members share their enthusiastic attitudes as they help children and parents peruse dolls and accessories, brain-stimulating word games, or science kits that fuel interactive learning. The store frequently holds special events for festive occasions, such as Father's Day and Lego Day, hosting such costumed characters as Santa Claus and welcoming royal delegates from the King of Legoland.