School was cancelled - Anything "must do" in Hutchinson Island FL?

In July of last year the Mrs and I began planning a trip to Florida to attend the 3 day Skip Barber school along with a couple days on a beach. School was paid for, airplane tickets were bought, hotels were booked, etc. A few weeks ago the Skip Barber school called to say the class at Sebring was cancelled (no reason given). The May date they offered as an alternative in SC was unavailable as it was full (why they offered a full date as an alternative is beyond me). Everything else that doesn't present a conflict to summer plans is in October, after our Chump season ends,so we are just going to wait until 2018 to go.

So what does this have to do with Hutchinson Island FL?

Well, since plane tickets are costly to change, we already had pet sitters lined up, and PTO timed was approved for work, we came to Florida anyway. The location was selected based on availability of beach front hotels I could book with my rewards program.

We plan on spending most of the week laying in the sun as we left behind 30 inches of snow. However, is there anything in this corner of Florida we would hate ourselves if we missed? Like the worlds largest gumball, or the worlds smallest ham sandwich? Any restaurants we have to hit?

We are taking it very laid back since our well organized plans got destroyed but we are open to any suggestions.

Thanks!

I did a quick search and there looks to be a trend occurring with the cancellation of there schools. I hope a credit card was the payment method.

Your story very closely mimics this one.

A credit card was used but it was back in July 2016 when we signed up. Past any dispution period I am aware of.

Obviously I haven't attended the school so I can't say how good the program is, but it would be hard to recommend it based on the customer service. Not so much because the school was cancelled (I understand stuff happens and there may have been an issue with Sebring) but because of how it was handled. We found out about it on a Friday afternoon very late in the day. I immediately reached out to them and was told they would talk to me the following Monday. Over that weekend we started making plans to go to the May date (the whole point was to do this before our 2017 Chumpcar season) and then we were told it couldn't happen. They kept saying "sorry" and "dont forget, no refunds!".

Anyway. Back to the beach!

Depends on what card, it's worth a shot.

Unless you want to go I would pursue it with the credit card company. I think it may be based on the date service is provided not from the date the payment was made. Also technically I don't think they should be charging the card untill services are provided.

I really think I would call the card company you may be surprised.

An example I can give is my daughter paid for a years worth of monthly chiropractic treatments. Six months in the company locked the doors. She got a refund from the card company for the paid for treatments that she did not get.

On a side note a friend of mine did the school and he said ot was excellent. He said he learned alot and he has been driving race cats for decade's.

I would try the CC company to dispute the charge, especially since THEY cancelled the event. I can see no refund if it was you that backed out. Doesn't appear like they gave you any compensation for your payment, offering another date in a different location hardly seems fair.

My dad and his wife live on Hutchinson Island in the winter. We go visit, and still haven't found anything really to do there, aside from go to the beach/pool/etc. Usually we end up at the pool instead of beach as it is pretty windy. We've tried, and still haven't found much to do other than that.

Their favorite restaurants there are Courtine's (http://www.courtines.com), bonefish grille, and the New England Fish Market (https://newenglandfish.net) which is funny as the rest of the year they live on Cape Cod.

I did a Skip Barber 3 day racing and a 2 day driving back in the late 90s. It was great, and gave me a really solid start. I am partially responsible for them changing the rules about paying for damage, I backed a formula Dodge off the track at the uphill at Lime Rock at about 80, would have been $10k now. I still have the nosecone.

Rental Mustang/Camaro parking lot tandems?* .

.

.

*you probably shouldn't do this.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

^but it would be really fun if you did

My in-laws have a place on the island. Our routine usually revolves around fishing in the morning, swimming/beach in the afternoon and then wandering down to Shuckers for dinner and drinks...and stumbling back home.

Maple Street is a great restaurant in Jensen.

You can take a walk through downtown Stuart and do some window shopping.

There's also B&A Flea Market if you are there on the weekend.

Also Hutchinson Island has a nude beach if you're into that sort of thing.

I may be late...I'm local, PM if you want more details.

I like the Ft. Pierce beach area - inlet, Archies, On The Edge, the Tiki Bar. There is a Navy Seal museum just north. At the south end of the island the Elliot museum has a huge old car collection on an automated rack.

Florida Oceanographic center if you are into marine life at all, or the small Smithsonian Aquarium in Ft. Pierce. The shrimp at Chucks is great. Snorkel at bathtub beach if its open.

A little south, tour Jupiter Lighthouse for a good view and some history. Food Shack restaurant in Jupiter is great. Canoe the Loxahatchee river.

Rent a boat, kayak, or paddle board and tour the Indian river. I'd offer a boat ride but short on time and tow vehicles at the moment.

Thanks for all the tips. So far we have basically stuck to swimming, sunbathing, kayaking and sitting on the hotel room balcony pondering the meaning of life, the universe and everything. Since our plans are pretty flexible we are going to Ocala to see some horse friends that are in the area. We plan on some more kayaking before heading home.

While I am not a grizzled Florida vacationing veteran I really the Hutchinson area. Its seems pretty laid back. Plus I didnt get my window busted out and all my stuff taken within 30 minutes of arriving like when I was in Miami last year for work!

Our rental is a Yaris. We kinda dig it.