It takes more than a few hurricanes to scare the free-spirited residents of Stuart, Florida, away from living in this gem of a small town along the scenic Treasure Coast. They should know, too, because Stuart safely weathered nineteen hurricanes between 1871 and 2005, with many shipwreck survivors riding out the storms inside Houses of Refuge dotting the shoreline.

The last remaining such structure sheltered sailors from the Italian brigantine Georges Valentine, whose wreck lies 100 yards off the rocky shoreline and serves as an ideal dive site to spot moray eels, parrotfish, and coral.

Those who'd rather fish for marine life are in good company. Not for nothing is Stuart's motto "The Fishing Grounds of Five Presidents." Grover Cleveland, Chester A. Arthur, Theodore Roosevelt, Howard Taft, and Warren G. Harding all indulged their love of rod and reel in these waters.

If simple afternoons by the water sound like your cup of tea, don't let the threat of a little weather scare you off. The old-timers have their hurricane plans down pat, but even newbies get up to speed quickly with help from Your Local Security. It not only offers ADT monitored systems to protect homes from flooding, Your Local Security has a guide for preparing your home and family for a hurricane.

With that peace of mind in place, it doesn't take long to settle into the joys of living in what has been called both a coastal dream town and one of the best small towns to visit in the US.