STUART, Fla. (August 28, 2023) – Earlier this year, the Martin County Office of Tourism & Marketing launched their award-winning ecotourism program, Explore Natural Martin. Developed in official partnership with the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics, the program focuses on promoting environmental stewardship and responsible tourism through free, educational eco-tours and activities. Now, there's a new way to explore Martin County's beautiful natural areas and attractions.

Starting today, visitors and residents can sign up for the free, self-guided Explore Natural Martin EcoTrail to discover Martin County's beautiful outdoor areas, world-class attractions, and eco-friendly certified hotels. This mobile-exclusive trail is a new, interactive component of the ecotourism program and highlights more than 20 outdoor wonders and points of interest throughout Martin County, including state and local parks, beaches, nature preserves, museums, and more.

Users who sign up for the free pass will get to explore local sites while gaining a better understanding of The 7 Principles of Leave No Trace. The mobile pass is also GPS-enabled, so participants can “check-in” and earn points at each stop along the trail which can be redeemed for three tiers of unique prizes, including branded bandanas, five-liter dry bags, solar-powered waterproof lanterns, sun protection shirts, and limited edition eco-themed stickers. 

Pass-holders will earn the highest allotment of points for attending official Explore Natural Martin programs (advance registration required) and visitors can even earn bonus points for overnight stays at one of our Florida Green Lodging Program-certified properties.

“Martin County is an undeniably special place, home to stunning natural areas, incredibly biodiverse ecosystems, and countless wildlife species,” says Ian Centrone, Martin County Tourism Program Manager. “We hope visitors and residents alike use the Explore Natural Martin EcoTrail to discover the incredible sites in our own backyard while also learning how we can all better protect our paradise for generations to come.”

This program was developed in collaboration with Bandwango, an innovative travel technology platform.

Sign up for the free pass at discovermartin.com/ecotrail.

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About the Martin County Office of Tourism & Marketing:

Encompassing the communities of Port Salerno, Stuart, Palm City, Jensen Beach, Indiantown, Jupiter Island, Hobe Sound, Sewall's Point, and Hutchinson Island, this hidden gem is a place for unwinding and reconnecting. The Martin County Office of Tourism and Marketing is the official tourism marketing arm of Martin County, Florida, whose goal is to provide information to those interested in Martin County and to spread the word about this one-of-a-kind destination. 

About Leave No Trace:

Using the power of science, education, and stewardship, Leave No Trace is on a mission to ensure a sustainable future for the outdoors and the planet. The outdoors is for everyone. No matter where or why you get outside, it's yours to protect. It's Your Nature. You can learn more about this partnership or Leave No Trace's unique approach to protecting the outdoors at www.LNT.org.  

Press Contact:

Ian Centrone
Tourism Program Manager  
Office: (772) 320-3157 | Mobile: (772) 361-2276 | icentrone@martin.fl.us

This notification can be reproduced in an alternative format upon request by contacting the County ADA Coordinator (772-221-1396), the County Administration Office (772-288-5940) or Florida Relay 711.