Vero Beach Travel Guide

Vero Beach is a city in Indian River County, Florida. With plenty of beaches and water activities to keep visitors occupied, Vero Beach is the perfect spot for a day trip or as a vacation destination for a longer stay.

Things to Do in Vero Beach

One of the best things to do in Vero Beach is to enjoy the beautiful beaches and coastlines. The beaches here offer something for everyone - from bustling, popular coastal areas with restaurants and stores lining the seafront, to secluded slices of paradise. South Beach Park is a favorite among locals and escapes the eyes of most tourists, but is a great place to take a stroll both on the sand and through winding trails of greenery. Jaycee Beach is a popular family spot and a great place for a picnic. For those who are less keen on a trip to the beach (hey sunburns can be scary, we get it) but still want to be outside can make a visit to the McKee Botanical Gardens. Focusing on subtropical flora and plant ecosystems their plant collections include numerous species of palm, lotus, and other plants that thrive in humid conditions like Philodendrons. Also opening in 2019 is the Children Garden, which will introduce interactive play exhibits, literal jungle gyms. Also as of 1998 the gardens were added to the United States National Register of Historic Places under its former name, McKee Jungle Gardens. Another option for getting outdoors in Vero Beach, FL, as with most other Floridian cities, is to hit the links. A few local favorites are the Riomar Country Club and the Vero Beach Country Club. Also, slightly farther north on the Intracoastal Waterway are Orchid Island and Grand Harbor golf clubs, which both have the advantage of offering water-based activities because they are beach clubs as well.

Best Time to Visit Vero Beach

The best time to visit Vero Beach is during the spring, more specifically the months of March through to May. During this time, it is possible to miss the hottest, most humid temperatures, and the conditions are still great for beachgoers. Another advantage of coming to Vero in the spring is to witness an American pastime; spring training. Every year professional baseball teams start their seasons by playing exhibition games in the warm weather states of Florida and Arizona. While no MLB team currently calls Vero Beach home in the spring, Vero Beach’s Holman Stadium is a part of what is known as Historic Dodgertown, as the location used to host the Brooklyn Dodgers. A stop here is a must for sports fans and it is relatively close to many other stadiums that will be hosting spring training games this year.

A Local's Guide to Vero Beach

Vero Beach has plenty of things to do, as well as a gorgeous beach, meaning it's a popular spot for holiday vacationers. The city has a very strict policy which means that no building can be over four-stories high, which makes it feel much more like a small town than a typical large Floridian city.

There are many Vero Beach vacation rentals that can help turn a good holiday into a great one. Whether you are looking for resort in the Vero Beach city center or an oceanfront vacation rental, this small Florida city has it all. For a more relaxing stay, a simple bed and breakfast may be a good option, or for those looking for something that is family and pet friendly, there are some private rentals perfect for bigger groups. No matter what part of the city that you decide to stay in, chances are you will be walking distance from shops, restaurants and nightlife. Perhaps the best way to go for Vero Beach is to find a cool beach house. Many locals, or those who spilt their time in Vero Beach and somewhere else, take advantage of the tourist market by opening up their beachside accommodations for rent. While some are more affordable than others, the more expensive ones can usually be split amongst multiple families to make it a more economic option. Speaking of families this is an extremely family-friendly option. Kids and adults alike enjoy staying right on the sand and because it is a popular thing to do, families are all but guaranteed to meet other families enjoying their time in Vero Beach in the same way.

Among some of the many offerings in Vero Beach is an art museum, scenic natural wonders, and a pristine beach. Many of the beaches on the Floridian coast get packed in the summer months, but not in Vero Beach. When walking along the white sands, it's likely that only a few other people will be there also. What the area lacks in size, it certainly makes up for in wildlife, and a leisurely stroll can result in sightings of sand pipers, pelicans, and even turtles. One fourth of the world's sea turtles come to Vero to lay their eggs every year, making it a truly unique place. One of the most popular excursions is a late-night trip out to spot nesting turtles.

If that wasn't enough when it comes to wildlife, the Indian River Lagoon runs between the barrier islands and the mainland, and the lagoon boasts the most biodiversity found in a lagoon ecosystem in the Earth’s Northern Hemisphere. The area is a special place, and home to more than 3,000 species of plant and animal. Visitors can take a kayak out onto the water and try their luck getting a glimpse of some of the beautiful creatures around. Another popular tour is taking out Florida airboats through marshy conditions in hopes of seeing alligators up-close.

Thanks to the city's ideal location on the waterfront, it is a mecca for seafood lovers. Many of Vero Beach's restaurant serve up some unique, fresh local fish, including permit, tripletail, snook, and fresh water crappie.

For culture vultures, the city will not disappoint. Vero Beach's historic downtown is full of theaters, cinemas, and over 12 art galleries. Here, travelers can enjoy sculptures, meticulously crafted exhibits, and dozens of paintings. Visitors are even able to take an art class to learn the tricks of the trade themselves. Likely the highlight of Vero Beach’s museum circuit is the Vero Beach Museum of Art. Known to be the premier cultural and art exhibition on the Treasure Coast, the museum is a must visit. Housed in an attractive building complete with an entryway under an atrium, the Vero Beach Museum of Art aims to cultivate a collection of work that emphasizes the cultural and artistic achievements of the region and country at large. While the exhibits host fine pieces of painting, photography, and glasswork, the outdoor sculpture garden receives the most consistent praise from art aficionados. In 2018, the museum also opened up a children’s branch of the museum where kids can express their creativity. Parents and kids both agree that the highlight of this new kid zone is the 25-foot “sketch aquarium”. Meanwhile those who are either interested in improving their craft, learning a new artistic skill, or improving their art history knowledge have many options for classes at the museum. Many of these are capped off with a lecture series, given by established artists.