It’s a low-key tropical escape for millionaires (and billionaires) who want to relax out of the spotlight of Palm Beach and Miami to the south. Vero Beach is the type of place where celebs can (and regularly do) stroll the public boardwalk and no one makes a fuss. With its upmarket boutiques, wine bars, and spas, it’s been called the Hamptons of Florida. But the beautiful thing about Vero Beach is that it’s just as welcoming to those accustomed to a different type of glitz and glamor. Take for example, longtime resident Bibble Irvin, who’s been known to sell his signature handwoven palm-frond hats outside popular local hangouts, where he happily chats with everyone from local citrus farmers to high-power real estate developers. Quirky, outspoken, and utterly Floridian, Irvin is as much Vero Beach as the latest tycoon to get hooked on the community’s unique blend of sophistication and authentic, flip-flop fun. That’s what makes this delightful discovery feel like home to all kinds of travelers—everyone here ends up at the funky heart of Vero Beach. Keep reading for the best things to do in this unforgettable Treasure Coast town.
What To Do In Vero Beach, Florida
Dress For The Part
They say to dress for the job you want, and in Vero the most desirable occupation is fulltime beach bum. Stock up on resort wear and other preppy digs at boutiques on Azalea Lane, where The Lazy Daisy (a Lilly Pulitzer Signature Store), Southern Tide, Tusk, and The Gazebo (women’s apparel) are all located next door to one another. Other places to shop for sunny day essentials include The Beach Shop Vero Beach and The Twig Shop.
Visit The Vero Beach Museum of Art
Courtesy of Vero Beach Museum of Art
The primary visual arts facility on the Treasure Coast, the Vero Beach Museum of Art features an impressive permanent collection of nearly 1,000 pieces that range paintings to sculptures to photography to video from the early 20th century to present day. Rotating exhibits and community galleries mean there’s always something fresh to see, and admission is just $12 for adults.
vbmuseum.org; 3001 Riverside Park Drive, Vero Beach, Florida 32963; 772-231-0707
Get A Taste Of Citrus Country
Florida is known for its legendary production of citrus, and Vero Beach proudly carries on that tradition. Schact Groves & Market has been family owned and operated since 1950 and is an excellent place to see the majestic orchards, buy fresh oranges and grapefruit, or even pick your own to take home. As you stroll among the trees and taste just how much better Indian River County citrus tastes than any other, you’ll appreciate how this agricultural juggernaut rose to prominence in the mid-1900s and never looked back. Don’t forget to stop into the Farm Market to buy other artisan and locally made foods like preserves, fresh bread, and just-squeezed juice.
schachtgroves.com; 6100 12th St, Vero Beach, FL 3296; 772-562-5858
Tour A Gorgeous Garden
Jessica Sample
Then, keeping with the botanical mood, dive into what feels like the verdant heart of Vero Beach, the resplendent McKee Botanical Garden. Built in 1932 by Arthur G. McKee and visionary pioneer Waldo E. Sexton on acres of tropical hammock as the McKee Jungle Gardens (once home to exotic animals such as chimpanzees), this place maintains the labyrinthine magic of the original conceit and feels like a true Florida wonderland.
mckeegarden.org; 350 US Highway 1, Vero Beach, FL 32962; 772-794-0601
Get Out On The Water
Explore the Indian River Lagoon and its dolphins, birdlife, and ethereal mangrove tunnels with the splendid folks at Vero Tackle & Watersports, who’ll take you out on guided kayak or paddleboard tours or rent you the equipment for DIY journeys. The outfitter also offers inshore fishing charters for those looking to learn the secrets (and secret fishing holes) of local anglers.
verowatersports.com; 3321 Bridge Plaza Drive, Vero Beach, FL 32963; 772-234-9585
See The Ocean And The River
One of Vero Beach’s most coveted attributes is its proximity to water; it’s located on both the Atlantic Ocean and the Indian River Lagoon. A pair of twin parks gives everyone easy access to both. Eight miles from downtown Vero, Round Island Oceanside Park is an excellent public beach access point that offers the sugar white-sand and turquoise waters you’ve come to expect from this part of Florida with amenities like grills, restrooms, and a playground. Walk across Road A1A to the beach’s sister park, Round Island Riverside Park, where you can have an entirely different adventure. Nature trails, a 400-foot-long boardwalk, a fishing pier, and an observation tower (perfect for spotting manatees in the water below) are all part of the fun.
Where To Eat In Vero Beach, Florida
Have A Waterfront Meal At Ocean Grill
Built by Vero Beach visionary Waldo Sexton, the Ocean Grill is a constructed palace of reused boards, found art, and layers of decor. Sit at the restaurant’s bar, which perches right over the Atlantic’s restless water, and enjoy some of the best crab cakes you’ve ever tasted. Caught in the Indian River Lagoon, the crab is sweet, buttery, and fresh. Across the bar, you might spy a jet-setting couple who look like the world’s happiest escapees from Palm Beach. Nod and salute them with your Pusser’s Painkiller cocktail.
ocean-grill.com; 1050 Beachland Blvd., Vero Beach, FL 32963; 772-231-5409
Get Breakfast At The Lemon Tree
This old-school café has been serving the community three meals a day since 1986. Stop in for a comforting meal of chicken pot pie or beef tips over rice for lunch or dinner and you won’t be disappointed. But here, the real star of the show is breakfast when you can get the restaurant’s signature lemon-blueberry pancakes.
thelemontreevero.com; 3125 Ocean Dr, Vero Beach, FL 32963; 772-231-0858
Grab Tacos at El Sid Taqueria
Jessica Sample
Located on Ocean Drive, just a short walk from the water itself, El Sid (located inside Countryside Citrus Farm’s beachside shop) is the place to go for an exceptional plate of tacos and a frozen drink after a long morning of fun in the sun. Corn tortillas are filled with your choice of carnitas; carne asada; mahi; pollo asada; or a vegetarian trio of black bean puree, grilled portobello mushrooms, rajas poblanos, and onions, then topped with shaved cabbage, feta cheese, radish, onion, and cilantro. Wash it all down a fresh citrus slushie that’s been swirled with soft serve.
elsid.com; 3300 Ocean Drive, Vero Beach, FL 32963; 772-234-8299
Have A Nice Dinner Out
If you’re itching to take your new sundress for a spin, there are several places where you can show off your outfit and get a great meal. The Wave Kitchen + Bar, located in the Costa d’ Este Resort specializes in Cuban cuisine and fresh seafood. Try the Paella a la Costa for a taste of both. At the Kimpton Vero Beach Hotel & Spa’s Cobalt, you can treat yourself to a select cut of steak, a grand seafood tower, or twin lobster tails. And when in Florida, always finish your meal with a slice of key lime pie.
costadeste.com; 3244 Ocean Drive, Vero Beach, FL 32963; 772-562-9919
cobaltrestaurant.com; 3500 Ocean Drive, Vero Beach, FL 32963; 772-469-1060
Make Time For A Drink
Save a morning or evening for tasty pours at Grind + Grape, a coffeehouse by day and sophisticated little bar by night. If you’re coming after dark, you’re in for a real treat as the bar hosts live music nightly. For a daytime outing with added entertainment, stop in for jazz brunch held every Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
grindandgrape.com; 925 Bougainvillea Lane, Vero Beach, FL 32963; 772-231-5536
Visit A Vero Beach Institution
You can’t visit Vero without spending at least one night at Waldo’s, a beloved establishment constructed of driftwood smack-dab in the center of town. Located inside the legendary Driftwood Inn, a two-story hotel constructed entirely of driftwood by none other than Waldo Sexton himself, Waldo’s is a dining experience you won’t want to miss. Let your eyes get their fill inside the so-called “Menagerie of Monstrosities” where everything from cannons to plush sofas to a rather extensive bell collection has a place. Then, fill your stomach with smoked fish dip, fried seafood, and more.
historicwaldos.com; 3150 Ocean Drive, Vero Beach, Florida 32963; 772-231-7091
Where To Stay In Vero Beach, Florida
The Driftwood Resort
If you love the offbeat, authentic experience at Waldo’s, you can spend more time at this one-of-a-kind property by booking a room at the Driftwood Resort. There are studios, two-bedroom suites, and more to choose from.
verobeachdriftwood.com; 3150 Ocean Drive, Vero Beach, FL 32963; 772-231-0550
Kimpton Vero Beach Hotel & Spa
For a more luxurious experience, base your days at the indulgence-worthy digs of the Kimpton Vero Beach Hotel & Spa—complete with an intimate pool (and beach bar), a serene spa, and lounger-dotted pale sands with polite attendants ready to get you all set with sporty toys to play in the sea.
verobeachhotelandspa.com; 3500 Ocean Drive, Vero Beach, FL 32963; 772-231-5666
Costa d’ Este Resort
It doesn’t get much more glamorous than eight-time Grammy Award winner Gloria Estefan. Her Vero Beach resort, Costa d’Este, reflects her signature style with modern touches and excellent views of the Atlantic Ocean. Multiple onsite restaurants and bars, a spa, and complimentary sunrise yoga all add to the experience.
costadeste.com; 3244 Ocean Dr Vero Beach, FL 32963; 772-562-9919
