Vero Beach
Around Vero Beach
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Metro area · Florida · 172k people
Vero Beach
Locals say Treasure Coast · “Vero”, “The River”
Sebastian · Vero Beach · West Vero Corridor
Sunrise over the Lagoon, where the river meets the sea.
Indian River TealCitrus OrangeMangrove Green
Welcome to the Treasure Coast! Whether you're here for the fishing, the beaches, or the laid-back vibe, you'll find plenty to love. Grab a grouper sandwich and enjoy the salt air.
Clubs for Vero Beach
No clubs for Vero Beach yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Vero Beach. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Vero Beach. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Sebastian Inlet State Park Surfing, fishing, and the famous jetty.
- Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge First national wildlife refuge in the U.S.
- McKee Botanical Garden Historic tropical garden with water lilies.
- Riverside Theatre Professional theater in a garden setting.
- Vero Beach Museum of Art Regional art and exhibitions.
- Historic Dodgertown Former Dodgers spring training home, now a multi-sport complex.
- Outdoors Surf at Sebastian Inlet
- Outdoors Kayak or paddleboard in the Indian River Lagoon
- With kids Explore the Environmental Learning Center
- With kids Walk the boardwalk at South Beach Park
- Evenings Sunset cocktails at a beach bar
- Evenings Live music at Riverside Theatre
- Locals love Seafood shacks
- Locals love Citrus groves
Through the year
Subtropical climate with hot, humid summers and mild, dry winters. Best: Fall and spring are ideal for outdoor activities.
Getaways
- Palm Bay 27 km away
- Port St. Lucie 59 km away
- Okeechobee 73 km away
- Sebring 102 km away
Local flavour
Rooting for Miami Dolphins, Miami Marlins, Tampa Bay Rays, Orlando Magic, Florida Gators, Florida State Seminoles, UCF Knights
Eat and drink
- Indian River citrus Oranges and grapefruit grown locally
- Fresh grouper and shrimp Caught locally and served in beachside seafood shacks
- Smoked fish dip A Florida coastal staple, often made with local catch
- Key lime pie Classic Florida dessert, widely available
Where people go
- Beachside seafood shacks Casual spots along A1A serving fresh catch
- Citrus groves Working groves and packing houses along the river
- Fishing piers and inlets Sebastian Inlet and Vero Beach piers for surf fishing
- Golf courses Numerous public and private courses in a retirement-friendly climate
Heritage and traditions
This region is proud of its laid-back coastal lifestyle, rich fishing and citrus heritage, and its role as the gateway to the Indian River Lagoon, one of the most biodiverse estuaries in North America.
This time of year in Vero Beach
- Harvest season Fall Fall is when citrus and other crops are harvested, and local markets are abundant.
- Vero Beach Jazz Festival October An October event featuring local and national jazz artists at various venues.
Say it like a local: “the lagoon” — Indian River Lagoon, the local estuary
Festivals
- Fellsmere Frog Leg Festival January A January tradition with frog leg eating contests, carnival rides, and live music.
- Sebastian Blessing of the Fleet May A May ceremony blessing fishing boats and crews, with a parade and seafood.
- Sebastian Clam Festival April An April celebration of the local clam harvest with food booths and a clam chowder contest.
- Vero Beach Holiday Boat Parade December A December evening parade of decorated boats along the lagoon, a favorite for families.
- Vero Beach Jazz Festival October An October event featuring local and national jazz artists at various venues.
Landmarks with a story
- Sebastian Inlet Lighthouse A historic lighthouse relocated to the inlet, offering views and a glimpse into maritime history.
- Vero Beach Heritage Center A museum housed in a historic building, showcasing the region's pioneer and citrus heritage.
- Fellsmere Historic District A downtown area with early 20th-century buildings, reflecting the town's agricultural roots.
- Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge The first national wildlife refuge in the U.S., established in 1903 to protect nesting birds.
Food traditions
- Frog legs Fellsmere is famous for its frog leg dishes, especially during the Frog Leg Festival.
- Citrus picking Families visit local groves to pick oranges and grapefruit, a seasonal tradition.
- Seafood boils Low-country-style boils with shrimp, crab, and corn are popular at beach gatherings.
- Clam chowder The Sebastian Clam Festival celebrates the local clam harvest with chowder contests.
- Grouper sandwiches Fresh grouper is a staple at local seafood shacks, often served grilled or fried.
Music and arts
- Visual arts community Vero Beach has numerous galleries and a strong art club, with regular exhibitions.
- Riverside Theatre A professional theatre presenting plays, musicals, and concerts throughout the year.
- Surf culture Sebastian Inlet's surf scene inspires local music, art, and a laid-back lifestyle.
- Jazz scene The annual jazz festival and local clubs keep a lively jazz tradition alive.
A little history
- 1903 Pelican Island designated as the first national wildlife refuge
- 1924 Sebastian Inlet was cut to connect the lagoon to the ocean, transforming fishing and shipping
- 1948 Brooklyn Dodgers began spring training at Dodgertown, which continued for 60 years
- 1920s The Florida land boom brought development and tourism to the Vero Beach area
- Late 19th century Citrus farming became a major industry, with Indian River oranges gaining international fame
- Game day Surfing at Sebastian Inlet
- Game day Fishing tournaments
- Outdoors Surfing at Sebastian Inlet
- Outdoors Kayaking or paddleboarding in the lagoon
- With kids Fossil shark tooth hunting
- With kids Frog Leg Festival
The accent is a blend of Southern and Northern transplants, with a relaxed Florida drawl. Locals often refer to landmarks by short nicknames like 'the inlet' and 'the lagoon'.
Only here
- Pelican Island was the first national wildlife refuge in the U.S.
- Historic Dodgertown was the spring training home of the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers for 60 years.
- Sebastian Inlet is one of the top surfing spots on the East Coast.
- Fellsmere hosts the annual Frog Leg Festival, one of the largest in the state.
New here? A few tips
- Embrace the heat and humidity; always carry sunscreen and stay hydrated.
- Learn to say 'the inlet' for Sebastian Inlet and 'the lagoon' for Indian River Lagoon.
- Expect snowbirds from November to April; traffic on US 1 can get busy.
- Try a frog leg at the Fellsmere Frog Leg Festival in January.
- Explore the lagoon by kayak or paddleboard to see manatees and dolphins.
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Part of Miami area
Nearby
Every areaMelbourne–Palm BayFloridaSalt air and rocket trails.Port St. LucieFloridaSalt air, river bends, and a slower paceOkeechobeeFloridaWhere the lake meets the cattle countrySebringFloridaWhere the race never ends and the lakes are always calm.OrlandoFloridaThe City Beautiful, alive with lightClewistonFloridaSweetness by the lake, where the cane grows tall.Daytona BeachFloridaWhere the ocean meets the speedwayLakelandFloridaWhere lakes and citrus meet.
Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor, FL. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.