City Guides: Things to do While Boating in Vero Beach
Part of Florida’s southeastern Atlantic Ocean “Treasure Coast,” sunny Vero Beach offers a wide variety of things to see and do along its lagoons, bays and barrier islands. This quiet coastal town is located between Fort Pierce and Palm Bay.
Along with fishing and watersports, Vero Beach has gardens, parks, art and historic sites within easy access to private boat docks on the ICW or Indian River. Keep reading to check out some of our suggestions for things to do the next time you’re in Vero Beach.
Vero Beach Museum of Art
Courtesy: Wikimedia
The Vero Beach Museum of Art features an extensive collection of art from the early 20th century to the present. Peruse the museum’s permanent exhibit of paintings, photographs, sculpture and glass from artists such as Dale Chihuly, George Segal, Andrew Wyeth, Mary Cassatt and Andy Warhol. Special events include art talks, online classes, kid’s programs, docent tours, wine and art evenings and traveling exhibits. Past exhibits have included Homer, Hopper and German art from the Rubell Family Collection.
McKee Botanical Garden
Courtesy: McKee Botanical Garden Facebook
Creativity and natural concepts come together in a diverse collection of native Florida plants at the 18-acre McKee Botanical Garden. It’s on the National Register of Historic Places and offers a peaceful walk among tropical plants and waterlilies. There’s a children’s garden with rope climbing, a boardwalk and a splash garden. Visit special installations like the whimsical Grand Central Stickwork Sculpture (made out of willow saplings) by acclaimed artists Patrick and Sam Dougherty. Seasonal events include holiday nights of lights, garden and antiques shows and an annual waterlily festival.
Indian River Greenway
Courtesy: Wikimedia
The 187-acre Indian River Greenway has a variety of marine habitats, including mangrove forests, maritime hammocks and coastal plains. It’s popular for hiking and birdwatching as well as biking and jogging along a three-mile trail. Bug spray is highly recommended (like most coastal areas of Florida). There’s an observation deck for great views of the mangrove forest and parts of the Indian River Lagoon. The area is dog-friendly, so bring your four-legged friends along (just make sure they’re leashed).
Vero Beach Heritage Center and Citrus Museum
Courtesy: Vero Beach Heritage Center Facebook
For a look into Florida’s famous citrus history, head out from your private boat dock lift and check out he Indian River Citrus Museum. Exhibits include artifacts such as citrus tools and signs, citrus crate labels and photographs of citrus groves, processes, workers and industry pioneers. You’ll learn about the history of Vero Beach and the Indian River area’s citrus industry, which began in the late 1800s when the region proved to be an excellent location for citrus growing.
Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge
Courtesy: Wikipedia
Located in the Indian River Lagoon, Pelican Island is part of the Everglades Headwaters National Wildlife Refuge. It makes a great day trip from a boat dock rental on the ICW or Indian River. The area is a nesting, resting and feeding site for brown pelicans, and there are fish spawning sites and a sea turtle nursery. The waterway has more than 200 fish species including tarpon, flounder, mackerel and spotted sea trout.
Plant and animal habitats range from estuaries, drift algae and mud flats to mangrove swamps and hardwood hammock forests. Spend the day fishing, hiking and birdwatching, or take a wildlife tour and try to spot marsh rabbits, river otters and bobcats, as well as many more native Florida and North American animals.
After exploring Vero Beach’s inland rivers, inlets and other waterways from a boat slip rental, it’s a nice change of pace to discover some of its land-based highlights. What’s your favorite Vero Beach attraction?
