Headed to Vero Beach for the 1st time HELP!

[JacLynne]

My middle child turns 16 this Christmas, and we want to surprise him with a trip to Vero Beach (we are DVC) because he LOVES sea turtles. For those that have been there, we know for sure that it will be the birthday boy and his sister that will be 5 by then. We may also get lucky and my oldest son that is based overseas may be able to finally come home. We are looking at staying a week. I read somewhere that the 2 bedrooms do NOT have an ocean view (can anyone confirm?) which would be pretty amazing if we could get 1. Any suggestions on which room I should book? (3 bedrooms are already gone) or anything I should request with our booking?
Also, anyone have any recommendations on what we should do? We are looking at the last week in July I think. We are waiting for the booking window to open. Doing cool sea turtle stuff is our #1 desire, #2 will be hanging at the beach. But with a 5 year old and a 16 year old, the age range gets a little tough. We will definitely be going to Archie Carr Wildlife Refuge.
Any help or advice is appreciated. My son is on the Varsity swim team, so athletic stuff is great too, I can always send him with his dad and keep my daughter busy doing other things. This will be our 1st trip to Vero Beach. We will also have our car. Our dates are flexible too, so if there's something that happens earlier in July, or early in August we can be flexible!
TIA!

 

[bobbiwoz]

My family did the night sea turtle nesting hunt walk, and were amazed. However it was years ago, and I think I contacted the Sea Turtle Conservancy to set it up. We did not get into Vero Beach’s night walk, I think that was like a raffle. I stayed behind to watch the grandchildren, so I didn’t attend, and one definite necessity is to wear long pants and bring bug spray!!

We never had an ocean view when we stayed in a one or two bedroom, so, what you have heard is correct as far as I know.

There’s the Environmental Learning Center very close to the VB resort, and I think the have excellent programs. I’ve been on one of the boat tours that goes around Pelican Island.

https://www.discoverelc.org/

 

[bobvb22]

The only guaranteed ocean view rooms are the Ocean View Inn rooms (they are studios). Some of them have open rails so you can sit on the deck and see the ocean, and some have a covered railing, so to see the ocean you need to be standing. The 1 and 2 bedroom suites are located in external buildings to the main building. I have been told a few might have an ocean view on the third floor of each building, but I think only 1 or 2 total. There is a lot of foliage between the building and ocean to block light to the beach due to the turtles, therefore the lack of ocean view in the external buildings.

 

[Travel60]

You can rent bikes and there is a nice trail along the river. Might be too much for younger one unless you can get a bicycle built for two. Mini-golf at resort. Very nice pool. Beach can be very narrow and waves break hard. The resort is 15-20 or more minutes from most anything off resort. Pretty close to Cape Canaveral so check to see if there is a launch.

 

[MICKIMINI]

Make sure you have food and snacks in the 'fridge as it is a hike to any stores!