Should I do something at VB?

[Stargazer65]

At VB in mid February for 2 nights. Never been. Anything I should attempt to reserve space at, or should I just wing it? What do you do there?

 

[bobbiwoz]

We always go to Pelican Island NWR and walk on the Centennial Boardwalk. I have limited mobility, but enjoy this nature walk that’s close to the resort!

About the NWR

http://veronews.com/2020/10/22/head...heodore Roosevelt in 1903 as a bird sanctuary.

 

[drusba]

You will likely be fine just winging it.

The Wind and Waves restaurant at VB takes reservations so you might consider making one there although likely you can just wait until you get there to get a reservation. Pre-covid , there was a once a week character breakfast and a once a week Pirate dinner at the Seagrape banquet hall but neither of those are happening now.

As far as what VB is like, it is a beautiful resort but not one providing a lot to do onsite or offsite. There is the ocean and an excellent pool area and some kids activities (although I am assuming those are limited due to covid), and the resort is real nice to walk around and look at, but that is about it for onsite activity. Offsite depends on having a car because there is really nothing nearby. Closest is a pizzeria restaurant about 1/2 mile away and that is about it for nearby. The resort is on Hwy A1A which runs up and down the barrier island that is between the ocean and Indian River and what you will see for a long time when driving up and down that road are resorts like Disney on the east side and mostly nothing other than trees and grass on the west side, the result of zoning limiting the ability to build businesses except resorts, and the lack of resorts except those that are also part of the oceanside resorts because otherwise a new resort on the west side of A1A would have no nearby access to the ocean by crossing A1A because such access is blocked by an oceanside resort.

To reach a large grocery store (Publix) requires taking Hwy 510 back across the river to Hwy 1. About halfway there in the Indian River area is an Environmental Learning Center, basically a large park with some buildings devoted to environmental displays. Not a lot of activity but a pleasant walk. On Hwy 1 you will find some stores and a few restaurants until you get to more "city" areas like the main part of Vero Beach about 8 miles south, which you can also reach by driving south on A1A. In Vero Beach proper, there are many restaurants, theaters, and places to rent pleasant boat trips up the Indian River, but I do not know how much of that is actually open during covid times. My personal favorite restaurant is the Ocean Grill, good food, excellent service and fantastic views of the ocean, but I do not know its current operation status. Also, going to a place like Ocean Grill tells you much about the actual population of Vero Beach, e.g., the last time I was there all tables were full and 70% of the occupants were seniors.

 

[Cheburashka]

Since you're only going to be there for 2 nights, imo you'll be fine winging it. We went to Vero Beach for the first time last month for 4 nights, and in advance I had researched all of these offsite things to potentially do to avoid boredom. Well, once we got to Vero Beach, we never wanted to leave. It's a great place to relax and there are plenty of leisurely diversions there, such as:

Independent activities:
1. Swimming in the pool
2. Beachcombing or sandcastle building (the ocean water was too cold for us to want to swim in, but to each his own)
3. Bike riding (you rent at Vero Beach, and the paths take you out of the resort)
4. Mini-golf (only 9 holes)
5. Tennis
6. Bocce ball
7. Bean bag toss
8. Ping pong
9. Laying in a hammock (my personal favorite)
10. Watching a movie via the DVD player in your resort room

Sign-up and/or group activities:
1. Pool bingo
2. Scavenger hunt
3. Geocaching
4. Bocce ball lesson
5. Cookie decorating (this is popular so book it asap if it's available when you're there)
6. Arts and crafts, such as tie dye Mickey shirts, making other nice decorative souvenirs, etc.
7. Outdoor movie nights

There was a lot more than what I listed, but that is just what I remember off the top of my head. They give you an activity list kind of like the Personal Navigator on the Disney cruise ships, so you'll know upon arrival what's available for the week. Vero Beach has a similar vibe to a cruise, a relax near the ocean & get away from it all kind of feeling. We're going back in November.