The 2009 Vero Beach Adoration and INFO thread

[MiaSRN62]

Kat,
This info was on page 1 of this thread (hope it helps) :

How can I see sea turtles?
Sea turtle nesting and hatching season runs May-October. Most of the turtle nesting takes place from June-August, and hatchlings emerge about 60 days after the nest is made. There are a number of night-time walks organized that allow small numbers of the public to view the nesting phase, but the hatchling phase is far too dangerous to view and there are no legal public walks to view hatchlings. If you would like to see a hatchling, there are morning "Turtle Troops" at the resort three times a week where the naturalist takes you to look at the nests. Once hatchlings begin emerging, it is not uncommon for there to be hatchlings that did not make it left behind, and you may get a chance to see one of those.

If you are at Vero during nesting, there are various places to arrange for a turtle walk. First, the resort offers a turtle walk lottery on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Guests can place their room keys in a lottery at 10am, and enough keys are drawn to fill 20 slots on the tour. There is no charge, but space is very limited and the walk takes place on the beach @ the resort where there is about a 50% chance that you will see a turtle.

On Tuesdays, the Caribbean Conservation Corporation hosts a free turtle walk through Sebastian Inlet State Park. (321-985-4852)
You must reserve a spot ahead of time, and a total of 20 people are allowed on the beach. This takes place in the Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge, a few miles down from Disney's Vero Beach Resort and has a 80% success rate for finding and viewing turtles.

The Caribbean Conservation Corporation also sponsors an "Adopt-A-Turtle" program on Monday nights. There is a charge for this (I believe it is 20$ plus 10$ for each additional person in the group). This also takes place in the Archie Carr Refuge and you must make reservations. Contact number is 1-800-678-7853.

I personally recommend one of the CCC walks, since you can make reservations ahead of time and have a much higher chance of seeing a turtle nesting.

 

[lpandorf]

Just booked a week at Vero Beach in June. This is our first trip to VB. Excited! What airports do you use? Orlando is an option. I see someone recommended Melbourne. If I used Melbourne I'd have to get a connecting flight and it's more expensive. How about Ft. Lauderdale? Looks about the same distance as Orlando. I could get a non-stop to FLL. Anyone fly into there? What other cities should I look into? Thanks for your help! I'm likely flying from Cincinnati, although could look at Indy or Louisville for the right price. I'd prefer to go non-stop as I'm flying alone with the 2 kiddos, one is a four year old boy and after a few hours on the plane/waiting for the plane wants to run around and tired of sitting and travel.

 

[MiaSRN62]

Hi lpandorf,

I prefer Orlando all the way. I get the best deals on Southwest through that airport though I have seen good deals at Ft Lauderdale as well.

Melbourne.........it is definitely the closest. My dd uses it from time to time as it's 10 min from her college campus. But there are no direct flights and Delta is the main carrier there and they just LOVE to switch around your flight itineraries after you've booked. It is taking my daughter 8 hours to get from school to Philly next week for winter break. She has a layover in Atlanta and they chose to switch her 8 am flight to a 6:15 am flight. Had I flown her via SW through Orlando, the flight is 2.5 hours at most. I do have to pay $150 for a shuttle to get her to and from campus to Orlando and this is the only reason I'm flying her out of Melbourne. Even though Melbourne is 10 min from her school, I doubt I'll use this airport again.

Also, I noticed you said you're booking in June. As long as your dates don't conflict with these :
6/7 to 6/12

6/29 to 7/2

6/6 to 6/12

6/21 to 6/23
and if you're interested, I can add you to the Vero Chair Swap. Just let me know as I'll be closing the swap list the end of this month. The link and info to the chair swap is on the first page of this thread. Have fun planning your first trip to VB !

 

[Minnie824]

I have not read this whole thread, but we just booked our first vero beach stay for spring break - mar 31 - april 4. Can anyone provide me with good dining options in the area, and other activities? We don't plan on cooking in our room, and we'll have a car, so any local restaurant suggestions would be great! We'll be traveling w/our DDs ages 7 and 4. Thanks!

 

[backyardponder]

For an upcoming trip, we are flying into Tampa. It was $80 per person cheaper and there's 4 of us.

According to my mapping program, distance from VB to:

Tampa (TPA): 155 miles
Orlando (MCO): 95 miles
Ft. Lauderdale (FLL): 130 miles
West Palm Beach (PBI): 84 miles

 

[MiaSRN62]

Can anyone provide me with good dining options in the area,

Maybe this will help Minnie :

Lobster Shanty in Vero Beach ( http://www.verobeachlobstershanty.com/ )

Mr. Manatee's in Vero Beach ( http://www.planetvero.com/mrmanatees.htm ) also, I believe this is the main website for Mr Manatee's : ( http://www.mrmanatees.com/ )

Capt Hiram's for lunch in Sebastian http://www.hirams.com/

Ozzie's Crabhouse
6060 US Hwy. 1 South
Grant, FL 32949
(321) 724-0009 -----> what I read was "go for the food...not the decor". So I'm assuming this place is very very casual ? But the food is supposed to be great.


Waldo's at the Driftwood
3150 Ocean Drive
Vero Beach, FL 32963-1954
Phone: 772-231-0550
Fax: 772-234-1981
Website: http://www.thedriftwoodresort.com/rest.html


Ay Jalisco Inc
1909 20th St, Vero Beach, FL
Tel: (772) 978-0661 (good Mexican food)

Outback Steakhouse
1475 Us Highway 1, Vero Beach, FL
Tel: (772) 567-5222



Patio Restaurant
1103 Miracle Mile, Vero Beach, FL
Tel: (772) 567-7215
************************************************** *****************************
PIZZA :
Orchid Island Pizzeria right next door to the VB resort on the corner of A1A and 510. They serve a thin crust style pizzia with choice of lots of toppings, pasta dinners, and hot and cold subs. They will also deliver to the lobby of the resort. 772-388-5151
http://www.orchidislandpizzeria.com/



Nino's Italian Restaurant
1006 Easter Lily Ln
Vero Beach, FL 32963
Phone: (772) 231-9311
http://www.verobeachbusinessdirector...uments/118.pdf
Note : Does NOT deliver to VB
Payment options
No credit cards accepted
All checks
Business hours
Sundays: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Mondays: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Tuesdays: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Wednesdays: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Thursdays: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Fridays: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Saturdays: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Giorgio's New York Pizzeria
955 17th St
Vero Beach, FL 32960
Phone: (772) 778-3800
NOTE : Does NOT deliver to VB
Payment options
Visa
Mastercard
No checks accepted
Business hours
Mondays: 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Tuesdays: 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Wednesdays: 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Thursdays: 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Fridays: 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Saturdays: 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
http://www.verobeachbusinessdirector...uments/107.pdf


************************************************** *************************



Ocean Grill :
http://www.ocean-grill.com/index.php...WebPageID=7227 (Ocean Grill)


Boardwalk Cafe & Ice Cream CO 4079 Ocean Drive
Vero Beach, FL 32963
Phone: (772) 234-9570

Apples Bakery & Ice Cream Parlor486 21st St
Vero Beach, FL 32960
(772) 567-5877


Squid Lips Grill : http://www.squidlipsgrill.com/

MoBay Grill in the Publix Plaza near Wal-Mart (Sebastian). A small Jamaican inspired restaurant. http://www.mo-baygrill.com/


Tangos Restaurant---good for steak : http://www.realpagessites.com/tangos...ant/page5.html

And not a steakhouse....but another cool sounding restaurant I'd like to add to the list :
http://www.rjgators.com/

also some mentioned on this link :
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1764324

Rob (DisneyDayDreamer) also posted these links on page 1 :

Area Restaurants
http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n...nts_Page_1.jpg

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n...nts_Page_2.jpg

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n...nts_Page_3.jpg

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n...nts_Page_4.jpg

 

[MiaSRN62]

Minnie, you also asked about other activities ? Did u see this info on page 1 ? Or maybe you're looking for more activities ?

Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge http://www.fws.gov/pelicanisland/

Sebastion Inlet State Park http://www.floridastateparks.org/sebastianinlet/

Port Canaveral (where the Magic & Wonder dock) http://www.portcanaveral.org/cruising/ships.php#disney

Kennedy Space Center http://www.kennedyspacecenter.com/

Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge (a part of KSC) http://www.fws.gov/merrittisland/

The Manateer Observation Center http://www.manateecenter.com/

Mckee Bonatinical Gardens (really cool) http://www.mckeegarden.org/

Another place to check out..especially with Pirates of the Caribbean being so popular.
It's maybe 15 minutes from the Vero Beach resort. Here's some more info :
http://www.atocha1622.com/mclarty.htm:
Mc Clarty Treasure Museum
13180 Highway A1a
Vero Beach, FL 32963
(772) 589-2147

 

[Minnie824]

Wow, thanks for all the info! Thats exactly what I was looking for!

 

[kesharn81]

i might visit the place soon...
nice thread...
thanks for sharing ...

 

[DisTeach1]

I will tell you we went to RJ Gators in October because it sounded cool, and it's not really worth it. It was near a local mall, and sort of had a "chain" feel to it like Applebees or Chilis. Nothing special, except for the alligator on the menu, which was okay. Next time, we'll try something with a little local flare.

Now, Squid Lips was great.

 

[Belle and Rella's Dad]

WE ARE 117 DAYS from leaving for VERO!!!!!


Sorry about that, but with a freezing rain warning coming from 4 p.m. tonight until 10 a.m. tomorrow morning the countdown is what helps me get through.

Another place to eat, that I never see mentioned very much here, but we found it last year and ended up eating there twice, is the Riverside Inn.

Also, we had a boys breakfast one morning up A1A at this very small place about 6 miles north of the Wabasso bridge, don't remember the name of it, but the cast member in the Green Cabin room told us to go there. I had a blackened grouper eggs benedict, it was awesome and would recomend it to all, I was told that they don't always have grouper and sometimes use copia instead.

Well better get back to work, hope everyone had a great weekend.

Tom

 

[backyardponder]

We are heading to VB March 28th with our 9 year old granddaughter and a friend of hers. Can't wait!

 

[Belle and Rella's Dad]

109 days and the cold is getting to me, we are at 11 degrees and have a winter storm advisory from 4p.m. until 2 a.m., so i was taking a look at last years spring break pictures and thought that i would share one with everyone.

The kids absolutely love playing at the beach!!

Everyone have a great day and think warm thoughts,

Tom

 

[MiaSRN62]

Hi Tom !

Saw parts of MI are getting walloped by a winter storm on the Today Show

Light snow and cold here in PA ....I hate cold and snow and ice

I heard FL is like summer there today---in the 80's ! Oh why couldn't I have planned my VB trip for this week

 

[KeepSwimmingDory]

Thanks for all of this great information! We are making our first trip to Vero Beach in May and this thread has been so very helpful. I have added so much of it to my trip planning document. Can't wait to be there!

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I have heard this as well Kat. We had an ocean view room one time that primarily was that of the pool, but we could definitely see the ocean in the background. It was a corner room so it was one of the larger L-shaped rooms. I believe turtle season is May through Aug ? I know there were hatchlings when we were there this past Aug but we missed them. Whenever we were on the beach we only saw the nests.

Kat,
This info was on page 1 of this thread (hope it helps) :

How can I see sea turtles?
Sea turtle nesting and hatching season runs May-October. Most of the turtle nesting takes place from June-August, .................

.........I personally recommend one of the CCC walks, since you can make reservations ahead of time and have a much higher chance of seeing a turtle nesting.

Thanks for the information from a few weeks ago Mia - that helps! We just got back from our first DVC stay and now I'm ready to start planning our May trip which includes VB. Yay!!!

 

[gtrist4life]

90 days for us It's going to be frigid in Missouri today and I'm dreaming of beach, sun, and water!

 

[MiaSRN62]

Happy planning everyone !
I have a WDW trip planned in Feb....then VB in May too..........

We have ice today !!! It's coming down ice pellets out of the sky !

Maria

 

[trampslady]

We will be spending New Years Eve and a few other days here for our first visit. We have an ocean-view inn room. Should we bring our bikes? Can you ride to Pelican Island? Any good bike riding opportunities?

 

[Belle and Rella's Dad]

Merry Christmas Eve Eve!!!!

At least that is what my kids call today, and they cannot understand why I had to go to work today, oh to be a child again.


Better Yet Happy Festivus!!!!

Frank Costanza: Many Christmases ago, I went to buy a doll for my son. I reached for the last one they had, but so did another man. As I rained blows upon him, I realized there had to be another way.

Cosmo Kramer: What happened to the doll?

Frank Costanza: It was destroyed. But out of that a new holiday was born: a Festivus for the rest of us!

Cosmo Kramer: And is there a tree?

Frank Costanza: No, instead, there's a pole. It requires no decoration. I find tinsel distracting.

Frank Costanza: It's made from aluminum. Very high strength-to-weight ratio.

Sorry, I just couldn't help myself.


Maria, I saw your post about the weather in PA, we just ended up with 12 inches of snow last weekend and are due for another 6 to 8 by Christmas morning. The only thing that you can do in Michigan is look forward to vacations, and that is why Vero is so important to make it through the winter.

Trampslady, have a great time over NYE at vero, I have heard about the pool jump at midnight and it sounds awesome. We are headed further south to Marco Island over New Years (BTW go Spartans, beat Georgia), and then up to Disney for a week. I got talked into running the half marathon this year, it is something new for me at Disney so I am really looking forward to it. As far as bikes go, we have never done that at Vero, but if you look back at the beginning of this thread I believe there is a bunch of information about it.

Everyone have a great day and some special holidays,

Tom