The 2009 Vero Beach Adoration and INFO thread

[backyardponder]

Headed to VB for the first time, 3rd week of June. Spending Sat-Thurs, which will be relaxing, but just concerned it will be a little toooooo relaxing. So I am looking for activities to do, and looking to see if people have done any of the following, and have any advice or comments:

Ocean Discovery Center

McKee Gardens

McLarty Treasure Museum

Navy Seal Museum

Manatee Observation Center

thanks in advance

We went to McKee Gardens a month ago. It was a nice, smaller garden. The 9 year old girls who were with us liked it for about the first half hour, then they were ready to move on.

There is an admission. If you are a member of a garden, arboretum, or similar facility, you can get free admission as part of the American Horticultural Society's reciprocal admissions program. Information on this program and a link to the participating gardens is at http://www.ahs.org/events/reciprocal_events.htm

 

[podsnel]

Just back a little over a week ago.... sigh! what a lovely resort and we can't wait to go back. We had an OVIR on the second floor. What a view. the kids had a great time looking for shells and swimming in both the ocean and the pool. I am plotting my 4/2010 trip right now.

Does anyone know what the rack rates are for this year? I am thinking that I may be better off paying with the member discount rather than using my points for Friday and Saturday nights... any thoughts?

Thanks! and I love this thread!

I just booked a cash OVIR for friends coming with us for the weekend in September, and the discounted rate then is $150. It IS at DVC's discretion, but I have been able to get it twice at HHI in summer, so anything is possible!

So happy this thread is back up front- I spent alot of time searching for it the other night!! We're going September 25-27, hoping to miss any hurricanes!

 

[MiaSRN62]

Hi everyone....I am waaay behind on our thread too. Had major car woes getting back home. We moved dd out of college for the summer and drove her car back to PA. But it broke down twice. Second time we had it towed and slept overnight at my aunt's in Flagler Beach. The first night we slept in Daytona. A $300 car repair bill and 2 days later than planned, we arrived home at 8 pm last night.

I'll try and catch up and post in the next couple of days. I have to work tonight----wish I didn't because we are so pooped from our drive. I'll update all trip dates on the first page by the weekend. I got a few PM's and I'm a little behind right now.

Hope everyone is well..........

Maria

 

[WolffDVC2004]

DH and I are headed down to VB on Saturday. We will be celebrating our 5th anniversary! We are going to be there throught 5/23 then over to WDW for one night, then home on 5/24. Really looking forward to doing a whole lot of nothin'! We are booked in an OVIR. Only 2 more days...

 

[dort]

Well, I'm sitting here listening to the wind blow and watching the nasty rain fall out my front window wishing I was back at VB on my balcony listening to the waves

Made it home yesterday from a fantastic time at VB and a couple days up at the BWV, had to get my dose of EPCOT and the Flower and Garden Festival.
Had some really great dinners while we were there. Went to Mama Mia's twice, Squid Lips in Sebastian (YUMMY), Capt. Hirams, brunch Mothers Day at Shutters and Orchid Pizza twice (chicken parm sub one night and pizza the other). seemed like all we were doing was eating

A big HELLO to Rob and Maria, it was great to meet two (four, must include Rob and Mary Beth) really nice people wish we could have chatted more with them. Maria, also a big thanks for arranging the chairs, they were great!!

Sorry to hear of the car issues on your way home Maria, no fun. But glad to hear you made it home safe and sound.

Rob, my dh can appreciate the grass, ours is in similar situation. FYI, I was happy with the condition of the room at BWV everything was okay.

Can't wait till i can start planning for next May.

 

[dort]

Well, I'm sitting here listening to the wind blow and watching the nasty rain fall out my front window wishing I was back at VB on my balcony listening to the waves

Made it home yesterday from a fantastic time at VB and a couple days up at the BWV, had to get my dose of EPCOT and the Flower and Garden Festival.
Had some really great dinners while we were there. Went to Mama Mia's twice, Squid Lips in Sebastian (YUMMY), Capt. Hirams, brunch Mothers Day at Shutters and Orchid Pizza twice (chicken parm sub one night and pizza the other). seemed like all we were doing was eating

A big HELLO to Rob and Maria, it was great to meet two (four, must include Rob and Mary Beth) really nice people wish we could have chatted more with them. Maria, also a big thanks for arranging the chairs, they were great!!

Sorry to hear of the car issues on your way home Maria, no fun. But glad to hear you made it home safe and sound.

Rob, my dh can appreciate the grass, ours is in similar situation. FYI, I was happy with the condition of the room at BWV everything was okay.

Can't wait till i can start planning for next May.

 

[dort]

oops, don't know what happened there, double post. Sorry.
I'm having VB withdrawl.

 

[cheezNE1]

Well, I'm sitting here listening to the wind blow and watching the nasty rain fall out my front window wishing I was back at VB on my balcony listening to the waves

Made it home yesterday from a fantastic time at VB and a couple days up at the BWV, had to get my dose of EPCOT and the Flower and Garden Festival.
Had some really great dinners while we were there. Went to Mama Mia's twice, Squid Lips in Sebastian (YUMMY), Capt. Hirams, brunch Mothers Day at Shutters and Orchid Pizza twice (chicken parm sub one night and pizza the other). seemed like all we were doing was eating

I'm doing the exact same thing next week... VB and couple of days at BWV. Forecast for the next 10days doesn't look so good.
Im gonna try out Shutters also. Any good seafood place around ??

 

[dort]

I'm doing the exact same thing next week... VB and couple of days at BWV. Forecast for the next 10days doesn't look so good.
Im gonna try out Shutters also. Any good seafood place around ??

At Capt. Hirams i had the mahi mahi which was very good and Squid Lips i had the cajun bacon wrapped scallops which were also very good (could have eaten more). to both places for seafood. Check out page 1 lots of different restaurant links.
Keep my fingers crossed for you that you have as good weather as last week.

Have a great time.

 

[perpetualplanner]

Dort - which of the 2 restaurants would you recommend for a mix of seafood/non-seafood people? We'll be down in July with some family and they are not big seafood people - we are.

 

[dressthechild]

We just went to the Mel Fischer Treasure Museum. (Close to Captain Hiram's.)We are interested in that type of stuff so we really liked the place. It only took 45 minutes to see everything. The place is pretty small. They show you a very old film documentary of when Mel F. found the Atocha ship then you walk the museum on your own. They have authentic pieces of treasure from the wreck on sale.

 

[dort]

Dort - which of the 2 restaurants would you recommend for a mix of seafood/non-seafood people? We'll be down in July with some family and they are not big seafood people - we are.

Hi Perpetualplanner! DH had a New York Strip steak at Capt. Hirams and thought it was very good. I think of the two places, that would be your best bet for the non sea food people. The links to both restaurants are on the first page. Hope this helps.

 

[PammyK]

OMG,
I just checked the 10 day forecast for VB, Thunderstorm the entire next week. What am I gonna do....bummer

Honestly, it is just our normal summer weather patterns. Mostly likely it will rain for an hour or two in the afternoon and the rest of the day will be lovely. Or at least I hope thats the case since I'll be at Vero next week myself.

 

[MiaSRN62]

Honestly, it is just our normal summer weather patterns. Mostly likely it will rain for an hour or two in the afternoon and the rest of the day will be lovely. Or at least I hope thats the case since I'll be at Vero next week myself.

I agree....if you go to FL any time in the rainy season/summer season, you'll see rain predicted for every day. Most times it's a 20-30% chance. And when it does rain it's not an all-day event. So relax and enjoy cheez. Now if you go during hurricane season and experience a tropical storm or hurricane, then you have something to worry about. We were there for tropical storm Faye----bad.


Maria

 

[DisDaydreamer]

Well, I'm sitting here listening to the wind blow and watching the nasty rain fall out my front window wishing I was back at VB on my balcony listening to the waves

Made it home yesterday from a fantastic time at VB and a couple days up at the BWV, had to get my dose of EPCOT and the Flower and Garden Festival.
Had some really great dinners while we were there. Went to Mama Mia's twice, Squid Lips in Sebastian (YUMMY), Capt. Hirams, brunch Mothers Day at Shutters and Orchid Pizza twice (chicken parm sub one night and pizza the other). seemed like all we were doing was eating

A big HELLO to Rob and Maria, it was great to meet two (four, must include Rob and Mary Beth) really nice people wish we could have chatted more with them. Maria, also a big thanks for arranging the chairs, they were great!!

Sorry to hear of the car issues on your way home Maria, no fun. But glad to hear you made it home safe and sound.

Rob, my dh can appreciate the grass, ours is in similar situation. FYI, I was happy with the condition of the room at BWV everything was okay.

Can't wait till i can start planning for next May.

Hi Deb. Soo glad to meet you... Hope we can meet up again...



I wan't to respond to other posts, but it is past my bedtime... bye until tomorrow everyone.

 

[MiaSRN62]

A big HELLO to Rob and Maria, it was great to meet two (four, must include Rob and Mary Beth) really nice people wish we could have chatted more with them. Maria, also a big thanks for arranging the chairs, they were great!!

Sorry to hear of the car issues on your way home Maria, no fun. But glad to hear you made it home safe and sound.

Thanks Deb ! I am so glad we all got to meet

Yes...the car issue was stressful. I spent my Mother's Day in a parking lot of a Hess Express gas station with a broken down car in 98 degree heat and sun in Daytona. No mechanic shops were open. So we walked to a Comfort Suites and spent the night. Got up the next day and it ran for 90 min and broke down just outside of Jacksonville. Anyway.....we made it.

I'm also in VB/FL withdrawl ! Rainy and cool here in PA. My dd woke up and said, "mom...where's the sun ?" She's so used to seeing it almost every day in FL.

Ok.....my Squid Lips review. VERY relaxed atmosphere. Shorts and flip flops would be fine though I saw some in sun dresses and such. We got a high-top table right near the windows (which are zipped open in nice weather). You walk a short pier out over the bay/marina to get into the restaurant.

Service was very good. We ordered coconut shrimp and stuffed flounder. I had Squid Ink as a drink (yum) and my dh, Rob had the Shark Bite. Prices were reasonable in our opinions. The night we were there they had a group of 3 or 4 guys playing songs from the 60's/70's.

Some pics :

Maria

 

[fers31]

Mmmmm....that looks very good. Wish I had tried there.

 

[Sorcerer's Dad]

Had dinner last night at Squid Lips and ate a Seafood Enchilada to have something different.

Fish, scallops, and shrimp inside the enchilada - it was delicious!
My wife had crab and lobster meat sandwhich. Looked like crab cake, but was even better tasting - and I grew up around the Chesapeake Bay.

No band playing last night, nice breeze. Very peaceful.

 

[MiaSRN62]

Had dinner last night at Squid Lips and ate a Seafood Enchilada to have something different.
.

I was considering that dish SD.....glad u had a nice visit to Squid Lips



Some more pics taken during our stay at VB (May 5-8) :

Maria

 

[DisDaydreamer]

Some more pics taken during our stay at VB (May 5-8) :Maria

Wow... these could have been from my camera. Very much the same shots I took this time. Except for that possessed bunny.

We bought a bag of baby carrots for salad during the week. I scattered some around in different areas, but they never were touched. They seem content with that wide blade grass.