Vero Beach in the Summer?

[CaliforniaDreaming]

For those of you who visit Vero Beach in the summer...

...how is it? I assume it gets very hot? Are there a lot of things to do there? Is it difficult to get a 2BR Sun-Thur nights @ the 7 month window?

We have enough points left over after our NYE trip for 5 summer weeknights in a 2BR at Vero, thinking about pairing it up with a trip to Universal (always wanted to go and get FOTL, but every time we're in Orlando we stay at Disney).

Thanks!

 

[mikesmom88]

CaliforniaDreaming,

We go to VB in late August usually after WDW to get a little rest before driving home. It is hot, but because of the ocean, it does not feel as hot as WDW.

As far as the 7 month window, I am in the process now of reserving day by day and tomorrow is the last day. I wanted a beach cottage but could not get it. So I got a 2 bedroom and a Ocean view Inn Room (I tried to get a studio but all they had were Inn rooms.) That being said, it doesn't feel crowded or overly booked while we are there.

I would call for the 2 bedroom as MS said it was very limited.
Enjoy VB, it is great!

 

[CaliforniaDreaming]

Thanks for the reply. We're thinking about next July, so we won't need to make a reservation until December. I'm just curious as to if it'll be possible or not, so we can plan on going somewhere else.

 

[Nick@ VB+OKW]

We go every summer in late June or early July. As mikesmom88 has stated being on the ocean makes it very comfortable with the breeze.

Last July(1-6) we were there and it was 88-90 degrees with a cool breeze. It didn't rain 1 drop while we were there.The resort was booked solid for the week we were there.

We will be there this June 26th for 6 nights in a Beach Cottage, that we booked at the 11 month window(day by day).

 

[dznyacct]

We own at VWL so we booked our 2Br at Vero day by day at the 7 mo window for our stay last July. I had no problems at all getting it. It was our first time visiting VB and it sure won't be our last. We brought friends and their 2 daughters (7 and 12). Our son (14) brought his best friend (also 14) and they LOVED boogie boarding in the ocean every day until they were raw. I was nervous because we had never been there before. I feel like I know so much about WDW, but didn't have a clue about VB. You could do as much or as little as you wanted. It really wasn't unbearably hot, just hang out by the pool during the day. The no-see-ums were pretty bad at night. We were lucky enough to "win" the turtle walk lottery. My son and his best friend had about a hundred bites on their legs after being out that night (and that was with lots of bug spray on). A car is a must at this resort. The town is very easy to get around and there are lots of fun and unusual things to do. We're doing the DCL western and WDW this July, but are planning on returning to VB in July 2005.

 

[scotth1042]

Thanks for the info. We are Vero Beach bound this summer!!

 

[chrisd596]

DZNYACCT:

What suggestions to you have for things to do in the town of Vero Beach.

We have really enjoyed eating at one of the Mexican Restaurants what other restaurants do you recommend.

The summer night outside activities are hard to do because of the bugs...........what other suggestions do you have?

Thanks
chris

 

[pumpkinboy]

When chatting with friendly CMs at VB last week (when it was just lovely compared to here), They noted that summer was their busiest season! Having never been to VB before, this was a surprise to me. But apparently, the Walt Disney Travel folks have had some success in promoting the idea of a rest at the beach after/ before your WDW vacation, and since summer is also the busiest time at WDW... My DW seems to be pondering a VB add-on so we can do the WDW-VB combo vacation, but I imagine that's wishful thining on her part since she's an attorney and doesn't feel she can get away for all that long.

I guess the baby turtles hatch in June/ July, so the Turtle Patrol activity could be really cool. Too darn hot for this Mainer tho.

 

[BillPA]

I booked a 2 BR at VB at about 6 1/2 months out for July this year. I don't know if that is normal availbility or I just got lucky.
Another question, can you rent a metal detector somewhere in the area, and if so any idea of the cost?
Thanks,

 

[dznyacct]

chrisd596,

Like I said my son and his best friend absolutely LOVED boogie boarding every day in the ocean. I only saw them when they were hungry!! We bought their boogie boards at the Publix grocery that was about 10 minutes away. I LOVE that grocery store, great selection, great prices and very friendly employees. I paid ~$13 each, which was a great deal because it was ~$7 /day to rent them. We brought them home to use on our next trip. We camped out at the pool every day, having a home base. I was able to sign our friend's youngest daughter up for the Unbirthday Party which she loved. Since the Community Hall is in the "pool complex", we were able to hang out there while she was at the party. She and her sister loved the pool games that went on throughout the day. We all played BINGO in Community Hall a few times too. My favorite moment was when we were playing "B-O", where you win when you have all the numbers in your "B" and "O" columns covered. My son's best friend, who is really like a son to me (they've been friends since they were 4 and he lived 2 houses away from us) won and stood up and yelled as loud as he could "I HAVE B-O!!!" I was so proud and my son could have died of embarrassment!!

My son and his friend joined in a lot of the teen activites that were mainly in the evening (campfire, movie night...). As a group we visited Mel Fisher's Treasure Museum (worth ~ 1-2 hour visit) and Hale Indian River Groves retail store which has the BEST samples of oranges and grapefruits and juices. Their orange marmalade is wonderful and I think it was $2.89 for an 8 oz jar. I really wish I had bought more. My son has begged me to order some orange from their website. Unfortunately we visited at a time when the groves weren't open for tours. That would have been cool to see. My friend and I and her daughters took a rainy day and went shopping in VB. We went to some pricey boutiques (Village Shops) and then hit the outlet mall (Prime Outlets, right off I-95) and got some good deals. My husband and my friend's husband drove to Ft. Pierce and ate oysters at kind of a hole in the wall bar (he can't remember the name right now). They said the oysters were really good (too slimy for me!!). We all went to Capt. Hiram's (technically in Sebastian, I think) and ate dinner out on the patio one night. The food was really good, great atmosphere and best of all, our friends picked up the check as a thank you for paying (via our DVC points) for the accomodations!! I don't like really hot weather and it wasn't bad at all at night.

Like I said, the boys did a lot of the teen activities at night. The girls loved the 2 free movies a day and usually hung out in the room in the evening watching movies and eating popcorn and ice cream (it was vacation after all!!). The grown ups (and sometimes the kids) would go to The Green Cabin Room lounge for a drink and to listen to the guy who plays music there (very talented, I swear he knows every song ever written and can play them all).

We all really enjoyed Vero Beach, being as busy or as lazy as we wanted. My DH loved the lazy part!! I tend to get a little commando when we go to WDW (I just LOVE it soooo much!!). A few of the things that we didn't get to do, but will try to do next time are visit Kennedy Space Center, visit Dodgertown, rent a kayak and visit the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution. enjoy your trip and tell the turtles "hi"!!