Vero Beach - vacation plan and info request

[RIJim]

Hello, first of all, thanks for all the wonderful info. I have learned a great deal from all of your posts. This April, my family will be taking our first trip as DVC members to Vero Beach. We'll be driving down from MA My kids are 6 and 8. The VB info thread had some great info, however I wanted to ask some direct questions for those familiar with the area. All input is greatly appreciated!

- Restaurants, what are your top 3 dinner choices in the area and why? Are they kid friendly? We love a hearty breakfast, any suggestions?

Day Trips
- I think my kids would love an airboat tour, can you reccomend any places? I saw some on the net but would love a reccomendation
- kennedy space center - I'd like it, but is it interesting for kids? worth the $?
- wildlife, Im pretty sure we'll go to the manatee center, any other reccomendations?
- we are ocean people and love to explore, besides the beach any park or area reccomendations to walk around by the water, do a little fishing, explore, I am thinking Sebastian Inlet, any others?

Shopping - no outlets! we like to window shop and walk around some tourist areas, anything like that in the area? cool shops?

If you have any other reccomendations, please send along. The goal of our trip is to relax, swim, explore and basically get away from winter for a week.
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU !!!!!!!!

 

[DVCconvert]

I'll try to offer some thoughts on some of your questions

- kennedy space center - I'd like it, but is it interesting for kids? worth the $?
- wildlife, Im pretty sure we'll go to the manatee center, any other reccomendations?
- we are ocean people and love to explore, besides the beach any park or area reccomendations to walk around by the water, do a little fishing, explore, I am thinking Sebastian Inlet, any others?

Shopping - no outlets! we like to window shop and walk around some tourist areas, anything like that in the area? cool shops?

KSC IMHO is a must do if you or the fam are interested in space or planetary sciences. A one day pass actually gives you a 2 day admission - I think it's a great deal. My only caution is that the food is very expensive inside the visitors center - don't miss the shuttle launch experience (equal in quality to an attraction at WDW) and take at least the bus tour that's included in your admission. Also many of the attractions/exhibits in the VC complex are really targeted towards kids.

Wildlife definately go to the Environmental Learning Center http://www.discoverelc.org/ which is just over the bridge from DVB - it's free (donations requested) and they have a great boardwalk thur a mango swamp.....Also a slow car ride down the Jungle Trail http://activerain.com/blogsview/211532/my-ride-down-the-jungle-trail-vero-beach-florida-32963 offers several great wildlife viewing area/pullouts.

ocean Aside from the resort I'd recommend the Sebastian Inlet park - Additionally, if you drive north (towards KSC) along A1A there are many other beaches which are open for exploration.

Shopping We also visit the Village Shoppes - a small nice collection of retailers
This link might be dated, but gives you an idea
http://indianrivershores.org/villageshops.htm...also the Hale's Groves farmstore offers alot of interesting florida related food and non food items.

HTH

ps/ for a heap'in off property breakfast, we have enjoyed this place in the past:
http://www.mrsmacs.com/

 

[schewy]

We have stayed at VBR several times before going to WDW and we always drive.
The local resturants are about 8 miles away from the resort. The resort does have its own resturant but it can be expensive. There is also a pool side cafe that serves "fast food" and it is pretty good.
If you are staying in a 1 bedroom or bigger I would recommend stopping by Publix or Winn Dixie (grocery stores) close to Vero Beach and stock up on some groceries. We do not cook on vacation but we will eat breakfast and lunch in the room if we are hanging around the resort.
There are bike trails.
I like to fish and close by is the city of Grant, Florida. We chartered a small boat and the captain took us up the Sebastain River to fish for sea trout and snook. Tarpin were in the area. We had a great time and it cost about $250 for four hours. The captain provided everything, and if you use a licensed captain you do not have to pay for fishing licenses (the charter business is licensed)
We shopped in some of the small stores in town of Vero Beach. They felt more like local stores instead of the "tourist" type stores.
The resort also has umbrellas/chairs on the beach you can rent, as well as jet skis. They also had a campfire sing along with smores and stuff for the kids.

 

[RIJim]

great info, thanks!

Any restaurant suggestions? We're in an inn room and will be dining out mostly.

 

[schewy]

I can't remember that many. I do know that there was a Sonny's BBQ inside the city of Vero Beach on the main highway. Just outside the resort there was a small pizza parlor. It was pretty good too.

 

[starbox]

I'm the originator of the VB Adoration thread, and in the past five years we've been gradually increasing our Vero time each summer and have branched out to renting houses for extended stays (we'll actually be there for an entire month this summer ).

My favorite restaurants are:
Casual Seafood - Mr. Manatee's and Squid Lips
Pizza (casual Italian) - Nino's

and for an INCREDIBLE meal and drinks to DIE for -
Oriente at Costa de Este - Gloria Estefan's resort and restaurant. This was, seriously, the second best meal I have ever eaten in my entire life. AMAZING - and priced the same as Shutters. I love, love, love this restaurant.

 

[js]

I don't want to bring you bad news and perhaps the construction is all over and nothing to worry about, but I know from these boards they were doing major construction on the beach. Perhaps it is all over now though.
There are many on here that will know better than I, but PLEASE double check so you are not disappointed before your trip.
Thank you for starting this thread. We too are going down in July, our first trip as DVC members. Have a wonderful stay!

 

[purplejam]

Hi, a little OT but what are smores i've seen then mentioned many times and never known what they are.

Many thanks from a thick brit

 

[rockydek]

Smores are Delicious ...it is a piece of chocolate and a campfire cooked marshmallow in between two graham crackers.
Ohhh so good!

 

[rockydek]

We are going for the first time to DVB May 1 to May 8...
Can't wait..Construction should be over.

 

[purplejam]

Smores are Delicious ...it is a piece of chocolate and a campfire cooked marshmallow in between two graham crackers.
Ohhh so good!

They do sound delicious - can't wait
Thanks for the reply

 

[d-r]

we like orchid island pizzeria

 

[d-r]

and I DON'T like capt. Hiram's

 

[Hopefully]

I will be calling on Tuesday to reserve (hopefully) our first week at VB October 9th - 16th. It is just DH and I. We too are interested in restaurant info and things to do.
How far a ride is it to Kennedy Space Center from the resort?
Thanks in advance

 

[DVCconvert]

Hopefully - definately take the time to read thur the post in the link below...TONS of info (especially in the FAQ's)

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2344361

KSC is due north on A1A, depending on traffic I'd plan on 1 1/2 hours.

HTH

 

[Hopefully]

Thanks DVC Convert!!!

 

[RIJim]

I'm the originator of the VB Adoration thread, and in the past five years we've been gradually increasing our Vero time each summer and have branched out to renting houses for extended stays (we'll actually be there for an entire month this summer ).

My favorite restaurants are:
Casual Seafood - Mr. Manatee's and Squid Lips
Pizza (casual Italian) - Nino's

and for an INCREDIBLE meal and drinks to DIE for -
Oriente at Costa de Este - Gloria Estefan's resort and restaurant. This was, seriously, the second best meal I have ever eaten in my entire life. AMAZING - and priced the same as Shutters. I love, love, love this restaurant.

Yes, thats what I'm talking about, looking for some passionate food reccomendations! We will go there!

As far as the beach construction, I am aware and called the resort. They cant guarantee anything but its scheduled to be done before we visit.

 

[starbox]

Yes, thats what I'm talking about, looking for some passionate food reccomendations! We will go there!

You won't be disappointed! As far as kid-friendly, there were some families with kids eating there, and it's not "stuffy".

That said - it can also be very romantic. VB offers a kids discovery program that will give parents an evening out - and it may be worth taking advantage of if you'd like to make it a romantic evening. There is a very, very nice specialty drink menu and there's a beachfront bar that offers live music and dancing many nights, and there's a walkway leading down to their beach with large wicker chaise lounges - very nice on a moonlight night.

 

[flyingcat2003]

Has anyone been to VERO around Christmas time? Is it cold? Too cold for the beach?

 

[DisDaydreamer]

Just a note to all... This is an older thread (relatively speaking). The OP has already been.

For the PP

Here are the average temps. It is the coolest time of year, but cool is a relative term. If you live in Florida it probably feels horridly cold. If you're from Minnesota it probably feels like a heat wave.

Looks like Mid 70's for the highs and low 50's for the lows. Of course it could run 10 degrees or so in either direction depending on the current weather conditions. Certainly walking the beach is in, if the winds are quiet maybe even lying on the beach. The water is too cold. I'm pretty cold water tolerant and 68 is my low limit. The one thing not shown on the chart is the pool temperatures. The regular pool will be 82 and the hot tub will be 105.

We will be arriving the day after Christmas this year.... Hoping for a little heat wave.