Vero Beach is becoming a staple yearly visit for me and my family. As my dad's birthday is July…read more4th, it is only natural that we celebrate in true Florida fashion and head to the beach. Also, his only request is usually one of two places: the beach or the casino. We almost always opt for the beach each year, and Vero Beach is one of the closest beaches to where my dad lives. Quite like some other smaller beach towns, this beach is tucked away and is pretty quiet in comparison to more popular beaches, like Clearwater, Cocoa, etc. So, it's a nice little getaway from the crowds. It is south of the Space Coast (Cocoa Beach area) and, like many other beach towns, it offers various little beach shops and eateries. They also have a good number of public restroom facilities, which is always great! Parking is not super ample, but there is enough of it. Quite on par for most beach towns. In all my times visiting, we usually get pretty lucky and get great parking right next to the beach. It is FREE also - so fret not about that. It is a clean beach. It is a smaller shoreline, but there is nothing wrong with that. Less beach to walk (unlike Siesta Key, for example, where it is a TREK to get to the water). The sand is soft, very soft actually. It can get hot, but for the most part, it's not too bad. All in all, it's a nice beach to visit if you want a quieter beach experience. And for the last 4 or so years, it has been a staple for my family, so there's that!

Vero Beach is a lovely place to spend the day or visit for vacation. The sand is more white than…read morenorthern Florida beaches and the water is very blue. The crowds aren't too bad either. We will return!

A+ Excellent business and customer service from Scott at Shark Bait Rentals…read more Came home for the holiday weekend and last minute had the urge to get some paddle boards to head out and take advantage of the clear waters just off the coast to the boiler shipwreck near Waldo's. Scott, even though short handed without hesitation, had two paddle boards, vests, and paddles available within an hour of the phone call. Very pleasant to speak with over the phone and easily coordinated all aspects of the rental process. Will definitely be using Shark Bait again for any rental needs beach side and will recommend to all family, friends, and visitors.

I've had good experiences with Sharkbait so this isn't what I wanted to do but…read more.. I've rented from them before and it went great. I've rented from them and not been able to make it to the beach and I was still charged in full. I didn't like it but didn't make a deal of it. For April 11 2023 I rented a fly and 3 chairs ($67). The weather wasn't great but I had company in town so we went to the beach. Sharkbait was a no-show. We walked to the Costa de Esta and explained the situation and they gave us three beach chairs for nothing. Very nice. When I got home I wrote to SB asking for my refund. No answer. I wrote again. No response. And then again. No response. I did tell him that if I didn't hear from him I would write this review for every social media site and then go to the BBB. So here I am. I hate so much to do this - I understand keeping my money when I can't be there but to keep my money when they aren't there? That is dishonest.

Beautiful beach! Great place for the family and a very clean beach. Love the Marriott properties…read moreand Monarch is wonderful with the great beach access.

Sexton Plaza Beach is located in the Heart of Ocean drive, where Beachland Blvd ends at the…read moreAtlantic Ocean. This beach park and shopping plaza is named in honor of early Vero Beach pioneer, Waldo Sexton. In 1914, Waldo Sexton came to Florida as a traveling, agricultural equipment salesman. In the 1920's Waldo and a strong team of mules cleared the right of way for A1A from the south county line to the Sebastian Inlet. Sexton's other accomplishments included co-founding McKee Botanical Gardens, creating the Driftwood Inn, Ocean Grill, and the Patio Restaurant. He even made a mountain that is no longer in existence when it was taken apart to save the Driftwood Inn from a hurricane in 1973. Waldo's Garden was his 1914 homestead. He arrived in Florida from Indiana and built the house based on the turn of the century home his wife Elsebeth had grown up in Illinois. He operated a dairy farm on the property. He was also an early Vero Beach developer and architect. Once you get to know Waldo's architectural style you can easily spot in in town. He was said to have studied Addison Mizner but his buildings looked more weathered driftwood than Mediterranean Revival. He was a scavenger of relics from Florida's prosperous land bust years and incorporated them into his buildings. Tiles, wrought iron, and bells show up in a recurring theme creating a charming and eclectic aesthetic. You can still find traces of Waldo Sexton all over Vero Beach to this day. For his efforts, Waldo Sexton has been deemed a great Floridian. The City of Vero Beach utilized city improvement funds and began transforming Sexton Plaza Beach in 1999 when it was primarily just a parking lot. During construction, the original 1958 bronze plaque which marked the plaza's dedication was found behind overgrown landscaping and has been restored and reinstalled on a monument. Cobblestone pavers, coconut palms and benches were added and the oceanside plaza was completed in 2008. Sexton Plaza Beach offers free parking, an unheard of beach luxury here in Broward County. There is additional parking on Ocean Drive. At the end of the street is a wide pavilion perfect for catching sunrise and sunsets overlooking the wide beach and beautiful ocean. You can dine at Mulligans Beach House or the Ocean Grill, both overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Ocean Grill was another one of Waldo Sexton's projects. The restaurant opened in 1941 when it was built on a sand dune 200 yards from the ocean. The inside is furnished with pecky cypress, mahogany, wrought iron and Spanish from Waldo Sexton's many warehouses. The first meal at the Ocean Grill was served was on New Year's Eve. In addition to the two main restaurants there are a number of other shops and eateries. This is the perfect spot in Vero Beach for grabbing a meal and enjoying one of the wonderful beaches in Indian River County. Note that there is no lifeguard on duty here.

Humiston Beach Park is one of those places that just works…read more Ocean views, tons of palm trees, clean grass, and plenty of shade so you're not getting cooked by the Florida sun. The covered pavilions are perfect for a quick break, a picnic, or post-run cooldown. Always a good mix of families, runners, cyclists, and beachgoers without feeling overcrowded. Best part? You're steps from the beach, food, and ice cream. Easy to park, easy to enjoy, hard to leave. Simple, scenic, and exactly what a beach park should be.

This is a great park with a little bit of everything -a play area with swings several covered…read moreareas for gatherings, seating options with sidewalks and grass options for walking around .There are bathrooms with changing rooms , sinks, soap, mirrors, hand dryers and usually they are kept clean and stocked to use. The covered areas and open areas have lots of seating and entertain with frequent festivals sometimes in mornings and others in the evenings with free parking. There are always extra toys and beach items left for others to use .I come here at least biweekly and it's a great place to enjoy!!

Located on North Hutchinson Island, Round Island Beach Park offers recreation while also protecting…read morea historic site. This part of Florida has a lot of WWII history. You can see it all over in the parks named for key events or people who served in the war. During WWII the Germans were sinking ships in Atlantic shipping channels and hiding along the coast of Florida in their submarines. On May 5, 1942, German U-333 torpedoed and sunk the Java Arrow, a United States tanker eight miles off Fort Pierce. Two crew members were killed. A auxiliary volunteer Coast Guard rescued 22 survivors in a fishing boat but two other ships, the Amazone and the Halsey were hit by torpedoes off of Fort Pierce that same night. To protect the shore massive concrete tank traps with steel rails protruding were sunk offshore. The Fort Pierce Amphibious Training Base opened in Fort Pierce on Jan. 26, 1943 to train soldiers for WWII. Round Island became part of this base, a 19,000 acre military installation. The soldiers who stormed the beaches of Normandy on D-Day were trained here. Obstacles like the ones the Germans were placing to stop the Allied Forces during the war were put in the water off the shore of Ft. Pierce so boat drivers could practice eluding them and teams could practice blowing them up. At Omaha Beach one Fort Pierce based unit lost 33 men but were able to destroy 5 of the obstacles. More than 140,000 military personnel trained in neighboring St. Lucie County from 1943 to 1945, when at the time there were only 20,000 area residents. The objects remained in the water long after people started using the beach for recreation. Unfortunately some people were injured and in 1991 the government did a national cleanup of former military bases during which time the objects were removed and some were given to the SEAL Museum created by long term democratic Florida senator Claude Pepper. At the museum you can learn more about the part Ft. Pierce played in WWII. You can still see some of the underwater obstacles used for training between the picnic pavilions and parking area along with interpretive signs. In addition to some amazing history, this beautiful 11.36 acre park has free parking, beach access, five picnic pavilions with tables and grills, a playground, shower, restrooms, and a walking trail in the park. Lifeguards are on duty between 9:10 a.m. and 4:50 p.m. daily. Along the beach are areas blocked off to protect sea turtle nests. Across the street is Round Island Riverside Park where you can launch a canoe or kayak on to the Indian River Lagoon where you can see dolphins and manatees. I really enjoyed my time at Round Island Beach Park with its clean beach, clear water, well-maintained facilities, quiet setting. and WWII history.

Pretty & safe beach area that's not too crowded but not deserted either. Lifeguard's, picnic…read moretables, showers & bathrooms for convenience. Even historical/informational areas of interest.

In 1921 the Indian River Land Co. deeded Pocahontas Park to Vero Beach. In the 1920's the park had…read morea small zoo that included alligators, a bear, and a bobcat. The tennis courts were added in 1925. The town's first community center was built in the park in 1935. During WWII it served as a club for Navy personnel training at the airport. After the war it was again used as a community center until a new one was built just north of it. The original center is now The Heritage Center with a museum dedicated to the citrus industry. A plaque outside the building commemorates the spot in Pocahontas Park where on July 2, 1925 William Jennings Bryan delivered a speech for the county's inaugural festivities. Today families visiting the historic Vero Beach downtown area can still enjoy this charming park that has delighted generations of families. The park has pickleball courts, a playground, restroom. shuffle board court, and tennis courts. Standing guard at the entrance to the park is Patriot the fiberglass horse. Pocahontas Park is the perfect place to take the kids to play or to enjoy a game of tennis.

Pocahontas Park is a pleasant enough place located in the Main Street Vero Beach section of the…read moretown. It is more designed for kids, however there are plenty of benches out front and it seems to be a popular place for people just to chill for a bit.

Tracking Station Beach Park is a 6.37 acre park in Vero Beach. The entrance is a little hard to see…read morebut it is located off Highway A1A between the CVS Pharmacy and 7-11 store. The park takes its name from the university ocean research facility located by the park entrance. Park amenities include a beautiful 624 feet of life guarded beach from 9:10 am - 4:50 pm, one pavilion with picnic table and grill, water fountain, restrooms, outdoor shower, and best of all there are 74 free parking spaces. I love free beach parking which is sadly lacking in Broward County. Inside the park is a memorial to 17 year old Lynn Carol Elliott (1965-1983). Elliot was a student of Vero Beach high school. She was hitchhiking with her fourteen year old friend Regan Martin when they were picked up by serial killer David Alan Gore who committed crimes with his cousin his Fred Waterfield. The pair were dubbed the killing cousins. When Elliot escaped outside of the house while Martin was being attacked, Gore followed her and shot her in the head which was witnessed by a neighbor boy riding his bicycle. The police were called and the pairs crime spree came to an end. Gore was executed by lethal injection in 2012. If not for Elliots courage in trying to escape, there may have been many more victims. This is such a sad story of promising lives cut too short. This beach is ADA accessible. It is favored by surfers and sun worshippers. It is also beloved by nesting sea turtles so stay off the dunes, watch out for the nests, and take your garbage with you. Sea Turtle nesting season is from March 1-October 31. All sea turtles are protected by state and federal laws. I was disappointed to see that a new condo complex called Indigo is going to be built at the entrance to the park. I hope that this does not negatively impact the sea turtles. For now this remains a lesser known beach in Vero and a great place to enjoy the ocean and outdoors.

Best beach in Vero beach! Parking can be difficult depending on time of day, I would suggest coming…read moreduring non-peak hours. The beach does have restrooms and showers and lifeguards do supervise the beach during normal hours.

South Beach Park is a beautiful ocean front park in Vero Beach. We were in town for Mother's Day so…read morewe decided to stop by for a stroll and to take some pictures. During WWII Vero Beach was a Marine Air Squadron Base as well as a training facility for F6F Hellcat, SB2A Buccaneer, F4F Wildcat, and F7F Tigercat pilots. In 1994 they did night fighter training using F6F and F7F aircraft. The Fort Pierce Naval Amphibious Training Base was a 20,000 acre site stretching from Vero Beach to near Jensen Beach. Rockets, bombs, antiaircraft guns and small arms were tested on the beaches and in underwater missions before the post was abandoned in 1946. In 2018 the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers closed the beach to look for remnants of World War II era munitions that could be buried. Through the years some have been unearthed by construction, erosion and targeted searches offshore and on the barrier islands. Today the park attracts sun worshippers who can avail themselves of a variety of amenities that include beach access, a boardwalk, picnic areas with shelters, tables, and grills, and restrooms. The beach is lifeguard monitored. Beach walkers are invited to grab a basket to help clean up the beach. This beach is also a protected sea turtle site. South Beach Park offers amazing views, clean water, and soft sandy beaches. Best of all parking is free!

Great location to enjoyed the warm water and has some designated areas for events. Beach is not…read morebusy when I go, and has 3 volleyball courts, for those that want to play a game. My favorite spot so far