Riverside Park is located on a barrier island in Vero Beach. You reach it by crossing over the…read moreMerril P. Barber Bridge. The park dates back to 1944 when Government Lot 2, a 115 acre parcel of land was purchased by the city of Vero Beach for $11,000 for use as a park. Today this park is one of the cultural crown Jewels of Vero Beach. Inside the park is the The Riverside Theater, a 692 seat performance theater that hosts Broadway quality shows throughout the year. The theater also hosts Live in the Loop, free outdoor concerts most weekends. In the middle of the park is the Vero Beach Art Museum. Opened in 1978 it hosts traveling art exhibits throughout the year as well as classes and educational events. It also has an outdoor sculpture garden. It you find yourself hungry, go to the north end of the park under the Merril P. Barber Bridge where you will find a The Riverside Cafe. It is a casual restaurant serving seafood and burgers. In the evenings they often have live music. Also located in this area of the park is the Cole Coppola Memorial Fishing Pier where you can fish and possibly spot dolphins and manatees. The park is also home to the Memorial Island Sanctuary, a beautiful and peaceful Veterans Memorial on an island that you reach by walking over a bridge. Other park amenities include walking and jogging paths, fitness trail, tennis courts, a playground, boat ramps, and picnic tables. Some of the many festivals held throughout the year in the park include the Under the Oaks Fine Arts and Craft Festival, Gardenfest, the Annual Orchid Show, Vero Beach Boat Show, and the upcoming Fourth of July firewoman on the Indian a River. There is so much to see and do here. You could visit several times and have a different experience each time. Whether is a concert, show, exercising, paying tribute to our national heroes, fishing, grabbing a bite to eat, or taking the kids to play, this park has something for everyone in Vero Beach.

A perfect Sweet Sixteen celebration thanks to all of the staff and the fabulous rock & Roll Band!…read moreWe rented a cabana and the service was excellent! Thanks to Mia who served and Linda who helped me plan and Danika who made the delicious food! I can heartily recommend this venue! We had a blast.

Captain John is amazing and you'll have the best time out on his airboat tour! He assured us that…read morewe would see a lot of alligators and we certainly did.... More than 40!!! You will not get wet at all. No one will get seasick. It's definitely fun to do with a group! Fun facts and fun photos. Definitely go.

My wife and I had an amazing adventure and experience! Captain John was a wonderful host. He was…read moreextremely knowledgeable about all of the flora and fauna found in the Blue Cyprus Conservation Area. The booking process for the tour was super easy thru their website. It's definitely a must-see when visiting the Treasure Coast. Thank you, Captain John and Marsh Beast Airboat tours.

If you're looking for a place in Vero Beach that humbles the soul and lifts the heart, Veteran's…read moreMemorial Island Sanctuary is it. This isn't just a park--it's sacred ground dressed in serenity and sunshine. As I walked under a bright sky and the slow rustle of trees, I was greeted by engraved stone pillars marked with words like Honor, Devotion, Sacrifice. You don't just read them--you feel them. Every step here carries meaning. The American flag stands tall at the end of a peaceful, tree-lined brick path, swaying like it's saluting every visitor who comes to remember. Sculptures and monuments dot the landscape, each one dedicated to those who gave their lives in World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, and beyond. The "Lest We Forget" stone from 1963 hit especially hard--simple, bold, and eternal. But what struck me the most was how beautiful it all is. The landscaping is pristine, the layout intentional, and the silence... powerful. You hear birds, maybe your own footsteps, and nothing else. It's as if the whole place whispers: "They mattered. Don't forget." This is more than a park. It's a living tribute--one that doesn't ask for applause, just presence. I came to reflect, to walk, to breathe--and left with gratitude in my chest. Whether you're a local or just passing through, this island sanctuary deserves your time, your silence, and your thanks.

veterans park is a memorable visit. free of charge:-) always reminds me, one if the reasons why i'm…read moreso grateful & blessed to be in nation!! views of the beautiful waterways greet you on the roads to get here. from walking paths, picnic covered pavilions most with bbq to grill your anytime of year favorites. parking is free. -*** bring your fur baby on a leash of course:-) and please dont forget the infamous poopie bags. pick up & make a deposit in the multiple g cans throughout the park. so many areas to visit inside the park. heart warming memorials practically everywhere you walk. paying tribute and respect to all those who have selflessly sacrificed for the freedom we live. i thank everyday all the men and women tgat give me the peace of mind and spirit for no worries. when i lay my head to sleep the sound of an attack of our land. on a a happier note:-)) may you & your family & friends enjoy this thanksgiving holiday. christmas, chanukah or any holiday we are ***free to celebrate.

This is an educational jewel and important conservationist part of the community…read more They offer useful and meaningful educational opportunities as well as perform vital behaviors and conservation work that helps preserve the natural habitat and creatures/life that is native to the area in ways that provide for friendly sustainable actions.

Beautiful evening on the Indian River Lagoon. We saw dolphin and lots of sea birds. The guide and…read morethe captain were very informative.

Took a long walk with my wife along the trail with beautiful views of the Indian River with small…read morewildlife and ducks wandering around. Today was super breezy so only went partially down the wooden dock leading into the river. Took some time in the Veterans Memorial across from the park. I love that Sebastian is so patriotic with American flags everywhere.

Walked around the Riverview Park with my hubby and parking was free. Most kids were at the…read moreplayground and the River was very rough today and my hair was blowing everywhere which made some funny pictures. Spent some time at the Veterans Memorial reading all of the dedication stones.

We visited this park today to take part in the get up and go kayaking, we had a great tour guide…read moreTod, who was very friendly and a wealth of knowledge about different mangroves as well as many other very interesting facts about Florida wildlife, plant life and the inlet systems. There is a lot to see, and it's a great time to explore and bond with your group, get up and go is a franchise so check and see if they are in your area! Great way to get outdoors and explore! Hope to do this again one day!

Loved this beautiful park with the beach and water views. Have an annual state park pass so took…read moreadvantage of visiting the Fort Pierce State Park. Well worth it.

Osprey Acres Stormwater Park and Nature Preserve is an 83.7 acre park created in 2019 at a cost of…read more$7.4 million dollars. It serves the primary function of removing nitrogen and phosphorous from Osprey Marsh next door and from area canals. Since 2015 Osprey March has been removing dissolved nutrients from canal water and from the South County Water Treatment Plant's reverse osmosis brine discharge. Osprey Acres was going to be a 400 home development but was saved from development when Indian River County purchased the land to create a stormwater treatment facility to clean the water before it enters the Indian River Lagoon. While the main purpose of the park is to clean the reclaimed water, a welcome byproduct is that it attracts a lot of wildlife. Wetland parks are some of my favorite kind of parks because they attract a variety of wildlife including wading birds, migrating birds, lizards, turtles, and alligators. Osprey Acres preserved over 60 acres of native upland habitat and created 17 acres of aquatic habitat for fish and waterfowl. Some of the animals you might see here are gopher tortoises, osprey, southern black racer, alligator, river otter, coral snake, marsh rabbit, bobcat, water moccasin, great horned owl, racoon, and eastern indigo snake. Natural earth walking trails traverse through Florida ecosystems that include uphill pine, mesic oak hammock, a small scrub area, and manmade wetlands. There are five hiking trails totaling about 3.8 miles: a 1.8 mile main trail, two .6 mile trails called Marsh Rabbit Run and Bobcat Run, and two .4 mile trails called Woodpecker Way and Gopher Tortoise Trail. Osprey Acres brings together much needed stormwater treatment with recreational and wildlife viewing opportunities making them accessible to the community. Osprey Acres is open every day except Tuesday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Note that there are no restrooms and dogs are not allowed.

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.