Real places, real neighborhoods and current market numbers, verified by broker Ryan C. Winslow.
What Vero Beach is known for
Vero Beach is known for uncrowded Atlantic beaches on a barrier island shared with some of the most important sea turtle nesting grounds in the Western Hemisphere. It is also known for its arts scene, from the Vero Beach Museum of Art and Riverside Theatre to the long-running Under the Oaks art show. Baseball fans know it as the former spring training home of the Dodgers at Historic Dodgertown.
Pioneers settled Vero in the 1880s, and Henry T. Gifford built his house there in 1887 and opened the first store and post office. The railroad arrived in 1893, and the City of Vero was incorporated in 1919. In 1925 the town became the seat of the new Indian River County and was renamed Vero Beach, and in 1947 the Brooklyn Dodgers made the former naval air station their spring training home. Vero Beach mixes a walkable historic downtown on the mainland with a quieter beachside of shops, parks and private club communities on the barrier island. Year-round residents, seasonal residents and retirees share the beaches, the lagoon and a busy calendar of arts events.
Where to live
The walkable mainland core along 14th Avenue, with restaurants, bars, art galleries, boutiques and free street parking. Main Street Vero Beach runs events here like Downtown Fridays. (source)
A residential district in the city listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The City's Historic Preservation Commission reviews National Register matters in Vero Beach. (source)
The beachside heart of the city, where Ocean Drive's shops and restaurants sit a short walk from Humiston Park. The Saturday farmers market runs on Ocean Drive. (source)
A private club community founded in 1969 in the Town of Indian River Shores, with three golf courses, racquet sports and a beach club on three miles of Atlantic oceanfront. (source)
A 472-acre private community on the barrier island between the Atlantic and the Indian River, master planned by Andres Duany and Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk with an Anglo-Caribbean design code, a Robert Trent Jones Jr. golf course and a polo field. (source)
A member-owned yacht and country club community on the Indian River Lagoon with 36 holes of golf, tennis, pickleball and an active yacht club. (source)
A private golf and beach club community with two championship golf courses, a tennis center and a beach club. It hosts the Vero Beach International Tennis Open. (source)
Local favorites
A landmark built by Waldo Sexton on a dune over the Atlantic, serving its first meal on New Year's Eve 1941. (source)
Casual oceanfront dining with a seasonal menu from Executive Chef Scott Varricchio. (source)
Known for seafood, but the signature grilled pork chop with pear chutney over sweet potato mash is a standout. (source)
Pesto gnocchi with shrimp in Gorgonzola cream and the Pear and Gorgonzola Fiocchi, with patio seating. (source)
A white-tablecloth steakhouse for date nights and celebrations in the historic downtown. (source)
Homestyle dishes with a modern twist from Head Chef Red Bellamy, plus a strong cocktail program. (source)
Set in a former post office with an indoor bar, a covered patio bar and a wood-fired pizza oven. The espresso martini gets rave reviews. (source)
Tacos, burritos and nachos, with the ceviche and enchiladas as local favorites. (source)
After hours
A lagoon-side bar and restaurant at 3341 Bridge Plaza Dr with live music seven days a week, daily happy hour and Sunday brunch. Boaters can pull up to the dock. (source)
An outdoor bar under the oaks with live music Thursday through Saturday evenings and reservable cabanas. (source)
An Ocean Drive coffee shop by day and bar with live music by night at 925 Bougainvillea Ln. (source)
A craft brewery at 1133 19th Pl with its own beers on tap and a full food menu. (source)
Vero Beach's first craft brewery, with pale ales, stouts and IPAs and live music at 3209 Dodger Rd. (source)
Shopping
Beachside boutiques, galleries and restaurants along Ocean Drive and nearby streets. (source)
A tucked-away enclave of clothing, accessory, gift and art boutiques a short drive up A1A from Ocean Drive. (source)
Art galleries and studios along 14th Avenue, plus shops like Seahorse Lane Boutique and a home goods district. (source)
An outdoor outlet mall off State Road 60 west of town with brand-name and designer stores. (source)
Saturdays 8 a.m. to noon at 3000 Ocean Drive, running since 2007 with local produce, plants and small vendors. Leashed pets welcome. (source)
Outdoors
A family beach park at Ocean Drive and Easter Lily Lane with a boardwalk, lifeguards, a playground and shops a short walk away. (source)
The widest stretch of beach in the area, with volleyball nets, surfing, skimboarding and shoreline fishing. (source)
Access to both the Atlantic and the Indian River Lagoon, with trails, an observation tower, a boat ramp and frequent manatee sightings. (source)
A city park island built from dredge material next to Riverside Park, bought by the city in 1947 and home to veterans memorials. (source)
The nation's first National Wildlife Refuge, established in 1903, protecting 5,400+ acres of lagoon waters and land. (source)
20.5 miles of beach between Melbourne Beach and Wabasso Beach protecting the most significant loggerhead sea turtle nesting area in the world. (source)
The nearest state park, with jetty fishing, surfing, camping, summer turtle walks and the McLarty Treasure Museum. (source)
Things to do
18 acres of jungle garden with one of the nation's premier waterlily collections and a Children's Garden. (source)
The area's art museum, with rotating exhibitions, classes, lectures and more than 40 years of arts education. (source)
A professional regional theatre in Riverside Park affiliated with Actors' Equity, plus Riverside Children's Theatre classes and camps. (source)
A 64-acre island nature center in the Indian River Lagoon with a touch tank, live animal exhibits, boardwalk trails and boat tours. (source)
The only museum dedicated solely to Navy SEAL history, on the training grounds of the original Frogmen, opened on Veterans Day 1985. (source)
On the calendar
The Vero Beach Art Club's show in Riverside Park, with more than 200 artists. The 2027 dates are March 12 to 14. (source)
A three-day festival at the Indian River County Fairgrounds with a 15,000 square foot beer garden tent, German food and live bands. (source)
A free oceanside concert series on Ocean Drive with live music and food from 5 to 8 p.m. (source)
Main Street Vero Beach street parties downtown with live music, food trucks and local vendors. (source)
Two days of new and used boats, fishing and diving gear and nautical collectibles at the Indian River County Fairgrounds. (source)
Schools
Beachland Elementary School, Citrus Elementary School, Dodgertown Elementary School, Treasure Coast Elementary School, Vero Beach Elementary School, Indian River Academy, Liberty Magnet School, Osceola Magnet School, Rosewood Magnet School
Vero Beach Middle School, Gifford Middle School
Vero Beach High School, Indian River Charter High School (public charter)
Saint Edward's School
Listed for reference, not ranked. Confirm school zoning for any address with the district. (source)
Broker notes
I-95, US 1, State Road 60 (the main east-west route), and State Road A1A on the barrier island, reached over the Indian River Lagoon bridges such as the Merrill Barber Bridge
Vero Beach Regional Airport (VRB) in town has commercial service to cities including Boston, Charlotte, White Plains, Islip, Providence and Hartford. Melbourne Orlando International (MLB) is about 1 hour north, Palm Beach International (PBI) is about 1 hr 40 min south, and Orlando International (MCO) is about 2 hours northwest.
Ryan C. Winslow, broker/owner of Winslow Homes. REALTOR® since 2009, 3,000+ homes sold, broker in FL, MA, CT and RI, U.S. Army Retired.
Researched and verified 2026-09-28. Businesses change; call ahead.