Vero Beach is located on the central coastline of Florida in a wonderful area known as the Treasure Coast. The city boasts deep art and cultural roots through community involvement. There are yearly events to support many museums and parks. While the incredible beaches are the hallmark of Vero Beach, the other cultural activities are the foundation of a great community. Below are some ideas on what to do in Vero Beach.

McKee Botanical Garden in Vero Beach, FL

Visit the 80 acres McKee Botanical Garden. The tropical landscape was the creation of two of the most prominent developers in the area, Waldo Sexton and Arthur G. McKee. The land was initially purchased for citrus cultivation. McKee who was an engineer had been interested in tropical plants. The natural beauty of the vegetation prompted McKee and Sexton to utilize the land for another purpose without disturbing the natural habitat. For more information please visit McKee Botanical Garden, Vero Beach, FL

Pelican Wildlife Refuge

The Indian River Lagoon is the home to Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge is located north of the town of Vero Beach and south of Sebastian at 4055 Wildlife Way, Vero Beach, FL  32953. Pelican Island has been the sanctuary to over 140 species of birds, 782 species of fish, 18 mammals, and the endangered turtles.

The 5,400+ acres of land and water surrounding the Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge bears the honor of being the very first National Refuge in the nation in 1903. The valorous efforts of Frank Chapman along with many other individuals led to the eventual establishment of the American Audubon Society in 1903. Pelican Island became the first to be registered as the National Wildlife Refuge opening the door to the preservation of many other ecologically-sensitive reservations.

McLarty Treasure Museum
McLarty Treasure Museum Vero Beach, FL

McLarty Treasure Museum

McLarty Treasure Museum is dedicated to the 11 unfortunate Spanish galleon ships that sunk when a hurricane hit the area in 1715. The eleven ships were en route to Spain from Cuba with their valuable cargo which included gold, silver, and many other treasures. During the past 300 years, salvagers and treasure hunters have been searching the area with the hope of finding some of the sunken treasure. There were over 1,500 survivors who established a camp in the area where the McLarty Treasure Museum is located. The museum offers displays of salvaged artifacts and a small replica of Spanish ships for sale. McLarty Treasure Museum is open 7 days a week and located at 13180 North A1A, Vero Beach, FL 32963. For more information please visit McLarty Treasure Museum

Vero Beach Museum of Art

With 2 sculpture parks and 5 art galleries, Vero Beach Museum of Art, VBMA, is the largest art and cultural museum of its kind on the Treasure Coast of Florida. The museum also includes an auditorium, art gallery, great hall, art school, museum gift shop, and cafe. The art school at the Vero Beach Museum of Art is open to the public interested in a wide variety of art and humanity fields. Some of the areas of study covered by the school include painting, drawing, glass, and ceramic making classes. The Vero Beach Museum of art occupies 7 acres of the 26 acres Riverside Park in Indian River County. VNMA is located at 4001 Riverside Park Drive, Vero Beach, FL 32960.

Riverside Park Vero Beach, Florida

The 115 acres Riverside Park in Vero Beach is an absolute must-visit spot in the Treasure Coast of Florida. While this incredible park is worth a visit by itself the addition of many other Vero beach area attractions makes it even more intriguing. Indian River County’s Riverside Park is the home to Vero Beach Museum of Art, Riverside Theater, and Cole Coppola Memorial Fishing Pier. There are also many annual events held in Riverside Park, Vero Beach including the Vero Beach Boat Show, Vero Wine & Film Festival, Under the Oaks Fine Art and Craft Festival, Annual Gardenfest, and Orchid Show.

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