15 BEST things to do in Vero Beach, Florida!

One of our favorite places to vacation is Vero Beach, FL. There are so many fun things to do in Vero Beach as well as nearby Sebastian that we always have a terrific trip – and inevitably find something new!

Through the years we’ve been visiting, we’ve created quite a list of all the best things to do in Vero Beach. You won’t go wrong with a trip to the area if you include these activities!

The BEST things to do in Vero Beach

Ready for the best things to do in Vero Beach? Add these activities to your trip and you are guaranteed a fun vacation …

1. Rejuvenate your soul with time in the ocean

Obviously, if you are visiting the beach, time in and by the ocean is probably number one on your list of fun things to do. Pick up some inexpensive floats at the local drugstore (and maybe a boogie board too), and get out in the water. We usually stay at the Disney Vero Beach Resort and the water there is perfect for floating!

2. Grab a delicious breakfast at the Farmer’s Market

If we visit Vero Beach over the weekend, a stop at the Vero Beach Farmer’s Market is a must. Pick up some delicious fruit, fresh bread, and decadent cheese. Add a cup of local coffee and enjoy a simple but tasty breakfast! It’s also nice to have some fresh fruit and veggies for the rest of the trip!

3. Happy Hour is definitely of the best things to do in Vero Beach

I’ve always loved happy hour, and both Vero Beach and Sebastian have a plethora of them! In fact, all of our favorite seafood restaurants offer really good happy hours with drinks and sometimes food specials.

A few local favorite happy hours include the ones at Sebastian Saltwater, Captain Hiram’s Sand Bar, and The Crab Spot. $5 glasses of wine anyone? Yes, please!

4. Shop and stroll downtown Vero Beach

Downtown Vero Beach is adorable! With a dozen or so cute little boutiques, a yummy coffee shop/wine bar, and a beachy feel, shopping downtown is a fun way to spend the morning or take a break from the sun in the afternoon.

We’ve found unique jewelry and home furnishings through the years in downtown Vero Beach, which make ideal souvenirs and reminders of our years of wonderful beach vacations. However, you can also spend a few hours window shopping, not spend a dime, and make this a fun free thing to do in Vero Beach!

5. Indulge in fresh seafood

If you are visiting Vero Beach, Florida, indulging in some fresh seafood is a must! Luckily, there are several delicious options, and most of them have oceanfront or at least waterfront seating.

After all, sitting outside by the water, sipping a chilled glass of wine or tropical cocktail, and enjoying decadent fresh seafood is the perfect way to start or end your beach vacation!

6. Catch a show at Riverside Theater

Located in Riverside Park, Riverside Theater is one of the best things to do in Vero Beach at night. As a laid-back beach town, there isn’t a ton of nightlife, so visiting the theater can be a fun way to cap off a full day of visiting the beach or exploring.

From stand-up comedy to musicals, there is something for everyone at this lovely local theater, so definitely check the schedule and if there is a show going on while you are visiting Vero Beach, add it to your itinerary.

7. Enjoy the flowers at McKee Botanical Garden

Although I can’t imagine getting tired of ocean views, for a change of scenery check out the McKee Botanical Garden. With a lovely children’s garden, special events, and more, a stop at the botanical garden should be on your list of things to do in Vero Beach, FL.

This would also be a really fun thing to do in Vero Beach as a couple!

8. Visit a brewery on your trip to Vero Beach, FL

There are three main breweries in the Vero Beach/Sebastian area, and all are different enough to make it worth visiting each one. Note that kids are allowed at all three, and there will be something for them to drink as well as games to play at each brewery.

American Icon Brewery is housed in a beautifully restored diesel steam engine plant. They’ve even incorporated an old steam engine into the bar itself. With plenty of outdoor and indoor seating, games, high-quality bar food, and delicious beers, it’s an easy place to while away an afternoon. Several of their beers are award-winning and since you can also purchase them to go (growlers or cans), you can enjoy them all week at the beach!

Located in an aviation supply warehouse from the 1940s, the vibe at Walking Tree Brewery is super chill and comfortable. Tons of seating, snacks (along with frequent food trucks), delicious beer, and more make this a terrific spot to relax with a good drink and good friends. This brewery is well worth a stop on your agenda of things to do in Vero Beach.

Mash Monkeys Brewing has a completely different (but still fun) feel. Set in a small strip center in Sebastian, it’s for sure a local hangout. On our recent visit, we enjoyed a live band and a flight of delicious beers and ciders. They even had a cold brew and kombucha on tap which the kids could drink!

9. Things to do in Vero Beach at night? Live music!

If you are looking for things to do in Vero Beach at night, you really can’t go wrong with live music, and luckily for music lovers, there are plenty of places to enjoy live music when you visit Vero Beach, FL. From the coffee/wine bar in downtown Vero to Waldo’s at the Driftwood or one of the breweries mentioned above, it’s pretty easy to find a singer or band playing somewhere.

One of our favorite spots to watch live music is at Captain Hiram’s Sand Bar in Sebastian. The bar is literally outside on the sand and we’ve enjoyed everything from full bands to single guitar players there through the years.

10. Add the ELC to your list of the best things to do in Vero Beach

The Environmental Learning Center is a fantastic choice for adding a little fun education to your beach vacation. Although I love to relax, I also love to learn and a place like ELC is the ideal spot for both!

The ELC is a 64-acre reserve with plenty of spots to view and learn about local nature, pontoon tours you can reserve, a touch tank, and more. There are also kayak tours and special exhibits that change regularly.

Fun for kids as well as adults, make sure to take a few hours to check it out!

11. Find a trivia competition and test your knowledge

This was a fun activity we tried on our latest visit to Vero Beach. We participated in the trivia challenge at Captain Hiram’s (on a Tuesday night from 6-8) and had so much fun! In fact, we came very close to winning – just lost out on the last question.

Do a quick search for Trivia in Vero Beach or Sebastian and you’ll find quite a few places offering this fun evening activity. The groups playing with us were a nice mix of locals and tourists and by the end of the night, we had enjoyed quite a few good conversations. I think it will become a repeat activity on our future trips to Vero or any vacation!

12. Pick up some speed on an Airboat tour!

What a cool experience! If an airboat tour is on your list of activities to try someday, add it to your list of things to do in Vero Beach Florida.

There are several operators in the area that offer airboat tours, but they all take off from the same location. You’ll definitely need to book a tour, and you can choose between private or with a group. We enjoyed our tour with Marsh Beast Airboat Tours, and thanks to our terrific captain, saw plenty of wildlife (including alligators) and learned a lot about the swamp environment. Not only was it educational and interesting, but it was also a lot of fun!

🌟 Insider tip: go early in the morning and be sure to wear bug spray and sunblock. It can get pretty buggy and HOT when you are on the water!

13. Hit the Vero Beach Outlets

Although it’s currently in the midst of a remodel, we almost always hit the Vero Beach Outlets when we visit. It’s the ideal activity for a rainy afternoon, and there are enough stores to find a little something for everyone. My daughter even got her ears pierced at this mall years ago – talk about a vacation memory!

Be sure to check out the new management center – boy is it nice! They have delicious coffee drinks and tons of seating – if I was local, I could envision myself spending time on my computer getting a little work done while on a shopping break.

14. Catch some fish on a fishing charter

If you have budding fishermen in your group – or just folks who’d like a different view of the area, book a fishing tour and spend a few hours out on the water seeing what you can catch. You’ll also get the opportunity to enjoy wildlife and learn more about the area from a local.

👉 Ready to book your fishing charter? Check out this option on Viator – it has several great reviews!

15. Watch a sunrise

At least one morning, get yourself up early and enjoy the sunrise. I like to make a cup of coffee in the room and watch it from the balcony, but if you are really ambitious walk down to the beach. It’s a lovely way to begin the day.

Where should you stay when visiting Vero Beach?

Unlike many of the other Florida beach cities, Vero Beach doesn’t have row after row of high-rise condos and hotels. It’s part of its charm.

We ususally stay at Disney’s Vero Beach Resort and love it – it feels like coming home as soon as we enter the soaring lobby. It’s right on the beach and has a great pool, a 9-hole putt-putt course, weekly campfires, outdoor movies, and more. Truly a wonderful family resort. We also like that it’s situated between downtown Vero Beach and Sebastian which makes it easy to go to either area for dinner.

Another lovely option is the Kimpton Hotel in Vero Beach. With its central location, it’s a terrific choice if you like to walk to dinner and shops. Plus, it’s a little bit bougie with a nightly wine hour, an oceanfront pool, and fresh coffee in the mornings.

If you aren’t a DVC member or can’t get into the Disney resort, the Kimpton is definitely my top pick!

If neither of those is right for you, you’ll find plenty of other chain hotels as well as a variety of VRBOs. They aren’t all on the beach though, so if that’s important to you, be sure to ask!

👉 Ready to book your Vero Beach vacation? Head over here to see what’s available on the dates YOU want to visit! Be sure to filter by whatever parameters are important for your family!

Where is Vero Beach, Florida?

Vero Beach, FL is located along what is called the Treasure Coast of Florida on the Atlantic Ocean. It’s south of Daytona Beach and north of Fort Lauderdale. Sebastian, FL is a town just north of Vero Beach, and many of our favorite seafood restaurants are located there. Just south of Vero Beach is Ft. Pierce, FL.

Vero Beach is also just a few hours from Disney, and since flying into Orlando is easy, we almost always spend a few days at Vero and then a few days at Disney.

When should you visit Vero Beach?

Vero Beach, FL is lovely year-round, but it does get VERY hot and humid in the summer and cooler in the winter. We don’t mind the heat and enjoy being in the water, so summer is often when we visit. October is another terrific time – the weather is still plenty warm for swimming and playing in the ocean, but it’s not quite as humid.

Just like most of Florida, afternoon thunderstorms are common, but they don’t tend to last long and there are still plenty of fun things to do in Vero Beach – even if it’s raining!

The only other caveat is that the no-see ums tend to be brutal in this area. We always pack bug spray and use it liberally – especially in the evening.

🌟 Related post: In addition to bug spray, there are 21 other items I ALWAYS pack when we are headed to Vero Beach. Check out the full list here.

Ready for your trip to the beach? As you can see, there are plenty of fun things to do in Vero Beach Florida – enough for years of vacations to the ocean!

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