Living in Vero Beach, Florida

Asking Yourself "Is Vero Beach a Good Place To Live?" Read On And Find out!

Words by Leslie Stone. Posted January 11th, 2023

Welcome to Vero Beach … Where the Tropics Begin.

Living in Vero Beach is like stepping into a watercolor painting filled with cotton candy skies, magnificent sunrises and sunsets and more than 20 miles of uncrowded beaches. Overcast days are a rarity here in “The Hibiscus City,” where a mild year-round climate make it an ideal place to live, raise a family or retire. In fact, the accolades are pouring in: Coastal Living readers voted Vero Beach one of America’s happiest seaside towns, TheStreet named it among the “11 Best Places to Live in Florida,” and Southern Living ranked it one of the best little beach towns in the Sunshine State.

From the mainland (i.e., downtown and suburbs), Vero Beach extends east across the lush, mangrove-filled shoreline of the Indian River Lagoon and then traverses the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway to the barrier island where you’ll find a variety of residential communities, wide sand beaches and the Ocean Drive shopping district featuring an assortment of boutiques, shops and restaurants. Adding to the classy charm of this Treasure Coast town is the absence of high-rise buildings, heavy traffic and the overwhelming hustle and bustle of larger cities.

Whether you’re planning a move to Vero Beach or considering a vacation getaway, we believe you will be captivated by our town’s natural beauty and welcoming atmosphere. Continue reading below to learn why.

Laid-Back Yet Cultured Lifestyle

Most people move to Vero Beach in search of a simpler life near the ocean. But make no mistake about it, this is not your typical beach town. According to Wall Street Journal, the area has one of the nation’s highest concentrations of retired Fortune 500 CEOs. There is an air of understated affluence, however, and billionaires and locals alike tend to blend in. The area offers a little something for everyone—from championship golf courses, fishing and boating to cultural venues such as Riverside Theater and Vero Beach Museum of Art.

Pristine Beaches

The area’s main public beaches are South Beach Park (across 17th Street Bridge from the mainland), Humiston Park (across from Ocean Drive’s central business district) and Jaycee Park (near Vero Beach pier). Six miles south on A1A is Round Island Beach Park where it isn’t unusual to have the beach all to yourself during weekdays. Another unique trait about Vero’s beaches is that the sand is clean, and you will seldom see any litter. People here cherish this beautiful natural environment and do their part to help preserve it.

Turtle Nesting and Turtle Trax

Vero Beach is also one of the nesting habitats for green sea turtles, leatherbacks and loggerheads. Turtle nesting season takes place from March 1 to October 31 each year. Although marine turtles and their nests are protected by state and federal law, there are organizations that have been permitted by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to conduct public turtle walks that give people an opportunity to get a glimpse of these endangered creatures.

The turtle is so beloved here in Vero Beach that it has become the town’s honorary mascot of sorts. There are more than 30 turtle sculptures (called Turtle Trax) at various locations throughout the area. Coastal Connections, a local 501(c)(3) nonprofit with more than 100 volunteers, is dedicated to protecting coastal habitats for sea turtle survival by educating and connecting people to the environment. To date, the organization has facilitated the rescue of 501 sea turtles and cleaned up 7,102 pounds of trash from local beaches.

The Citrus Capital of North America

Indian River County is known as the gateway to the tropics because it’s situated just below the freeze zone. This makes conditions ideal for growing citrus. The first groves were planted in the 1870s, and today the citrus industry occupies more than 180,000 acres for growing oranges, grapefruit, lemons, limes, tangerines and more. If you enjoy citrus, chances are you’ve eaten fruit from Indian River County because it’s not only sold across the country but also shipped worldwide. And if you’re here during late-February through early spring, you can smell the telltale fragrance of orange blossoms out in the rural areas.

One-of-a-Kind Attractions:

Indian River Lagoon

The Indian River Lagoon is one of the most biodiverse estuaries in the Northern Hemisphere and contains more than 4,300 species of plants and animals. The Environmental Learning Center is a 64-acre complex that gives visitors an opportunity to see the lagoon’s flora and fauna up close in their natural habitat via Wabasso Island. A one-and-a-half-mile elevated wooden boardwalk winds through dense vegetation where you can observe birds, fish, turtles and manatees. You can also take pontoon boat tours and guided kayak adventures.

Historic Jungle Trail and Pelican Island

Another riverside attraction is the Historic Jungle Trail, an 8-mile-long sandy road that citrus farmers carved out to transport their produce over 100 years ago. Visitors can enter the trail from A1A or Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge. President Theodore Roosevelt designated Pelican Island and its surrounding 5,400-plus acres of protected waters and lands as the nation’s first wildlife refuge in 1903 in an effort to protect brown pelicans from slaughter by market hunters.

McKee Botanical Garden

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, McKee Botanical Garden features 10,000 native and tropical plants, waterfalls, ponds and trails to explore, a Children’s Garden, weekly guided tours and seasonal events.

McLarty Treasure Museum

The Treasure Coast is aptly named for being the site where 11 Spanish galleon ships carrying gold, silver, copper and other riches sank on their way back to Spain in the early 1700s. Most of the treasure has yet to be recovered. Visitors to McLarty Treasure Museum will see artifacts from the ill-fated fleet and a film about treasure hunting.

Sebastian Inlet State Park

Located where the Indian River Lagoon and the Atlantic Ocean meet (between Melbourne Beach and Vero Beach), Sebastian Inlet State Park is a popular spot for saltwater fishing, surfing, swimming, snorkeling and scuba diving. There are also picnic areas and sites for both tent and RV camping.

Vero’s Very Own Disney Resort

Disney’s Vero Beach Resort is located off Highway A1A (about 10 miles from downtown). The family-friendly oceanfront hotel features a Mickey Mouse-shaped pool, a miniature-golf course, restaurants, a fitness room and spa and activities including golf outings, basketball, volleyball, bocce ball, scavenger hunts, bingo, archery and more.