Start from 32 curated places around Vero Beach, FL, then choose the recommendations that fit your guests.
Restaurants & cafés
Ocean Grill
A two-generation family restaurant perched directly over the Atlantic on a narrow strip of Vero's barrier island, serving only wild fish, cage-free chicken, and prime steaks since the family took it over in the 1960s. The waves crash under the deck on rough nights and the room has not changed much since. Best for a classic Florida seafood dinner that earns its status without trying to look contemporary.
Trattoria Dario
A compact, beloved Italian room on Ocean Drive where the owner has been running the show for over a decade and the pastas — cioppino, risotto pescatore, veal marsala — are made with the kind of consistency that earns a loyal regular crowd. The room is cozy bordering on snug. Best for a proper Italian dinner with a wine list that rewards exploration.
Trails & outdoors
Lagoon Greenway Trail
A flat, well-maintained multi-use trail along the Indian River Lagoon, threading through mangrove swamps and coastal hammock with lagoon and barrier-island views at every turn. The south loop runs through a shaded oak hammock; the northern extension adds more open waterfront. Best for a morning run, casual bike ride, or a first introduction to what the Indian River ecosystem actually looks like.
Historic Jungle Trail
An unpaved sand road on the northern barrier island, originally built in the 1920s for citrus growers and now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Nearly 8 miles of canopy palm hammocks, coastal wetlands, and lagoon shoreline pass without a stoplight or a hotel in sight. Best for cyclists or slow drivers who want to experience the original Florida landscape of the barrier island.
Things to do
Riverside Theatre
The only professional producing theatre on the entire Treasure Coast, occupying a purpose-built hall inside Riverside Park that seats the audience close enough to make every show feel intimate. Broadway-caliber productions run alongside comedy, children's programming, and the outdoor Live in the Loop concert series most evenings. Best for a proper theatre night in a town where the performing arts scene consistently surprises first-time visitors.
Walking Tree Brewery
A locally awarded brewery operating out of a 1945 Navy warehouse on Dodger Road, with a long communal bar, dozens of taps including several house IPAs and lagers, and a relaxed tap room that draws a mix of locals and sports teams from the Dodgertown complex next door. Live music and events fill the patio regularly. Best for a casual evening with rotating craft beer and a crowd that has been coming here since before it was trendy.
Landmarks & sights
McKee Botanical Garden
An 18-acre subtropical jungle sanctuary on the mainland side, saved from the bulldozer and meticulously restored around the original 1930s teak hall and a water-lily collection that ranks among the finest in the hemisphere. Canopy trees, quiet shell paths, and seasonal art installations make this a contemplative hour away from the beach. Best for garden-lovers, slow walkers, and anyone who wants a genuine Florida hammock experience.
Vero Beach Museum of Art
A genuinely serious art museum inside Riverside Park, punching well above its size with rotating national exhibitions and a permanent collection that includes work by Monet, Picasso, Warhol, and Rockwell. The sculpture garden connects the galleries to the park's oak canopy. Best for a rainy-day culture fix and for art travelers who assume small Florida towns mean souvenir shops.