Things To Do
Casey's Place
Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner every day, but Sundays! Casey's Place is a favorite local lunch spot, known for its char-broiled burgers, hot dogs, and other classic American fare. It has been a Vero Beach institution since 1981 and offers a relaxed, beachy atmosphere with a retro-style takeout window and outdoor seating. During the lunch rush, there are only so many tables but all seats are open and communal dining is encouraged! A grilled cheese and fries at Casey's was always Dani's favorite if school got out early!
Countryside Citrus Beachside & El Sid Taqueria
Open for lunch and dinner. A newer addition to Ocean Drive, but one of Justin and Dani's favorite casual lunch spots, is Countryside Citrus & El Sid Tacqueria. The family that owns Countryside Citrus has been growing citrus in Indian River County since the late 1880s. Stop by for fresh Indian River citrus or delicious tacos from El Sid. If you're in the mood for a sweet treat, you have to try one of their orange slushies, or Dani's favorite, their orange soft-serve ice cream! Like Casey's Place, the majority of seating is outdoors and it is first come first serve.
The Lemon Tree
Open for breakfast and lunch. The Lemon Tree is a cozy cafe with predominantly indoor seating that has been serving Vero Beach Since 1987.
Grind + Grape
Open for brunch from 10:00 am - 3:00 pm on Saturdays and Sundays, with live music (late) every night! Owned by one of Dani's friends that she grew up with, Ashlee, Grind + Grape is a coffee shop by day and a bar with live music and a DJ by night! It is one of Vero Beach's hot spots for nighttime drinking and entertainment, and our top recommendation if you're looking to continue the party after Heaton's on Friday!
Sailfish Brewing Co. Vero Beach
If you're in the mood to try some local craft beer, stop by Sailfish Brewing Co., founded by two of Ralph's friends, Nick and Mike. Sailfish sources their ingredients as local as possible, whenever possible, and they're proud to showcase the tangy flavors of Florida’s coastal fruits in their beers.
Riverside Cafe
Open for lunch, dinner and late night drinks! Located under the Merrill P Barber Bridge and on the Indian River Lagoon, Riverside Cafe is a local favorite for casual dockside seafood, watching sports and late-night drinks. In fact, Jake Owen (a Vero Beach native) sings about cruising to Riverside in his country hit "Barefoot Blue Jean Night". Although Dani spent many late nights here in her 20s, Justin and Dani now prefer to come here during daylight hours (especially by boat) for calamari, grouper and shrimp! Justin calls Riverside "authentic Florida vibes"!
Ocean Grill
Open for lunch (Tuesday - Saturday) and dinner. The Ocean Grill takes reservations for parties of 5 and more. They begin taking names for dinner in the lobby at 4:00 pm, except Sundays when they begin at 3:30 pm. A more upscale icon of Vero Beach, the Ocean Grill was built over 80 years ago by Waldo Sexton, an eccentric entrepreneur who left his imprint on so many landmarks in Vero Beach, including by co-founding McKee Botanical Garden. The dining room is an eclectic mix of wood (including driftwood), wrought iron and wonderful artifacts that Waldo collected. If you do stop by, be sure to try their grapefruit martinis.
Citrus Grillhouse
Open for lunch (Monday - Saturday) and dinner. Reservations suggested for dinner. Citrus Grillhouse is an American bistro-style, casual oceanfront restaurant. Dishes are simple classics with Italian and Mediterranean-inspired origins. Dani brought Justin here for a grapefruit martini on his first night in Vero Beach after visiting McKee Botanical Garden.
Vero Beach Farmers Market
The Vero Beach Farmers Market is open on Saturdays from 8:00 am - 12:00 pm at Humiston Park. Ranked 11th in the Nation for Green Markets, it is perfect for a breakfast treat or a morning walk before lounging beach or poolside.
Hautedry
For my girlies looking for a blow out.
McKee Botanical Garden
Open Tuesday - Saturday from 10:00 am - 5:00 pm and Sunday from 12:00 pm - 5:00 pm. The first and oldest award-winning attraction in Vero Beach. McKee Botanical Garden is a lush 18-acre tropical garden home to over 10,000 native and tropical plants, including one of Florida's largest waterlily collections. The garden, which used to be an 80-acre tropical garden in the 1940s, is included in the U.S. National Register of Historic Places under its former name of McKee Jungle Gardens. Justin and Dani took many of their engagement photos here!
Get Up and Go Kayaking
One of Dani and Justin's favorite ways to experience Vero Beach is on the water! Get Up and Go's guided clear kayak tours of the Indian River (Vero Beach's brackish-water lagoon) cannot be beat! Consider booking a tour departing from: Round Island Park - a popular hangout for manatees and dolphins! https://getupandgokayaking.com/locations/florida/vero-beach/ 772.213.1721 Fort Pierce Inlet State Park - to explore scenic mangrove tunnels! https://getupandgokayaking.com/locations/florida/fort-pierce/ 772.617.8865
Airboat Tour of Florida Wildlife at Blue Cyprus Lake
Blue Cyprus Lake is a ten-square-mile naturalist and fisherman’s paradise with at least 800 to 1,000 alligators living there! On Justin's first trip to Vero Beach, he had to do an airboat tour - and this is where we did it! Experience Florida’s natural marshlands, and feel the thrill of flying over the water and drifting through turns as you glide over miles of natural Florida wetlands. During your airboat tour you will observe exotic birds, plants, turtles and Florida alligators in their own natural environment. There are two main operators that we recommend for a tour of Blue Cyprus Lake, but we recommend booking them early because they are very popular: Capt Bob's Airboat Adventure Tours https://airboatadventuretours.com 772.633.7849 Gator Bait Airboat Adventures https://gatorbaitairboatadventures.com 772.766.2629
Sandridge Golf Club
Tee times at Sandridge Golf Club, Vero Beach's public golf course, are available 4 days in advance at 6:00am.