Vero Beach Florida

The natural world, sport and culture all play a part in attracting tourists to Vero Beach Florida. It's a tale of two cities with the Indian River splitting it into the mainland and the barrier island. The oceanfront island is home to many retirees and summer residents and real estate is highly prized here. In addition to tourism, citrus fruit preparation is the main industry.  A major aviation company also has a big production center here. The city is famous for being the spring training ground of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The city has several parks and the beaches are said to be amongst the finest in the land. The biggest public beach in Vero Beach Florida is South Beach and several of the beaches are favorite haunts for surfers. There are lots of poolside vacation apartments available. Golfers too are well catered for and there are a number of exclusive private clubs. Restaurants provide different kinds of cuisine with several specializing in seafood. There are grill houses, Italian, French and Mexican menus too. German, Dutch and Asian food can also be found. Dining is even better at the oceanfront venues. There are clubs offering live entertainment, including a comedy club.

McKee Botanical Garden is 18 acres of sub tropical flora of various kinds. It's a tranquil place with ponds, streams and trails. It's well known for its collection of water lilies, orchids, bamboo pavilion and Royal Palm Grove. It has visiting exhibitions and one of the most popular ones for children was a display of dinosaurs.

There is an impressive permanent collection and visiting exhibitions at the Vero Beach Florida Museum of Art. The collection includes painting and sculpture from different periods and there is a sculpture park. Artists shown are from America and abroad. Pop Art is represented by pieces from Jim Dine and Andy Warhol. The gift shop sells T-shirts, jackets, jewelry, kitchenware etc.

Local residents are very fond of one of their landmarks. Known as the Driftwood Inn, it was built as a private home, an extension was added and it now offers accommodation and houses a fine restaurant. The original building was constructed by Waldo Sexton in the early 20th century. He was an eccentric explorer and a local man and the house was mainly built with salvaged driftwood that Sexton had acquired. He collected bells and various antiques, leaving a unique legacy to the people of Vero Beach Florida.