Family-Fun Summer Adventures
Family-Fun Summer Adventures
Vero Beach, Fellsmere and Sebastian, offer Florida family fun summer adventures for children of all ages. With water, water, everywhere with 26-miles of picture-perfect beaches, lakes and intercoastal waterways brimming with nature’s finest; think brown pelicans, ghost crabs, osprey, egrets, Florida alligators, and if the stars are aligned, you may even spot an elusive Florida bobcat. Did we mention the area boasts one of the top surf spots on the East Coast? The destination also offers exciting eco-adventures; summertime turtle walks to witness sea turtles nesting, a museum that uncovers hidden golden treasures and a wide variety of locally owned restaurants infused with the flavors of Florida.
Riding the ocean waves, building sand castles, dolphin and manatee spotting are popular outdoor activities in the destination but did you know the area offers an array of adventures that are not found anywhere else in the Sunshine state? A few of our favorite Florida family fun summer adventures:
Day One: Summer is turtle time with over 100,000 turtles hitting Florida’s Coastline. The months of June usher in a variety of turtle walks at the Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge and the Sebastian Inlet State Park. Both offer day and evening turtle tours. NEWS: July is “turtle dig month”. Join Indian River’s own dedicated scientist as she explores empty turtle nests, and reports her scientific findings. Indian River County is the only county in state that has a dedicated conservationist on staff. These free, and exciting trips are hosted in July and there is no limit to tour participants. If a stray baby sea turtle is found, join the scientist as she delicately assists the turtle to sea to help it migrate to maturity. An additional learning activity is the Environmental Learning Center in Vero Beach is also a non-profit, investigative, hands-on learning experience for adults and children alike. Sitting on 61-acres on Wabasso Island offering eco-excursions, pontoon styled birding trips, wagon rides, canoe trips, touch tanks and more. The center provides a plethora of classes, special events, and summer camps.
Day Two: Seaplane tours are an exciting adventure the whole family will remember for years to come. Soar across the aquamarine waters of the Atlantic Coast. Continue the journey viewing one of the most bio-diverse lagoons in the world, Indian River Lagoon in Vero Beach and Sebastian. As the seaplane descends back to earth experience one of the nation’s top osprey nesting sites, Blue Cypress Lake, in Fellsmere. Have your camera ready to capture manatees, bald eagles, ospreys Florida Alligators and so much more.
Day Three: Airboat tours are plentiful in the destination as the area offers a magnitude of conservation lands that attract a variety of wildlife in their natural habitats. Travelers can experience tours around the nation’s first wildlife refuge; Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge and Blue Cyprus Conservation Area, to spot Florida alligators, turtles, osprey, bald eagles, herons, spoonbills and many other native bird species. Many TripAdvisor reviewers find these tours comparable to those in the Everglades.
Day Four: Sample some of the delicious citruses that has made Indian River County the citrus capital of North America at Peterson Groves a century old farm offering the rare blood oranges. A visit to Peterson Groves is a step back in time. Children will enjoy samples of seasonal fruit and fresh squeezed orange juice, visiting chickens and other farm animals. Schacht Groves and Countryside Citrus also offer citrus farm tours. Families from coast-to-coast enjoy Countryside Citrus, a quaint oceanfront shop serving up the tastiest soft-serve orange juice ice-cream on the planet. Mom and Dan you can let the kids have ice-cream for breakfast when it’s this wholesome!
Day Five: Families can get their culture fix at The Riverside Children’s Theater it is a wonderful way for budding actors to hone their craft while entertaining theater goers young and old. New for 2017: Guided backstage tours.
Boutique Inns, celebrity resorts and family-friendly accommodations; including the only oceanfront Disney resort in the state, Disney Vero Beach, provide family-friendly amenities, beachfront views and turtle walks as well. Families can also discover a variety of local eateries from delicious burgers, to the freshest seafood to everyone’s favorite authentic Italian.
The area is celebrated for its many unique family-oriented festivals, check out the destinations festival calendar here and for additional information visit here or follow us on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.
About: Families from South Florida and landlocked beach goers from Orlando escape to Vero Beach to enjoy some of the most pristine beaches in the Sunshine state. The destination’s motto “Sunrises, not high-rises” is not a marketing gimmick but a promise to all who visit this 26-mile paradise. Hotels and resorts with rooftops no higher than swaying palm trees make the area irresistible for families who love fun-in-the-sun. Beach-goers here are more likely to encounter a loggerhead sea turtle hatchling, a ghost crab or watch as brown pelicans dive for their dinner. This seaside town delivers a casual coastal vibe, an unhurried style and extraordinary wildlife adventures.
