Indian River County for Kids!
Indian River County for Kids!
Indian River for Kids was created by two grandparents who live in Grand Harbor, Vero Beach, FL. It is intended as a resource to parents and grandparents with children, who are visiting the Indian River County area. There are an endless number of activities in the region for children, but we have tried to carefully select those that seemed unique or special, particularly those that provided educational value. Of course, we also wanted to identify places that are fun and would hold the interest of children of varying ages. By inclusion in this resource guide, there is no intent to either promote or discriminate against other comparable vendors or facilities.
If anyone has any comments, additions, or subtractions, please reach out to the Visit Indian River County team!
Page Outline
Recreation
Public Beaches
Parks
Animals, Nature, Environment
Boating
Fishing
Museums
Food
Other
Books
Theatre and Entertainment
Water Sports and Bike Rentals
Golf
Bowling
Misc
Baby Equipment
When it Rains
Recreation
Illustration by Celine Elefson Werner
Public Beaches
Indian River County and neighboring counties operate an extensive network of public beaches along the Atlantic Ocean, most of which have lifeguards, restrooms, and often outdoor showers. A good resource for beaches can be found at: Public Beaches in Vero Beach, FL | VeroBeach.com . Only those beaches that have lifeguards are included below. Other unguarded beaches can be found on the above-referenced website.
South Beach .
1704 Ocean Dr., Vero Beach.
772-231-4700
Jaycee Beach .
4200 Ocean Blvd., Vero Beach.
772-231-0578
Humiston Beach
3000 Ocean Dr., Vero Beach.
772-231-5790
Lifeguards on duty
Has picnic areas and a children’s playground; restrooms, outdoor showers, and water
Food (Nino’s Pizza, 1006 Easter Lily Lane) and ice cream (Kilwins, 3001 Ocean Drive; Cravings, 3149 Ocean Drive) can be found within a short walk of the beach
Public Beaches in Vero Beach, FL | VeroBeach.com
Golden Sands
10350 N. Highway A1A, Vero Beach.
772-581-4995.
Located at the entrance to the Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge, a protected area for loggerhead and green turtles
Lifeguards on duty
Has a playground, picnic pavilions, restrooms, and showers
Public Beaches in Vero Beach, FL | VeroBeach.com
Tracking Station Beachfront Park
800 46th Street Pl., Vero Beach.
772-492-2411
Lifeguards on duty and popular with local surfers
Has picnic tables, restrooms, and showers
For added convenience, you can buy your beach drinks, snacks, towels, and beach gear at the nearby 7-11 or CVS
Public Beaches in Vero Beach, FL | VeroBeach.com
Wabasso Beach
1820 County Rd 510 and Highway A1A, Vero Beach.
772-581-4998
Sebastian Inlet State Park .
9700 S. Highway A1A, Melbourne Beach.
321-984-4852
Parks
Nearly all of the parks listed below are owned and operated by the City of Vero Beach or Indian River County. Both have websites that describe each park. For Vero Beach, see Recreation Department | Vero Beach, FL (covb.org) . For Indian River County see Parks and Conservation Resources (ircgov.com)
Humiston Beach Park
3000 Ocean Drive, Vero Beach.
772-226-1875
Round Island Riverview Park
2201 S. Highway A1A, Vero Beach.
772-226-1875
Two boat ramps, canoe launch, picnic pavilion with a grill, and a 400’ boardwalk to observe the many manatees.
Cross over the footbridge to a small island with trails that take you to an observation tower and a fishing pier
Round Island Riverside Park (ircgov.com)
Riverside Park.
3280 Riverside Park, Vero Beach.
772-567-2144
A.W. Young Park
212 Park Avenue, Vero Beach.
772-567-2144
MacWilliam Park
3341 Bridge Plaza Drive, Vero Beach.
772-567-2144
Pocahontas Park .
2199 14th Avenue, Vero Beach
772-567-2144
Sebastian Inlet State Park .
9700 S. Highway A1A, Melbourne.
321-984-4852.
Extending over three miles of barrier island, the park encompasses 1,000 acres
Offers surfing, swimming, snorkeling, beachcombing and fishing
Contains fifty-one campsites with water, electricity, a fire ring, and picnic tables
The park hosts two museums, the McLarty Treasure Museum, and the Sebastian Fishing Museum (see MUSEUMS)
Sebastian Inlet State Park | Florida State Park
Animals, Nature & Environment
Environmental Learning Center .
255 Live Oak Dr., Vero Beach.
772-589-5050
On the Indian River Lagoon
64-acre nature center with trails, aquarium, guided kayaking, and pontoon tours
www.discoverelc.org
McKee Botanical Garden .
350 U.S. Highway 1, Vero Beach
772-794-0601
18-acre tropical garden that is on the National Registry of Historic Places
Regularly showcases internationally renowned special exhibits as well as other educational programs, often oriented toward children
Children’s Garden, established in 2020, contains a splash pad, pirate ship treehouse, and climbing
Sculptures
www.mckeegarden.org
Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge.
4055 Wildlife Way, Vero Beach.
772-581-5557
Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge .
8385 S. Highway A1A, Melbourne Beach.
772-581-5557
Encompasses nearly 21 miles of beach and shoreline habitat between Melbourne Beach and Wabasso Beach
The refuge was designated to protect habitat at the most significant area for loggerhead sea turtle nesting in the world, and the most significant area for green turtle nesting in North America.
Barrier Island Center contains interactive exhibits, and nature films, and is the start of a 1-mile dune-to-lagoon nature trail
Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge | Visit Us | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (fws.gov)
Oslo River Front Conservation Area .
150 9th Street SW (Oslo Road), Vero Beach.
772-226-1780
Nearly 300 acres of mature coastal hammock, scrubby flatwoods, and estuarine wetlands
Designated a Great Florida Birding Trail
Has boardwalks, an observation tower, a canoe launch, and a 1-mile walking trail
For information about general services check here.
Boating
Captain Bob’s Airboat Adventures.
Blue Cypress Recreation Area off County Road 512/Lake Garcia, Vero Beach
772-633-7849.
Advance reservations are a must
Offers on-hour highly entertaining, narrated airboat tours on Blue Cypress Conservation marshland
See exotic birds, plants, turtles and alligators
AirboatAdventures.com
River Explorer Boat Tour.
3341 Bridge Plaza Dr., Vero Beach.
772-713-7132
Narrated pontoon boat tour of the Indian River Lagoon
See dolphins, manatees, and other wildlife
RiverTour.co m
Treasure Coast Cruises.
41 Royal Palm Pointe, Vero Beach.
772-321-5955
Fishing
A few popular fishing spots in the Vero Beach area are noted below.
Pier Under Barber Bridge.
Located along the easterly end of the Merrill P. Barber Bridge.
Access is through the Riverside Café property, 3341 Bridge Plaza Drive, Vero Beach.
Riverview Park.
U.S. Highway 1 and CR512, Sebastian.
772-228-7054
Riverview Park is on the Indian River Lagoon in the heart of Sebastian
Has two fishing piers
RiverViewPark.org
Sebastian Inlet State Park.
9700 S. Highway A1A, Melbourne.
321-984-4852.
State of Florida Park. Fee for access to the park.
Sebastian Inlet and the surrounding waters provide fishing from the beach, river, and inlet. The Inlet is considered one of the premier saltwater fishing spots on Florida’s east coast.
Two jetties extending into the Atlantic Ocean are available for fishing. Both jetties and bridge catwalks are ADA-accessible.
Boat launch facilities provide access to nearby offshore fishing and diving.
Has a concession area that sells bait
Sebastian Inlet State Park | Florida State Parks
Museums
Illustration by Celine Elefson Werner
Vero Beach Museum of Art .
3001 Riverside Park Dr., Vero Beach.
772-231-0707
Children under 17 are free
Monthly program for babies and toddlers
Regular art classes
Virtual aquarium for children
www.vbmuseum.org
Sebastian Fishing Museum .
9700 S. Highway A1A, Melbourne.
321-984-4852.
Located within the Sebastian Inlet State Park (admission fee—per car)
Celebrates the Sebastian fishing industry and contains exhibits of the local fishing industry and its influence on the area.
It contains equipment used in commercial fishing a replica of a vintage fishing house and a dock.
The museum also displays the history of three local families involved in the fishing industry during its formative years in Sebastian.
SebastianFishingMuseum.com
Mel Fisher’s Treasure Museum .
1322 U.S. Highway 1, Sebastian.
772-589-9875.
Displays of treasures salvaged from Spanish and English ships that sunk along the Treasure Coast in the 17th and 18th centuries.
Museum shop
www.melfisher.com
Indian River Citrus Museum .
2140 14th Ave., Vero Beach.
772-770-2263.
McLarty Treasure Museum .
13180 N. Highway A1A, Vero Beach.
772-589-2147
$2 admission for those 6 years of age and over.
Located within the Sebastian Inlet State Park.
Contains exhibits recounting the history of the eleven-ship Spanish treasure fleet that went down in the 1715 hurricane
Video on the history and salvaging efforts
Displays feature artifacts, replicas for sale, and an observation deck on the Atlantic Ocean.
www.verobeach.com/vero-beach-community/mclarty-treasure-museum
National Navy UDT-SEAL Museum .
3300 N. Highway A1A, Fort Pierce.
772-595-5845.
5 years old and under Free
Only museum dedicated to preserving the history of the U.S. Navy SEALS and its predecessors
Interactive exhibits plus airplanes, boats, and other vehicles used by the SEALS
Obstacle course
www.navysealmuseum.org
Food
Illustration by Celine Elefson Werner
Oceanside Grill .
1050 Beachland Blvd., Vero Beach.
772-231-5409.
Seafood restaurant on the beach; serving dinner only.
Family-friendly with Kids menu
www.ocean-grill.com
C.J. Cannon’s .
3414 Cherokee Dr., Vero Beach.
772-567-7727
A Vero Beach landmark since 1984. Located within the Vero Beach Airport
Family-friendly with free entertainment–watch planes take off and land while you dine
Breakfasts are legendary
www.cjcannonsrestaurant.com
Riverside Café .
3341 Bridge Plaza Dr., Vero Beach.
772-234-5550
Located on the Indian River Lagoon by the Merrill Barber Bridge.
Has boat slips for those who access the restaurant by the lagoon
Lunch and Dinner only plus Sunday brunch
Family-friendly, wide-ranging menu
www.riversidecafe.com
Fresh Market.
526-A 21st Street, Vero Beach.
772-794-2216
Mrs. Mac’s Fillin Station.
951 Old Dixie Highway, Vero Beach.
772-564-8400
Fujiyama .
5959 20th Street, Vero Beach.
772-564-8628
Japanese steakhouse and sushi bar
Lunch and Dinner only
Family-style dining with entertaining chefs cooking at communal tables.
www.fujiyamajapanese.com
Marsh Landing Restaurant .
44 N. Broadway Street, Fellsmere.
772-571-8622
Experience old Florida cuisine (e.g., frog legs, catfish, gator tails, fried green tomatoes, swamp cabbage) in a historical setting. Also serves Angus steaks, ribs, etc.
www.marshlandingrestaurant.com/
Kilwins .
3001 Ocean Drive, Vero Beach.
772-584-3281
Ice cream and other delicious confections
Rated No. 1 by Trip Advisor
Located directly across the street from Humiston Park playground and beach
www.verobeach@kilwins.com
Cravings.
3149 Ocean Drive, Vero Beach.
772-231-0208
Publix.
Multiple locations throughout Indian River County
Other
Illustration by Celine Elefson Werner
Books
Indian River County Library (Main)
1600 21st St., Vero Beach
772-400-6335.
Extensive collection of children’s books in addition to CDs and DVDs
Numerous special exhibits and programs, often geared toward children, including music and art programs
Non-resident library card costs $10 for three months
Indian River County Library (ircgov.com)
Vero Beach Book Center .
392 21st St., Vero Beach.
772-569-2050.
Independent bookstore
The second floor is dedicated to children and includes books and educational toys
theverobeachbookcenter.com
Theatre and Entertainment
Riverside Theatre for Kids!
3280 Riverside Park Dr., Vero Beach.
772-234-8052
Vero Beach Theatre Guild .
2020 San Juan Ave, Vero Beach.
772-562-8300
Operating since 1958. Longest-running community theatre on the Treasure Coast
198-seat theatre offering live productions, some of which may be suitable for children and young adults
www.verobeachtheatreguild.com
Majestic Theater 11.
940 14th Lane, Vero Beach.
772-770-0774
AMC Indian River 24 .
6200 20th Street, Vero Beach.
772-563-3933
Water Sports and Bike Rentals
Wabasso Beach & Surf Shop .
4880 87th Street and U.S. Highway 1, Sebastian.
772-388-4077
Sells swimwear, tee shirts, snorkel gear, surfboards, etc.
Rentals available for beach and paddleboards, beach accessories
WabassoBeach&Surf.com
Orchid Outfitters .
1175 Commerce Ave., Vero Beach.
772-617-1804
Golf
Safari Golf and Games.
455 Oslo Road, Vero Beach.
772-562-6492
36 holes of miniature golf with a jungle motif
2,000 square foot arcade and game room
4 batting cages
SafariGolfandGames.com
Big Shots Vero Beach .
3456 U.S. Highway 1, Vero Beach.
772-979-4653
State-of-the-art golf recreation and entertainment facility
30-climate-controlled tee boxes equipped with ball-tracking technology
verobigshots.com
Bowling
Vero Bowl .
929 14th Lane, Vero Beach.
772-299-7467
Skating
Skate Factory.
485 27th Street, SW. Vero Beach.
772-794-3373
Miscellaneous
Vero Beach Polo Club.
7635 N. Polo Grounds Lane, Vero Beach.
772-321-3082
Peterson’s Grove and Nursery.
3375 66th Avenue, Vero Beach.
772-562-6900
This historic citrus packing house is one of the oldest in the county, featuring a gift shop full of local produce and products, including Florida taffy, alligator jerky, and more.
Children will enjoy visiting farm animals and participating in a “Squirrel Treasure Hunt” amongst the trees and animals and receiving a prize at the end. Inside, everyone enjoys a sample of seasonal fresh fruit and freshly squeezed orange juice.
Contact Us – Peterson Groves
La Porte Farm .
7700 129th Street, Sebastian.
772-633-0813.
Admission is free with a donation
Petting farm
Pony rides
Special events can be found at www.laportefarms.com
Baby Equipment
Kids by the Sea .
616 21st Street, Vero Beach.
772-365-4564
Consignment shop selling children’s and baby clothing
Also sells toys & baby/toddler equipment such as strollers & used children’s books
Kids by the Sea
Got a Guest .
601 Broadway Street, Vero Beach.
772-413-2552
Offers daily rental of a full range of baby equipment, including cribs, bassinets, high chairs, strollers, car and booster seats, portable swings, bouncy seats, baby monitors, safety gates, potty seats, toys, razor scooters, books
Also rents beach equipment, including chairs, tents, umbrellas, boogie boards, coolers
Will deliver
www.gotaguest.com
Note: You might also purchase baby equipment, toys, etc. at places such as Target, Wal-Mart , and other big box stores, all of which have locations in and around Vero Beach.
When it Rains
Illustration by Celine Elefson Werner
Occasionally, you may encounter a rainy day. Besides restaurants, here are some places that you might consider during inclement weather.
Vero Beach
Vero Beach Museum of Art .
3001 Riverside Park Dr., Vero Beach.
772-231-0707.
Children under 17 are free
Monthly program for babies and toddlers
Regular art classes
Virtual aquarium for children
www.vbmuseum.org
Indian River Citrus Museum.
2140 14th Ave., Vero Beach.
772-770-2263.
Indian River County Library (Main)
1600 21st St., Vero Beach.
772-400-6335.
Extensive collection of children’s books in addition to CDs and DVDs
Numerous special exhibits and programs, often geared toward children, including art and music programs
Non-resident library card costs $10 for three months
Indian River County Library (ircgov.com)
Vero Beach Book Center .
392 21st St., Vero Beach.
772-569-2050.
Independent book store
The second floor is dedicated to children and includes books and educational toys
theverobeachbookcenter.com
Majestic Theater.
940 14th Lane, Vero Beach.
772-770-0774
AMC Indian River 24 .
6200 20th Street, Vero Beach.
772-563-3933
Big Shots Vero Beach .
3456 U.S. Highway 1, Vero Beach.
772-979-4653
State-of-the-art golf recreation and entertainment facility
30-climate-controlled tee boxes equipped with ball tracking technology
verobigshots.com
Vero Bowl .
929 14th Lane, Vero Beach.
772-299-7467
Skate Factory.
485 27th Street, SW. Vero Beach.
772-794-3373
Sebastian
Sebastian Fishing Museum .
9700 S. Highway A1A, Melbourne.
321-984-4852
Located within the Sebastian Inlet State Park (admission fee—per car)
Celebrates the Sebastian fishing industry and contains exhibits of the local fishing industry and its influence on the area.
It contains equipment used in commercial fishing and a replica of a vintage fishing house and dock.
The museum also displays the history of three local families involved in the fishing industry during its formative years in Sebastian.
Sebastian Fishing Museum
McLarty Treasure Museum .
13180 N. Highway A1A, Vero Beach.
772-589-2147.
Located within the Sebastian Inlet State Park.
Contains exhibits recounting the history of the eleven-ship Spanish treasure fleet that went down in the 1715 hurricane
Video on the history and salvaging efforts
Displays feature artifacts, replicas for sale, and an observation deck on the Atlantic Ocean.
www.verobeach.com/vero-beach-community/mclarty-treasure-museum
Mel Fisher’s Treasure Museum .
1322 U.S. Highway 1, Sebastian.
772-589-9875.
Free
Displays of treasures salvaged from Spanish and English ships that sunk along the Treasure Coast in the 17th and 18th centuries
Museum shop
www.melfisher.com
** This page is dedicated exclusively to showcasing activities and attractions within Indian River County, FL. only. The “Vero With Kids” concept was developed by two individuals outside of our organization, so there may be relevant activities or information not included here. Please note that this was not created by Visit Indian River County, but is under agreement to be created and housed on VisitIndianRiverCounty.com. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to the team at Visit Indian River County .
Copyright© Susan S. Werner & Halley Moriyama 2023. All Rights Reserved.