There’s no better way to celebrate being in Vero Beach than with a great brunch shared among friends. Kicking back with breakfast drinks and delicious platters can only be made even greater with views of the waterfront from your table. Enjoy these delicious restaurants and their amazing brunch specialties.

Cobalt

At ultra-luxe Cobalt, the beauty of the oceanfront inspires the décor and the dishes. Chefs construct Instagram-worthy plates using locally and ethically sourced ingredients. The scallops that are in the “Scallops and Hominy” on the menu are local from Florida and the vegetables in the Zucchini Rollatini come from local farmers. Plus, you can’t beat Cobalt’s wall-sized windows. The cool, modern atmosphere is befitting of the many events that take place here as well, from the Full Moon Party to live band music.

La Tabla

Everything in this breakfast and lunch café is inspired by an organic lifestyle. It’s healthy, local friendly, and made for a life on the move. With the founders utilizing their cultural background in the creation of the food and the café’s interior, you get amazing breakfast meals and a great place to hang out with friends and family. As the epitome of what food should be, every Mango Citrus Smoothie is cool and refreshing. The Dragon Bowl with homemade granola and local honey tastes especially great – it’s a must-try on the menu here.

Wood’n Spoon

For a touch of green mixed with the atmosphere of a local knowledge, you can’t get much better than Wood’n Spoon. If you head to this diner enough, you’ll get to recognize the regulars, along with some of your favorite things on the menu. From the murals of avocados on the side of the building (perfect for your next Facebook photo!) to the warm and friendly faces serving up classic dishes, you’re sure to fit in at Wood’n Spoon.

Baci Trattoria

Cool, refined, and classy, Baci Trattoria has the perfect setting for your girls’ brunch out. This Italian restaurant serves some of the best breakfasts that you’ve ever had. As a staple of Vero Beach’s eateries, diners have raved over plates such as the lump crab cake benedict and the cider baked donuts. What you’re going to love are the variety of mimosas and bloody marys that they keep flowing here!

Vero Beach’s culinary scene has been the result of hundreds of engineering chefs. From the upscale atmosphere of Cobalt to the cozy style of Wood’n Spoon, you’re sure to find your next favorite.

Just a few miles from these local favorites is Orchid Island Golf & Beach Club. This private community’s amenities are second to none. Orchid Island works hard to preserve a way of life for, not only the natural neighbors who live on the Treasure Coast, but the residents as well. Members and residents also enjoy the convenience of a golf cart lifestyle. Traveling the community via golf cart makes getting to any of the amenities a fun and enjoyable experience, including the West Indies styled private Beach Club, which overlooks a private beach just for residents and their families to take pleasure in.

This private community is committed to providing an extraordinary level of service. Golf here is unparalleled, as the Arnold Palmer designed; 18-hole course is not only revered as one of the best in the region, but also considered a picturesque nature walk throughout this unique habitat. Luxury residential properties range from the $800s to over $10 million and include custom estate residences, courtyard homes, cottage, or oceanfront condominiums. For a full list of available real estate listings at Orchid Island, visit OrchidIslandRealty.com

Intrigued by this one-of-a-kind destination? Request the inaugural issue of Orchid Island Lifestyles Magazine here to learn more about this amazing community and how the Vero Beach area embraces its natural wonderland.

If you’re in the area, stop by the Orchid Island Realty office and see the community’s beauty for yourself. Call 772. 388.3888 to schedule a private appointment or visit OrchidIslandFL.com for more information.

When it comes to nature, Florida is on the top of the list in the country for experiences that you’ll remember for a long time. Envision yourself cruising down one of the state’s longest waterways in an airboat or coming face-to-face with a standing fortress that’s over 300 years old. Even here in Vero Beach, you can experience Florida’s history when you take a walk down the historic Jungle Trail. With so many natural adventures scattered throughout the state, all of them are yours to explore. Where will you go on your next weekend off?

Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge

Named after a famed professor who devoted his life to protecting the loggerhead turtles that nest on this park’s shores, the Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge covers over 20.5 miles of beachfront, encapsulates a variety of diverse ecosystems, and serves as a home for over 140 species of birds and 350 species of fish. See the refuge’s wildlife in action when you sign up for one of their turtle walks. During the right time of year, you may even be able to see a sea turtle lay its eggs on shore.

McKee Botanical Garden

Recognized for its commitment to conservation and beautifully designed landscapes, the McKee Botanical Garden received its start when Waldo Sexton and Arthur G. McKee purchased the land in hopes of turning it into citrus groves. They quickly decided that it was too pretty to remove, and worked on developing it as a visitor’s destination. Today, the garden even holds a spot on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. Make sure to see the water lilies floating along the lakes and ponds here, and check out the beloved orchids that fill the garden beds.

Historic Jungle Trail

The Historic Jungle Trail that runs through a portion of Indian River County is a jewel of the area. If you read the information signs scattered throughout, you’ll learn that this is the road that citrus growers would take to transport their stock to major Florida cities and back. In fact, it was the original State Road A1A. From the ’20s and still today, Florida, and especially Vero Beach, was and is America’s citrus basket, providing the country with their fresh stock of oranges, along with other citrus. As you stroll through the eight miles of trail, you’ll notice it even winds its way through Orchid Island Golf & Beach Club. Today, the Jungle Trail serves as a reminder of what once was, and it’s great for walking or biking.

Florida’s parks showcase the natural beauty of the state in a way that little else can. Many travel to experience these parks and their wildlife firsthand, but only a lucky few can call this amazing place home.

For those who want to get close to nature, the Orchid Island Golf & Beach Club amenities are second to none. Orchid Island works hard to preserve a way of life for, not only the natural neighbors who live on the Treasure Coast, but the residents as well. Members also enjoy the convenience of a golf cart lifestyle. Traveling the community via golf cart makes getting to any of the amenities a fun and enjoyable experience, including the West Indies styled private Beach Club, which overlooks a private beach just for members and their families to swim, surf and sun on.

This private community is committed to providing an extraordinary level of service. Golf here is unparalleled, as the Arnold Palmer designed 18-hole course is not only revered as one of the best in the region, but also considered a picturesque nature walk throughout this unique habitat.

Luxury residential properties range from the $800s to up to $10 million and include custom estate residences, courtyard homes, cottage, or oceanfront condominiums. Check out the full list of available real estate listings at Orchid Island.

If you’re in the area, stop by the Orchid Island Realty office and see the community’s beauty for yourself. Call 772. 388.3888 to schedule a private appointment.

The residents of Vero Beach are aware of how lucky they are to live so close to nature, and there’s one place that showcases it best of all – McKee Botanical Gardens. Far from just a horticulture haven, the Gardens have been added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places, have been established as a Florida landmark and serve as a great way for residents to enjoy the Florida weather and the a day surrounded by beauty.

Stunning Statues

Visitors to McKee Gardens will see some special guests in the form of lifelike sculptures. They’re constructed by Seward Johnson, and are scattered around the Garden, showing people connecting with nature in a variety of ways. Some of them are thinking, some of them are relaxing, and some of them are simply watching the wildlife go by. The statues themselves are made to show how nature can help take away our struggles. They are true works of art and people travel from all over to see them.

Cool Kids Programs!

One feature that makes McKee Gardens worth revisiting is its approach to individuals of all ages and stages. The gardeners and staff here recognize that children enjoy the garden grounds in a different way than adults do. While many grownups are sure to enjoy the impressive collection of water lilies and bamboo, you can be sure that the kids will be looking for the bugs and wildlife. The Garden Discovery Backpacks cater to these interests, and inform children of the wild and wonderful world that surrounds them at McKee Botanical Gardens. For those who are looking to spread their wings while learning about winged things, the upcoming Children’s Garden is just the thing. Designed to look like a jungle, children will be able to splash and play in the water fountains, keep their eyes peeled for the animals and plants that live there, and run through a bamboo jungle.

Florida’s nature is unparalleled – especially this time of year. As the trees and flowers have blossomed and bloomed, nature comes to life. And there’s no better place to experience its beauty that McKee Botanical Gardens.

For those who want to get close to nature, the Orchid Island Golf & Beach Club amenities are second to none. Orchid Island works hard to preserve a way of life for, not only the natural neighbors who live on the Treasure Coast, but the residents as well. Members and residents also enjoy the convenience of a golf cart lifestyle. Traveling the community via golf cart makes getting to any of the amenities a fun and enjoyable experience, including the West Indies styled private Beach Club, which overlooks a private beach just for residents and their families to take pleasure in.

This private community is committed to providing an extraordinary level of service. Golf here is unparalleled, as the Arnold Palmer designed; 18-hole course is not only revered as one of the best in the region, but considered a picturesque nature walk throughout this unique habitat. Luxury residential properties range from the $800s to over $10 million and include custom estate residences, courtyard homes, cottage, or oceanfront condominiums. For a full list of available real estate listings at Orchid Island.

Intrigued by this one-of-a-kind destination? Request the inaugural issue of Orchid Island Lifestyles Magazine here to learn more about this amazing community and how the Vero Beach area embraces its natural wonderland.

There’s one more way that this Club is ensuring that its ecological footprint is far smaller, and it’s happening in the kitchens. Members may have noticed that the to-go cups, straws and containers are a different color and texture. As part of Orchid Island Golf & Beach Club’s 2019 Going Green Program, former styro foam cups and plastic straws have been replaced with specialty biodegradable drinkware.

For many clubs, this change would be revolutionary, but for Chris Sozio, Executive Chef at Orchid Island, it’s just second nature. As both an outdoors person and someone who is aware of the Club’s ecological efforts, Chef Sozio ma the commitment to improve upon the Club’s environmentally conscious plan already in place. The addition of biodegradable drinkware is one of his many attempts in recognizing that goal.

Understanding the Club’s passion toward the environment and wildlife, he was able to locate specialty suppliers that would be able to fulfill the request for earth-friendly drinkware. “It is a little more costly to be involved with this green program,” Sozio shared. “but it’s something that’s important to me and the Club. As an Certified Aubudon Cooperative Sanctuary since 2005, we want to make sure that we’re doing our part, and there’s definitely some satisfaction in knowing that we’re using biodegradable green products.”

The use of biodegradable drinkware isn’t the only way that the Club is committed to going green. Sozio also goes through a great effort to ensure that he’s using produce from the local farms nearby. As he puts it, “all of the local farmers are making the deliveries in their family cars and farm trucks, often less than 20 miles away. Not only are we getting superior, locally grown produce but it requires very little fuel for the delivery.”

Even the members of Orchid Island can get in on the fun. Knowing that many are interested in finding out where their food comes from and how it was grown or produced, Sozio organizes field trips that take members to several farms in the county who supply much of the Club’s produce. “Our members actually get to go out in the fields with the farmers. The farmers explain what they’re growing and how they’re growing it, and the members get an opportunity to purchase from the farmer right on the spot. Then, we go right back to the club for an enjoyable meal featuring foods from those farms.” The outings have gained popularity from members who are interested in supporting local farms, and they often return to the farms to purchase more food.

The kitchens at Orchid Island aren’t the only area the Club has committed to going green – they’ve worked with local government and national conservation organizations to ensure that they’re leaving as small of a footprint on the environment as possible. Many golfers know of the Club’s status as a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary, procured by adapting to measures regarding water quality management and conservation, among others. This designation is part of the reason why birds such as white pelicans, egrets and ospreys are prevalent on the course. Furthermore, the private beach is maintained so that sea turtles can safely lay their eggs on its shores.

For those who want to get close to nature, the Orchid Island Golf & Beach Club amenities are second to none. Orchid Island works hard to preserve a way of life for, not only the natural neighbors who live on the Treasure Coast, but the residents as well. Members and residents also enjoy the convenience of a golf cart lifestyle. Traveling the community via golf cart makes getting to any of the amenities a fun and enjoyable experience, including the West Indies styled private Beach Club, which overlooks a private beach just for residents and their families to take pleasure in.

This private community is committed to providing an extraordinary level of service. Golf here is unparalleled, as the Arnold Palmer designed; 18-hole course is not only revered as one of the best in the region, but considered a picturesque nature walk throughout this unique habitat. Luxury residential properties range from the $800’s up to $10 million and include custom estate residences, courtyard homes, cottage, or oceanfront condominiums. For a full list of available real estate listings at Orchid Island, click here.

If you’re in the area, stop by the Orchid Island Realty office and see the community’s beauty for yourself. Call 772. 388.3888 to schedule a private appointment.

Since the summer of 2018, Orchid Island Golf and Beach Club has experienced a change in momentum felt throughout the community. By implementing a national marketing program, new digital strategies and publishing Orchid Island Lifestyles Magazine, Orchid Island has developed a new approach for reaching a unique audience of potential members in search of Vero Beach real estate.

The shift in momentum started with a new way of thinking for this private club. Where previously focus was put solely on Vero Beach real estate, the club is now focusing on promoting the community as a whole and the Orchid Island location. By letting people fall in love with the lifestyle here, real estate interest and sales have begun to flourish.

A plethora of marketing tools have been developed along the way to fulfill this purpose. Along with a new website, a custom published lifestyle magazine was also created to tell the story of Orchid Island. Potential new members are able to request this complimentary publication to see what the lifestyle here is all about, giving them an inside look at life in this cherished community. Request one for yourself HERE to check it out. A digital brochure was also developed to give a deeper look at the homes and neighborhoods in this private Vero Beach real estate community.

Current members of Orchid Island recognize the beauty of this community and the lifestyle here. This private golf and beach community is committed to providing a level of service that stands out from the rest. Golfing here is unparalleled, as the Arnold Palmer designed 18-hole course is not only renowned among courses, but also holds an Audubon Certified Sanctuary status for its commitment to natural preservation. The beach club serves as a gathering place for families and friends to reunite. Private club events and holidays are held in the dining room, and families have fun in the sun along the Atlantic Ocean. Residents even have their own beach to enjoy, with the club hosting over a mile of private beachfront. Orchid Island even spans from the Atlantic Ocean all the way to the Indian River.

If you’re in the area, stop by the Orchid Island Sales Center and see the community’s beauty for yourself. Call 772. 388.3888 for more information or visit OrchidIslandFL.com.

Luxury residential properties range from the $800’s to up to $10 million and include custom estate residences, courtyard homes, cottage, or oceanfront condominiums. For a full list of available real estate listings at Orchid Isl and, visit OrchidIslandGolfandBeachClub.com.

Spring brings many things to Vero Beach. And here, the first Monday in May means the annual VNA Golf-a-Thon at Orchid Island, held by and for the benefit of the Visiting Nurse Association of Indian River County. For over 29 years, golf and country clubs all over Indian River County have hosted this illustrious charity event. Spectators gather to see twelve of the county’s best Golf Club Pros play against each other over 135 holes, all for a great cause.

This year is the 29th annual Golf-a-Thon at Orchid Island. And we couldn’t think of a better place, especially when a member of the Visiting Nurse Association Foundation Board, Carole Finck, is a member of Orchid Island as well. “It’s unique the way it pulls the area together, and we’re excited to bring it back to Orchid Island after such a long time,” Finck told us. The original Golf-a-Thon was actually held at Orchid Island, but hasn’t been back since then…until now.

Rich Waage, Orchid Island’s Director of Golf, is proud to host the event and play himself. “When I first came to Orchid Island in 1997, the seasonal director of golf always played in the Golf-a-thon,” he told us. “That’s how I was introduced to it. I’ve been playing in the Golf-a-Thon since 2000.”

The foundation that the Golf-a-Thon benefits, the VNA of the Treasure Coast, has served a specific role in the community for over 40 years. Started by a group of friends who recognized a gap in the quality of home health care that the residents of the county received, the VNA has provided a variety of programs and services for the residents of Indian River County. These include in-home services for those recently discharged from the hospital, regardless of ability to pay, vaccination education programs and vaccination clinics for members of the county, and the construction and maintenance of a physical hospice center – the only one in Vero Beach. In 2018, they performed over 100,000 visits to the homes of those in need. Their work selflessly serves the county in numerous ways.

The Golf-a-Thon, and other charity golf events are one of the many ways that the philanthropic-minded members of Orchid Island Golf & Beach Club get involved in their community. In the past, the Golf-a-Thon has raised over $300,000, and this year is expected to be just as successful, if not even more so. “Orchid Island has fantastic members who love to give back to the Vero Beach Community,” Waage told us.

“We’re excited to host the Golf-a-Thon at Orchid Island on our very own golf course where members of Orchid Island can be involved in different ways, including the sponsorship of a golf hole or individual donations.”

For those who want to get close to nature, the Orchid Island Golf & Beach Club amenities are second to none. Orchid Island works hard to preserve a way of life for, not only the natural neighbors who live on the Treasure Coast, but the residents as well. Members and residents also enjoy the convenience of a golf cart lifestyle. Traveling the community via golf cart makes getting to any of the amenities a fun and enjoyable experience, including the West Indies styled private Beach Club, which overlooks a private beach just for residents and their families to take pleasure in.

This private community is committed to providing an extraordinary level of service. Golf here is unparalleled, as the Arnold Palmer designed; 18-hole course is not only revered as one of the best in the region, but considered a picturesque nature walk throughout this unique habitat. Luxury residential properties range from the $800’s up to $10 million and include custom estate residences, courtyard homes, cottage, or oceanfront condominiums. For a full list of available real estate listings at Orchid Island, visit OrchidIslandRealty.com

Intrigued by this one-of-a-kind destination? Request the inaugural issue of Orchid Island Lifestyles Magazine here to learn more about this amazing community and how the Vero Beach area embraces its natural wonderland.

If you’re in the area, stop by the Orchid Island Realty office and see the community’s beauty for yourself. Call 772. 388.3888 to schedule a private appointment.

March is a fantastic time to get outside and enjoy local food, shops, and experiences. Vero Beach has plenty of opportunities for us to do so. From food and festivals to markets and music, this month is full of activities and opportunities for all. Below are some of our favorite events in the area. How do you plan on spending the springtime?

Main Street Vero Beach Vintage Market

Collecting vintage pieces and fine artworks is an intensive hobby. Fortunately, it doesn’t have to be hard. The Main Street Vero Beach Vintage Market, hosted by Main Street Vero Beach, is one of the best places to look. On March 9^th, guests will spend the day along 14^th Avenue and 20^th Street sifting through the racks of vintage clothing and furniture, perusing the crafts of local artists, and sampling the delicacies of local food vendors, all the while spending a sunny afternoon in the beautiful historic downtown of Vero Beach.

March Shows at the Riverside Theatre

As Vero Beach’s preferred destination for live entertainment since 1973, the Riverside Theatre has been where aspiring stars have put on performances that have wowed local audiences. Part of the theatre’s 2019 season includes Ghost Writer and My Fair Lady. Ghost Writer is the story of a secretary who continues to write her deceased charge’s works after his passing, and how society views this transgressive act. My Fair Lady is the retelling of the famous George Bernard Shaw play Pygmalion, in which a young Cockney woman takes contemporary manners, society, and perceptions to task as she works with a phoneticist to prepare for her introduction into high society. Reflecting both turn-of-the-century sensibilities and modern concepts of gender and power, viewers will find plenty that reverberates with them in this performance.

68^th Annual Under The Oaks Arts and Crafts Show

You may have noticed that this area has an unrivaled creative spirit. Nothing displays this better than the Under the Oaks Arts and Crafts Show. Held by the Vero Beach Art Club, its 68^th year establishes it as a cultural institution for Vero Beach. The show raises money for the organization while highlighting the works of over 220 artists from across the nation. On March 9^th, enjoy viewing works by artists and chowing down on local foods while touring beautiful Riverside Park.

42^nd Annual Antique Auto Show

Riverside Park isn’t home to just amazing live acts or art shows – its where you can see the coolest cars of yesteryear, as well. Come March 16^th, expect to see over 325 cars from the 20^th century, alongside foreign and modified cars. Events will include dash plaques, trophies, and contests as car owners compete to see who owns the best automobile. When you attend, remember to bring non-perishable food items to help out the Vero Beach Post Office “Drive Out Hunger.”

Maybe your idea of a good day is shopping for unique pieces and trying dishes from renowned restaurants. Or maybe you want to have a close encounter with manatees, otters, ospreys, and other kinds of wildlife. You’ll find all of that and more right near Orchid Island. Looking to kick back and relax on a private beach, or play a few rounds of golf on expertly designed courses? Hoping to take the golf cart to dinner, or get to know your neighbors with fun activities and experiences? Orchid Island is the perfect place to live a truly unique lifestyle.

Orchid Island Golf & Beach Club works hard to preserve a way of life for, not only the natural neighbors who live on the Treasure Coast, but the residents as well. Animals from river otters to dolphins to loggerhead turtles populate the area, granting residents opportunities to spot them as they wander through the miles of trails that the neighborhood offer. Members and residents enjoy their private beach access thanks to the neighborhood spanning from the Atlantic Ocean to the Indian River.

This private community is committed to providing a level of service that stands out from the rest. Golfing here is unparalleled, as the Arnold Palmer designed, 18-hole course is not only renowned among courses, but also holds an Audubon Certified Sanctuary status for its commitment to natural preservation. Having been established as one of the premier courses in the golfing world, Orchid Island Golf and Beach Club’s course hosted the 2018 U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur Championship, and continues to host its own private golfing events for its residents.

Love the Vero Beach location? Request the inaugural issue of Orchid Island Golf and Beach Club’s Lifestyles Magazine here to learn more about the Vero Beach area and how nature coexists with the residents.

Luxury residential properties range from the $800s to over $10 million and include custom estate residences, courtyard homes, cottage, or oceanfront condominiums. If you’re in the area, stop by the Orchid Island Realty Sales Center and see the community’s beauty for yourself, or call 772.388.3888 for more information. For a full list of available real estate listings at Orchid Island, visit OrchidIslandFL.com