Southern Living recently posted about the unique attributes of Vero Beach and what makes it so special, calling it “an upscale Florida town that is funky at heart.” and the Hamptons of Florida.
See what else they had to say from their January 2020 article below:
It’s a low-key tropical escape for millionaires (and billionaires) who want to relax out of the spotlight of Palm Beach and Miami to the south. This is where celebs can stroll the public boardwalk and no one makes a fuss. It’s been called the Hamptons of Florida, home to upmarket boutiques, wine bars, and spas.
It’s also home to Bibble Irvin. You can find the sixty-something surfer and artist at Waldo’s Restaurant & Bar, a beloved establishment constructed of driftwood smack-dab in the center of Vero. He’ll be offering handwoven palm-frond hats for sale while talking over the news of the day with local citrus farmers and real estate developers alike. Quirky, outspoken, and utterly Floridian, Irvin is as much Vero Beach as the latest tycoon to get hooked on its unique blend of sophistication and authentic, flip-flop fun. That’s what makes this delightful discovery feel like home to all manner of travelers—everyone here ends up at the funky heart of Vero Beach.
And everything feels so close and interrelated. Base your days at the indulgence-worthy digs of the Kimpton Vero Beach Hotel & Spa—complete with an intimate pool (and beach bar), a serene spa, and lounger-dotted pale sands with polite attendants ready to get you all set with sporty toys to play in the sea. But then you can slip on your sandals and stroll south into shopping-centric Vero, mining fresh shift dresses from Lilly Pulitzer or bright board shorts from Australian brand Tom & Teddy. You can feel very right now, capping off your hunting and gathering with a trip to the Vero Beach Museum of Art and dipping into Cuban food and upscale cocktails at Gloria Estefan’s chic Costa d’Este Beach Resort & Spa.
That would all be divine, but just as easily, you can swing onto the mainland side of Vero Beach and visit a fourth-generation citrus farm such as Schacht Groves, where they’re harvesting and squeezing juices before your eyes. As you stroll among the trees and taste just how much better Indian River County citrus tastes than any other, you’ll appreciate how this agricultural juggernaut rose to prominence in the mid-1900s and never looked back. Then, keeping with the botanical mood, dive into what feels like the verdant heart of Vero Beach, the resplendent McKee Botanical Garden. Built-in 1932 by Arthur G. McKee and visionary pioneer Waldo E. Sexton on acres of tropical hammock as the McKee Jungle Gardens (once home to exotic animals such as chimpanzees), this place maintains the labyrinthine magic of the original conceit and feels like a true Florida wonderland.
Orchid Island Golf & Beach Club is in the heart of it all. Members and residents here enjoy all of this and so much more, including 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.
