Recreation

BOATINGAn array of purveyors offer daily rentals of sail boats, power boats and kayaks for your ocean or river excursions as well as guides tours of the Indian River to see dolphin, manatees and birds. Inland, airboat purveyors’ guided tours of fresh water lakes offer a chance to spot ‘gators!<The City Marina is located just off the Barber Bridge on the barrier island, with slips for boats and racks for kayaks. Fuel and other services are also available. Call the harbormaster for more information; there is generally a long waiting list for slips. Visit in season to see the array of boat styles and names. Here’s what we want to know: how do the boats from New Mexico get here?Community Marinas: the below communities have slips beyond private docks of homes located on the River. Capacities vary as do their water levels — remember that the Indian River is a tidal estuary, meaning that its water levels are subject to the tides! (Visit communities listed by amenity for communities with properties on the open water or canal if you prefer a home with your own dock)
The Moorings
Seagrove West
Indian Trails
Marbrisa
Palm Island Plantation
Marsh Island
Launch sites to put in your boat or kayak:Memorial Island at Riverside Park Indian River Oslo Riverfront Indian River Round Island Indian River Wabasso Causeway Indian River Ft. Pierce Inlet to Indian River or Atlantic Ocean Sebastian Inlet to Indian River or Atlantic Ocean<TENNISTennis remains popular in Vero, with a variety of court surfaces from which to choose.Public Courts:Riverside Park Racquet Complex: part of the jewel we call Riverside Park, this riverfront complex features a dozen or so cement courts, always impeccably groomed. Nominal fee for play; lessons and leagues available.Pocahontas Park: two newly resurfaced courts by the 14th Avenue park of the same name in historic downtown Vero Beach. They are close to the shuffleboard area if that’s your game of preference! No feePrivate Clubs with Courts:Quail Valley ClubOrchid Island Golf and Beach ClubThe MooringsGrand HarborBent PineIndian River ClubVero Beach Country ClubWindsorCommunities with tennis:Pointe WestSea OaksThe BoulevardIndian TrailsThe ShoresBIKINGWhether you own your own bike or rent from Orchid Island Rentals on Cardinal Drive, the island-long sidewalk or road bike paths are perfect for a work out or peddle to the beach!JOGGINGA host of options exist for joggers along our barrier island, from jogging along the island-long sidewalk to the ocean (my personal favorite) or taking on the fitness trail by the Riverside Park tennis complex.SWIMMINGPublic pool complexes:Leisure Square NorthCounty Aquatic CenterPrivate pools(membership available for swimming at select times)Saint Edwards Upper SchoolThe Jungle ClubSee also communities with community pools and/or beach clubs with pools POLOPolo matches are held January through June at Windsor on the barrier island and at Pointe West on the mainland. Spectators are welcome to cheer on local and guest teams and help replace divots during breaks between chukkers! Admissions vary, call ahead for specifics.BASEBALLNo discussion of recreation in Vero Beach would be complete without noting that Vero Beach has been home to spring training of the Los Angeles (then Brooklyn) Dodgers since the 1950s. Holman Stadium has been rightly dubbed among the most pristine and authentic minor league ballparks in the country as instead of being ringed by advertisements, it is bordered by a tropical berm of verdant palms and grapefruit trees.There are literally no bad seats in the 6,000+ capacity stadium, each creating in spectators the sensation that they could reach out and touch the players.The major league team conducts its Spring training at the ballpark, participating in the ‘grapefruit league’ against other pro squads training in the area, such as the NY Mets who train in nearby Port St. Lucie. The balance of the season the stadium is home to a minor league team and in the Fall hosts fantasy camps at which die hard fanatics can realize their dreams of donning a uniform and playing among former Dodger greats like Rick Monday and Tommy Lasorda. And talk about affordable: tickets are under $15 and a famed ‘Dodger’ dog will only set you back a couple of bucks. Truly a great way to pass a day! After a game if you visit water holes like Bobby’s on Vero’s Ocean Drive you just may run into a few current or former players, many of whom still call Vero home.