Warmth. Comfort. Peace.
These are three things found in abundance within Vero Beach, a small seaside community of 16,000 in Indian River County, Florida. Noted for the exceptional beauty of Orchid Island and the Indian River Lagoon, Vero Beach has long attracted residents who seek the tranquility of oceanfront property that, even into the 21st Century, has remained unspoiled by the large scale development and congestion that has marred some of America's other tropical coastlines. Indeed, due to careful zoning regulations and the establishment of wildlife preserves, the land both within the Indian River Lagoon and outer banks of Orchid Island remains some of the most valued, and sought after, waterfront property in the United States.
The reasons for this are quite obvious: Due to the varied geography of the coastline and entrance to the Indian River, any home established along either the outer barrier islands or lagoon enjoys a high degree of effortless privacy. Their residents, in large part, can remain unobserved yet immersed in the bountiful charms of nature, which, in the case of this quiet stretch of blue waters and tropical, flowering plants, includes communities of playful dolphins, brilliantly plumed birds, and exotic, harmless animals of all stripes. If they so wish, a resident of Vero Beach can spend entire days, weeks, or months boating and exploring the neighboring coasts, reefs, or connecting rivers. For those who seek the beauty of nature and the peace that comes with seclusion, Vero Beach is truly a paradise come true.
Such seclusion, however, is also by choice, as any of the island or lagoon residents can always take a short drive to downtown Vero Beach, which offers numerous recreational activities, including one of the world's largest Bridge-playing communities, or further inland to Holman Stadium, which is the former spring training home of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Currently operated by the Ripkin Baseball Group, this comfortable ballpark is expected to become the new home for a minor league baseball team in the near future. When combined with the multitude of nearby shops, eateries, and other amenities, the virtues of Vero Beach's commercial district, which has been carefully zoned so as to prevent the construction of any building that could compete with the verdant charms of the area, become overwhelming. Given temperatures that average in the 70s as late as November and December, such charms are also fundamentally comforting.