Fine Art, Museums and Gourmet Dining ... it's all here ...

Named as one of the “Best Small Art Towns in America,” by the well-known art journalist John Villani in 1994, Vero Beach is home to a highly-talented and vibrant artistic community. Boasting an abundance of intellectual activities and venues, the town enjoys a level of cultural sophistication that is unprecedented for a community its size.

The 615-seat Riverside Theatre, located in picturesque Riverside Park on the town’s exclusive barrier island, is the area’s only professional theatre. Actors, designers, and directors are frequently brought in from New York to provide patrons with the very highest quality of entertainment. One of only eight theatres dedicated by the state as a Cultural Institution, the Riverside Theatre hosts close to 300 performances each year on two different stages and enjoys one of the largest subscribing audiences in Florida. The Riverside Children’s Theatre, in a free-standing building right next door, features local shows performed by students as well as national touring companies.

Across the street from the Riverside Theatre is the award-winning, 55,000 sq. ft., Vero Beach Museum of Art. Home to the largest school associated with a museum in the state of Florida, this extraordinary institution provides an on-going series of exhibitions from some of the leading galleries and most noteworthy collections in the United States. As the headquarters of the Vero Beach Art Club, the Museum also offers a number of classes taught by highly-qualified experts, in addition to hosting a guest lecture series featuring many world-renowned artists.

Throughout the year, Riverside Park is host to a number of exciting art shows and musical festivals. One of the most spectacular is the “Under the Oaks” art show held in March. Sponsored by the Vero Beach Art Club, the show is considered one of the state’s finest and features both local and nationally recognized artists. Also noteworthy is the “Pops in Paradise” -- an outdoor concert performed by the world famous Boston Pops in February for the benefit of the Indian River Hospital Foundation.

History buffs will not be disappointed either. The Indian River County Citrus Museum, located at 2140 14th Ave. in downtown Vero Beach, tells the story from its humble beginnings of how the area became the world’s leading grapefruit grower. Two blocks away at 2336 14th Ave., the Vero Beach Historical Society hosts a large archival collection of local historical memorabilia and photographs. Together, they provide an intimate perspective into the city’s colorful past.

Just in case you didn’t know why Indian River, St. Lucie, and Martin counties are referred to as the Treasure Coast, the McLarty Museum, at 13180 N A1A, is one of those quaint little museums full of fascinating history. Built on the site of a salvaging camp from a 1715 shipwreck, the museum is home to a number of 18th-century items retrieved from just a few hundred yards offshore. The museum also offers an engaging 45-minute video that describes in intricate detail the entire treasure-hunting process.

Last, but not least, is the Environmental Learning Center. Situated on 51 island acres, just off the 510 Causeway at 255 Live Oak Dr., the Center features a 600-ft. boardwalk that neatly winds its way through the mangroves alongside the beautiful Indian River Lagoon. Dozens of hands-on exhibits, live touch-tanks, and microscopes are available for both children and adults alike, allowing the engaging visitor to view up close even the smallest of sea life.