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Beach Trip

By Kevin Wing
Co-Host, Catch a Wave: A Journey to California’s 10 Best Beaches

Kevin Wing(Editor’s Note: This regular column about America’s best beaches and beach towns is written exclusively for AARisings by Kevin Wing, an Emmy Award-winning San Francisco Bay Area-based television journalist who co-hosts Catch a Wave: A Journey to California’s 10 Best Beaches. Kevin is also a news writer/feature reporter at KRON-TV Channel 4 in San Francisco, and performs voiceover work in the Bay Area. He also writes Suite Surrender, a new column for AARisings, which showcases America’s best hotel and resort destinations. What beach are we visiting this month? It’s back to sunny Florida and Vero Beach, located midway between the Kennedy Space Center and Palm Beach on the Treasure Coast.)

Many who know me realize that Florida is one of my most favorite places to go on vacation. Maybe it’s my affinity towards warm weather, palm trees, beaches and – okay, Walt Disney World – and that feeling that, when I’m 3,000 miles away from home here in the San Francisco Bay area, I truly feel like I’m on vacation.

Florida has so much to offer. I was born a Disney loyalist, so naturally, after being brought up on trips to my beloved Disneyland in southern California, I have always savored Walt Disney World and all it offers me – fun, relaxation, good times. If memory serves, I believe I’ve visited there 10 times over the years.

But, of course, there’s more to Florida than greater Orlando – which is the theme-park capital of the world. There are hundreds of great beaches on both sides of the state. One of those beaches is Vero Beach, about a 90-minute drive from Orlando and three or four hours north of the Miami-Fort Lauderdale region.

Vero Beach is actually a city, the main town in Indian River County. It’s fairly typical of most coastal cities in what is known as the Treasure Coast region of Florida, although the city’s Orchid Island area is well-heeled and quite seductive to locals and vacationers.The city is known for its thriving arts scene, nourished by its many art galleries and resident artists. It’s also known for its beaches. In my opinion, the best part of the city of Vero Beach, is the beach.

Separated from the rest of the city of Vero Beach by the Intracoastal Waterway, the sandy beaches on the Atlantic coast are almost terra cotta in color and the texture of the sand is coarse, unlike the powdery white sands of the beaches on the Gulf Coast.

Nearby Wahasso Beach is strewn with an array of seashells, perfect for beachgoers who love to spend hours plucking shells out of the sand. In fact, this beach is probably the best patches of sand on Orchid Island to find seashells of all shapes, sizes and varieties.

If you’re from out of town and looking to find a place to stay in Vero Beach, there are plenty of places in town and in surrounding communities. In my opinion, the best place to stay – okay, I know, another Disney reference – is Disney’s Vero Beach Resort. It’s a timeshare resort, part of Disney’s expansive Disney Vacation Club, but you can still stay there even if you’re not a timeshare owner. Built in the 1990s, the landscape of the hotel takes full advantage of the natural beauty of the coast. And, if you’re trying to get away from Mickey, you won’t see him walking around the resort or lollygagging on the beach while you’re trying to relax and unwind.

The Atlantic waters are warm, but be forewarned: watch where you step and be careful where you wade or swim. Jellyfish, the Portugese man-o-war, stingrays and other marine life can be hazards for swimmers. There is an easy-to-understand, color-coded “beach flag advisory system” at all beaches. Watch for these signs and respect the conditions of the ocean for your own safety, as Atlantic waters can be unpredictable.

Unlike Florida’s more popular beaches in areas like Key West, Fort Lauderdale, Palm Beach, Tampa/St. Pete, Panama City Beach and, of course, Miami Beach’s South Beach, the beaches in the Vero Beach area tend to be more secluded and perfect for a quiet, relaxing vacation or a weekend getaway for two.

How to get to the beach: If you’re vacationing in the Orlando area, head east on state Highway 528 toward the Kennedy Space Center, then head south on Interstate 95. Watch for the signs to Vero Beach. Exit at state Highway 60 and head east into the city of Vero Beach. Once in town, state Highway 60 will also be known as 20th Street. Next, head south on Indian River Boulevard, then left on 17th Street (county Highway 656). This crosses the Intracoastal Waterway. Once on the other side of the waterway, watch for the junction of Highway A1A. Drive in either direction on A1A and watch for the beach signs. For reference, Disney’s Vero Beach Resort is about eight miles north of this point.

Next month from Beach Trip: Our summer visit in Florida continues with a stop at Siesta Key Beach near Sarasota, one of the nation’s most beautiful white-sand beaches.

To learn more about the Catch a Wave television show and Kevin Wing, go to www.catchawavetv.com. You can email Kevin and the Catch a Wave crew at catchawavetvshow@aol.com.

Beach Trip. Where It’s Summertime Year Round.
Copyright 2006
All Rights Reserved
Kevin Wing / American Travelers Television
Issue 9 / July 2006

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Photo used by permission courtesy of Kevin Wing. Photo copyright by Kevin Wing.