- Fun Day Trips From the Space Coast: Kennedy Space Center
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The Kennedy Space Center opened in
1962...and it is the place NASA launches all it's rockets, satellites,
manned and unmanned space ships. Many visitors come to the Space Coast
to see a launch...but you should plan on a visit when the crowds are not
flooding through the front gates...so you can enjoy all this National
Treasure has to offer!
Here is a link to the rocket launch schedule: http://www.nasa.gov/missions/highlights/schedule.html
The Space Center itself has a Space Themed
area that operates as an amusement park of sorts so you can enjoy your
space experience. My suggestion...if you live locally go when no
launches are on the horizon. If you are here for a rocket launch spend a
couple of days and head to the Space Center the day AFTER the launch.
Go in early and check out the Rocket Garden (replicas of full size
rockets are on display) then head through all the attractions.
Exploration Space...a fun interactive show was our favorite. The
Atlantis Shuttle will be here in 2013 so keep in mind that will likely
spike attendance.
You will also want to see the Astronaut
Hall of Fame (just up the street) and try to plan an Astronaut Encounter
(keep in mind only 500 people have ever been in space so these are rare
individuals indeed!)....(Here is a link to buy tickets and set up your
trip: http://www.kennedyspacecenter.com/buy-tickets.aspx
) The IMAX theater runs all day and the space productions they have are
truly amazing. The tours...including checking out the observation decks
is a fun learning experience.
Kennedy Space Center is really a must see
for anyone visiting the Space Coast...and if you are lucky enough to
live here do yourself a favor and buy an annual pass (only $50 for
adults if you buy it in 2012!). This is a place you can come back to
many times and discover new adventures.
- Restaurant Review: Sakura Japanese Buffet in West Melbourne Florida
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I love all kinds of food...I work out 5 to 6
days a week just so I can eat all the time! One of my favorite
activities is to find new places to eat...and if they happen to cover
multiple cuisines...all the better!
Sakura Japanese Buffet is just such a
place. Although the name would give you the idea it is Japanese food
only...it actually has many types of food on it's enormous buffet area.
You will find not only sushi, but also a Chinese buffet section
(including BBQ ribs), a Mongolian-Teppanyaki grill as well as a cold
items section with salads, fruits, seafood (mussels, and
peel-and-eat-shrimp) and some American food offerings.
The sushi is quite good with a large
variety of options. If Sushi was the only option here it would be worth
the $14.95 all you can eat price ($15.95 on the weekend). The Chinese
food is also good with General Tao's Chicken and BBQ Ribs that will
satisfy those who shy away from Sushi. You should also be able to find
options that picky children will find acceptable.
Sakura also offers a lunch buffet ($7.95
Mon-Thurs and $8.95 Fri-Sun) as well as a children's pricing (from
$4.99-8.99). They have a full menu of sit down meals with some
attractive prices for Sushi, Sashimi, Tempura, Hibachi and more.
Sakura Japanese Buffet is located at: 2609
W. New Haven Ave, West Melbourne, FL 32904. It is West of the Melbourne
Square Mall on the South side of New Haven (Rt 192) across from the
McDonald's and Wendy's. The phone number is 321.723.5888...and Fax is
321.723.5889. They offer both dine in and carry out.
- Restaurant Review: Thai Thai II...Indialantic Florida
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I love Sushi. It is one of those cuisines I am willing to travel a distance to eat.
Thankfully Thai Thai II located in Indialantic
at the corner of A1A and Paradise Beach is not only really good
Sushi...it has a great beachside location directly across A1A from
Paradise Beach Park...in the same plaza as Ichabod's and Bunky's.
Thai Thai II has an equally good sister
restaurant in Melbourne with a very similar menu. The Sushi and Pad Thai
are both really good and very fresh. At Thai Thai II you will usually
find a full house inside and outside on the patio (if the weather is
good) until late in the night (by Space Coast standards) You will
usually see three very busy sushi chefs. This place hums!
I have not had a bad meal here...my
suggestion...sit out on the patio...try the seaweed salad as a
starter...I love the dragon rolls here. The menu is quite extensive and
they are very fast getting you your choices. Some warmed Saki will help
you enjoy your experience even more :)
...after your meal head over to Ichobod's
or Monkey Bar (in the same plaza) for a night cap...maybe even take a
walk across the street to the beach! It will make you want to move
here...and hey...I know a great Realtor :)
Thai Thai II is located at: 2324 N Hwy A1A Indialantic, FL 32903
- Parks and Recreation Series: Hoover Athletic Complex
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Hoover Athletic Complex is a huge group of athletic fields that is
connected to Hoover Middle school at 2000 Hawk Haven Drive in Indialantic, FL.
The complex includes these activities:
Softball
Soccer
Baseball
Volleyball
Racquetball Courts
an Exercise Trail
6 lighted Tennis Courts
Lighted Softball fields
This multi-purpose complex offers league games for adults and children.
Here is a link to Hoover's adult activity schedule: http://leagues.brevardparks.com/south/hoover/
Hoover Athletic Complex is a wonderful local resource for children
and adults. The fields are nicely maintained and you can always find a
patch of grass to play your favorite sport.
- Local Business Spotlight: The Jungle in Indialantic, FL
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The Jungle is an interesting local business that is located in Indialantic,
FL...directly across from the Atlantic Ocean (about 1/2 mile south of
Eau Gallie Blvd) on Hwy A1A. It is part really good organic restaurant
and well stocked organic market.
This is a place I often stop by for
lunch...and then stock up on some organic vegetables and other needs
like organic beer and wine, gluten free items...and even organic pet
foods.
The restaurant is open for lunch (or brunch
on Sunday) all week...and opens for dinner on Friday and Saturday
nights. I love the salads, sandwiches and veggie burgers that The Jungle
has to offer. My favorite is the Balsamic Roasted Eggplant
Sandwich...it is so tasty you might find yourself ordering it most every
time you come here.
Brunch offers (along with the standard
lunch items) breakfast offerings like omelets and breakfast burritos.
The brunch is not an all you can eat buffet so I suggest looking over
the very extensive menu. I have included a link to the website and menu
here:
http://jungleorganic.com/
For those of you with a GPS devise the address for The Jungle is:
2500 N Hwy A1A
Indialantic, FL
32903
Phone: 321.773.5678
- Space Coast Day Trips: Epcot Theme Park
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Walt Disney World is often called the
happiest place on Earth. If you enjoy rides, attractions, entertaining
shows, learning and eating...well it just might be.
Epcot (Experimental Prototype City of
Tomorrow) Theme Park is a real favorite for both my boy and myself. It
really has some great rides like Soarin (a truly amazing ride over
California), Test Track (the fastest ride at Walt Disney World), Mission
Space and Spaceship Earth (the big golf ball that has a ride inside
that is like a history of humans on Earth).
The front half of Epcot is built with rides
and attractions...the back half is a representation of the countries of
the world surrounding a big lake...this is like a Worlds Fair that is
staffed by mostly college aged students from each of the countries
represented. The food on the back half of Epcot is some of the best in
Disney World with some really nice representations from the individual
countries to show of their culture and their cuisine.
Disney uses something called fast pass...it
is designed to get you on rides that are ALWAYS busy as quickly as
possible...you cannot just stick your fast pass in and take rides...it
gives you a time to come back...and only one fast pass at a time can be
used. The system works, but I do recommend you follow a certain path to
get the best use of the park...and to ride those rides you really like a
couple of times each.
You can attack Disney in many different
ways...if you are coming for just one day (day trip)...here is my
recommendation for getting the most out of your trip to Epcot:
First...as soon as you buy tickets make
dinner reservations...my recommendation is to eat in Germany at the
Biergarten...it is awesome with a great band...cold beer...and dancing.
The food is good and reasonably authentic.
Eat breakfast early then arrive about half
hour before the park opens...have your tickets purchased ahead (if you
are a resident of Brevard County you can often get Florida resident
rates online...buy the tickets!!!). When you get through the doors RUN
straight to Soarin and Fast Pass it...now get online and ride Sournin
(this will allow you to ride twice...which you will want to do)...after
riding go to Test Track and ride it. Ride Mission Space. It should now
be time to go back and ride Soarin on fast pass. After your ride go back
and fast pass Test Track (you will want to ride it at least twice). Get
online for Spaceship Earth and ride it...now it should be time for
lunch...eat at one of the small places in the front half of the park. Go
on all the smaller rides you can fit in until it is time for you to
head back to Test track again. Ride Mission Earth again if you want
seconds (some love it...some hate it). It should now be time to head
over to the back half of the park.
When you get to the back half head to the
left...do the countries and rides...make sure to see Norway and do the
ride. Each Country has its own flavor. Work your way around (keep in
mind you need to be on time for your dinner reservation in Germany which
is about halfway around. After dinner make sure to see the show at the
American experience.
This is very important...DO NOT LEAVE
EARLY...the fireworks display at the end...IlluminaNations: Reflections
of Earth...is the single most amazing display I have ever seen. From the
incredible light show to the non-stop fireworks...do not miss it. Head
over to the area just in front of Canada about an hour before the park
closes (get a cold beer from England to help the time pass). Relax and
wait for the show. If you follow the guide you will see everything in the
park and leave with some wonderful memories.
- Parks and Recreation Series: Ocean Park...Melbourne Beach Florida
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To start off with...Ocean Park in Melbourne Beach,
FL has one of the nicest strips of beach on the Space Coast. It is a
beautiful wide beach with a nice shelf so you can walk out quite a
distance without sinking beneath the waves!
The park has a Gazebo, lots of covered picnic tables, free parking,
beach access as well as public outside showers to get the sand off after
you have taken a dip in the Atlantic Ocean.
The park is on the corner of Ocean Ave and Atlantic St (A1A) between all the fun shops and restaurants Melbourne Beach
has to offer. The park is right next to Sand on the Beach/Bikini Bar so
you can stop by and get an adult beverage or have a great lunch right
in front of the sand!
Ocean Park does have a smaller sized parking lot so get there early.
My suggestion: If you get there early you can get a couple of hours of
sun in...then drive next door to Sand on the Beach and enjoy
lunch...maybe even watch a beach volleyball game. If you decide on
coming late...head over on a Tuesday around 4pm and get your beach time
in...then head to Sandbar Pizza for Fish Taco night (only $2
each)...finish the night off at the other end of Ocean Ave...the
Melbourne Pier...watch a beautiful Sunset...bring or buy a bottle of
wine and sit out on the pier so you can watch the dolphins jump as the
sun goes down!
- Space Coast History Series: the Indialantic Casino in Indialantic Florida
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In the 1920's as strange as it may
seem...alcohol was illegal in the U.S. Many rum-runners of the time
practiced their trade off the coast of Indialantic. It was during this period that the Indialantic Casino was a thriving location for many movers and shakers to meet and greet, do business, relax and of course party!
The location of the Indialantic
Casino is the spot that is now John Nance Park (on the northern side of
Rt 192/5th Ave...directly on the Atlantic Ocean)...in fact a sign marks
the spot across the parking lot from Bizzarro Famous New York Pizza
(the best pizza in town).
The Indialantic Casino had
a large salt water pool and a long boardwalk that visitors could stroll
on and take in the beautiful Central Florida winter weather...the
average high temps in Indialantic in the winter are in
the low 70's! The Casino and Hotel were demolished by the fire
department in 1970 after falling into decline in the 1960s. John Nance
Park is one of the top spots on the East Coast for Sea Turtle watching!
Below is a picture of the front of the building that included the
boardwalk:
- Restaurant Review: Pizza Gallery & Grill in Viera Florida
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We have many fine Pizza restaurants on the Space Coast (because of the large influx of residents from the East Coast) most of them produce really good thin sliced New York style pizza (my favorite). Pizza Gallery & Grill has a different take on pizza. They have been producing California style pizza right here in the Melbourne area for over 20 years...think California Pizza Kitchen...only much better.
For starters the restaurant is located in The Avenues Mall in the Master Planned Community of Viera...just west of I-95 and Wickham Rd. The 260 seat restaurants is separated into a bar area as well as a family style Italian eatery...and here is a bonus...all the art work on the walls is available for sale...some from local artists...so check it out while you are waiting for your pie.
Pizza Gallery & Grill is not just a pizza joint. They have a nice selection of salads, sandwiches, calzones...as well as an eclectic selection of offerings...but I come for the pizza! My favorite is The “Redoute” Eggplant Parmigiana pizza. It can be found in the vegetarian section. They use an amazing whole wheat crust and the eggplant topping is lightly breaded and fried...yum.
Pizza Gallery & Grill is one of my favorite pizza restaurants in the Melbourne area...you will not be disappointed with anything you try on the menu. Come on down and shop at The Avenues...then have dinner at Pizza Gallery...maybe you will even take home some art for your walls :)
- Restaurant Review: Cafe Coconut Cove in Melbourne Beach Florida
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Some of the best places to eat are not on
the beaten path...they are a little out of the way...and sometimes even a
bit of a struggle to find. When you do get there you remember why you
were willing to take the drive! Cafe Coconut Cove in Melbourne Beach, FL is just such a place.
You can pass by this place two or three
times before you find the smallish sign that tells you to drive in...but
upon entering you will be hooked! Cafe Coconut Cove sits out on the
Indian River with some of the most amazing views and maybe the best
sunsets on the East Coast of Florida (suggestion...schedule you dinner
so you can sit at your table and take in a sunset...you will be glad you
did).
The menu is authentic German with a bit of a Florida twist so be prepared for some truly unique Space Coast eats.
Here is my suggested menu for first timers:
Start
out with the potato pancakes...they are very good and the apple compote
is a perfect dipping sauce! For your entree try the Rouladen Plate...you get One
Bratwurst, Red Cabbage, One Rouladen (Thin Slice of Beef, Rolled and
stuffed with seasoned meat and onion, braised in its own gravy). It is
served with a House Salad, and a Potato Puf. My Mom would on rare
occasion make me Rouladen growing up (when I was not eating Italian
food) and I still love them. Finish off your meal with an Apple Strudel
Ala Mode...this is the best strudel on the Space Coast!
After your inevitable food coma you will be
planning a return trip...a little bit for the sunset views...but mostly
for the best German food on the Space Coast!
Cafe Coconut Cove is located on A1A in Melbourne Beach...for those with a GPS the address is 4210 S. Highway A1A, Melbourne Beach, Florida.
Phone for reservation is: 321.727.3133
Website: http://www.cafecoconutcove.com
- Melbourne Arts Festival: Georgia Satellites Hit the Stage Tonight!
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The Melbourne Arts Festival is in full swing and tonight is the that the bands come out to play!
The
headliners are the Georgia Satellites and they will be hitting the
stage at 7:30pm. Many other local bands will be playing from 1pm until
around 11pm.
Do not forget to also check out the art, food and kidsworld!
This is the top festival of the year and you will have plenty of options for parking...if you are beachside a park and ride is set up in Indialantic at the Indialantic Plaza (with Longdoggers).
Here is a link to the festival: http://melbournearts.org/entertainment.asp
- Local Business Spotlight: The Green Turtle
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If
you have never been to Green Turtle Market you are in for a real
surprise...it is absolutely one of the most interesting places you will
ever run into...and if you come once...you will be back!
It
is hard to explain what this place is...wine and beer shop, restaurant,
deli, catering shop, specialty foods, prepared foods, gift baskets,
great wine tastings...I could write a blog about each facet of Green
Turtle's many sides!
I will make a couple of recommendations here:
1.
Try the restaurant: The Grapevine Cafe is a fun and casual place to
have a meeting with your friends or a nice quick lunch or a no pressure
first date. The food is wonderful and the prices are very reasonable.
2.
Get a "take out" picnic from the deli...the sandwiches are incredible
and CHEAP....maybe a nice bottle of wine to go with it :)
3.
Try the Dinner for two gift basket for $45 (guys...if you can't cook
but want to impress your date...you will love me for this one!) The
sauce is amazing and it is grouped with pasta and a great bottle of
wine.
The
selection of specialty foods, wine, beer and prepared food will truly
surprise you...and the reasonable prices will keep you coming back.
Truly...on the south Space Coast beaches...the Green Turtle is unique!
Check out the website for menu's and specials: www.greenturtlemarket.com
- Neighborhood Profile: "Townhomes of Brevard" in Indialantic Florida
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The Townhomes of Brevard is a complex of two bedroom townhomes that is located in Indialantic, FL. The complex is just west of Hwy A!A about 3/4 of a mile north of 5th Ave in Indialantic. All the Townhomes are on Palmetto Ave (a dead end street that is within walking distance of Indialantic Elementary School (an A-Rated grade school in the Brevard County School System). The entire complex is less then one block from the Atlantic Ocean...so the beach is obviously a big draw!
The
Townhomes are grouped in sections of six homes...four two story homes
in the middle with two one story homes on each end. Each of the
Townhomes have two assigned parking spots...one is under a covered
carport. Every townhouse has a large screened in back patio.They also
each have private front courtyards that can be customized (many owners
have put in outside showers.
Each
of the one story townhomes have two bedrooms and two full
bathrooms...they are over 1100 square feet. The two story models include
two master bedrooms upstairs (with private bathrooms) and a half bath
on the first floor. They are nearly 1400 square feet. The townhomes were
all built in the early to mid 1970's. The price range for both one and
two story townhomes range from just over $100k to around $135k depending
on the level of upgrade.
The townhomes are within walking distance of much of what Indialantic has to offer...wonderful restaurant options (Patrillo's, Longdoggers, Blueberry Muffin, Cantina Dos Amigos, Domino's, Bizzarro's and much more), shopping, schools, medical and much more! The Townhomes of Brevard are a great option for senors, empty nestors, small families and those looking for a reasonably priced warm weather beach home!.
- Fun Day Trips From the Space Coast: LegoLand
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LegoLand is the newest theme park in the
Central Florida area...and is one of the more popular parks with respect
to our area kids because it is so interactive...and lets face it...all
kids love Lego's!
LegoLand is located in Winter Park...just a
little over an hour from the Space Coast. The park is in the location
of the former Cypress Gardens Amusement Park...so the grounds are
absolutely beautiful.
LegoLand is full of rides and attractions
aimed mostly at pre-teens so this is not a park to take the teenagers.
My boy (10 years old) told me his favorite part of the park is the mini
Lego City...it has amazing reproductions of Cities like New York, Las
Vegas, San Francisco, Miami, Central Florida...and much more! He also
loved the roller coaster and the 150ft high sky lift that was kept from
the old Cypress Gardens.
Be prepared to spend at least 1/2 day to
3/4 of a day here. They will also be adding a water park to the facility
so you will be able to enjoy the park and grounds...then move on to the
water when the kids need a break from the lines! Below is a picture of
my boy in front of one of the many Lego statues that are located
throughout the park.
- The Space Coast Real Estate Market is REALLY Heating Up!!!
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The Melbourne Area Association of Realtors put out stats every month on what is happening within the real estate community.
here are the Monthly Indicators for March 2012 for Space Coast Real estate:
+ 9.5%....One-Year Change in Closed Sales Single-Family Homes
+ 7.0%....One-Year Change in Median Sales Price Single-Family Homes
- 51%....One-Year Change in Homes for Sale Single-Family Homes
These
are truly staggering numbers and really help paint the picture I have
been telling anyone who would listen over the past few months. The
market here is strong and getting MUCH stronger.
Every trend from days on market to percent of original list price are all much stronger then a year ago.
Here are a couple of other positive reports that I have written blogs about in recent months:
Best places to invest in real estate over the next five years:
http://activerain.com/blogsview/2530129/what-you-may-have-missed-if-you-watched-cbs-real-estate-bashing-report-on-9-27-brevard-county-is-the-second-best-place-to-invest-over-next-5-years-
Places nationwide buyers are searching to purchase a home:
http://activerain.com/blogsview/2847405/news-from-trulia-florida-space-coast-is-the-area-buyers-want-