If you have not checked out a map to search the area...take a look out how large Brevard County is! In the very southern portion of the County is Sebastian. It sits on the river and many of it's residents love the great Indian River views. For those of us a little further north we love to head to Sebastian on the weekend...mostly because of Capt Hiram's Resort.

Capt Hiram's truly is a resort...with a very nice restaurant, a marina (because it is near the inlet many boaters can head in for a weekend stay), a hotel and the World Famous Sandbar. The Sandbar is an outdoor Bahamian style bar that sits on the river (so you get spectacular views). Sandbar offers a concert stage so you can listen to some fabulous music year round. Capt Hiram's will attract some major artists at Sandbar. Add to this the fact that they have an extensive free concert series (check the website at http://www.hirams.com/) that offers some very good reggae, rock and acoustic acts.

The restaurant has a nice menu with decent resort style food weighted mostly towards seafood (although the burgers and chicken offerings are just fine)...try the fish and chips (pay the $2 extra to get mahi)...if you come for a weekend you will not feel the need (or have any reason) to leave!

The hotel rooms are quite nice. They have a style that will remind you of a resort in the Bahamas...but without the ridiculous prices that tend to go along with them. Many of the rooms have breathtaking river and marina views. You can not help but relax and lower your blood pressure after a couple of days here.

If you are looking for a romantic weekend away from it all, a go to Sunday sun and fun place...or just a great gathering place for you and your friends...check out Capt Hiram's...this place will get in your blood...and make you very happy you live on the Space Coast!

We live in a warm weather climate here on the Space Coast. This tends to allow good ice cream shops to thrive...and they usually do. In Indialantic a long time institution has been Moo's Soft Serve on A1A (between the 5th Ave and Eau Gallie).

This place will make you feel like you just hopped off a time machine and landed in 1970. Moo's serves good to great soft serve ice cream (real ice cream...nothing fake about this place)...low fat and sugar free versions...and some food items as well (they always have a special...4 Coney hot dogs for $6...not a misprint!) including some really good sliders....but the draw is the soft serve ice cream...it is the best on the beach! They have a drive-thru window so you can keep the a/c on in the car when it is 95 degrees...as well as a walk up window with outside tables.

Moo's is always packed...and you will almost always see parents explaining to children...Grandma and Grandpa took me here many years ago when I was about your age. On a hot summer day...or a beautiful winter evening...I can think of almost nothing better then going to Moo's with my boy...getting some ice cream...and walking across the street to the beach...what great memories this place will help you make!!! 

The address for Moo's Soft Serve is 930 N. Hwy A1A, Indialantic, FL 32903

Many people who fly into Central Florida come through the very busy...and very large Orlando International Airport. Orlando is a great place to visit and I love going over as often as I can...but I must admit...I am a hater of large airports in general...parking is a pain...taking trains to planes...long lines for security...all to get to the mountains, beach, city etc...

For the opposite reason you just have to love Melbourne International Airport. This is a small airport that allows you to fly through the big airports without dealing with many of the above mentioned issues. MIA has two major carriers...Delta and U.S. Airways...as well as some smaller regionals. They fly mostly connecting flight through Atlanta (Delta Hub) and Charlotte (U.S. Air Hub). These two large hubs can take you (1 stop) to almost anyplace in the World!

Parking is a dream...no trains or buses to get you to your terminal...short security lines...and I NEVER get there two hours before a flight. My only hope is they add more direct flights to major cities like New York or Boston.

If you are looking to take a trip to the Space Coast...take a look at flying into Melbourne International Airport...you will save an hour of driving from Orlando...and an hour picking up your rental car...well worth the stop at a hub!

...obviously many of the visitors to the Space Coast come for the beaches or to see a rocket go up at Cape Canaveral. They may fly into Melbourne International Airport or Orlando International Airport...and in many cases drive right by the Brevard Zoo...and that would be a shame because the Brevard Zoo in Melbourne, FL is a wonderful example of what a regional zoo in the United States can be.

The zoo is broken down into five sections...all worth seeing no matter what age you or your guests are.

1. Expedition Africa...my favorite with some amazing animals...Giraffe and White Rhino are highlights.
2. Wild Florida...this is where you can see a gator or an American Croc
3. Austral-Asia...see a kangaroo here!
4. La Selva...a wide array of animals from South America can be found here.
5. Paws on Play...this section is awesome for kids...with a petting zoo

Add to the fun (at additional cost) with a Kayak Tour that is really cool and takes you through what seems to be a part of Florida that is disappearing. The zoo also has Tree top Trek...a high wire act that allows you to see the zoo by jetting over the park on cables (you must be at least 54 inches tall to participate...however they offer a version for younger kids called Chutes & Ladders for those from 36 inches). Tree top Trek is not cheap...but is a well worth the price.

Tickets are as follows

$14.25 for adults, $13.25 for senors, $10.25 for kids 2-12 years...kids 2 and under are free.

The zoo also offers group rates, military discounts and yearly memberships that greatly reduce the single day prices.

Go to www.BrevardZoo.org for more info or to buy tickets.

The Brevard Zoo is located at 8225 North Wickham Road, Melbourne, FL 32940

We have a large number of people who have moved to the Space Coast from the Northeastern part of the U.S...because of this we have quite a few New York-Philly-Boston style restaurants...Don Giuseppe's is a Northeast style Southern Italian restaurant on Wickham Rd north of Eau Gallie Blvd in Melbourne, FL. It also happens to be one of the Space Coast's better Italian restaurants.

Don Giuseppie's offers a very traditional Southern Italian menu...Chicken, Veal and Eggplant Parmigiano, Manicotti, Ravioli, Lasagna, Stuffed Shells...lots of veal, chicken and pasta options as well. They also offer a large...and very good pizza menu.The prices are good...the portions are large...and the staff is very friendly. They offer a variety of sauces from a very good marinara to a meat sauce that is one of the best in the area.

Don Giuseppie's has a large dining room and they can cater anything from a holiday party to a large birthday gathering. They offer both on premise and off premise catering so you can have family style Southern Italian food catered to your home or office party!

A couple of things to remember...they are closed on Monday (this is very traditional in New York Italian restaurants) and they are not open for lunch...the hours are Tuesday through Sunday from 3-9pm.

The location is:

2447 N Wickham Road
Melbourne Florida 32935

Here is a link to the website: http://www.donguiseppes.com/

Off the Traxx is a sports bar/restaurant/pizza joint in Historic Downtown Melbourne. This is a large place with lots of seating, bar seats...and plenty of space to dance.

Off the Traxx seems to be a starting point for many of the locals who eat at Off the Traxx...get a couple of beers...watch the end of a basketball or baseball game...and then head up the block to Matts, Foo Bar or Megs.

The food is a notch above your average sports bar and they have great specials including ladies night on Wednesday starting at 9pm.

The full menu is extensive and includes pizza, wings, wraps, sandwiches, burgers, as well as higher end options like mahi mahi, steak, chicken and some pretty good ribs. FYI...the french onion soup is really good...a great starter on one of the 10 cold nights we have every year. The 3-6pm early bird menu is one of the best deals in town...$10 selections and 1/2 price desserts...check it out below.

here is a link to the full menu: http://www.offthetraxx.com/menu.pdf

here is a link to the early bird menu: http://www.offthetraxx.com/new%20Twilight%20Menu.pdf

Go to the website to find out about nightly happy hour and late night offerings: http://www.offthetraxx.com/

Satellite Cinemas is easy to miss...it is located in the corner of a large strip center mall along with a Publix in Satellite Beach, FL If you live beachside...add this place to you search when looking to go to the movies...here are a few reasons:

1. CHEAP prices...tickets for senors, kids, all Military (with ID) and ALL shows before 5pm are only $5...and even night shows are only $6!!!!
2. Great location (about 2 miles south of Pineda on A1A
3. Four movies...first run...this is unusual for a cinema that has discount prices.
4. A feeling that you stepped back in time about 20 years...check it out.
5. Locally owned...not a big conglomerate...I love that!
6. Ladies Day...call them for the ladies day special on Wednesday which includes popcorn and a drink.

Warning: this is not one of those fancy cinemas that has 18 movies and stadium seating for thousands...it is an old fashioned movie house that will allow you to see a first run movie without breaking the bank. I went with my boy and two of his friends...including popcorn and soda for the boys it cost me $35...for four!

Satellite Cinemas is located at 1024 Hwy A1A in Satellite Beach, FL 32937

The phone number is 321.777.3778 (show line)

The Website is www.SatelliteCinemas.com

South Patrick Shores is a small section of homes and light retail located between Satellite Beach and Patrick Air Force Base/the Pineda Causeway. It runs also runs between the ocean and the river. Since the completion of the project that takes the Pineda causeway from the beach all the way to I-95...many buyers are giving this area strong consideration.

...this area has some of the shortest commute times to I-95...this really helps for those looking to live near the beaches but travel to the Cape or Orlando metro area for work.

This smaller community has inexpensively priced homes and was originally designed to appeal to those in the Air Force community. The South Patrick Shores area feeds Satellite Beach schools which are all "A Rated". Quite a few residents in South Patrick shores area are retired military...some are first time home buyers.

South Patrick Shores is also a good option for investors looking to cash in on the upgraded causeway...and buyers looking to feed "A-Rated" schools and quick commute times... that cannot usually afford the price for such amenities. Prices for single family homes range from under 100k to around 150k.

Here is a map of the area...you can see South Patrick Shores is just below the Pineda Causeway:

...because I write quite a few restaurant reviews for my website and blog (ok...so I love eating out...and this is a great way to get a write off on my taxes) I am often asked my opinion on...what is the best (fill in food category) restaurant on the Space Coast. When the gets around to Sushi the conversation will always include Banzai Sushi & Thai in Melbourne, FL.

Banzai has extensive Thai and Japanese offerings including some of the best Sushi on the Space Coast. They also offer some great lunch specials priced from $6.95...and lunch boxes priced from $10.95. The Sushi is always fresh and the I just love to add a Seaweed Salad.

The menu and options for both Thai and Japanese food are so extensive I will just put up a link to the website and you can check the food offerings out for yourself: www.Banzaisushithai.com

The Restaurant is well located at 3208 Lake Washington Rd...directly off Wickham Rd in Melbourne.If you are hungry for Thai or Sushi head to Banzai...you will be glad you did!

For some reason...regardless of the Coast you are on...if you are in an area that is big on surfing...and the Brevard County beaches are definitely a surfers Paradise...you will find good to great burrito joints.

Big Island Burritos in Indialantic, FL is a burrito/surfer joint directly across the street from the Atlantic ocean. From the first time you enter you will understand this is a place a part time surfer can get his needed fix. The TV's will have highlights of great surfing exploits to help you digest the burritos that are as big as your head.

The prices are amazing...with Burritos running from $5.50 to 7.00...tax included! They are truly enormous...so plan on eating half and bringing the other half home for dinner!

To go along with the burritos how about $1.50 16oz domestic beer...or $6.00 pitchers...with pitchers of Dos Equis only $8.00!!! The salads, appetizers and bowls are all good and the crowd is always fun.

Big Island Burritos is located in Indialantic...directly on the west side of Hwy A1A about 1/2 mile north of 5th Ave in the Indialantic Shopping Center.