On our way back from Sebastian Inlet State Park we stopped at Ponce de Leon Landing Historical Park…read morealong the A1A Route along the Atlantic Ocean in Florida! There is a statue, bathrooms, free parking for Beach Access! It's a very nice location!

**INITIAL REVIEW**…read more Despite its association to NASA and the space program in general, the Space Coast is also known for its stretch of beaches, too. From the popularity of Paradise Beach, the iconic locale of Playalinda, and the history of Cocoa Beach, it is safe to say the Space Coast is known for that sandy stretch of land where the land meets the ocean. However, there is one beach that locales truly know about, one that is also historic as it is the official location Juan Ponce de Leon landed. If you ever get the chance to, you should definitely spend some time at Juan Ponce de Leon Landing Beach. Though an address is provided, Juan Ponce de Leon Landing Beach - which I will simply call Ponce de Leon for the remainder of this review - seems to be located equisdistant from many major tourist areas. In short, it seems to be in between Sebastian Inlet and Historic Melbourne Beach. It should also be noted there is quite a distance between Strawbridge and Wabasso Bridge, ergo one of my criticisms is how long it might take to get to this beach, especially if you live directly across the river. Ponce de Leon is not hard to miss. Driving either way on A1A a.k.a. Jimmy Buffett Memorial Hwy., the entrance features a statue of Juan Ponce de Leon. There is an art gazebo which also has the public restrooms and showers, along with four piers leading to the beach. The beach is very beautiful with mostly-untouched white sand and the well-known Atlantic salty green ocean water. It doesn't seem much, but for us locales, the best part of Ponce de Leon is that despite its historic lore, it is not bombarded by tourists. This is one of those beaches the locals have to themselves. So if you want your peace and quiet mixed with having the waves to yourself for bodyboarding and surfing, this is the beach for you. Ultimately, I am going to give Ponce de Leon four stars out of five for this review. It is a simple, yet beautiful beach with a decent number of anemeties, and some individuality (the statue for example) to mark it as its own. You can't go wrong going to one of the beaches known as a hidden jewels amongst the locals.

Behind the Sebastian Government Complex in Friendship Park is the entrance to the North Sebastian…read moreConservation Area. This natural area was purchased between 1996 and 1999 for the purpose of preserving and restoring scrub and wetland habitats for the benefit of rare and endangered species. This land is managed by Indian River County and it protects over 400 acres of land, including endangered scrub ecosystems. There is another entrance to the preserve off Main St. just west of Gibson St. for equestrian riders. The North Sebastian Conservation Area has 10 miles of trails for hiking, biking, and horseback riding through a diverse range of habitats that include sand pine and oak scrub, scrubby and wet flatwoods, freshwater marsh, wet prairie, upland hardwoods, ponds and lakes. At the equestrian entrance you can hike the Jays Walk, which takes you down abandoned subdivision roads, home of the endangered Florida Scrub-Jays and Gopher Tortoises. At the Friendship Park entrance there are boardwalks and lake crossings on the trail. The Little Loop trail has a fresh water depression frequented by Tricolored Herons and other wading birds. On the Powerline Road Trail ducks, Wood Storks, Sandhill Cranes and Roseate Spoonbills, Bald Eagles, and Ospreys have been spotted. This preserve is part of the Great Florida Birding Trail and while providing a haven to wildlife it also protects species of scrub-adapted plants. The longer perimeter trails are more suited to cyclists. I was able to walk from both entrances but it is still very hot out as we enter into mid September. I recommend visiting on a cooler day and bringing water and sunscreen. The scrub areas are in full sun. Restrooms are available in Friendship Park.

Coconut Point Sanctuary is a 62 acre preserve protecting natural coastal strand, oak scrub, coastal…read moreoak forest, and and mangrove forest habitats on Melbourne Beach. The sanctuary is located across from Juan Ponce de Leon Park which is where you need to park before crossing the street to enter the preserve. The one mile loop trail through this preserve takes you from the Indian River Lagoon to the Atlantic Ocean. Along the way you will traverse through saw palmetto and wildflowers. Located in the preserve is the Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute which operates a marine mammal ecology and animal health lab. This sanctuary is a stop on the Great Florida Birding Trail. An observation platform over the Indian River Lagoon is the ideal spot to view shorebirds, juvenile sea turtles, osprey, manatees, and pods of dolphins. Note that there is no shade on the trail and in this brutal heat I didn't make it that far. I recommend visiting during the cooler winter months. This area contains ancient sand dunes that were once the home of the prehistoric Ais who were hunters and gatherers. Prior to contact with European colonizers, the Ais population had grown to several hundred thousand and may have flourished for over 10,000 years. This area is also believe by some to be the landing point of Juan Ponce de Leon in 1513.

Coconut Point Sanctuary boasts a one mile hike through natural Florida protected land. It is called…read morethe ocean to lagoon hike because it connects the Atlantic Ocean to the Indian River Lagoon. The hike is considered easy to moderate. My three year old grandson maneuvered through it with easy and had a blast. The path has lots of beautiful flowers and is loaded with natural beauty.

In March of 2024 Brevard County Commissioners renamed Coconut Point Park Val M. Steele Park in…read morerecognition of his lifelong dedication to public service and community improvement. Steele served a total of four years as Melbourne Beach Council Member, town commissioner, and later as the mayor of Melbourne Beach. Some if his accomplishments included moving the main county courthouse to Viera, the building of the Spessard Holland Golf Course, and the creation of the Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge. He volunteered on the St. Johns Water Management District Board during which he was instrumental in protecting and restoring hundreds of thousands of acres of marshland. He contributed to the economic growth of Brevard as a director of the Bank of Brevard, Atlantic Bank, American Bank of the South, American Mortgage Corporation and Holmes Regional Hospital. Steele passed away on October 12, 2020, at the age of 79. Val M. Steele Park is a 36.9 acre beach park located within the Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge complex. I love that the parking is free. It is a popular spot for surfing, beachcombing, and fishing. Park amenities include a picnic shelter, restrooms, and outside showers. One of the two dune crossovers is wheelchair accessible. If you are looing for a beach day, it doesn't get much better than this. This beach park is also a stop on the Great Florida Birding Trail. The primary habitats here are beach dune and coastal strand. Shorebirds on the beach include Black-bellied Plovers, Ruddy Turnstone, Sanderling, Red Knots, Northern Gannets, Bonaparte's Gulls and Great Black-backed Gulls in fall and winter. From late summer through winter look for Magnificent Frigatebirds, and Parasitic and Pomarine Jaegers. In the surf are Common Loons and Lesser Scaup. In addition to the birds this beach area is also an important sea turtle nesting site preserve from spring to fall.

Great covered bbq area with tables. Little beach area so bring a chair and relax for a while too.read more

Phil spent a lot of time in getting my boat clean and shiny! He was very detailed in getting the…read morerust stains and mildew out of all the crevices. The work included the hull, above and below the rail line, everything on the topside - including the decks and isinglass. Also, because he was so conscientious, he came back a few days later to wrap up some details he wanted to finish off. (He had another client scheduled, so I didn't mind the wait.) Loved that he came back... even after getting paid. Not used to contractors doing that. Def a hard worker... and he does come early (before 8am) so be prepared for that A neighbor did a double take on my boat... bc he def noticed how shiny the boat is now. And another neighbor saw the work and is also getting Phil to do his boat.

Fast and courteous response. thank you! I have multiple boats I'm responsible for and my personal…read moreone might need some TLC pretty soon.

Troy Moody Park is located on Victory Boulevard and Cordova Avenue in the McAnsh Park neighborhood…read morein northwest Vero. Park amenities include a water fountain, playground, benches, large open space for play, and paved walkway. Along the path are signs giving suggestions of different activities kids can do as they go along. Some of the activities are to tell a story, jump, clap, skip, move, and read. I have never seen anything like this and it is a really cool feature of the park that sparks family interaction. The park's namesake, Troy E. Moody Jr. was born in 1925. His father, Troy Moody Sr., served as Indian River County's tax collector from 1932 to 1969. Troy graduated from Vero Beach High School class of 1943. He then spent three years in the Navy before going to a state college. After graduation he joined the Army and became a paratrooper. He was stationed in Japan before being deployed to Korea. He was serving as First lieutenant with the 27th Infantry Regiment when he died at 25 in a battle at the Naktong River crossing in South Korea on Aug. 11, 1950. A memorial plaque in his honor was installed in the park in 2012. An earlier memorial plaque was installed on the water fountain.

Troy Moody Park is more of an open field with a small playground and a few benches than what I…read morewould call a park. I am sure that the neighborhood appreciates it, but if you are looking for something where you can walk around and enjoy a bit of nature, this is not the place.

You may have troubles in life but you can always take a break on Easy Street, Easy Street Park that…read moreis. You can find this peaceful neighborhood gem at the intersections of Easy and Lake Street. In the center of the park is Easy Lake. Around the perimeter is a 1/3 mile talking trail that gives you views of the lake and the abundance of bird life that call Easy Street Park home. I saw Egyptian Geese, ibis, herons, ducks, and common moorhens to name just a few. In the lake is a small tree island that attracts even more birds. I enjoyed my walk around the lake checking out the local avian residents. This park also has picnic tables, benches, and a fenced in playground with climbing equipment, swings, and slides. Easy Street Park is the perfect destination for play, exercise, picnics. It is also especially nice for nature lovers like me.

Always Friendly, Kind, Professional, Caring, & Intelligent! They know what they are doing and are…read morenot afraid of doing what's right & Fixing our bike right... We have Good Bikes & it pays to take care of them & maintain them, just like our human bodies & cars, if we take care of them, they will take care of us... THANK YOU!

I was on a bike ride and had trouble with my gear shifter. I stopped for an emergency repair and I…read morecouldn't have had a better experience! My bike was repaired on the spot and I wasn't charged. I was given great advice, also for free. It was a very pleasant transaction and I'll be going back for the complete repair asap.