I was exploring Ryckman Park in Melbourne Beach when I discovered the charming and historic Ryckman…read moreHouse. In front of the house is a marker that is part of the Florida Historical Marker Program, one of the Division of Historical Resources' most popular and valued public history programs. The markers raise awareness of Florida's cultural history while enhancing the enjoyment of historic sites for residents and tourists. The blue historic markers tell the stories of the people and places that were important to Florida's history and they can be found in front of schools, forts, roads, archaeological sites, battlefields, cemeteries, churches, and historic buildings like this one. Historic marker F-750 was installed in 2012 by Commodore John Barry Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution and the Florida Department of State. This house is a Florida Heritage Site. Funds for this marker were raised by the local Daughters of the American Revolution chapter who sold U.S. flags to earn money. According to the marker this house was one of the first in Melbourne Beach. The Florida-Vernacular style house was built in 1890 of native pine and cypress for Jacob Fox by Captain Rufus W. Beaujean. Both men were original investors in the Melbourne Beach Company, later named the Melbourne Beach Improvement Company. Building supplies for the house were brought to Melbourne Beach on the boat Frost Line. Their was no electricity, and water was from an artesian well. Jacob Fox and his family used the home as a vacation retreat where they hunted, fished, and socialized. Garrett E. Ryckman, a major shareholder in the Melbourne Beach Company, purchased the house in 1908. The Ryckmans family moved to Melbourne Beach in 1908 with their daughter Ruth joining them in 1910. Ruth Ryckman was well known in the community as a private nurse for many years. She left one final gift to the town in 1979, the house upon her passing. In 2012 the Ryckman house was restored. Today the home sits in Ryckman park which also contains the Town Hall, the Melbourne Beach Community Center which was the Women's Club, a playground, several gazebos and the Melbourne Beach Pier. Periodically the Ryckman House Historical Preservation and Awareness Board will open the home for free tours. Even if it is closed you can peek into the window and get a glimpse into the past.

I was passing through Melbourne Beach when I noticed this building with a historic marker. The…read moremarker is part of the Historical Marker Program, one of the Division of Historical Resources' most popular and valued public history programs. The markers raise awareness of Florida's cultural history while enhancing the enjoyment of historic sites for residents and tourists. The blue historic markers tell the stories of the people and places that were important to Florida's history and they can be found in front of schools, forts, roads, battlefields, cemeteries, churches, historic districts, archaeological sites, and buildings like this one. Historic marker F-640 was installed in 2008 by the Brevard County Historical Commission The Brevard County Tourist Development Council and the Florida Department of State. This building was built in 1908 in what is now Ryckman Park. It faced the Indian River Lagoon and held offices of the Melbourne Beach Improvement Company where Capt. Rufus Beaujean, Donald Beaujean, and Lawrence Ryckman planed the pier, lot sites, roads, and a railway. Eventually, the building became the Melbourne Beach Town Hall and Post Office. In 1953, a new town hall was built. This building was floated down the Indian River to this area. It became the Williams Building when it was used for meetings and classes and managed by Mr. and Mrs. Williams. When the Spessard Holland Golf Course was built, the building was moved to the point of land between Oak Street and Highway A1A where it continued to be a community center. In 2001, the building was scheduled for demolition. Two citizens stepped forward to save it and the community rallied behind them. In May 2007 the building opened as a history center. The museum is free and open on Saturdays. It has displays about history of the area, Ais Indians, Spanish shipwrecks, and the development of Melbourne Beach.

I was exploring James A. Nance Park when I discovered this historic marker at the edge of the…read moreparking area. The marker is part of the Florida Historical Marker Program, one of the Division of Historical Resources' most popular and valued public history programs. The markers raise awareness of Florida's cultural history while enhancing the enjoyment of historic sites for residents and tourists. The blue historic markers tell the stories of the people and places that were important to Florida's history and they can be found in front of schools, forts, roads, archaeological sites, battlefields, cemeteries, churches, and historic buildings that once existed like this one. Historic Marker F-730 was installed in 2011 by the Brevard County Tourist Development Council and the Florida Department of State. In 1923 the Indialantic Casino was built on the site of what is now the southeast corner of James A. Nance Park. The casino was a two-story Mediterranean Revival style building designed by architect William Christen and developed by Herbert Earle. The casino opened on December 22, 1923, and although called a casino there was no gambling involved. Instead the building had shops, an Olympic-size saltwater pool, a landmark concrete diving tower, and wading pools. It became the center of social activity in Melbourne and hosted club meetings, socials, and galas, wedding receptions, banquets, and cotillions. Special events included a Midnight New Year's Eve dinner, a Fourth of July Celebration, and the Miss Melbourne and Miss Florida Beauty Pageants of 1925. Weekly rates in 1924 for room and board of an ocean view room was $20 for singles and $35 for doubles. During WWII the casino's pool was used to train military personnel from the Banana River Naval Station. The casino was renovated in 1942. In 1944 Karl Abbott purchased it changed the name to the Bahama Beach Club. The casino then became a private club from 1949 until it was purchased by the Town of Indialantic in 1967. Following storm damage, the building was torn down in 1970 by the Indialantic Fire Department.

One of the few bridges around with a running/walking area the entire span. Going for a run at…read moresunrise allowed to appreciate the stunning views. Dog walkers, moms with strollers and seniors out for a stroll all enjoying in harmony.

Great views of the Indian River. Traffic is not a problem. Plenty of places to pull over by the…read moreshoreline.

I've been driving by this "historic marker" for years, like most of these markers there's nothing…read moreto see commemorating the "I Dream of Jeanie" television show. I finally turn in on the drivable lane and did a short drive through the park, the parking lot to my surprise was filled with vehicles, most were there to let their dogs run free inside the fenced in dog park. Since the sitcom ran between 1965 - 1970 a lot of today's kids are oblivious to this show which most from my generation watched religiously after school after playing outside or riding our motor-less bicycles, life was simpler. Barbara Eden is now 94 according to Wikipedia and is the only surviving member of the cast and receives no royalties since she opted for a cash payment after getting a new contract after the third season of the show...

"I Dream of Genie" was an extremely popular television show that was set in Cocoa Beach, Florida…read moreand the city of Cocoa Beach chose to honor this television show by naming what is really a driveway to a park as a street in Cocoa Beach. This is a cool little tidbit to come across in Cocoa Beach. I love finding thes llittle roadside attractions that in my opinion give a town a bit of personality. If you find yourself in Cocoa Beach, Florida, I definitely recommend seeking this sign out.

House of Seven Gables is a historic home turned visitors center in Ft. Pierce. It was built in…read more1905. In 1943 it was a house of prostitution frequented by servicemen during WWII. In 1987 it was sold at auction and used as a taxidermy studio. In 1997 the house was donated to the city of Fort Pierce and moved to its present location on June 31, 1998. In 2000 the St. Lucie Chamber of Commerce opened the house as a visitor's center providing information about things to do in the area and places to stay and eat at. The volunteers who work here answer visitors questions and also give free tours of the house. If you are in the area it is worth a stop especially since the A. E. Backus Museum and Gallery and Manatee Observation and Education Center are located on either side of the House of Seven Gables.

This nice old house, built in 1905, houses the Visitors Center for Ft. Pierce, Florida. Check it…read moreout, if you're touring the area!

My husband and I just hosted the wedding of our daughter and now son-in-law at the Howey Mansion…read more The venue was just perfect. Fran was extremely helpful in accommodating special requests and answering questions we had right away. Very friendly and pleasant to work with. All of our guests for the wedding raved at how beautiful the home is.

William John Howey (January 19, 1876 - June 7, 1938) was an American real-estate developer, citrus…read moregrower, and Republican politician from Florida. He founded and served as mayor for the town of Howey-in-the-Hills, Florida where he developed and sold citrus groves, becoming one of Florida's greatest citrus developers. He was one of the first citrus growers to send fruit from Florida to England. In 1921 he opened Florida's first citrus juice plant. He ran for governor on the Republican ticket in 1928 and 1932. Mr. Howey's prominence led to many distinguished guests visiting the Howey mansion, These included Lord Bathhurst of England, H.B. McNeal, publisher of Golfer's Magazine, golf master Chick Evans, Kansas Governor Alfred Landon, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Phillip's of petroleum fame, and President Calvin Coolidge who was guest of honor at an all-male dinner party in February 1930. Mr. Howey's former home near Lake Wales, Florida became the site of Florida's Bok Tower at the Bok Tower Gardens. In 1925 Mr. Howey commissioned a 20 room mansion in the town he founded. The architect was Katherine Cotheal Budd. During WWI she designed temporary lodgings known as hostess homes for women who were visiting their husbands at military training camps. Budd is credited for creating 72 lodgings with a homelike atmosphere and the Howey House is one of a few existing examples of her work. The Howey Mansion was designed in the popular Mediterranean Revival style. The house is set back on a wide lawn with wrought iron gates and a long horseshoe drive. The entrance to the home features an elaborate, two story bas relief frontispiece .The massive front door and the woodwork on the first floor is made from peaky cypress. Leading to the second floor is a graceful curving stone stairway with a wrought iron banister. Other features of the home include three large fireplaces, a ballroom-size drawing room, enormous beamed ceilings, and a servant call-bell phone system. There is even a hidden passage behind a sliding bookshelf panel in the library. The original 15 acres grounds of the mansion were called The Park and included many botanical plants and shrubs. On March 6, 1927 The Park was the host site for an open air concert performed by the New York Civic Opera Company bringing the top opera singers of the day to the mansion for a concert for the community. The mansion was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Place on January 27, 1983. On April 12, 2017 it was listed for sale at $480,000. The new owners are Brad and Clay Cowherd, Orlando real estate investors who have made period-accurate restoration of the house. I visited the Howey Mansion for the Founders Day Festival. Admission for tours of the home was discounted to $10. The Howey Mansion is available for private rentals like weddings while historical tours are also available Monday through Friday at 11am. The Founder's Day event included a local market, food trucks, live music, and family activities. I enjoyed visiting the tents and touring the mansion including the hidden bar in the basement that was created during prohibition. Behind the mansion, is a trail through the woods that will take you to the Georgian marble mausoleum where the Howey family is interred including William J. Howey (1938), daughter, Lois Valerie Howey (1941), and Mary Hastings Howey (1981). This year Centennial Founder's Day Celebration, marked100 years since the town's founding in 1925.

**INITIAL REVIEW**…read more The Cape Canaveral Lighthouse Tour (which I will shorthand simply to the Lighthouse Tour) has been one of those "backyard adventures" I've been wanting to go on for the longest time. Eventually, I was able to partake in said adventure with my friends, Nate and Chops. Afterwards, I have to say that even for a probably "one-and-done" for a tour, it is definitely worth every penny spent. This tour was everything I wanted and loved, and it delivered. First and foremost, the actual business building for the Lighthouse Tour is nothing you have to worry about. According to all the tours, you will meet up at the Sands Space Museum and take a charter van to multiple locales on the tour. Before we get to the actual tour I partook in, it should be noted there are numerous tour options such as the museums alone, the lighthouse alone, or the full experience. Prices range from $35 (lighthouse only) to $65 (full tour). I went with the latter which includes numerous museums, historic launch sites, and the Cape Canaveral Lighthouse. It should also be noted that the more you do, the longer the tour. The full tour is four hours long. Please take note the things you need to check before the tour such as wearing shoes if you plan to walk up the five floors of the lighthouse, small bags allowed with small closed-contained foods and drinks only. Finally, you need to fill out a clearance check as all the stops, with the exception of Sands Space Museum, is on the Cape Canaveral Air Force Military Base. With those in mind, the full tour - known as the Cape Canaveral Lighthouse and Space Flight Tour - is all the stops if possible. I say "if possible" because some stops may be closed for maintenance or upgrades. For us, The Sands Space Museum, where the tour stars, was closed for renovation. However, the museum is free and not on protected property so I can go back and check it out. We visited four different launch sites, three museums, and the Cape Canaveral lighthouse. I personally loved the lighthouse and Hanger "A" which housed some of the larger historic rockets and jets that have helped bring NASA and the U.S. military where it is now. I personally was surprised that the first drone was used as target practice. I can't really detail everything I saw or this would become one my longest reviews, longer than I usually do. Just know that, like I said earlier in the review, for a possible one-and-done, it is worth every penny. However, if you really want to make sure the tour is a one-and-done, pay for the full tour. You'll have enough time to visit everything within the four hours, and if anything is closed, they'll take you to the Canaveral National Seashore, which was amazing because it is literally almost "untouched" by tourism. I will give this tour four out of five stars. I am not going to say consistency will earn the fifth star because only a super fan will take this tour numerous times... or work for the tour company. I will say that the lacking star has to do with the price. It can be high overall especially if stops are closed for some reason.

Great experience an excellent adventure for all in the family. Make sure add to you agenda.read more