Cocoa Beach Vacation

The big blue fountain said nice as we drove into the Resort on Cocoa Beach. The canopied entrance, the beautiful big lobby filled with gigantic tropical flower arrangements, fountains and leisure white wicker furniture continued to say nice all week. In front of the resort was the swimming pool and next to it was scheduled good entertainment.

Our unit, on the fifth floor, was a delight. Yellow walls and sea green carpeting, with bright colored drapery and bedspread, brightened the Caribbean decor and was restful after a fun filled day of enjoying the surrounding area. Vertical blinds in both the living room and master bedroom gave privacy at night and, when pulled back in the daytime, we opened the double sliding glass doors to the covered, comfortably furnished balcony. White wicker for the headboard and bureau in the bedroom and highboy in the living room nicely complimented the tropical setting. Owners get an ocean view unit. We were exchanging, so we got an ocean front unit with a view of the ocean beyond another resort and if we looked in a southerly direction from the balcony, we could see the resort was right on the ocean. Looking north, we could see some of the high structures of the launching pads at Cape Canaveral. The bathroom off the master bedroom was oversized and had a glassed-in shower, Jacuzzi for two, and wall-to-wall vanity sink. The unit had a second full bathroom and complete laundry. Twelve-by-twelve-inch Mexican ceramic tile floors in the kitchen and baths were an attractive smudge sea green color.

Off the lobby, a 50-seat theater with a big screen played movies all day. The resort had a qualified childcare center, a really nice playground for toddlers, and a sprinkler pool outside. To keep in shape, there was a fully equipped exercise room and two full size pool tables. A video game arcade and game room were also available.

Orlando is only an hour’s drive west and the Kennedy Space Center is nearby, also. Shopping in Cocoa Village is great for everyone especially the older people.

If you like vacationing on the beach with a spectacular view of the ocean, you’ll love Discovery Beach Resort. When we opened the sliding glass doors and saw the view, we knew we were in for a wonderful week.

The natural southern pine furniture, with rattan and louver panels, in both the living room and bedroom, was good looking. The coffee table and end tables had thick, heavy stone tops. Too many pieces of furniture cluttered the living room; the dining set was patio in style and too big for the room; unnecessary bar stools, next to the counter top and near the kitchen, took up more space and the beautiful big floor lamp was crowding. When we first entered the room, it prevented us from appreciating how nice the unit really was.

The entire complex was dedicated to using turquoise and shrimp colors, especially well done in the lobby. The color theme was continued in the units, as well. It didn’t quite match the expensive brocade fabric on the couch or the pictures on the wall. It was annoying to have a window in the bedroom that was easily accessible from outside, but it was necessary.

We really appreciated having two bathrooms. Only one had a shower, the other had a laundry, the one thing that makes all vacations clean and neat, all the time. A lot of storage space was available in the hallway and inside the unit.

Tennis and basketball courts, located over the garage, and the heated pool, near the lobby, were there to be enjoyed, along with a game room and an exercise room. A restaurant was located off the lobby, but the greatest attraction at this resort was being right on the beach, next to the ocean.

As the Sun Cruz Casino Boat was docking along the Canaveral Barge Canal, we noticed Rusty’s Seafood and Oyster Bar. Their outdoor patio had big colorful umbrellas shading the newly painted tables, and the wall-to-wall windows, along the waterfront side of the building, made it look like an inviting place to dine. It definitely had atmosphere, dark knotty pine walls with post and beam construction opened the whole dining hall to a view of the activity on the canal, and huge mounted fish on the walls and fishnets hanging from the ceiling gave the room nautical charm. We found a window seat, and while we waited for the waitress to take our order, we could see a proud fisherman, standing outside on the wharf having his picture taken, holding up his prize tuna.

A pretty young waitress, wearing a Rusty’s T-shirt and red shorts, came over to take our order. First she informed us, "Raw and steamed oysters are 35 cents apiece during happy hour and a glass of draft beer is 94 cents." We decided to try the steamed oysters and Bob ordered a beer. From the menu, the fried seafood platter looked good, so we both ordered it and chose French fries out of a choice of four sides.

As we waited for our dinners, we noticed the Orlando Princess docking nearby and the exhausted fishermen leaving the boat. As they waited on the wharf, the crew skinned and cleaned their load of strawberry grouper, and the pelicans waited patiently for leftovers. A dolphin entertained us out in the canal flipping up and down in the water.

The steamed oysters were perfect and attractively served with three dips, melted herb butter, horseradish, and ketchup. Our entree included large batter dip shrimp, oysters, scallops and flounder. We got a generous portion of each. It was good but we both agreed we would try some of the other entrees next time we go there.

Rusty’s has a great bar right in the center of the dining room, and if you want to buy some fish and cook it your self, they also have a fish market. A few days later we went back for lunch. They have a great buffet for only $5.95, including roast beef, chicken and of course fish and a very good salmon salad, as well.

This is not only the Age of Space Exploration; it is the Age of Innovation as well. While German scientists with great minds invented ways to overcome the earth’s gravity and launch rockets to the moon, Rick Stottler invented the best, most luxurious way to watch them go: a restaurant right out on a pier, over the ocean, with a view of the Cape. And we were fortunate enough to go to dinner there. The Atlantic Ocean Grille on Cocoa Beach Pier (formerly the Pier House Restaurant) offers a spectacular view of Cape Canaveral from its north windows. Because the pier is up high, the windows offer a great view. We were seated at a table near the south wall. To facilitate a view from that position, the floor, in that area of the room, was up on a platform. But no launch was taking place. We were there only to enjoy dinner.

The early bird special was offered from 5 to 6pm. I ordered stuffed flounder, $10.99, and Bob, my husband, ordered blackened scallops Alfredo, $9.99. Salads were included with our dinner. My Caesar salad was made from fresh romaine lettuce and had been tossed in dressing and served with grated cheese and croutons on top. Bob ordered a garden salad and it was fresh and tasty. A small loaf of bread with butter came with the salads. As we sat eating our first course the sun went down and we could see different color lights indicating the many structures at Cape Canaveral.

My flounder was attractive, warm, and moist, and tasted delicious. It had been baked with a crabmeat stuffing that was excellent, and the dinner included a baked potato and fried dough balls. Bob’s scallops were large and tasty and had been grilled to perfection. They were served over linguine with a generous portion of Alfredo sauce. Excellent desserts on the menu included kahlua cake, $4.99, and rum glazed bread pudding, $3.29, but we had decided to investigate the ice cream parlor near the entrance to the pier.

While Alan Sheppard and John Glen were blasting off into space, Rich Stottler was right nearby on Cocoa Beach setting up the Cocoa Beach Pier so everyone could watch the launchings with a clear view of Cape Canaveral from his restaurant on the pier. He built the Pier House Restaurant in 1964, and it received the Brevard County "Best Restaurant With A View" award. The restaurant is now called the Atlantic Ocean Grille.

Held up with 270 pilings, that cost $150,000 a year to maintain, the pier has to be profitable so Stottler schedules money making events. Ads posted along the boardwalk informed us tickets were on sale for a concert that would take place on February 27th right on the beach, featuring the Beach Boys.

He also rents space to other restaurants. Marlin’s Good Times Bar and Grill serves drinks and light snacks on the boardwalk. It’s a delight to sit at the bar or a table and look at the waves coming in from the ocean, or watch the young people play volleyball on the beach. Every Friday they have a Boardwalk Bash with ribs, lobster and shrimp specials. Oh, Shucks, another bar and grill, that at first sight looks like a merry-go -round, is located next to the entrance of the pier. They have a reggae bash every night. The Tiki Hut, another bar, located at the very end of the pier, looks inviting but you’re expected to pay $1 to go that far out on the pier.

Families, with children, spending the day at the beach, can get everything from a hot dog to pizza at Dogone. Young people will be more attracted to Ricky’s Ice Cream Parlor and Arcade, with its dramatic front entrance, including life size three-dimensional sea creatures. It is located next to the metered parking lot and the entrance to the pier. They also offer clothing and gifts. There are other shops that offer tees and gifts, as well. Two, located on the boardwalk, are Oceanothions and one next to it called Seathings. Parking can cost $.25 for 15 minutes or $5 a day depending on where you park.

If you’d like to shop in adorable little boutiques offering unique and beautiful clothes, hand embroidered, with appliqué, or fabrics that are cut on the bias and swish even when you are holding still, then Brevard Avenue in Historic Cocoa Village in downtown Cocoa FL is the place for you. Wouldn’t it make a laugh in your heart if the name of the shop was Frankly My Dear?

What do you do with your husband when he insists you’re not rushing through fast enough? Village Cappuccino, one of the many little coffee houses tucked in among the art and antique shops, offers a needed respite. Every table is different with odd chairs, some with the ability to claim being an antique and lots of crocheted things under the glass on the table tops. Actual flowers were hanging from the drapery on the window. There was an adorable teacup collection on the wall. Cosy? Bless their hearts; today’s newspaper was on the table. It really quiets a man down and it gives his wife a chance to ponder the idea of spending $69 on that adorable hand appliquéd jacket she just saw.

Did you ever think you’d be in a dilemma over whether or not you needed an oil painting of a picture of a closet full of clothes? Where, in your home, would you hang that item if you bought it? Carolyn Seiler Studio Gallery had several and they mesmerize you. It might really be something you just can’t live without.

The Red Hat Society ladies came ambling through on their way to the Black Tulip, a five-star restaurant in a beautiful old Florida building. Across the street was the Cocoa Village Playhouse, an old brick theater in excellent condition. Children Of Eden was playing.

For the young and slender woman that really wants to be noticed, Diva was the place to shop. If that’s not really you try the Strawberry Shop for bath items or just sit out in front on a park bench on the sidewalk, with full size replicas of the Blues Brothers, or walk up to Myrt Thorpe Square and listen to a sidewalk singer playing his guitar and singing about being a hobo.

The Allma Clyde Field Library, a historic library, is right in the center of the shopping district. A few blocks east are several waterfront parks. Tours of the Indian River are available from the gazebo at the waterfront. Expect to find parking on streets running parallel to Brevard.

At Cape Canaveral, The Sterling Casino Boat, docked near the jetty, is bigger, has a fancier dining facility, and, in general, looks more luxurious, but if you really want to have a good time and a moderate chance to win, choose The Sun Cruz Casino. Be sure to make reservations before you go or you will never get aboard; in the Cape Canaveral area, call 1-800-474-DICE. Also, before you go, look for a $5 match play coupon in brochures or newspapers. It is a one-time deal to inspire you to sign up for a card and worth the effort. With the card you’ll be able to get on the boat free, get a free buffet and accumulate valuable points for prizes.

Once aboard, you’ll be greeted by a group with steel drums and a singer, but don’t linger. The race to get the slot machine you want starts right there. All the five cent and quarter slots are claimed, quickly. After one cruise we knew what slots we wanted to play, and reserved one right away. There are a lot of different games on the slots but we prefer poker.

If you like to play table games, many are offered. The Cape Canaveral Sun Cruz offers Blackjack, Craps, Let-It-Ride, Caribbean Stud Poker, Mini Baccarat, Three Card Poker, a new game called, Hurricane Bingo and a private poker room for high stake poker. The dealers are very helpful; one came to our resort and gave an interesting talk on gambling, and even though we don’t play the table games, he was always friendly and stopped to talk to us on the boat..

Drinks are free if you’re gambling, but we never order anything but coffee. It’s best to keep a clear head and not drink when money is involved. There is a free buffet, on the top deck, consisting of coffee, lemonade, and a variety of small sandwiches and snacks. A hot buffet is available, but it’s not free, and you can order a la carte any time from the waitresses. You can use your accumulated points to pay for food that is not free.

Once we won or lost our limit for the day, (we each play $20), we enjoyed the rest of the cruise. On the top deck there was free entertainment, and we could look down in the water and watch the dolphins flipping up and down along the side of the ship. At the end of the cruise, I enjoyed watching a tugboat maneuver the ship into port.